Hi,
I'm Laura Stuckel from Team SAGE.
In this talk,
I'd like to share some inspiration for journal writing.
The winter solstice occurs across the northern hemisphere in late December.
It's no coincidence that so many of the world's cultures and traditions honor light and stillness at this time of year.
You can use candlelight inspired meditation as a prompt for journal writing.
There are different ways to incorporate candlelight into your meditation and follow it with a journal write.
You could use the seasonal rhythms of nature,
Holiday traditions,
Or a mindfulness practice using all of the senses as different ways to get started.
To use mindfulness and nature as an entrance to writing,
Just simply take a walk at dusk or in the darkness,
Being present to your body,
Your breath,
Your steps,
And the elements of temperature,
Light,
And weather around you.
When you're ready to write,
You could continue indoors or outdoors using a candle or even the light of your phone.
Don't forget to be present to the feeling of rubbing your hands warm before you begin.
So many religious and cultural traditions incorporate candles.
To use holiday candles as inspiration,
Be focused in the moment as you set up,
Light,
And admire your candle tradition.
Take in the weight and feel and appearance of the candle holder,
The spark of the match,
The lighting of the candle.
These traditions often also honor connections with others.
So you can close your eyes and envision dear ones or ancestors as if they were right there with you in the experience.
Honoring and remembering memories or emotions,
Linger in this holiday light as you write.
A third inspiration prompt is to carefully select a scented candle,
Especially one that reminds you of this time of year,
And then enjoy the process of fully taking it in with all of your senses.
As above,
Be present to the experience of setting up the candle and lighting it.
How does it feel?
What sense do you notice?
What do you observe as you enjoy the flame?
What sounds do you hear?
What emotions do you feel?
Simple breathwork is lovely here too.
You can start with some deep breaths as you observe the candle,
Then continue with relaxing breaths as you close your eyes and observe the candle in your mind.
When the image fades,
Open your eyes and repeat the process.
You can find some nice candle breathwork meditations on Insight Timer by searching with the word candle.
However you choose to incorporate the light of a candle into your meditation and journal practice,
It will create inspiration for your writing.
To begin,
Make sure you have a comfortable place to sit for a few moments with your favorite pen and your journal or a laptop nearby.
Sit with whatever candle meditation you've chosen and when you feel ready to write,
Begin.
A timer set for about five minutes works well.
This is a long enough time to get thoughts on paper,
But not so much time that you overthink what to say.
You'll end up with something that comes truly from the heart.
And after you conclude in your journal,
Be sure to reread what you have written and write a reflection.
Tapping the wisdom within you comes from each reflection.
You may notice an emotion,
A reaction within your body or a follow up action.
May the light and stillness of this season inspire you.
