Week 1: Vision Journaling ... What it is & what it isn't

Off to a good start ... thinking about what Vision Journalling is (and isn't) ~ here are some considerations:

Working in one of my journals ... 

Vision Journaling: What it is:

• A personal journey on paper
• A place to document successes and challenges
• A place to safely vent AND dream
• An audience-free zone, whatever you create is for yourself alone
• A judgement-free zone ~ even from yourself
• A place for self-expression and honesty
• A treasury of gifts you’ve gathered from the life you’ve lived

 What it isn’t:

• A “competition” or art show, or a place to worry about “pretty”.
• Scrapbooking ~ although you can use family photographs if they help you get what you need on paper
• Limited by gender ~ we’re all “persons” first

Penelope’s Encouragement for Beginners:

• Be gentle. Nurture your beginnings as you would a child’s.
• Be Honest. What you get out of the experience will match whatever you put into it. If you’re not honest, the only person you’re denying is yourself.
• Start simply. Use whatever resources you already have around you. Use a journal with non-precious paper like a standard composition book or similar from a dollar store. Collage with junk mail. Write with whatever pens you have. The important things are inside YOU, not in the art supply store.
• Don’t worry about getting it “wrong”. There is no wrong. There is only you and the page. If the blank page is too scary, cover it with magazine images and write on top of them.
• Don’t wait for the “good stuff” to come. Start creating, write whatever’s on your mind. Trust me, the good stuff will come.
• Still got nothing? Collect images you think are beautiful. Write in quotes that inspire you. Write a list of things you are grateful for. Generate some positive energy and be patient.
• Have an open mind. And ears. Listen to people around you. What are they saying? How is your life experience different? How is it the same? Write down anything you think is “true”.

Here are the first 3 pages of this week's class handouts. To save and print the handouts: right click on the image and choose "Save image as ..." and save it to your computer.

That should start you thinking about what vision journalling can mean to you.