Monday, March 16, 2009

Visual Morning Page

Julia Cameron, in her book The Artists' Way, created the process of writing morning pages -- 3 long-hand pages in a notebook, just spilling open, whatever, anything goes, but must be done first thing in the morning. I read the book when it was first released [1992, or thereabouts], and have been doing morning pages ever since.

Since my rant about wanting to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in my journal, I made a BIG switcharoo -- every other morning, now, I'm doing a morning visual journal page -- as soon as I get out of bed (but after I tinkle!), I go straight to my studio, open the visual journal to any which page (no order), and start laying down whatever my mind presents. It could be said that on 2 mornings, I seriously scared myself ... I did NOT understand the imagery or the words I chose. But I put them down nonetheless -- I figure if I go back to them after a period of removal, then perhaps their message will be more evident. It could also be said that I allow ONLY 30 minutes, no matter what, even if I have an image glued but it's not on the page yet, oh well, too bad so sad, the page is done.

This page, too, stupefies me. But I really LIKE the energy I feel looking at it. Funny how I recognize, also, how PURE these pages are -- I have to occasionally ask myself, 'Hey, Wench! Is this TRUE, or are you tryin' ta make the page look better?' I invariably bust myself, too, with that question. Wah Wah, cries me --but I don't LIKE making ugly pages. But honestly, who says they're ugly? Why the judgment? Why not just 'this is the page I'm making this morning' and mosey on?

I like the questions. I like this change-up of my morning process, too.

5 comments:

beth said...

you, you little wench...sorry but I had to....AMAZE ME !!!

journaling is one thing....BUT first thing in the morning...how do you do it ???

and thanks for letting me know you tinkle first or I would have had to ask !!!

Rose said...

Have you ever come across a book called The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho? This page really evokes it for me...

sam brightwell said...

I love that you've not posted any journal pages for a couple of days and now you're making up for it in a frenzy of new stuff.

I love the colours, the energy of your Alchemist page, and thought of Paulo Coelho too ... funny, I was only talking with my old chum about that book on Sunday. Must have been something in the air .....

Rose said...

Thank you for your comment Toni... has made me want to get it out again as well...

Pamela McCarville said...

That is a wonderful page! I love the word "Alchemist" just brings up so much imagery.