JOURNALING TO ACCESS INNER WISDOM

by Nadine Kenney Johnstone

ashlyn ciara/Unsplash.com

On a summer afternoon in 2015, I sat in my favorite coffee shop waiting on lifechanging news. With each minute, my anxiety mounted, so I turned to the only thing that calms me in a stressful situation—my journal. As my pen scrawled across the page, I instinctively wrote a letter from my future self to my present self. I just needed someone to reassure me. And that “someone,” apparently, was me.

I’ve been writing these inner-wisdom letters ever since, and it has been one of the most helpful practices in managing my anxiety. Women that have attended my retreats say it is the most impactful thing we do. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, grab a pen and follow these simple steps. CREATE A SIMPLE CEREMONY. Sitting down with your favorite mug or journal makes this exercise feel sacred. Write in the light of dawn or by the glow of a candle, whatever brings you joy. SET A TIMER SO YOU DON’T OVERTHINK IT. Perfectionism is the enemy of creativity. For 10 minutes, tell yourself to just write whatever comes, no matter how imperfect.

GET INTO THE BRAIN OF THE

OLDER, WISER YOU. Imagine the version of you six months from now that has gotten through the muck you’re currently in. What deep wisdom and advice does it carry?

START WITH A LOVING GREETING.

Address your present self compassionately, the way you would to a child or dear friend. “Hi darling. It’s a brand-new day, sweetheart.”

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR HARDSHIPS

WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. What is your wiser self observing from the outside? Let it state what it notices. “I can see that you’re hurting. You’ve been through it, haven’t you?”

LET THE PAST BE PROOF OF YOUR

EMOTIONAL ENDURANCE. Be an investigator and dig up examples of how you’ve coped with previous hardships. Remember that time you thought you couldn’t deal, but you did?

STATE WHAT THE WISER-YOU

KNOWS. What does this perspective offer to the situation? Be the scribe as you channel wiser-you’s messages. Try this prompt: “Your heart knows that ...”

REQUEST THE NEXT RIGHT STEP.

Ask your wiser self, “What do I need in order to heal from this?” Listen for the answer. It might take the form of advice, a mantra or a simple step: Rest. Pause. Stay. Hug.

LIST WHAT YOU CAN LET GO OF.

Dump your obsessive thoughts onto the page, as well as anything you can’t control. While you think you can control other people’s reactions, you can’t.

CLOSE WITH LOVE AND SUPPORT.

“I love you and I’m here for you in your heart.” READ WHAT YOU WROTE. Be amazed by the wisdom that came simply because you tapped in and asked. Bring your hands to your heart and say thank you.

Nadine Kenney Johnstone is the host of the podcast Heart of the Story, a writing, meditation and yoga nidra instructor, and a workshop and retreat leader.

Intuitive & Healing Arts

White Lotus Grace Introduces New Courses, Membership Plans

White Lotus Grace will offer a new monthlong program, Moving by Faith: A Course of Embodying Inner Trust, beginning April 1 and again on May 1. Owner Gigi Oppenheimer says this is one of many new courses and membership plans designed to help people “deepen inner trust, heal, move and meditate.” Moving by Faith guides participants through a personal 30-day

Gigi Oppenheimer spiritual experience of “internalizing soul-deep security as a way of being,” Oppenheimer says. “Each daily step inward and forward is channeled with clairvoyant, clairaudient, empathic devotional direction for each participant’s unique progression toward firmer faith, self-confidence and harmony with God’s grace, guidance and divine flow. Healing, movement and meditation practices support the transformation.”

The course costs $300 and includes one virtual weekly class and daily mail-outs with personalized recorded guided minipractices to integrate progressive steps. In-person, private and introductory classes are also available.

White Lotus Grace now offers both an Intuitive Healing Membership and a Movement and Meditation Membership plan. The first plan provides a 30-minute weekly reading and/or healing session by phone, virtually or in person, for a monthly fee of $195 for 12 months. The second provides access to all classes for a monthly fee of $108 for 12 months.

Upcoming classes at White Lotus Grace include Mantra Meditation & Shielding, Sacred Song & Stories, Flowing Through Grief & Gratitude, Healing Dance, Stretch & Strengthen, Moving Meditation, Guided Meditation and Mantra Meditation.

Location: White Lotus Grace, Millbrook, NY. For more info, call 845.677.3517 or visit WhiteLotusgrace.com and Moving-by-Faith.com.

INTUITIVE ENERGY HEALING

The Temperance Center Merrill Black, LCSW Reiki Master/Instructor Light Body Quantum Healings 914.793.2600 TheTemperanceCenter.com

INTUITIVE HEALING

White Lotus Grace Healing/Dance/Readings 845.677.3517 Millbrook & Remote Whitelotusgrace.com

NEW AGE STORES

Persephone’s Pearl Spiritual Development Center Candles, Books, Tarot, Jewelry Psychics, Crystals, Classes, etc. 1014B Main St., Peekskill @persephonespearlpeekskill 914.737.3460 PersephonesPearl.com

The Soul Connection Shop Metaphysical Shop; Crystals, Jewelry, Reiki, Tarot, more at Universal Healing Arts Center Cortlandt Manor, 914.737.HEAL SoulConnectionShop.com

Synchronicity Psychics/Crystals Candles/Tarot/Sage 1511 Route 22 Brewster @synchronicityny 845.363.1765 SynchronicityNY.com

PSYCHIC MEDIUM

Angel Aura Spiritual Boutique 12 West Main St, Pawling, NY 845.493.0432 AngelAuraBoutique.com

QIGONG

In Balance Concepts Qigong. Tai Chi. Meditation 2505 Rt. 6, St. 108, Brewster 845.803.1992 Inbalancetaichi.com

REIKI

Balancing 4 Life Anne Bentzen, Jikiden Reiki Certified Teacher/Practitioner 25 Broadway, Pleasantville, NY 914.588.4079 Balancing4Life.com

Edit Babboni, CHC, RYT 200 Reiki Healing. Health Coaching. Yoga. 61 Lakeview Drive, Yorktown Heights, NY 917.721.2529 yoga.zengarden@gmail.com

Laura DeToia In person and Long-Distance Reiki 914.645.7704 MerkabaPeace.com

The Loving Lotus In person or remote sessions 914.557.8213; lovinglotus.org the.loving.lotusx3@gmail.com

TAROT CARD READINGS

Purple Lotus Zen Michelle B Whitney Tarot & Oracle Readings, Medium, Energ Healing. By phone appt. 914.513.8398; Purplelotuszen.com

WELLNESS BOUTIQUE

The Healing Collective NY 267A Central Ave. White Plains Shop & Heal: 914.236.HEAL thehealingcollectiveny.com

ASTROLOGY

Pam Cucinell Phone, online & in person 917.796.6026; InsightOasis.com

Samyama Flowering Tree Spiritual Astrologer, Intuitive Mentor-Coach & Teacher Samyamallc.com

ENERGY MEDICINE

Bernadette Bloom, MI Energy Healing & Teacher 239.289.3744 theesotericbloom.com Celestial Touch Laura Schek, Psychic Medium, Reiki Master 7 Arch St, Pawling, NY 845.244.1767 celestialtouchllc.com

Discover more healing resources on WakeUpNaturally.com

Find local classes and workshops on pages 38-42.