Spiritual Journaling and the Active Life

Journal, Breathe, Write, Create, Publish, Paint! Unleash your Creativity . . .

What I have discovered in my own writing and spiritual practices is that the two paths are one and the same. For example, everything that shows up in my life is an opportunity for me to practice my spiritual principles. Everything that shows up is also material for my writing life. We can use our journaling practice to strengthen both our spiritual life and our creative life.

I offer one to one guidance with spiritual journaling as well as five month spiritual journaling classes in Prairie du Sac and Madison Wisconsin. See my calendar for details.

What is spiritual journaling? Spiritual journaling are methods where we use writing to investigate our life circumstances, deepen our spiritual practices, increase our awareness and open us up to our creativity. Self-inquiry through journaling is a method used for thousands of years and is a way to access the inner teacher as well as open to all the creative wisdom we hold within. It's not all "out there," it's all within. Not that we don't rely on wisdom keepers, teachers, and sacred texts. We do. Only we use our spiritual journaling to personalize the spiritual information. Spiritual Journaling makes all the teachings truly accessible and applicable. This is about living the active life.

Your work with me can be as simple as getting you going on your spiritual journaling practice, to the more involved process of helping you to get published. I use my skills in intuitive counseling, writing, psychological training, transpersonal consulting, meditation and breath work to help you unleash your potential into reality. You may be a singer, writer, artist, bus driver, window washer or teacher whose creativity is somehow blocked. Or, you may just need a little support to take the next step in your creative life.

Join me and others on my blog through this winter where I offer journaling prompts for your spiritual and writing journey. 

 

The Unleashed Manuscript ™

This series is for those of you who want to develop, design and “Unleash” your book proposals out into the big, wide publishing world. I have designed many successful book proposals for clients and myself. Several writers have succeeded in getting a publisher. This series will be intimate and detailed. I will take you through a mockup proposal. You will have everything you need to send out a dynamic and successful book proposal. We will take time to develop a query letter; a cover letter, a strong platform, an author’s bio and the outline of a book proposal that publishers will read. As is part of my work, we will address areas where you may be stuck and in resistance with the use of some breathing, brief exercises and cognitive treatments. There will be time where we will write and you will receive helpful feedback. Finally, I will introduce you to successful research techniques in landing your perfect publisher.

The Unleashed Manuscript is ideal for those of you who have a book idea developing (you don’t have to have anything written), or already have a part or complete manuscript written. The next series will be offered in the Spring of 2010. 

I am also available to take your through this process one to one. We begin with a 1/2 free phone consultation. Call for you free consultation.608-963-0724. 

Spiritual Journaling: Writing Your Way to Enlightenment

A 10-week class that deepens your spiritual practice and opens you up to more of your creative and personal freedom. This class is for anyone wanting to explore journal writing as an avenue of exploration, creativity and insight. Writing exercises, breathing techniques, meditations, creative visualizations and mandala art will all be explored during this dynamic class. The cost of the 10 week class, limited to 12 is $250.00/$25 per class. A $75 deposit is needed to hold your place. This class is offered in Madison, and Prairie du Sac. Next class scheduled for Spring 2010.

Invite me to your retreat center, your annual retreat experience or spiritual group to take you on a personal spiritual pilgrimage using your journal. 

Listening To The Bones: One Day Retreat

I offer this one-day retreat at Thundering Clouds, LLC on my 40 acres in Bear Valley, Wisconsin, or in other retreat settings. During this retreat you will be writing; taping into a deeper connection to the Creative Genius within; and energizing your writing intentions. We practice writing meditations and rituals and engage in breath work to unleash your creativity. There will be time to explore the natural world and how this can help with your writing and creative life. Please contact me for more information on this retreat.

"I met the writer within at this retreat and haven't put the pen down since." David

"What I love about Julie's approach is she has a way to bring forth our greatest self, our most creative voice. I leave wanting more of what I find comes from me. She sets the example of someone living the creative life. The rest, fortunately, is up to me."  Sharon  

Open Day for Writers and Artists

Join me and others on the scheduled Fridays where I open Thundering Clouds and my 40 acres to the writer's eye and heart. Walk the large prairie spiral, meditate with the Three Jewel Labyrinth, sit and write in the gazebo or explore any of the many paths through the woods and hill. Next open day will be in May of 2010.   

I dedicate this day to William Stafford, who so readily opened his heart and home to writers. My upcoming book, THE WHEEL OF INITIATION: PRACTICES FOR RELEASING YOUR INNER LIGHT, is dedicated to this most amazing poet. I want to support and encourage the poet in you. Email me for directions. julie@julietallardjohnson.com

Come and make a nature mandala . . .

 

My writing bio

I love to write. Notes. BLogs. Letters. Poems, Books. Myths. Each day I rise and following my meditation practice I sit down with my journal or computer and write. I write because I have to. For no other reason then it allows me to make sense of my world. I love to read too. Notes. Books. Letters. Poems. Blogs. An occasional Twitter. 

 

My first book was my response to living with my brother's mental illness. I expanded from there. My latest book was on Spiritual Journaling and my next release in the Fall of 2010 is on personal spiritual initiation.

Author of nine published books and recipient of several writing awards, including the winner of The Independent Book Publisher Awards, 2002. “Teen Psychic: Exploring Your Intuitive Spiritual Powers” received a star review in Publisher’s Weekly, 2004 as a “book of depth and merit.” I have written in journals and practiced meditation since the age of 16. My most recent book: “Spiritual Journaling: Writing Your Way to Independence” helps the reader gain independence through journal writing. I have successfully helped clients get published, and students in my classes and workshops appreciate my ability to encourage them on their own creative, spiritual path. I am presently working on my fiction, “Room of Skins," as well as my book on personal spiritual initiation which will be released in the Fall of 2010.