#experience journal

[bloodmoon333]

The Benefits of Keeping a Journal

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey keeping the journal can be one of the best things you can do for yourself.

I can’t really say when I first began my spiritual journey, as I feel like I’ve always been on this path whether I was consciously aware of it or not. But, when I decided to begin committing to my spiritual path I started a journal for myself. I call it my Experience Journal, it’s where I keep record of some of the spiritual experiences I’ve been through. I began it back in 2014 and it’s hard to believe that I’ve had it for this long and I’m still working on filling the pages!

These are some of the pros to keeping a journal about your spiritual experiences and spiritual work:

Validates your experiences! This is one of the biggest benefits I find from keeping a journal. Being able to read over my past experiences reminds me of how real they were to me, and that I am capable of what I’m doing.

You can learn more about your experience! One of the things that I love about writing down my experiences is that I usually end up learning more about it in the process. Writing, for me at least, helps the information flow more easily and I can let the story play out naturally.

Track your progress over time. Of course, who doesn’t love to see how much they’ve grown over time? This is a really great way to see how far you’ve come and appreciate yourself and all you’ve been through!

Here are a few tips I would like to share with all of you about keeping a journal like this:

 Have fun with it! Allow yourself to be creative with your journal, draw pictures, colour them in later, use different coloured pens. Add whatever inspires you.

Write when you want to not because you have to. I personally have a difficult time with routines or keeping to a schedule. So, when I created my journal I promised myself that I would only write when I felt inspired to do so. This maintains the ‘fun’ feeling of keeping a journal without feeling obligated to myself to keep up with it - which can ruin the fun for me.

Remember that this journal is for YOU and you alone. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, punctuation, or about sounding ‘perfect.’ You’re writing this for you, to help you validate your experiences, not to prove yourself to anyone, including yourself.

Be flexible about what you write about in your journal. I have had numerous journals in the past for separate things such as Tarot Readings, Plant Medicine and Dream Work. None really stuck with me except for my Experience Journal, and I believe that is in part due to the fact that I have always been very flexible about what I include in it. I personally title my entries, and I use different coloured pens for fun. But you could colour-code the entries if you wanted to have easy and quick reference to experiences you want to keep track of over time. Examples would be Dreamwork, Daydreams, Astral Work, Meditation, Healing/Healing exchanges, Intention Setting, Working with the Lunar Cycle, Gridwork, etc.

No matter what though, this is your journal for you to be creative with! So go have some fun with it! This is how our stories begin! <3

Blessed Be,

Bloodmoon

[nervousruinscreation]

Experience Journal 1

1) Did something happen today that, if even for a brief moment, gave you a sense of  joy, excitement, and aliveness?

I’m working heaps at the moment, and so I am trying to make sure that I am still doing self care tasks. Honestly some days getting or knowing that I am going to order a barista made dirty soy chai latte with an extra coffee shot is actually getting me through the mornings. Sipping on the sweet, spicy coffee while setting up the sticky and dirt filled bar, in the pop up venue in the middle of a park, actually helps me romanticise the experience.

While my body feels so weary and sore, working back to back shifts across 3 jobs, the coffee gets my brain working and able to think strategically. Remember the tasks that i need to do and make sure i do them in the right order. 

2) Dig a little deeper:  What was it about that experience that specifically brought those qualities up? Said another way, what was underneath it that for you elicits the sensation of joy, excitement, and aliveness?

hmmmm honestly its just doing something that feels like its just for me. having little rituals that help you get through the day when the going is tough. I feel like when you’re really going through it you need to do extra things for yourself. Spending money on these little luxuries sometimes seems silly, because its so transient, its something that only lasts a short while. But i do believe in investing in experiences over objects when you can, and the experiences often within my means tend to be on the smaller side.

I also like the mindfulness part of the ritual. When I first learnt about mindfulness exercises, I was a very anxious 17 year old, completing the last year of year 12. I started getting panic attacks, constantly worried about homework, assignments and the future. I went through these cycles of losing this USB to cart around my homework, because I didn’t ever have enough data /emailing yourself your work and online clouds like the Gdrive wasn’t a thing. I started seeing a psychologist who recommended mindfulness, and I thought it was the biggest crock of shit* and it was boring too. 

I didn’t see the point in trying to be still and think about how your breath felt in your body. It felt like all the anxiety symptoms would be getting louder. Notice how your hands are sweaty, and that you feel the need to rush whereever you go, your knees feel wobbly when you walk into a room, and you feel like everyone’s eyes are on you and their gaze stings. Notice how your breathing is really short and quick, and it feels like its only getting harder to breathe. Yeah, no thanks.

But it turns out life is like an ongoing choose your own adventure book. While I am still not a fan of applying mindfulness in that way, I feel like it is useful to apply when you notice ‘oh my thoughts are being rather paniced right now, whats going on here’. And to also utilise the mindful techniques of thinking about what something, smells like, tastes like, looks like when its a nice sensation. I’m a big fan of finding ways to romanticise your own life. 

*Hey Tom, I hope you don’t mind my use of swear words or whatever. In my opinion i see it as a way to be true to the way that I often express myself. & Its not intended to offend.

3) Do you see opportunities for this insight to be applied to other aspects of your life?

Absolutely. Life is a patchwork of all the little things. So its important to enjoy all the little things. 

4) If that sense of aliveness and excitement is an indicator of inner purpose and personal mission, how might you state yours? (no need for a literary masterpiece, just authenticity— allow it to be as clunky or as succinct as suits you.)

mmmmm yes, no. I don’t know. 

Like honestly I feel like the more people learn about mental health, theres and other peoples the better off that we will all be. I think everyone needs a level of self mastering and healing in order to have success or to feel like they are worthy of success. I think the way that we approach care for mental health isn’t best practise as often its so inaccessible, but it places so much emphasis on the experts being the authority, when we are all experts in our own lives. 

Like in some ways thinking about having a personal mission on some level feels a bit embarrassing but its also something I really like thinking about?

- I think the stigma around mental health & wellbeing needs to shift.

- There needs to be an emphasis on community care, as a means of prevention for things that can impact people’s mental health like isolation, but to also help with people’s ongoing healing and recovering journey. 

- I also think that everyone should be able to have access to some nice things in there life. I think to be able to survive and thrive that everyone needs at least one arena in their life where they can feel good about themselves. 

I think a good case study for this is having more opportunity for the everyday person to engage in arts experiences that also connect themselves to other people in low pressure environments.

Like the No Lights, no lycra movement - sober dance parties or more structured dance classes where the focus is not based on reinforcing structures that make people feel bad about themselves. Like a focus on burning calories to lose weight, or to aim to be a specific level of good. 

[myyoungevitymm]

CP cerebral palsy - Dr. Joel Wallach

CP cerebral palsy – Dr. Joel Wallach

Dr. Joel Wallach takes a call from Mosh has a friend who was born with CP (cerebral palsy).

   View On WordPress

[experience-journal]

#15. Getting ready for the production !

I'm reaching out to several print shops, and figuring out the criteria that fits to Experience Journal. Bear Better was my original plan, but they don't provide sewn bindings at the moment, which I think is one of the most important quality for sketching. I ordered some sample notebooks, and willing to find out the perfect print shop soon.

In the meantime, I started brainstorming "User Journey" for Experience Journal. I'm listing things to consider on my analogue dashboard, and so many decisions should be made before the real fun things ! I'm trying not to be overwhelmed, but to enjoy the process.

Last week, Experience Journal was featured on PSFK. (http://www.psfk.com/2014/05/anti-phone-creative-journal.html)

I feel so grateful that I started to meet even more audience from all around the world! Thanks a lot !

[experience-journal]

#12. Highfidelity Prototyping : Week-never-ends!

High fidelity prototyping took all my weekends- lol I spent 3 days and nights at the studio and my desk got literally messy, but  I had so much fun!

Sometimes it feels really nice to concentrate on crafting things. After a lot of trials and errors and long-hard working hours, I could finally get my first version of Experience Journal! Here are some of the updates : 

1. Graphic elements 

Finalized graphic elements such as type and margins. As I was looking at the grid so long time, I felt bit lost to arrange so many elements.  With the help of talented graphic designer Dami, I could get satisfying updates!

2. Size  Decided "Width / Height / Thickness(# of page)". I was looking for a exact size which is handy but also has enough space. While doing the research, I found amazing B6 size notebook at MUJI and felt this is what I was looking for. I asked my SVA peers if the size felt right, and finally decided to stick to the size.

B6 : Width : 130mm / Height : 180mm / Thickness : 1cm (80pages)

2. Texture : paper

I still have to figure out which paper to use in final production if I succeed in funding. However, I found out the right feeling for Experience Journal. I used 60lbs recycled canson paper for the prototype. I like the feeling of natural white, texture is good for both pencil and pen, and it is not too thick nor too thin.

3. Binding : must open 180 degree and shouldn't tear out!

I have used so many kinds of notebooks previously, and it feels really bad when paper tears out. As this journal is about experience, which is precious, I want people can preserve it for long time. I found out binding method called "smyth swen binding" and experimented by myself. I hand stitched every pages, and glued them with book binding glues. - very successful!

4. Cover

As this is a journal about experience, I wanted give some textures and analogue feelings - so I silk screen printed the cover on the brown craft paper.  Deciding the cover was most difficult thing. I personally prefer to have various choices of covers, but thinking about the production cost, various cover should be additional thing. I decided to keep it simple as possible at the moment. I wish I could give option for the cover in the future.

So, I'm done !

I feel so scared whenever I'm alone in the studio at late night, so I usually leave with the last person. However, as I really had to be at studio after midnight, I did facetime with my parents in Korea for 3 hours, and realized it really helps...lol !

Even though small notebook could look simple, but it takes time and effort to make something really meaningful and good - So here are my final prototype before production !

[experience-journal]

#11. User testing - Feedback

I was so curious to get feedback from the beta testers, and finally I collected the notebooks back. This user research really helped me to have clear definition of what "Experience Journal" is, and who will be mostly benefited from the product. It really helped me to finalize the visual framework of the journal. Here are some notes :

1. Interior Designer / Lighting Artist / Architect

This user group will be benefited the most from the Experience Journal. I got really nice feedbacks from Parsons Graduate students. They naturally knew how to fill out the grids. Looking their drawings and observations was really interesting and insightful.

One of the student said that "It is good in that it reminds me the things that interior designer should be mindful about, otherwise it's easy to miss it".

There was one feedback that says " It feels awkward to write in front of friends at the space." I totally agree with this opinion.  What I do is, I fully concentrate on the moment and people who I am with. However, if I felt strong feelings, I sit down at the desk at home and reminds me of the experiences and find out what did I miss, so that I can be mindful naturally next time.

They want to have bigger space for drawing, but also they like the handy size. --> I have to find the best balance between enough drawing space and handy size.

I was so happy to hear that they want and need this! Yayee!

2. Design  & Art people

Being a good designer starts from a good observation. In this sense, this framework will help all kinds of designers. They were generally positive about the concept, however, there was a feedback that it takes some time to fill out the frameworks. 

Also, art students said that they want some specific grids for artworks and museums which I really want to make as a next version!  

3. Other amazing people (Writer, Historian, Students)

They liked the concept of the Experience Journal, however some said that they were intimidated to see the blank grid and draw. They understands needs for the journal, and think they can learn more about interior design by writing the journal, however, they won't be the daily user.

However, most importantly I could find really precious user group ! Those who want to open their own restaurant, cafe or shops- This will be a good research journal for them.

I truly wish Experience Journal can be really meaningful and useful toolkit for people. If I try to satisfy every people, no body will be satisfied in the end. I really should know the audience and focus on their needs. Thank you so much again for your feedbacks ! 

[visualessaybyhanna]

By. Vanessa, Interior Design Graduate Student, NYC