From the Soul

On our Soul Journaling group dearest Kathryn Antyr keeps us supplied weekly with the most thought provoking prompts. First, let me admit to never being "caught up". I pick and choose and skip all over her great prompts intermingling them with my own stuff.  Applying them to my life and specific situations. Secondly, let me add that I always seem to re-interpret her wonderful ideas and interject my own - it's just my way.

Recently she has mentioned Vision Boards. This is a concept I began reading up on a few months ago but had yet to act on it. Kathryn and I were not reading the same books just books on the same subject matter. This is not a new concept-my book was printed nearly ten years ago. I cannot give an in depth view of the concept having not read the entire book but basically the idea is a matter of positive thinking combined with living with intent. (That is what I got from the portion of the book I actually read.)

You begin making your vision board by perusing magazines and such collecting images that speak to the future you would like to create for yourself. Once collected, you collage these images together and place the collage somewhere that you will view it often. If the law of attraction is on your side, you, by intentionally thinking about your goals and entertaining positive thinking toward that end draw into your life the stuff necessary to make your dreams come true.

I do believe our thoughts have a tremendous impact on our daily lives. The Bible states, "As a man thinketh, so is he." Phillipians 4:8 says, "Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, any virtue, any praise...think on these things." I shortened this verse for the sake of time but the essence is there. God also expects us to plan well. He declares this principle in the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7 and in Matthew 25 in the parable of the ten virgins. Prepare and plan.

My reason for making clear my reasoning behind what I do is simple. I am a Christian and while many of the teachings of the day can steer us down the New Age/Metaphysical path, if you are willing to take the good and leave that which does not coincide with your beliefs - then you may learn a bit along the way.  The key is to be certain of what it is you have put your faith in and remain true to that. We obviously will not get to heaven by accident so living intentionally makes perfect sense as well. Plan the work and work the plan. Tried and true.

Here is my Vision Board:

I sealed these pages and glittered them up so the glare made photographing these pages nearly impossible-sorry about how dark they turned out. I chose to put this into my journal, rather than on a separate board, so that I could have it with me regularly. In case you cannot read them, my goals on my vision board are thus: 1. See the beauty in the ordinary. 2. Grow closer everyday-to my mate. 3. Become my best self. Naturally. 4. Move toward mission work with God's help. 5. Appreciate nature. It is God's handiwork. 6. Strengthen female relationships. I wilt without them. 7. Create art. Now. And to do all this in such a way that it is elevated from the mundane to the sacred.

A recent prompt, also from Kathryn, with my 'spin' on it:

I had to renew my driver's license earlier this month and was mildly shocked when I compared the two photos taken just four years apart. I did not like the changes. The extra weight I now carry changes my appearance so drastically that I do not even look like myself. Therefore, that has become the focus of this prompt for me. My journaling reads as follows:

RELEASE: I hereby release myself from the bondage of overeating, fast food, diet gimmicks, diet soda, inactivity, food as solace and negative thinking. These can no longer hold me back.

RECEIVE: I hereby receive unto myself authenticity, health, objective thinking, natural foods, daily exercise, food as sustenance, joy, peace and love. These shall make me the person I want to be.

More journal pages:

An unfinished entry:

Just needs some journaling.

If you've made it this far...Thank you. My art is not always pretty and is sometimes too heavy for most but it is what is in my heart. My honesty, authenticity & love are really all I have to offer. It just doesn't fit into the mainstream of our society today, unfortunately. Until next time...Love.