Journaling for the witch is a powerful practice with lots of benefits.
As witches, journaling can help us record our thoughts, create our Book of Shadows or our Book of Seasons, make notes of important magickal practices, and capture our innermost thoughts.
If you’re new to it, getting started with journaling can feel a little overwhelming, though. Especially if you’re someone who gets a bit anxious when staring at the blank page.
(I see you.)
In this post, I’m going to share some simple ways to bring a bit of journaling’s practical magick and its benefits into your life.
Journaling for the Witch
Let me begin with this: I love journaling.
In fact, it has been so helpful to me in my own healing and spiritual journeys that I have given it a permanent place among the Ravynwood Foundations.
In case you don’t know, the Ravynwood Foundations are a set of 6 simple-to-use tools that I think belong in everyone’s toolbox. They are journaling, meditation, Reiki energy work, self-care, gratitude, and healing creativity.
I’ve been keeping a journal since I was in junior high school. And yes, I do still have them all.
The topics I write about have changed quite a lot over all those years, but one thing remains the same: journaling helps me understand myself and make sense of the world around me.
Getting Started
Don’t overthink this. It’s as simple as getting a notebook you like, your favorite pen, and writing down your thoughts.
It doesn’t matter if you ramble. It doesn’t matter if your handwriting is pretty or not. It doesn’t need to look curated or fancy.
It just needs to be authentically you.
Before you begin, you might want to consider if you’re going to keep just a single journal or if you’d like to create multiple ones. You can check out this post for 10 different types you might like to create.
I’m old-school in my own approach and believe that journaling is best done by putting pen to paper. The written word carries its own power, which adds depth to your writing.
Of course, you can choose an electronic version too. It’s really about what works for you.
The best journal for you is the one you’re actually going to use.
Tip: I am a big fan of creating daily rituals, so you could get your favorite cup of tea, a snack, and play your favorite music to make this time feel special.
When to do Your Journaling
If you are a morning person, then first thing in the morning might be perfect for you. I love this choice since I try to put everything that is most important to me in the beginning of my day. That way, I don’t run out of time or put it off because I get too tired.
Doing it first thing in the morning is also perfect for helping you get into the right headspace for your day. You can even combine your journaling practice with something else, like yoga, to give yourself a morning routine that truly gets your day started off right.
If you’re a late-night kind of person, then doing your journaling before bed might work best for you. It also gives you an opportunity to purge out any of the day’s events onto the page, so you’re not ruminating over them instead of sleeping.
It can also be nice to add in a few things that you’re grateful for at bedtime. Gratitude is a beautiful way to end your day.
If lunchtime or breaktime is your only option, then go with that. If you’re not sure what might work for you, try all of these options and even make up some new ones. Over time, you’ll know what works for you.
Creating the Journaling Habit
Write every day.
It’s really that simple. Set aside a few minutes and write.
You can even set a timer, so you’ll feel that sense of accomplishment when the timer goes off.
Now, don’t beat yourself up about missed days. That’s part of the journey. Gently bring yourself back to journaling every day.
If setting up rewards works for you, then do that.
(Something like: if I journal 10 minutes a day for 5 straight days, then I get an extra piece of dark chocolate this week would do wonders for my motivation. Just saying.)
If adding your journaling to another daily habit you already have works for you, then do that.
Be creative in how you approach it.
One thing that I find helpful when I am starting something new is to not think of it as having to do something, but as getting to do it.
Here’s an example:
- I have to journal today.
- I get to journal today.
Say both of these sentences out loud. Notice how each one feels. I’ll bet that you’ll notice a difference.
Another tip is to begin small. Just a few minutes is enough when you’re just starting out. You don’t want to make your journaling journey feel like a chore.
What to Do When You Feel Stuck?
If you feel stuck, just write about your day. Or write about yesterday. Or write about what you’re enjoying right now, whether that’s a book you’re reading or a new restaurant you found on your lunch break.
You can ask yourself questions like:
- How do I feel about that?
- Would I do something differently?
- What worked out and what didn’t?
You can also use journal prompts to simplify things when you’re feeling like you just don’t know what to write.
Know this: It’s ok to feel stuck sometimes. Just try again tomorrow if the words won’t come today. Take things step by step.
Try New Things
If writing feels hard for you, maybe try a more visual type of journal. Maybe something that uses images and words. Or one that has places to doodle or draw.
You might also try talk to text. There’s no such thing as speaker’s block is there? So just talk and let technology do the writing for you. This can be very effective. Give it a go next time you’re stuck.
Mix it up with different types of journals. Try a project journal, vacation journal or a bullet journal.
Journaling Privacy
This is a big one. Your journal is yours. It should be private and feel safe for you. You can express yourself freely here. This is your journal and protecting it is your right and your responsibility.
Summary of Journaling for the Witch
Creating a journaling practice is a way to capture your thoughts, understand yourself better, purge the events of each day, and express your gratitude.
We’ve looked at how to do it, when to do it, and why you’ll want to.
There’s no one way to do it and no one way that it will work best for everyone, so experiment until you find what works for you.
For the witch, journaling is a foundational tool that’s well worth bringing into your life since it supports your personal growth and your spiritual path.
Remember, the path of the witch is one of creating joy. Journaling for the witch is the same.
Blessed be.
You might like these too.
10 Types of Journals You Can Create
Journaling is a Powerful Tool for the Healing Journey
How to Create Your Green Witch Book of Seasons
Karen
