Gratitude Journal

Inspired by the upcoming holiday, I created a Visual Journal page dedicated to all the blessings in my life.  In the following video I share with you the step-by-step process of the creation of my latest journal page.  It was such fun to fill my page with all I am grateful for and to play with bright, bold colors on the page.  As I layered materials and waited for paint to dry I engaged the process as a meditation.  Taking the time to simply be present with this creative process brought a sense of lightness to the rest of my day.

In the book, Crafting Gratitude by Maggie Oman Shannon, I share how keeping a Visual Journal is an act of gratitude for me.  Even on days that my intention is not to make a dedicated Gratitude Page, I consider the process a prayer of thanksgiving.

May this page serve as inspiration for your Visual Journal.  Use the ideas that look like fun to you and improvise with the rest.  As always, there is no right or wrong way to create in your journal.

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends who celebrate in the U.S.  Sending you love, blessings and buckets full of gratitude!

Rev. Jen

Supplies: Sketch Book, Collage Papers, Glue Stick, Gesso, Permanent Markers, Tempera Paint, Oil Pastels

Process:
Prepare background using collage papers

Cover page with Gesso or thick white paint. As you let your page dry, find a quiet place to contemplate all the blessings in your life.

Using a permanent marker, fill the page with all you have to be grateful for. You may even wish to add some things that have not yet presented themselves.

Add color to your page with layers of tempera paint, markers or tissue paper. As you let the paint dry, once again use the space for meditative reflection. Listen to your heart for any message or affirmation to add to your page.

Create a solid layer to write upon using collage papers.

Write out your message or affirmation using permanent marker

Add a final layer of color and texture using oil pastels

If you enjoy keeping a Visual Journal, I would like to invite you to join our FB group dedicated to Visual Journals.  We would love to see your gratitude journal page!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/VisualJournalCommunity/

For those of you who live in the Kansas City, MO area, I would also like to invite you to join me for our weekly Visual Journal program held at Unity Village.  For more details and a map to our meeting room visit our events page.

“I attended my first Vision Journal Meeting yesterday. With very little artistic experience, I went in not knowing what to expect. I was completely awestruck by my page creation! Jen provided an embracing energy that encouraged me to have fun and go with the flow. I felt like a kid again!! I would absolutely recommend trying these workshops. I enjoyed it so much, that I even purchased a 5 class pass.” -Recent Class Participant