A spiritual journal practice is an excellent way to bring God closer in our daily lives. These 7 writing tips invite journal writers to deepen their spiritual writing practice and raise it to a new level of Awe and enjoyment. The creative arts and spirituality are cornerstones of many sacred practices. Writing is a form of prayer and exploration. These 7 tips invite insights and a fruitful encounter with the Divine in this Holy Year of Mercy.

1. WWW.SEEKINGMARY.ORG
Awesome
Journaling
7 Tips
7 Tips to Invigorate
Your Spiritual Writing
Practice
Melissa A. Rosati, CPCC

2. Awe
an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder
that is inspired by authority or the sacred or by the sublime
(noun)
Awesome
causing feelings of fear and wonder:
causing feelings of awe
(adjective)
Journaling
a recording of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly
for private use.
(Verb)
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary

3. #1: Don't Be Afraid
All creative self-expression
is a form of prayer. Writing
is a beautiful modality to
involve the Sacred into our
daily lives. Where to start?
Here is a lovely prompt to
begin:
Dear Holy Mother,
_______________________________
_______________________________

4. #2: Handwrite
Your Journal
You are an amazing
human being with 34
muscles working your
thumb and fingers, plus
17 muscles in your palm.
Writing by hand, slows
you down, allowing your
emotions and creative
energy to work together.
SLOW DOWN!

5. #4: Be Consistent
We lead busy lives and it is easy
to lose our rhythm or mojo.
Writing is a muscle and a
practice. Commit to what is
realistic for you. Fifteen minutes
twice each week or thirty
minutes once each week.
Choose what works for your
lifestyle and put it in your
schedule.

6. #3: Cherish Your
Privacy
We live in a selfie world. The
Internet is like electricity. It
surrounds us.
Sharing and engaging with
others on social platforms are
fun activities we all enjoy.
Writing a spiritual journal is your
time to feel surrounded by God.
To listen. Yours is a precious
relationship. Keep it sacred and
off social media!

7. #5: Mix It Up!
Writing is a muscle and I
promise you will get muscle
fatigue! Feeling uninspired
or stale? Rest easy. We all
feel that way sometimes.
Muscle fatigue is an
invitation to change
modalities. Draw, paint, sing
a tune, make a collage.
Allow your creativity to flow
in a new way.

8. #6: Use Audio &
Visual Prompts
Write with music playing in
the background. Pick music
you like. And, every now and
then, choose music you don't
like. You'll be surprised..
Go outside. Choose an image
from nature or a shop
window. What does this
image want you to know?

9. #7: Be Joyous!
Writing opens our hearts
and God has a tender way
of working with our
vulnerabilities. Yours is a
path of Awsome
Journaling, willing to
stretch and explore
the Awe of your
relationship with God.
What could be more
joyous than that?!

10. About Melissa
I'm Melissa A. Rosati, lifelong journal writer and
spiritual seeker. In 1988, after a series of dreams,
I converted to Catholicism and have been
exploring what Awe means to me ever since.
Blessed in my publishing career, I've had the
privilege to work with extraordinary writers from
all walks of life. My passion for creativity allows
me to lead workshops in settings as diverse as
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Yale
University, Skidmore College, Geneva Writers'
Group, among others.
I live in New York City with my husband Michael
and our cat "Social Media" Max.

11. C
R
E
D
I
T
S
Our Holy
Mother,
Church of
Notre Dame,
Morningside
Heights,
New York City
Our Lady of
Refuge,
Church of St.
Francis of
Assisi, at West
31 Street, near
Penn Station
In the Bronx,
near Our Lady
of Mt. Carmel,
inspiring
graffiti adorns
many brick
walls.
These photos
are from my
church visits.
All of the other
photos are
from my
favorite source:
unsplash.com

12. Let's learn from
each other by
sharing Awesome
Journal writing tips.
Members-only
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To join one or both,
email request to:
melissa@seekingmary.org
On Facebook:
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Awesome Journaling

13. Email: melissa@seekingmary.org
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