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In ancient
times, scribes were devotees of the Word. They were the
bridges between worlds, charged with the sacred task of
painstakingly transcribing the Mysteries into a form
that could be referenced by holy men and women. Many
centuries later, our modern journals give us unlimited
access to the Mysteries of our souls. Through this
column, I hope to offer ways that we can approach our
own lives with the love and devotion of the scribes of
old.
Poem of the Month
New Year 2002
The dream changes at midnight
when I begin to peel the year
like ripe fruit, letting old
mistakes and bitter regrets fall
away in cupped segments like rough
rind. I hold tight to the intent
to master this annual birth, this
time learning to forgive the old
wounds, celebrate the common joys.
It takes a gentle hand to undo
the layers, bare the tender flesh
and never damage beyond a bruise.
There is little time for standing
still. I move into the new year
sticky and fragrant with the scent
of earth and sun and hope on my
hands, and the urge to mix tart
pulp with sweet cream, letting
the juice drip from my fingers
and chin without apology.
-- Amy Christman
Journal Prompts:
- This poem was written from a word game Amy plays with her writing group. She was given ten words and told to compose them into a poem. The words are: common, cream, birth, forgive, peel, still, master, ripe,
midnight, never. Try your own poem.
- Make up your own "juicy word" bowl or pouch and
draw a few words from it. Incorporate these words into a write or a poem.
- What is different about you in 2002?
- If you could choose three things to focus on in 2002, what would they be? Write an intention or vision statement. Make it vivid and detailed.
©
Kathleen Adams. All Rights Reserved
Kathleen Adams LPC, RPT is a
Registered Poetry/Journal Therapist and Director of The
Center for Journal Therapy in Lakewood, Colorado. She is
one of the leading voices on the power of writing to
heal and is the author of four books, including Journal
to the Self and The Write Way to Wellness.
Her upcoming seminars include the annual 5-day women’s
writing retreat in Colorado July 8-13, and a one-day
Journal to the Self workshop in Denver in late July. She
would love your feedback on this column; please e-mail kay@journaltherapy.com
or stop by her website, www.journaltherapy.com.
Read
Kathleen's Past "Scribing the Soul" Columns:
December
2001 "Unseen Companions"
November
2001 "Families Writing"
October
2001 "Coping Strategies for Times of Crisis"
September
2001 "Journal of a Synchronicity"
August
2001 "Rituals for Soulful Writing"
July
2001 "A
Baker’s Dozen Ways to Journal Your Dreams"
April
2001 "Journals to Go"
March
2001 "Healing Words, Healing Touch: Jihan's Letters"
February
2001 "Love Letters"
January
2001 "Scribing
the Authentic Self"
December
2000 "Riding the Inky Wave"
November
2000 "The Good News"
October
2000 "Soul Food: Exploring Affirmations in
Writing"
September
2000 "Diary of a Headache"
August
2000 "Making Up the Truth"
July
2000 "Pockets of Joy"
June
2000 "Five Ways to Scribe Your Intuition"
Read
Kathleen's Feature Article on Dream Journals:
Writing
in the Dark: Cracking the Soul's Code Through Dream
Journals
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