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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.
"Love Letters"
Who among us doesn't love a love letter? Here are 28
suggestions -- one for each day of this loving month --
to help you explore the many dimensions of your
appreciation and care.
Letters are one of the three primarily relational
journal techniques (Dialogue and Character Sketch are
the others) and are intentionally designed to be a one-way
communication. Since you have the entire stage, you can
feel free to express yourself in as much detail, and
with as much emotion, as you wish. However, before you
send your letter, tuck it away overnight. Perhaps stash
it beneath your pillow, to literally sleep on it. Read
it again the following day. If it feels right, mail it.
If not, leave it in your journal. There's plenty of
benefit from just having written the letter.
Devote yourself to a full month of open-heartedness.
Notice what happens to the quality of your
relationships, personal empowerment, and energy.
1. Who is your dearest friend? Write a letter telling
her/him what you value, appreciate and enjoy about your
friendship. Share a favorite moment.
2. Write a letter to someone in your local community
whose leadership or volunteer work you admire.
3. What's your favorite restaurant? What do you love
about it? Drop the owner, manager or a special
waitperson a note.
4. Write your employer or supervisor a note of
appreciation for your job. If you're self-employed,
write to yourself.
5. Bodyworker Anne Rojo says, "Why not fall in
love with the body you've been sleeping with every night
of your life?" Write a love letter to your body.
6. As an author, I deeply appreciate letters from
readers who have enjoyed my books. Write to a favorite
author today. If you can't find an address in the book
or on the internet, send it in care of the publisher --
it may take a while, but it will be forwarded.
7. Write a love letter to someone in your family or
extended family who is older than you.
8. What is your special creative talent or gift?
Write a love letter to your Muse, expressing thanks for
inspiration to express your creativity.
9. Write a love letter to someone who makes you
laugh.
10. Write a love letter to God.
11. What teacher from your childhood or adolescence
really made a positive difference in your life? Write a
letter to him or her. This is a good one to send, if the
teacher can be found.
12. Write a love letter to a friend from the animal
kingdom -- a current or former pet, the birds at the
feeder, a member of an endangered species.
13. Write an e-mail of appreciation or admiration to
someone you know, or know of, only from the internet.
14. Write a love letter to the love of your life --
past, present or future.
15. What is the place you call home? Write a love
letter to your physical dwelling, neighborhood, city,
state or region.
16. Entire ancient civilizations worshipped the sun,
knowing that no earthly life could be sustained without
it. Write a love letter to the sun, or to your favorite
natural element.
17. Write a love letter to someone in your family or
extended family who is younger than you.
18. Write a letter of gratitude and appreciation to
someone who helps care for your body -- physician,
massage therapist, dental hygienist, pharmacist.
19. Write a love letter to someone who has been like
a father to you.
20. We all have habits or behavior patterns that we'd
like to change. Today, instead of cursing it, write a
love letter to one of them.
21. Write a love letter to someone who serves you in
the course of everyday life -- the grocery check-out
clerk, your mail carrier, your auto mechanic, your
financial advisor.
22. On the birthday of the first president of the
United States, write a letter of appreciation to a
political figure whose leadership you admire and
support.
23. Write a love letter to someone who has been like
a mother to you.
24. Write a love letter to a beautiful place in
nature where you go to be restored.
25. Write a letter to a charity or nonprofit
organization that puts love into action. Enclose a
check.
26. Write a love letter to your guardian angel,
spirit guide, patron saint, Higher Self, clergy, or
other spiritual wisdom figure.
27. Write a love letter to whatever or whoever once
saved your life, literally or metaphorically.
28. Write a love letter to your Emerging Self -- the
"you" you are becoming.
© 2001 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:
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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