I've tried to learn to begin at a moment's notice, anywhere. I used to have rituals but they became a form of procrastination. As a side note, I used to burn incense until I found out that it was carcinogenic.
From my beginning I have always had healing time in the forest. I love doing yoga in my creek bed. Coming on a year now, my friend from 5 years old took her own life. We had a secret village we made in the woods with a whole imagined life around it. We went barefoot and cooked imaginary food on our imaginary stone ovens. I had just talked to her the day before. When I heard the next day that she had passed, I ran out my door and down into my woods because that is where I knew she would be. I cried and wailed and hit the ground and the earth absorbed my pain and took my tears. I haven't gone back into my woods since that day a year ago. When I heard you say, "tree medicine", I heard an internal "yes." I didn't consciously realize that the forest has been giving me medicine all my life. And I have suffered for it over the last many months. I'm stepping back into my forest today Wendy. I'm going to greet Cara there and all the forest friends I've turned my back to. I will breathe that medicine back in and absorb it into my skin and sight. And I will say that I am sorry to her and to me that I have been gone so long. Thank you for reminding me of the medicine of the trees. ☘
I’ve been watching your Videos for the past couple of days. Today I went out to the shed and got out are old caravan table. I’ve cleaned it down and set it up in my attic room, under a Velux. My art supply’s are on the table, I’ve put a couple off small plants there as well. I was just thinking of getting some crystal and putting those on my Work station , when you meantioned it. Thankyou for inspiring me 💜💚❤️🌈
Wendy, I love this video as I do most all, but this one is special... Life is getting better now, but I have spent a lot of time with you and your videos, so Thank You so much, nice having coffee with you in the mornings...I am 81 years now, but I do not feel 81...My Art and Writing Practice has helped so much through my journey...Going to another country, learning a new language and so much more... at 80, has been life-changing for me. I miss my own country, and my family so nice to have your company. Thank you. Much love to you this morning. KCP
So glad to have discovered your channel now that I’ve decided to start journaling. When I paint with watercolours I have a lovely handmade mug for the essential Lapsang tea, rain sound effects in the background and I’m surrounded by my cats and plants.
I love your wisdom. The world does tell us to run, to concore, to do more and more and more. I feel some time it is best to meld with things for a while with out distroying are selves in the process. Thanks for confirming my own feelings when the world tells us we're not enough on our own.
I absolutely LOVE your videos, you are so underrated! Your videos are so comforting and I watch them all the time! Your voice and content is so relaxing and inspiring!
I love the suggestions you list. I especially like the idea of emailing yourself with ideas and inspiration - a message from our inner muse! Thank you so much!
Amazing tips. You make my creative soul sing, , where have you been all my life? Hmm mm, guilty of not wanting to use my supplies. Thank you so very much for the inspiration. Blessings from my heart to yours. Hugs 😍💕
Hello there, I found your lovely channel quite recently. I love how you demystify and encourage art making- and your multi layered style. I’m a barefooter too- when I can. Sometimes on grass, I immediately feel something go out of me through my feet and into the ground. It always feels good. I’ll stop writing and watch the rest of your vid now. Thanks for being out there.
There is a documentary on youtube about the benefit of going barefoot. It was quite interesting. I think it was called, The Earthing Movement. Or something like that... 💕
I absolutely adore you. I felt like I was watching myself when watching this video. From talking to plants to having crystals hanging out with me. I smudge (burn white sage) in my space to clear the area. I being feathers, leaves, rocks and twigs in for inspiration and then gift them to my garden later. Thank you for your videos and sharing about your process.
I am so glad I found you. I love journaling because it is a place to come to where you are totally met and accepted and you feel safe to say and do exactly what you want. It can be happy or sad and no one judges
Great tips. I'm a songwriter and performer but I love the idea of having a journal that is visual and written, going to give it a go this week, so excited! 💜
The lines you read reminded me of the Jimmy Buffett song “Oysters and Pearls.” Chorus: “Some people love to lead And some refuse to dance. Some play it safely, other take a chance. Still it's all a mystery This place we call the world Where most live as oysters While some become pearls.“ Love your journaling videos!
Love this and I’m so glad I stumbled into your channel. Journaling has always been a little ritual event for me too. A candle. A scent. My rooibos chai tea in a favorite cup. Music I love... usually Celtic instrumental and a fur baby or two in my lap.
My heart has been aching and I feel so depressed and I'm unwell. I'm sorry to be a bummer. You are such a sweetheart and I feel so drawn to your work and teachings. Thank you so much for helping, I felt a bit of hope to actually do something like making a journal that would feel like a friend to me, such a special idea, thank you again.
Again, another lovely video! I love that you put your journals in a basket. It makes them sacred - which they are! I have fairy lights in my studio, but I’ll be more mindful of how I enter into my journaling space after seeing this. Thanks!
I love your videos. I ended up making a "bad art." My watercolor base mixed poorly because I was impatient. But you inspire me to push on ahead and honestly that page in my art book is now an inspirational piece with mixed media.
Dear Gypsy, still catching up from being unwell. Learn and understand more after watching another of your videos. Enjoy seeing the nature walks-am old and have never traveled much-so love seeing everyday life in other parts of the world. It is so beautiful there where you live! Thanks for your insight and knowledge. Enjoyed
Wow hey I found you by accident, and so happy I did..you are so cool lady.. love the way you prepare for starting you journal. ..glad I find you. Thank you have a great day.
I am like you, i need nature and nature walks..meditative and so calming. I live on the American river in California and I walk everyday! I see many creatures like coyotes, rabbits and turkeys etc..they are my friends. Thank you for being you...i feel i have met a kindred soul..
You're such an inspiration.. I've been dabbling in watercolor for about a year now and have never considered myself an artistic person but watching your channel has inspired to give art journaling a go.
I am so excited to begin my journal thanks to you! I asked my hubbie for one for Christmas but he has already given it to me. I so want to wait to begin at Christmas but your videos are making me impatient 😅 thank you for guiding and filling me with inspiration xx
I love your videos...authentic, inspiring, relaxing! I like to work best in my little art room where my desk faces windows. I enjoy it anytime, but my favorite time is in the morning when I am fresh it’s quiet. 💜
I don't own every art supply in the world, despite what my husband and sister might think! So many of them never get touched. I'll try to change that. These days I'm creating note cards and fabric postcards. Love watching your videos!
So happy to find you! You've inspired me to start journaling. I love art etc but it's a great way to practice and be creative while also getting out my thoughts and feelings. And you're just so gorgeous inside and out 🌷💖
Found your channel by accident, no, it was not accident, I was meant to find it!! 🍁 Oh my gosh I love this video, exactly what I needed to hear. I have just ventured back into art by creating cards, and you have opened up a whole new world for me. 💗 Thank you so much and lots of love xxx
Lovely surprise to find your channel about a week ago. We were meant to be in Glastonbury this week so finding your channel felt serendipitous. I can only echo what everyone else has said about feeling inspired & grateful to you for sharing your thoughts & practices! Lovely calming & uplifting videos! Thank you x
Colleen.... from Montreal please don't take this as a negative....But its so nice to see a mature person getting out there and making a niche for herself on RU-vid. Its such a competitive format and no offense to millennials (I don't think you are from that age group(?) I am older than you so it is hard for me to judge, lol. We ARE so fed up with the pandemic also here in Montreal. So just to send a positive vibe to the people suffering in the uk we ofter admire and get inspired by the chin up attitude and never give up as inspirational. I stumbled upon your website by chance and What I like about your videos ....... You are not always unbelievably happy ALL the time!!!! You aren't wealthy pretending to be not And you present yourself as you are Good luck and stay safe.
I found you by accident too 😊...... And I'm so pleased I did ! ...., having a little routine sounds good. I do have some amethyst and fairy lights (my favourite thing to have in every room !!) 💖
Lovely ! Thanks for the references to the cards and book ... I ordered the book straight away ! As for the cards ... I ended up ordering the book, "The Map", by Colette Baron-Reid. 😊 Thanks to you I discovered these treasures. 🙏🌷
i am inspired by music and I try to listen to all kinds and not limit my listening to any one particular type. My husband loves classical and i did not like it but by listening over the years with him i learned how to enjoy it. Same with my art to try thinks I think I can't do and just use my imagination to be myself I try not to be a copy of someone else but let them inspire me like your channel inspires me. Thanks for sharing.
Good morning from Ontario canada. Thank you so much for your videos. You truly are an inspiration. Watching your videos is becoming a morning ritual for me. Please take care of you. Hugs.🧚♀️
I just found your videos and have always wanted to make beautiful art journals, but am so busy and scatter-brained, I haven't tried it. I guess my new ritual is to get up super-early, while my husband is asleep to do some drawing in my sketch book. I love incense, too. White sage is my favorite. Thank you for sharing this. Watching you make beautiful work is an inspiration.
Discovering your channel was a happy accident and now I’m learning so much from you. I haven’t got rituals other than making a hot drink to sip while I consider what I’m going to create but I’m going to start using some essential oils and oracle cards before I start after watching your video :)
So glad you found your way here Jo. Hot drinks are underrated! I’m glad you are inspired to extend your rituals. I sometimes put essential oils on my pages too... keep well. 😚😚🌷🌷
Hey Wendy! *waves* Tea is ritually important to me. I also like to go tree hugging, check on my container garden and have a chat with the birds and any other wildlife I come across. With my art supplies, indeed there are some I haven't yet used. Need to remedy that. But mostly, I like to either spread them out or stack them close at hand in clear boxes, so I know what's available. Love the page edging decor on your journals. How do you do that? The tree, for instance. Bright blessings.
I’ve just discovered your happy studio and it is inspiring me. I have rituals for waking, centering but have been out of the studio habit during illness and recovery. You are encouraging me to start and so I will be making new rituals soon for journaling. Thank you!
Thanks for the the your inspirational video's Wendy, I enjoy creating various things myself, but have been struggling with motivation due to various things over the past couple of year's but I'm hoping to get back very soon, anyway best wishes to you & your family x
All of your ideas are useful, but today the card stuck with me. Hours later, I opened a new packet of tea and there was a painting of a peacock. I thought, "I must save this". Then suddenly I saw it as a focal point on a card. So I got the idea of doing a Tarot deck. I have two and I don't want to do anything rigid, more like inspired by... The peacock best fits with THE FOOL. Your videos are lovely.
Hello. I just discovered your channel and I am loving it. Serendipitously, as I am watching this particular video, I am tidying up my “sketch bag”, sorting out my prismacolor collection. We are locked down on my side of the world too and I want to start art journaling again to process this experience. Thank you for posting this.
Thank you for your thoughts and creativity. There is so much criticism on what the true definition is if a journal whether it be as simple as an art journal to a junk journal. As long as I’m happy with my creation, what does it matter? I understand the definition of each, but as I mentioned before, generally speaking I don’t share my private journals. Why can’t we just be ourselves without criticism. Again thank you for sharing your thoughts and processes!!
Totally Debbie, having strict titles seems too rigid to be artistically free. Purist! And what about journals that cross over ? Part sketchbook part writing journal part grimoire? Our journals are just as unique as we ourselves are! Xx Let’s keep the no rules rule! Lots of love and thank you for your comment. 🌷
I’m just watching this video on 29th Dec, 2023… I wanted to share that I have an “art earworms” playlist to help me get into a semi meditative state. I listen to that and it helps me to be… less up tight I guess.
thank you. you are supporting creative ideas I had but didn't think oh, this could work!!! and here u are. I am wondering on patreon. Are you putting your work then on their items for merch? I think there is so much to read to figure out there. Just wondering if you can give a few pointers. Also. do you ever hand make your paper?... I been trying to find a journal that has more like parchment paper to design on/paint and all. even if I am going to cover it. one time at a Micheal's store I say these journals and I wish i could remember the company... I didn't buy it and the 3 left were gone. I never saw that style again!
Can you recommend any of their burning oils? I’ve brought some plants into my room 🌳 why did I not do this before 🤗. You rest my mind just watching you & your wonderful art 🙏🏻
Hi Wendy👋 I pretty much have all of these lovely items as a part of my life (deeply spiritual), albeit, most packed until that next move I mentioned earlier. I never used them as inspiration for my art that I can recall...humm...I will now!👼 Thanks, and I do like that book💙 P.S. hope your sleep has improved. I rely on Chamomile, Tension Tamer or Sleepytime teas by Celestial Seasonings to get me nice and drowsy👍
Wish I could use scents more. I have a bunch of essential oils I purchased to start making my own body oils, hair supplies and what not but I have a cat now so I rarely if ever use them.
I love to down load soothing music, light a candle, watch journaling on you tube, go outside and walk my dog. Look at nature and gather nature. Bake cookies or cakes and have lots of different teas to drink. I have a large garden filled with goodies. Today I will be gathering persimmons, walnuts and strawberries. I’ll bake some persimmon cookies with walnuts.
I ordered the orange flower water and it came in the plastic envelope with the lid askew and spilled everywhere. The scent was not lovely either as it smelled spoiled. So, I ordered another bottle and the US post office states it was delivered when it wasn’t. I gave up after that:/;)
Thanks, I like your videos - work on journals in that way for the first time, this creative process is very new to me - it's like learning every day and diving into a new (old) world ... does that make sence? By the way, I talk to my plants, too ... Greetings from Germany