Morning Pages Musings

A look into my Morning Pages (a creative tool founded by Julia Cameron). Today was around questions on whether or not Morning Pages is something I do because I'm used to it, or because it is actually bringing value into my life. I am yet to explore the answer to my questions, and may or may not share more on here or through Instagram.

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Morning Pages of 07.11.19

... I'm reflecting on whether Morning Pages (1) is something I do every morning, or if it’s supposed to be short term. Writing in the morning has now become part of my morning ritual, I’m beginning to question how much difference it actually makes. In The Artist’s Way (by Julia Cameron) the book goes through a program that lasts for a few weeks, and the Morning Pages tool is done for that whole period. I’ve been doing it consistently for the last few months (may miss a day to a few days a week a times). May even be up to 6 months.

These days there’s no ‘urge’ to write in the morning, although I do find it makes a difference when I do it: I can be more present during the day. I complain less since I may have already done it on paper that morning. I’m able to tap into insights I wouldn’t have been able to if I just woke up and got on with my day. Sometimes a weight is lifted off my shoulders just by writing down the worry or fear, other times it takes a few days worth of writing.

I’ve been practising my gratitudes and affirmations alongside my Morning Pages and I’ve found that to be useful too. As well as visualising when I feel inspired.

But I’m wondering what would happen if I stopped writing? Would internal chaos bubble up until I’m desperate to write, or will something else take it’s place? Where will that energy go? Is Morning Pages like body movement, where you don't see the benefits and how it's helping your life a) over time or b) if you don't do it for a period of time? I'm kind of curious to see what would happen if I didn't do it for a month. I know from previous experience that I can last a week, but I've never gone beyond it. I wonder if it's one of those situations where I won't realise what I've got till I don't have it anymore...

The other aspect is that I'm writing on paper. This journal definitely isn't eco-friendly. I don't want to be sacrificing the planet for my own benefit. Although that's a grey area, because if writing on paper helps me to be present and be a kinder and more compassionate person, isn't that helping too? The other option is invest in eco-friendly equipment (journals and pens) Decomposition notebooks or other eco-friendly brands, and refillable ink pens. Both will be an investment and an on-going one if I happen to find that writing Morning Pages is something I'd like to continue.

This then starts to head towards my money mindset, since a part of me fears I won't be able to invest in those things since I'm so low on money at the moment, even if it this changes in the future. A part of me also wants to believe I can afford it, since living a sustainable life is a priority of mine.

Another option is to look out for journals at op shops/second hand shops. I've found one recently, which is the one I'll be using on the road in a month or so. Another is to practice filling a journal all the way to the last page, since out of all the journals I have written and kept, only a handful has been written till the end. It's wasteful, and an unnecessary practice. I'd like to invite more mindfulness and discipline around this....

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(1) More info on Morning Pages: https://juliacameronlive.com/2019/09/24/the-bedrock-tool-of-the-artists-way-morning-pages/

(2) Decomposition Book 2018, California Dreaming, Sept 18, viewed on https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn019g_lK4q/

Author's Note: this blog post has been edited to accomodate flow and context for the readers. Original journal entry was written in stream of consciousness, which is what Morning Pages are, and would contain incorrect grammar and spelling and gaps in between information shared.