Hello Friends...

Please shoot this email off to others you think might be interested—or who you know want to learn more about journal writing. Thanks!

Reunions…

Some of my college friends came to visit last month—visiting both me and our warm climate. As one friend put it, “When we first got together everyone looked really OLD, but within a couple of hours we were 18 again.” We enjoyed good food, the Chihuly exhibit at the Botanical Gardens, a visit to Sedona, Carefree, and Taliesen West.

Over the years our lives have moved through waves of wonderful blessings and also pain and disappointment. We had so much to talk about, and so many parallel experiences. Despite the years apart we still had that bond of trust and friendship that allowed us to talk together almost as though we had never left one another...but of course we had. We felt like sisters or cousins...certainly family.

Once again I am grateful for the opportunity to have had a substantial educational experience while also creating life-long friends. Certainly we didn’t know at the time how deep and intertwined our communal roots would be. I moved West long ago and so have had much less contact with my classmates. Still, I could feel in our visit the warmth of knowing this ‘family’ held a space in their hearts for me. That feeling was remarkably comforting.

Gratitude is my word of the day, month, perhaps year. I spend more time in my journal noting those things that I see as blessings. I invite you to do the same---and hope, too, that you have some beautiful reunions in your life. (and if you do be sure to write about your insights!)

Peace, Sue

What’s new? Or not so new? 1. Thursday Morning Journal Group---This lovely ongoing group meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday mornings from 10 to noon in Central Scottsdale. Our meetings are warm and safe…a great place to ‘practice’ your journaling. You are welcome to drop-in. Just call for directions. Fee: Donation. Call 480 945-9180 if you are interested. 2. RETREAT! Day of Therapeutic Writing WRITE! … into Your TRUE Voice; A Healing Day of Words and Sound Join us, April 18th, North Scottsdale, 9:30- 4:30. Lunch included, $75. Your true voice---you know that feeling, when you are writing or speaking or singing and feel the ‘knowing’ coming from your very core. We seek to touch more of that rich and abundant place but often find the busy world gets in our way. This workshop will help you get quiet and remember that special connection you have with your core self. We will combine personal therapeutic writing with sounding to intensify and deepen our connection to the wisdom of our souls. There are no requirements for previous experience with either journal writing or with chanting. Sue Meyn and Pinna Joseph will be the presenters. Just go to www.journalmagic.com/classesandmore.html to learn more. Call 480-945-9180 or just reply by email, to sign up. 3. If you feel adventuresome…and want to try a seminar on the web, then read on. This workshop allows you to learn journaling software, LIfeJournal while writing about your authentic self, and authentic gifts. It’s called: Invest in YOURSELF: A webinar about how to leverage your inner resources It's being offered by Ruth Folit, creator of LifeJournal, and Sue Meyn, author of "Journal Magic" and "JournalCards". Look at: www.journalmagic.com/classesandmore.html to learn more! 4. Our Online Journal Class—in a chat room has begun. I think everyone involved feels surprisingly pleased with the experience. We are meeting the first and third Thursdays of the month at 9 am Arizona time (currently same as Pacific time). Hope you will think about joining in! Go to www.journalmagic.com/JMstore.html to sign up--in four week segments, $15 per session. Look below for recommendations, prompts, a free class, and Journal Magic specialties! Just for Fun - http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf Article of the month – http://medsci.blogspot.com/2009/03/journal-therapy.html Quote of the month -- "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."-- Charles Darwin Prayer of the month – This just came in an email recently…and fits for so much of what I believe, and why I promote journal writing. St. Theresa's Prayer: 'May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.' Podcast of the month: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k&annotation_id=annotation_72265&feature=iv and Silly Prompt -- Imagine yourself a butterfly…and draw a picture of your beautiful self. Then write about who you’ve become and where you want to fly next. Serious Prompt -- If you were to decide that from this moment on you choose joy as your default emotion, how does your daily life change? Explore. Free Class! (This class will be enhanced by “JournalCards”!) Blooming Where We Are…. • Simply begin… Write for about five minutes about what ever is going on in your present. It has no deeper meaning other than part of maneuvering your thinking for being here…to deeper and richer places within.  Ask questions. Then, when you have written down whatever questions you may be considering (questions are very important for us to note) then pick two or three JournalCards. See how they blend with you and your life experience…and let them jumpstart you into writing more about your life, for about ten minutes.  Different times of the year provide us with external adornment in the form of flowers. What kinds of flowers do you enjoy? What pops into your mind when you think about flowers? And…if YOU were a flower, what kind would you be? Explore that question and see what new perspectives it shows you about how you see yourself.  If you were to imagine everyone as a flower---including your friends, family, and co-workers, what would the BOUQUET of your life look like? What colors, what varieties of flowers, what smells would predominate? What would the condition of the blossoms be—or would some not flower at all? Enjoy this imaginative exercise…noting who would be in your bouquet…and what would they bring from the flower world.  How does your garden grow? Do you need to plant new flowers in your garden to make a more beautiful bouquet? If so, what would you plant, and how would that translate into qualities of the people around you?  OR, you might choose to have a dialogue with nature…and see if nature has some healing suggestions for you.  What stirs? www.journalmagic.com

See what else JOURNAL MAGIC has to offer!

Besides the events already described, there are these additional offerings:

"Journal Parties" Don't forget that Journal Parties can be a wonderful way to gather friends together. If you provide the refreshments I will bring a journaling class. $80 regardless of how many attend. I’m available on Wed. and Fri. evenings, some daytime hours during the week, and Sunday afternoons. Give me a call! This is a really fun experience for all involved. 480-945-9180


The Thursday class—Community of Kindness--that meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 10-noon. Please be in touch if you would like to "drop-in". We would love to have you join in. The cost is simply a donation.480-945-9180

Individual Intensive Journal Sessions Do you want personal instruction and help in addressing special issues? Come, or call, for a 90 minute session to get you writing! $80. 480-945-9180

Cancer Support Groups
In addition, if you know anyone who is dealing with cancer there are free services available through The Wellness Community. It is my "other" love, and I am pleased to be able to facilitate support groups both on line and in person. Go to www.thewellnesscommunity.org to learn more. In Phoenix call 602-712-1006.


Journal writing Tools --- GREAT Anytime GIFT IDEAS!

JournalCards! Fifty five different cards that each have a word, picture, and four questions to help you ask yourself more penetrating questions as you write. If you don't have them...you should...REALLY!

Journal Magic! Lessons in Therapeutic Writing – This is a great workbook that gives you an extraordinary number of "lessons" to use as guidelines for your writing. Wonderful for experienced journal writers as well as beginners.

The Journal Magic Kit – Contains the JournalCards, the book, a journal and a pen---especially good for the beginning journal writer!

Explore all of these at www.journalmagic.com/JMstore.html


Thanks for reading to the bottom! May this Springtime be incentive to start something new and joyful in your life.
--Sue