Beyond the Mind
page 131 of For the King's Favor
beyond the mind
she loved this work
involving this turning
with great care
Morning Journal Prompt:
Pay attention to possibilities and opportunities that live outside the busyness of the mind. Where might you tend to relationships with people, creatures, and nature with the same focus and attention as you do with the tasks that require thinking and strategizing.
Evening Journal Prompt:
Where were you engaged in personal connections and interacting with the natural world? How might you make the time and space to fit more of this in the daily routine?
My reflection on this blackout poem:
I am a thinker and an overthinker. I spend a lot of time and energy on solving problems, real and imagined, mine and others.’ The reflection on the words on this page reminded me to go beyond the mind.
I changed jobs a year ago and while it offers me much flexibility and honors alignment and balance, I get stuck in the program planning and management problem solving and strategizing. I tend to lose sight of the need to go beyond the mind to participate with great care. I used to spend my days teaching art and writing and communication skills to folks of all ages. That work was best done in the space beyond the mind, in the wild fields infused with curiosity, connection, and creativity. I know that I bring the best of me to all my roles and relationships when I practice going beyond the mind and into these areas. I have plenty of opportunity to bring connection and creativity into my new role. In fact, I think I’ll perform even better when I do.
Thanks for reading “Letting the Page Read Me.”
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How to Practice Blackout Poetry as a Journal Prompt
Select a page of descriptive fiction, non-fiction, or sacred text.
Photograph, copy, or use an original page from a book.
Spend a few moments centering and slowing down. Focus on breathing.Without judgement or analysis, scan the text. Which words or phrases draw more attention? Circle or underline them. Resist the urge to connect with the author’s meaning or purpose. Notice which words or phrases have a more energetic or emotional response.
Read the words and phrases you selected. Can you relate to a general mood or message? Remove some words and add others to strengthen the message and give it flow and clarity. Keep the original intention of the message. In other words, don’t lose the point because you are trying to make it more academic or writerly.
When you have the selection of words that support the message and enhance its meaning, you can;
decorate the page using art supplies or create a digital collage.
re-read the words and explore the meaning of the message. Set a timer for 2-3 minutes and free write in your journal about what this message means to you or why you think you were drawn to them right now.
Ordinary Life Presentation on August 11, 2024 on Blackout Poetry as a Spiritual Practice: Purpose, Process, Product. A 50 minute talk with the backstory, instructions, and tons of examples of blackout poems from my now completed project of blacking out every page of Braiding Sweetgrass.
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By SpiritualSpark · Launched in June of 2024
Using erasure poetry and Lectio Divina, I harvest words and phrases that connect me to my values and my voice.