she retreated
page 139 of For the King's Favor
she retreated within herself
recovering, she watched
gave a tired sigh with relief
she had given birth
her love swirled through the other
Morning Journal Prompt: What is a simple reset or retreat practice you can do throughout the day to recover from stress and return to yourself? Do you have a favorite mindfulness, breathing, or vagus nerve exercise to support your body while under stress? What are some indicators that you need to do this practice? In other words, how does your body or mind signal you that it needs to reset or recover? Do your shoulders tighten and lift to your ears? Do you feel tension in your neck or head? Get familiar with your body’s reactions to stress so that you can respond with a reset and recover with ease.
Evening Journal Prompt: What were the highs and lows of the day? How attuned were you to how your body responded? How aware were you of the stress you carried and what triggered it? Did you use a reset practice to retreat and recover? Play the toughest challenges back in your mind and do some breathing or other relaxation practice to give your body a chance work through the thoughts and feelings while being prioritized and supported.* The more you reflect and re-align with kind support of your unique triggers, in the safety and gentle evening reflection practice, the more this will become a possibility in future stressful moments.
*If the triggers were intense, please consider reflecting on this with a support professional. Many of our triggers are tied to unhealed grieve or unresolved trauma. Please take your insights to a professional who can help you do this work with structured safety with a trained compassionate witness.
My reflection on this blackout poem: Over the weekend, I was on retreat. It has been many years since I went on retreat as a participant instead of retreat leader or facilitator. It was deeply nourishing to be able to attune to the needs of my body, mind, and spirit. I listened carefully to what would be most nurturing, opting in or out of each activity or offering. As I journaled about what insights I wanted to bring back to my weekly rhythm, I realized in addition to morning and evening prompts, there are opportunities to prompt myself to retreat at any moment throughout the day, not only with a stress reset, but also with the invitation to find choice in the patterns in my routine that seem closed, like “have-tos,” but actually have other possibilities. What freedom and authenticity could emerge from giving birth to these other possibilities? In what ways does living more fully aligned and alive birth creativity and connections infused with love?
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Letting the Page Read Me
By SpiritualSpark · Launched in June of 2024
Using blackout/erasure poetry and Lectio Divina, I harvest words and phrases that connect me to my values and my voice.
Scroll down for instructions for blackout poetry, creating your own journal prompts, as well as an invitation to practice in an online monthly group.
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Want to try some blackout poetry in an online group?
We gather online at from 12 - 1:30p CT on the first Friday of each month to practice blackout poetry and share our insights, questions, and reflections (if we choose). These practice groups are free for paid subscribers. You can join as a monthly or annual subscriber $30/yr or $5/mo. Paid subscribers receive the zoom link for the monthly group as well as images of book pages for the practice.
Want to watch a short video on how to make blackout poetry using a phone app?
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.
Next online monthly practice group: Friday, Jan 9, 12 - 1:30p CT. Join as a paid subscriber ($5/mo or $30/yr) to receive the meeting link and practice book pages for each monthly session.
No experience is necessary. Each session includes some brief instructions, sample book pages, and facilitated practice, discussion, and reflection. In order to allow for the safety needed for creative flow and heart-felt sharing, we use the following agreements:
We treat each other with kindness and respect.
We listen with attention and compassion. We honor each other’s path and don’t
presume to advise, fix, or save each other.
We hold all stories and reflections shared in our private groups, programs, and circles confidential.
We trust each of us has the guidance we need within us and we rely on the Power of Silence and Practice to access it.
We believe that growth and transformation is difficult and can also be fun.
