Dear Friends,

For many of us with families or other obligations, Christmastime is a bit too frenzied.  Today in your journal, I’d like you to look at the busy-ness of the season with a bit of humor, and either write a prayer or short poem which acknowledges what I call “overwealmth”:  overwhelm plus wealth/abundance.

Here is one poem that has always gotten a smile of recognition from me:

Sometimes

When it is all, finally,

Too much,

I climb into my car,

Roll the windows up,

And somewhere between backing out the driveway

And rounding the first corner

I let out a yell

That would topple Manhattan.

How do you pray?

——Margaret L. Mitchell

With love,

Cat

Day 52 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.

Dear Friends,

Today is both Sunday, my chosen Depth Dimension Day and many people’s Sabbath, and the Solstice, the winter solstice for those of us in the northern hemisphere.

So, considering that for us north of the equator today has the longest amount of darkness in the entire year, let us take a cue from that and rest.  If possible, don’t go into a mall today.  If possible, cozy up tonight with a warm cuppa, a blanket or shawl, and some great music or book.

Imagine what it was like for humans thousands of years ago witnessing the daylight shrinking and shrinking, the weather getting colder and colder, and then the glorious realization that Life was coming back!  That the sun came back to warm the earth and its peoples, getting ready to receive the seed and save them, once again, from starvation and darkness.

What or who lights up your life?

With love,

Cat

Day 51 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.

Dear Friends,

Today, list 3 ways (or 13 ways) that you can love more and do less in your everyday life.  Now do them!  (Or DON’T do them, as the case may be!)

With love,

Cat

Day 50 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.

detail from painting, acrylic on canvas, Cat Charissage, 2013

Dear Friends,

After writing or imaging yesterday about what or who shows up when we show our soul’s light, today we can ponder the little lights of our candles and the memories illumined by their light.

After reading this poem by Sharon Richards, I’d like you to sit with your journal and image or write about the objects within your home that help you to remember good times from your ancestors as well as ones that help you to remember that we live in solidarity with those who have suffered, or are suffering now.  Always, always, even in the darkest night, we can bring some light.

Remember that old proverb, “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

Grant Us Light  by Sharon Richards

On this growing colder wintry day

as the light lessens

and darkness knocks at my door

I hear my candles whisper their request,

‘Will you grant us light?’

Such a simple thing,

the striking of the match against the box,

the flame as it leaps from the tip of the wood,

the smell of fire,

and poof, like magic

they are alight.

Lighting my candles I remember:

The silver candelabra that belonged to my grandmother,

my ancestors,

though passed from this place

are not so far away,

they watch through the veil

residing in my dreams and memories.

The dark green glass my husband gifted me from India,

not all dwell in comfort.

I ask the Divine to bring hope and freedom

to those living in poverty

and oppressed by the caste system.

May there be light.

May there be hope.

May there be peace.

The three in red on my windowsill,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Gifting your light into the night

you are within and without,

ever present in loving kindness

and in all whom I meet.

The Native American blue glass eagle holder,

a gift from my parents,

unaware of my love for this totem,

the presence and blessing of

vision, hope and power.

The glass candleholder from Krakow Poland,

for those who suffered

I remember,

and for those who suffer now.

May there be light.

May there be hope.

May there be peace.

Such a simple thing,

the striking of the match against the box

the flame as it leaps from the tip of the wood

the smell of fire,

and poof, like magic

they are alight.

With love,

Cat

Day 49 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.

Legendary Woman painting, Cat Charissage, 2014

Dear Friends,

What or who shows up when you show your soul brightly?

HOW do you show your soul brightly?

What or who shows up within you?  Around or outside of you?

Image this, or write about this.

With love,

Cat

Day 48 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.

acrylic on canvas, Cat Charissage, 2013

Dear Friends,

A friend of mine sent me the quote,

With love,

Cat

Day 47 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.

Dear Friends,

Let’s go into right-brain today.  If words come, of course record them, but I’d like you to just start with a blank page, pick a shape such as circle, square, triangle, or hexagon (or other), and draw that shape repeatedly on the page.  You can use different colors, different sizes, but draw the same shape.  Notice if you want the shapes to be exact or identical; do you use a compass or cup if you’re using circles; do you nest the shapes within each other; do you just enjoy free-styling the shapes?

Let it become pleasurable to draw these repeating shapes.

With love,

Cat

Day 46 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.

Dear Friends,

Image or write in response to this question:

Who or what are you giving your life energy to?

And then,

Why?

With love,

Cat

Day 45 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.

journal, watercolor, Cat Charissage, 2014

Dear Friends,

Today is another Depth Dimension Day.  What can you do today to renew your body, mind, and spirit?  What would be restful and pleasurable?  If at all possible, do it today!

If you have some time left over for your journal, take a favorite quote and include it in your journal with pretty lettering and a beautiful background.

Happy day!

With love,

Cat

Day 44 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.

Acrylic on canvas, Cat Charissage, 2014

Dear Friends,

Today, just play in your journal a little bit.  Think about one of your beloveds, and think about what gift you might be giving to him or her in this season.  Do a little sketching of it, or write a little about it, why you chose that particular thing or experience, how you imagine it will be received.

Now think about what gift you want or need most from a beloved.  If it really is within the realm of possibility/probability, remember that spouses and friends cannot (yet) read your mind, and you might want to think about how to tell them what kind of a gift would make you the happiest.

If it’s a little bigger, oh, say, the end of all violence against women, then it’s probably not going to be all wrapped up under the tree on Christmas.  Still, think about what it would be like for you and all to have that big present.  Imagine it in detail.  Become present to it yourself.  What kind of a world do we need for that kind of gift to become present? What needs to happen?  What are some first or fiftieth steps for it to become reality?  How might your presence help make that happen?

Now draw a piece of that big present.  Write about the questions I posed.  What presents to the world need your presence?  Can you make that happen?

With love,

Cat

Day 43 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.