Guest Author - Angela England
March 26th - I was reading an analogy in the Bible recently where Jesus talked about His words being planted in different types of soils. One type of soil was hard and the seeds dried up in the sun. Another type was full of weeds so the plants were choked out. Another was rocky ground and the plants had shallow roots so didn't last. And the fourth was good soil that produced fruitful plants.
As we look at Spring around us, and think about gardening or landscaping, think about the seeds that have been planted in you recently. What type of soil are you? Have those seeds taken root? Dried up? Failed to bear fruit? Why?
March 27th - Poor soil can be improved. Rocks can be removed, or rich, fertile material can be added. Looking back at yesterday's answer think about what you might do if you needed to improve the soil of your own life.
March 28th - Now that we've explored our lives and personality as garden soil - do some free association type journaling about soil. Dirt. Mud. Garden soil. What lives in soil? What dirt does for us. Even the ground and being grounded. Let your mind wander and don't self-edit.
March 29th - One of things I always think of when it comes to Spring, is spring-cleaning. What areas of your life need to be dusted? What things in your life are cluttered, causing you discomfort? What is preventing you from decluttering, dusting or tossing away?
Perhaps this is mundane, but I still have clothing from high school in my closet. They are comfortable. Familiar. Most ratty, stretched out, worn or stained and really, suitable for the rag bin or giveaway bag. But I hang on. Unwillingness to invest in a new wardrobe is one excuse I use for not getting rid of them. Also having to find clothing that suites my personal style sounds like a lot of trouble to me. So instead of getting rid of the clothes I no longer wear, I hang on to them. My closet is crowded, my drawers stuffed full. The old-clothes fairy needs to come and take them away.
March 30th - "If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." by Audra Fuveo is a thought provoking quote. Has your soul ever been in bloom? Describe what that felt like? What were the circumstances?
March 31st - Another Scripture-based journaling prompt - start where God started in the Bible and let your pen wander where it will. "In the beginning..."....
April 1st - A haiku poem has three lines and 17 syllables - 5 syllables, 7 syllables and 5 syllables. Most haiku poems describe elements of nature, seasons, or feelings. Try jotting down ten or twenty random words that describe spring or nature or feelings to you. Choose one word, phrase or series of words to use in your own haiku. Sometimes by jotting down several words, you can mix or match them and create unexpected results.
After a recent journaling session about spring and spring rains I wrote the following haiku as a summary of my journal writing:
Spring Showers
The liquid gold falls -
watery life gifting March earth
Growth from hidden depths
Now it is your turn.
Stop by the forums and share the answers to your journaling prompts if you want.
