journal spa 001: new year creative integration
reflect on your creative lessons from 2024 during a guided, contemplative journaling session set to music
Why?
Every year results in an accumulation of creative material — ideas for things, parts of things, finished things, failed things. As we collect inspirations, accidents, disappointments, celebrations, lessons, and surprises, we don't always have time to integrate them fully — to change what needs changing, celebrate what needs celebrating, and grieve what needs grieving. Taking the time to reflect on, process, and fully take in this material can help us jump into that inevitable laundry list of new year's goals for 2025 from a more grounded place. It's time to turn over the soil in preparation for all that you'll plant in the year to come.
How?
Sure, you could do this on your own. But why not do it with the gentle, reassuring squeeze of community alongside impeccable musical ambiance and someone telling you what to do? This is a guided session, so I'll offer some warm-ups and a series of prompts to get the brain juices flowing. All you have to do is show up and write. Expect some accessible (and optional) mind-body centering exercises, a LOT of writing, breaks to breathe, some time to lie down and rest at the end.
Will I be forced to socialize? (i.e. will there be a breakout room jump-scare?)
I would never do that to you! In fact, for most of session I'll encourage everyone to be off-camera and on-mute to prioritize deep introspection. I'll open the floor up at the very end for anyone who wants to hang around a little longer and chat (allowing the introverts quietly slip out unnoticed).
What do I bring?
Bring a comfortable way of putting lots of words on a page (paper, notebook, pen, etc.) and a way to highlight or underline those words in a different color (colored pencils, highlighters...). Digital tools welcome too, if you'd prefer to type! I also recommend anything you need to be cozy and focused — blankets, cushions, candles, tea... Headphones are ideal!
Will the session be recorded?
Nope. But after the session I'll share a care package of the prompts + the playlist to everyone registered.
I don’t know if I’m creative enough — is this for me?
In a word: yes. In 133 words: yes. This is a holistic model of creativity: the generative energy or feeling of aliveness that bubbles up around things that matter. If in the last year you ever: cared for a child, tended a garden, prepared a meal, helped a parent troubleshoot an iPad, hung a poster, started a puzzle, made a playlist, watched a film, sent a zinger of a meme at the perfect moment, and/or got dressed for the day, you did creativity. (And this is a non-exhaustive list.) In fact, there's often a lot of really rich material in these smaller moments that goes unmilked, even for "serious" artists. So regardless of what your “title” is or how you identify publicly, if something about this session feels like it could be interesting and worthwhile to you, please come.
What's the cost?
This experience is offered on a free/donate-what-you-want basis. If (and only if) you have the means to chip in, your contribution helps cover the very boring but utterly inescapable overhead expenses of doing this work (namely software subscriptions). Thank you so much for your support. That said: if you are a student, or are currently looking for a job, or are otherwise in a tough spot financially — please accept this session as a gift and just show up. This is for you most of all.
Who's the weirdo behind this?
I'm Trace — a designer and researcher in the mental health field by day, with a distant past as a musician and a more recent past as an educator. I'm all about crafting interesting experiences that lead to new insights, and I'd love for you to join me for this one. Feel free to connect with me on LurkedOn or my very in-progress website.