“Go With The Flow” Journal Prompt
Go With the Flow
Since I've been in the midst of creating the upcoming Water & Well-Being Retreat, water has been on my mind a lot lately. Therefore, naturally, we've been having a water-themed month in our “Hats Off for Helpers” Healing Arts Membership. Last week, one of the activities we found evoked much reflection and discussion was one where we considered when we are “in the flow” using the flowing stream image above as inspiration. I invite you to try it and let me know how it goes for you!
Supplies: Mixed Media Journal or Watercolor paper, pencil, watercolor paints or colored pencils, pen, parchment paper
Page Setup Instructions:
Using a pencil, draw a horizon line across your paper about ⅓ of the way from the top.
If you are going to use watercolors, put a piece of foil or parchment under your journal page to protect water from bleeding onto the pages underneath.
Starting from your horizon line, draw a vertical squiggly line down your paper until it hits the bottom edge. Repeat about 1 cm from where you started the other squiggly line. As you draw your second line, widen the gap between the lines to make them end up about 4-7 cm apart along the bottom edge of the paper. This is your stream.
Add in some rounded rectangle and oval shapes in the stream to represent rocks.
Decorate the horizon and surrounding area as you'd like with a cityscape, trees, and/or mountains.
Color in your picture with either watercolor pencils, watercolor paints, or colored pencils.
Reflection Questions
Next, consider these questions. (For a video explanation of these, view the video below) This concept and imagery was first brought to my attention by Quiana LaRae a few years ago and has stuck with me ever since. If you choose, you can write your answers on the actual picture with a pen after your paint dries. Another option is writing your answers on a new page.
Imagine you are paddling a canoe or swimming in a stream…
What areas/situations in life feel like you are “in the flow” or flowing downstream the most? This may feel like you lose track of time easily when doing this and feel like you get further with less effort.
What areas/situations feel like you are swimming upstream? This may be times or experiences when it feels like you are having to put forth a lot of energy/effort to move forward, working harder and moving slower.
What are some rocks of resistance? Perhaps you are flowing, but then you get stuck all of a sudden. What are the places where you experience resistance?
What shifts can you make to get unstuck, move around the rocks, and get pointed back downstream?
Sarah guides through reflection questions of the “Go with the Flow” vision journal activity.
Flowing Through Creativity
I hope you enjoyed this prompt! If one of the ways you feel “in the flow” is through creativity, set aside some time each on a regular basis to create and reflect in a community! Check out my monthly Healing Arts membership program by clicking the button below: