Journal Prompt For Transitions
Theme:
Many of us are finding ourselves in transition currently as we leave the season of COVID-19 and venture out more freely in the world. Even if you’re finding this blog post way after COVID, this can be a useful tool in the midst of any transition in life. Whether it be to a new job, new city, end of a school year, or away from a relationship, I’ve found it helpful to take a minute to process as I transition, and invite you to try this prompt as a processing tool.
During a recent workshop where we were reflecting on this year, we likened our experience this year as being a bird in a nest, and now leaving it to fly away. Using this picture, this vision journal prompt provides space for reflecting and looking forward into your next season.
Supplies:
journal or piece of paper
watercolor pencils (or markers, colored pencils)
cut a picture of a bird from a magazine, draw one, or print one off from the internet
black pen, I used a Staedtler fineliner
straight edge or ruler
Instructions:
Using a fine point pen, outline a tree, any shape you like. (If you prefer, draw first with a pencil, then when you have it how you like it, trace over with a black pen and erase any leftover pencil lines.) Draw a nest on the tree branch.
Another option if you’d rather not draw is to cut out a picture of a tree from an old magazine, or print one off, cut, and glue to your page.
3. Using a straight edge or ruler, hold the ruler over the nest, and draw a line from the nest to the edge of the page. I chose to not draw the lines on the tree itself, so it would look like the tree is in the foreground. Continue to make lines radiating from the nest area of the picture.
4. Color in every other space in between the lines.
5. Add color to the tree.
6. Use the left side of the page, or a certain number of lines, depending on how you set up your picture, to answer the question, “What will you leave behind in the nest?” These are feelings, things, experiences, relationships, or attitudes that you do not want to bring with you in your next season of life.
7. Use the right side of your page, or the other half of the lines, to answer the question, “What will you take with you as you fly away?”
8. If you used watercolor pencils, paint with water over your colored areas, blending. Let dry.
9. Glue the picture of the bird to your page.
View the process video by clicking above.
I hope you enjoy your journaling session! If you would like to learn more ideas for vision journal prompts, or have the rich experience of journaling alongside each other, I’d love for you to join in on my monthly open workshops! Click below to view the schedule. Beginners are welcome!