You’re looking for a moon themed planner, but you’d prefer not to spend an arm and a leg for a blank notebook. You’d also prefer a creative inspiring moon themed journal or planner to keep you engaged and connected to the moon. So what is a journaler to do, what options do you really have?
Moon Themed Day Planners, and Moon Themed Bullet Journal Ideas & Spreads, are easy to create. Each moon themed design should be inspiring and keep you looking to the stars & the wider unknown universe. Moon Themed Day Planners also track the moon phases each month, keeping you in tune with nature and help you tune to the moon. Keep reading for inspiration, bullet journal moon and stars theme ideas, and moon inspired journal prompts to keep you connected to the stars!
Don’t worry if you can’t draw a straight line or perfect circle. Your Moon Themed Bullet Journal is meant to be flowing with creativity, made by the hand of the most inspiring artist in your life, you.
The moon carries with it themes of inspiration, awe, mysticism, even darkness! Keep these moon inspired illustration ideas and concepts in your mind when you create your monthly bullet journal themes, habit trackers, and designs. Did you know that you can even track your yearly and monthly goals in your bullet journal?! It’s true!
The moon has always been an inspiration for me. Growing up on a midwestern farm, every night I fell asleep looking at the moon outside my window, and spent many nights outside under a blanket of stars and deep black vast sky, free from city lights.
What Are You Doing To Stay Connected To The Moon And Nature?
Now that I live in a city, I miss the clear, dark, vastness of the country night sky. Since this is something I only get to experience when I’m visiting my childhood farmhouse or while I’m camping, I don’t really have the opportunity to reconnect to the moon and nature like I did growing up.
The way I stay connected to la Luna and nature is to bring the moon into my bullet journal or daily planner with moon themed spreads and moon illustrations and doodles.
How To Stay Connected To The Moon & Nature Through Journaling
Any time of year or season that we look up at the moon is a time of deep reflection and contemplation. Sometimes these thoughts are deep and sometimes they are small and fleeting. Any time that you are reflecting on anything, it’s important to turn inward to get a better understanding of our own actions, the actions of others, or what is happening around us in nature.
Every night of the year, the moon inspires us to descend further into ourselves for reflection and deep Shadow Work in our journals.
Now is the time to focus on understanding our motivations and actions regarding the progress we have or haven’t made on our dreams, goals, and intentions that we set back in January.
Moon Inspired Journaling Prompts for Your Bullet Journal
Remember to focus on understanding your motivations and actions regarding the progress you have or haven’t made on your goals, and continue to dig deep into why you do what you do.
1. Describe & Reflect on your goal’s progress so far this year and what you have yet to accomplish.
2. Write down in your journal 3 little (achievable) ways that you can take your goal to the next level.
If you are new to bullet journaling, I’m so excited to help you get started! Below are some of my favorite layout ideas for the bullet journal: moon & stars, cover pages, and calendars to inspire your own stellar moon phase journal spreads. Using a moon themed bullet journal is also a really great way to create a Witchy Aesthetic Bullet Journal with a lunar theme.
Grab a latte (I’ve been making my own vegan oatmilk dirty chai lately!) and settle in with your bullet journal, markers, washi tape, colored pencils, watercolors, and get ready to make some beautiful Moon Inspired Bullet Journal Spreads that are sure to feed your creativity, artist’s soul, and moon child that you are.
Moon Bullet Journal Design Themes & Ideas:
Moon Themed Animal Bullet Journal Themes:
Rabbit / Hare
Owl
Wolf / Dog
Worm
Buck / Deer
Sturgeon / Fish
Raccoon
Worm
Magpies
Dragon
Panther
Elk
Horses
Beaver
Horns / Antlers
Moon Themed Color Bullet Journal Themes:
Pink Moon
Blue Moon
Blood Moon
Iridescent Color Schemes
Soft Gray & Silver
Muted Blues
Soft Blues
Light Oranges & Creamy White Shades.
Gray Themes
Black & White Themes
Moon Themed Nature, Botanical, & Tree Bullet Journal Themes:
Wild Flowers
Spring Flowers
Crocus Bulbs
Cold Moon
Ice / Frost / Snow
Budding Trees
Budding Flowers
Tree Sap
Grass
Rose Flower
Lotus Flower
Lightning
Sassafras Trees
Oak Trees
Moon Themed Food Bullet Journal Themes:
Strawberry Moon
Harvest Moon
Corn & Green Corn
Wine
Barley & Wheat
Milk
Blackberry
Peach
Cooking
Moon Phase Bullet Journal Themes:
Dark Moon
Young Moon
New Moon
Crescent Moon
First Quarter Moon
Second Quarter Moon
Gibbous Moon
Waxing Moon
Waxing Gibbous Moon
Full Moon
Waning Moon
Waning Gibbous Moon
Disseminating Moon
Third Quarter Moon
Fourth Quarter Moon
Last Quarter Moon
Balsamic Moon
Last Crescent Moon
Old Moon
Moon Names Bullet Journal Themes by Month
January Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Old Moon
Moon After Yule
Ice Moon
Wolf Moon
Quiet Moon
Cooking Moon
Cold Moon
Holiday Moon
Winter Moon
Moon Of The Terrible
February Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Hunger Moon
Trapper’s Moon
Budding Moon
Bony Moon
Little Famine Moon Choctaw
Moon Of Ice
Storm Moon
Snow Moon
Moon Of The Raccoon
Moon When Trees Pop
March Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Worm Moon
Crow Moon
Magpie Moon
Crust Moon
Sap Moon
Lenten Moon
April Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Pink Moon
Sprouting Grass Moon
Fish Moon
Hare Moon
Egg Moon
Paschal Moon
May Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Flower Moon
Corn Planting Moon
Milk Moon
Dragon Moon
Panther Moon
Grass Moon
Moon When Leaves Are Green
June Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Strawberry Moon
Hot Moon
Rose Moon
Flower Moon
Lotus Moon
Green Corn Moon
Windy Moon
Moon Of Horses
July Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Harvest Moon
Wine Moon
Singing Moon
Corn Moon
Fruit Moon
Barley Moon
Elk Call Moon
August Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Sturgeon Moon
Corn Moon
Fish Moon
Grain Moon
Green Corn Moon
Lightening Moon
Dog’s Day Moon
Harvest Moon
Fruit Moon
Woman’s Moon
Dispute Moon
Moon When All Things Ripen
September Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Harvest Moon
Wine Moon
Singing Moon
Corn Moon
Fruit Moon
Barley Moon
Elk Call Moon
October Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Harvest Moon
Travel Moon
Dying Moon
Hunter’s Moon
Kindly Moon
Blackberry Moon
Blood Moon
Moon When Quilling And Beading Is Done
November Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Frost Moon
Hunter’s Moon
Tree Moon
Snow Moon
Dark Moon
Sassafras Moon
Trading Moon
White Moon
Beaver Moon
Moon When Horns Are Broken Off
Mourning Moon
December Full Moon Names Theme Ideas:
Bitter Moon
Snow Moon
Peach Moon
Twelfth Moon
Oak Moon
Long Night Moon
Moon Themed Bullet Journal Page Plan With Me & Walkthroughs To Inspire You:
Right now I’m in the process of taking my daily journaling to the next level with tarot cards. This article is a journaling guide to share the things I’m learning in the process to take a deep dive into Shadow Work Journaling and Inner Child Healing Journaling through tarot cards as a daily journaling tool. This article is also one of two tarot deck buyer’s guide articles I’ve written.
How To Use Tarot As A Daily Journaling Tool: Use tarot cards as a daily journaling tool to connect deeper with your subconscious and shadow self to understand why you think and make the decisions you do. Begin using the tarot as a daily journaling tool by drawing one tarot card. Look at the card’s imagery, colors, and symbols to ascertain what the card mean to you, your family or group, culture, or where you live and how you were raised. Reflect in your journal on it’s meaning, how it applies to your life, and what the card means to you. With this process, you don’t have to know the traditional meaning of the card or even use a guidebook, all you need is your eyes and life experiences to guide you.
What Is A Daily Tarot Journal?
Tarot Journals are an organized place to learn tarot, record, and journal your journey as you develop a relationship with your tarot deck. Keeping a tarot journal is a wonderfully rewarding and reflective tool to have in your life when times are tough mentally and emotionally. The tarot cards also teach us lessons on how to get through these hard moments in our lives.
A Tarot Journal is a special journal custom designed for you, by you! The best part about journaling is how customizable the practice is. If something isn’t working, no worries! There is an endless amount of blank pages just a page turn away for you to start again.
Tarot Journals are also a really great way to celebrate our lives and the milestones that we have achieved. Tarot cards tend to jog our minds and remind us to think back on those happy moments and to not forget about them. This is our chance to recall those memories and celebrate them if we didn’t get a chance to when they originally happened.
We all have something that nags at us that we want answers to. A tarot journal will help you tap into your subconscious and get some much needed answers. They can give us a new perspective on how we might approach the situation in our life.
Like close friends, tarot cards at times can be a disruptive and frustrating force in our lives that challenge us to think about things that we just don’t want to. Tarot cards can also be just like a close friend that encourages us to challenge our views to find peace and perspective.
Sometimes we don’t like to think about the struggles that we’re going through and the things that are making us angry, and frustrated. We just try to ignore them and completely step away from it.
Daily Tarot journaling is a really great tool to reveal feelings, emotions, and memories that we pushed to the backburner to bring more light to them.
Tarot & Psychology
Practicing Tarot all boils down to supporting you as you build new neural pathways that help get you out of your usual thought patterns and look at your life through a different lens. You will learn to discover different areas of your life that might not be top of mind or at the forefront of your conscious thoughts. Practicing Tarot Card Reading forces us to do some deep intention shadow work as we journal by sparking the internal dialogue with our inner most true self, spirit, inner child, and soul.
One of the things that I love about buying a tarot deck is the idea of a new card pulled during a daily draw that I haven’t seen before. Honestly, I have to keep myself from buying a new deck every quarter. The daily tarot draw is the simplest tarot practice and tarot card reading that you can perform. Drawing a single card each day is a beloved practice by many many tarot card readers.
You can do this one of two ways: A Morning Tarot Spread or An End Of Day Tarot Spread.
Every morning draw a tarot card to help guide your intention for the day. Or every evening draw a tarot card to help you reflect on the day.
Both are really great learning practices. However, the daily evening tarot draw is a bit more mysteriously & deliciously indulgent because the themes we reflect on can influence our dreams and help our subconscious process the day, similar to a bedtime tarot practice and a tarot spreads for sleep.
1. Choose A Morning Tarot Spread & End Of Day Tarot Spread.
2. Shuffle The Deck 3 Times, Or Whatever Feels Good.
3. Cut The Deck & Draw A Card.
4. Look At The Card Itself & Ponder Its Meaning.
Before you look at the card’s meaning in the guidebook or in the little pamphlet that comes with your deck, take time to look at the card itself. Now it’s time to get into the card reading and ask ourselves some questions. Look at the card imagery.
Are there any images, colors, or symbols within the artwork of the cards that jumps out at you?
What initial feelings, reactions, and emotions come up when you look at this card?
What do you think is the symbolic meaning behind this card?
What does this card mean to you?
5. Open Your Journal To A Fresh Page
Sketch out a rough box the size of your tarot card and write down any of your initial feelings, thoughts, reactions, and symbolic meaning to the card. You can reference the four questions above while journaling.
6. Consult The Tarot Guide Book & Journal About It
Now it’s time to grab the guide book that comes with the tarot deck. You can use a bigger guidebook with in depth explanations of the tarot card meanings that you can purchase at any book store. You can also find tarot guide books for beginners, free tarot guide books online, tarot reader apps, and tarot guide book apps. A lot of tarot decks now have official guide books that go along with them. There may also be a mini guide book in with your tarot deck box.
How To Wrangle An Elusive Tarot Card Reading
If you don’t have any answers, that’s ok. Take a little bit more time to look at the card and really get deep into the imagery and just enjoy the beauty of the card itself. Note any symbols or meanings that pop up at you while you’re looking into this card a little deeper. You can also try writing in your tarot journal:
Detailed description of the landscape, characters, symbols
What you think the characters in the card might be saying to each other
Major or Minor Arcana
Tarot suit
Related element (earth, water, fire, air, spirit)
A keyword cloud
The person this card reminds you of
A memory that this card reminds you of
Tarot Deck Guide Books
Your tarot deck may be tinnie tiny like the guide book that comes with the classic Rider Waite Tarot Deck, that is the same size as the deck. This guidebook fits right into the tarot deck box. There are also decks that are not only tarot decks, but playing cards as well. The Gypsy Witch Playing Card Deck comes with the meanings of the cards printed right on the card itself.
I think that The Gypsy Witch Playing Card Deck is a really cool way to get to know the tarot and the different meanings of the tarot cards. It’s really fun to play a card game with them and learn the meanings as the cards come up. It’s also fun to do a daily tarot draw with this deck as well because the imagery is a little bit more familiar because of the playing card nature. Your guidebook may be a physical book “book.” The Wild Unknown Tarot Guidebook has more in depth descriptions of the cards that go with this tarot deck. These cards harken back to the traditional meanings of tarot cards, major and minor arcana, and suits. They also go a little bit more in depth for the type of imagery that is used in this modern tarot deck.
Some links in this article are affiliate links, this means I earn a small commission if you use them! Affiliate Links are one way I am able to provide videos, articles, and resources for free. Other links go straight to the Owls & Indigo Shop where you can support me directly.
Tarot & Self-Reflection
Check out the meaning of the card you drew. Write down any initial thoughts, reactions, feelings, and what the card means to you and how it applies to your life right now. If there are any questions that pop up while you are reading this description, write those down too.
Now take some time to reflect on your initial impression of the card combined with what is going on with your life right now, and the meaning of the card according to the guide book.
7. Recreate The Tarot Card In Your Journal
While you recreate the tarot card in your journal with pens, pencils, paint, watercolor, sketch out the card, and enjoy the process of getting a little bit closer to the card you drew today.
After you have recreated the tarot card in your journal you can stop there.
or…
Choose to go further and answer any questions that came up in the guidebook or while you were reflecting. This is a good time to write down any specific things in your life that you are going through that are similar to the themes you are seeing in this tarot card.
It’s understandable if you feel overwhelmed when starting a daily tarot journal. There are countless examples out there of tarot journal templates, tarot journal ideas, prompts, layouts, tarot journal symbols, and even digital tarot journals. But there is a way forward.
This is one of my favorite daily practices in my bullet journal. Ever the artist and seeker, I like to take this practice further and indulge my creative side by recreating the tarot card in my journal. You can see what my bullet journal looks like here at the end of the month once I’ve filled in the cards for the day and wrote down any meanings.
As a medicinal plant herbalist and forager (I must have been a botanist in another life) I love sketching, drawing, and painting botanical flowers in my bullet journal which you can see above.
An art based tarot journal is a wonderful way to get a deeper more intimate view of your tarot cards because you are physically recreating the tarot card in your journal. Don’t worry if your lines are wobbly, or if your characters look wonky. This practice is just for you, no one else.
As you continue with your daily tarot journal practice your artistry and skills will strengthen as you learn the archetypes and symbolism each card embodies.
Recreating tarot cards in your daily tarot journal is a gateway that leads you far beyond conscious thought that goes deep into your psyche where your Shadow Self resides.
Remember, it doesn’t matter what your journal looks like. This daily tarot journal practice is just for you, no one else. You should be excited to draw a card every day, not intimidated by the vast options out there, or someone else’s tarot journal.
Jenny Proczko, Owls&indigo How To Use Tarot As A Daily Journaling Tool
Starting a tarot journal is extremely easy. All you need is a pen or pencil, any kind of notebook, and a tarot deck. That’s it. I encourage you to go further and make daily tarot journal entries a mindful practice by intentionally selecting your supplies. You’ll need:
A notebook or journal that you love looking at and that you love holding in your hands, AND more importantly is aesthetically pleasing to you (not someone else). You can even use an old notebook that you have lying around waiting for some love.
Guidebooks are also extremely important for beginner tarot practitioners. I also have The Wild Unknown Guidebook that goes with the tarot deck I just mentioned. See more on guide books below.
You might have heard that you’re not supposed to buy your own deck, well let me dispel that rumor here and now. I promise you won’t be cursed if you buy your own tarot deck. I go into detail on buying a tarot deck on purpose with intention, what you need to think about when choosing a tarot deck, and How To Find a Tarot Deck That Speaks to You.
I find starting each day with a bit of creativity and reflection improves my mindfulness and builds my resilience in the face of the day’s stress. Building the habit of daily tarot draws can be a bit hard at first, but is extremely rewarding. I’m sure that you will find with the first shuffle that you can’t wait to draw the next day’s card to reveal the messages that it carries for you.
Like any new habit, especially a daily one, you’ll probably miss a day. Let me tell you right now, it’s ok. Don’t give up. Commit to journaling tomorrow. But there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of picking up the new habit:
1. Do it first thing in the morning.
If you do it first thing, nothing can get in the way, making it more likely you’ll get it done.
2. Prepare your journaling area the night before.
There’s nothing worse than getting ready to start a task and finding everything is in the way. This seems to happen to me when I want to cook, the entire kitchen is a mess and I end up ordering out. You can short-circuit this by preparing your journaling area and tool the night before. I like to keep my supplies in a little basket next to my chair or right on the table so I see it first thing in the morning.
3. Keep your journaling short…at first.
A new habit takes time and it’s easier to get started when we feel the task is easy to get done. A quick 5-10min sketch of your tarot draw is easy. Start there and add the journaling reflection in week 2 or 3 as you get more comfortable with the habit.
How To Get Back On Track When You Miss A Day In Your Journal
You might be wondering “What should I do if I missed a day in my tarot journal?” There are months that I have missed multiple days in my tarot journal. In the past I used to feel really guilty about missing a daily draw. So much so that I felt like I should just give up. But you can’t.
You can’t give up.
Remember you started this tarot practice for you and no one else. We all need to practice showing up for ourselves and the dreams, goals and intentions we’ve set for ourselves, even if it’s as simple as drawing one tarot card every day.
When I miss a day in my tarot journal, I used to leave the box blank where the card would have been recreated in my journal. But seeing all of those empty boxes made me feel sad, and like a failure on the really hard mental health days.
Now if I miss a day in my tarot journal, I recreate the back of the tarot card the next time I’m in my journal. This has transformed my relationship with my tarot journal. These missed days now look like unknown messages that await me in the future. It’s so much more uplifting to look at a missed day in my tarot journal and see a tarot card back and wonder what messages it holds for me, instead of feeling guilt for missing a day and not having a “perfect bullet journal.”
You might be wondering “bullet journal?” My tarot journal is part of my monthly bullet journal set up! If you want tarot bullet journal spread ideas check out my instagram @owlsandindigo here.
You can keep your tarot journal private or pass it down in your family. These records are a beautiful family heirloom that give younger generations a peek into their family’s past. Writing down your tarot readings in a tarot journal in this way creates a tangible source of reference material for your life, the lessons you have learned, should learn, and can still learn.
Each tarot card is filled with nuance that you will come to understand as your daily tarot journal practice develops. This record also shows you how the archetypes of the cards manifest themselves in the real world. Each tarot deck carries with it the story of the shared human experience, universal truths, and archetypes that we can all relate to no matter what season we are in or where we are in life.
Tarot cards are a very interesting way to reveal the subconscious feelings that we are having that we didn’t know we had. Tarot cards can also help us relate to everyday situations, discover unexpected meanings, develop a keen eye for recurring patterns in our lives, and reflect on what is happening in our lives and how we should move forward.
The Tarot is a meditative tool that helps us to stop stumbling through life, and guides us through introspection to reflect on our current station in life, navigate the jumble of our minds, see where we are today in the present, and steer us back to what feeds our soul.
Remember, tarot card’s can’t tell you your future. All they can do is act as a mirror to reflect back to you what you already know, that you can’t quite put into words.
JENNY PROCZKO, OWLS&INDIGO HOW TO USE TAROT AS A DAILY JOURNALING TOOL
I also read recently that the tarot is a barometer to show you where you’re at in life and the potential you possess. The tarot is a simple beautiful tool to put our conscious minds in touch with our subconscious, to uncover answers we’re seeking, that are already buried deep within our hearts and minds. Tarot cards act as a best friend who gently nudges you to say “hey you might want to think about this. Stop ignoring it, and give it some thought because you’re important too.”
Tarot Journal Resources & Related Topics
Below are some of my favorite Tarot Journaling Resources & Related Topics!
Do you want to know how to stop having negative thoughts? And how to stop thinking bad thoughts?
Are you struggling with how to stop negative thoughts from entering your mind and how it affects your mental health? Do you want help with negative thoughts?
I’ve discovered how to keep negative thoughts away and want to share it with you. This self-help technique to stop racing thoughts and stop doubting yourself is something that I think will help you get rid of negative thoughts and anxiety too.
It’s time to talk about mental health struggles:
how to stop negative thought loops
how to get rid of negative thoughts and fear
the issues that are affecting us
how to seek help in whatever way that will support us.
It is time to talk about de-stigmatizing mental health so we can finally find our way back to being ourselves again and be who we are really meant to be. To be our inner, most true selves and help us become happier, healthier human beings, and productive members of society.
For the longest time, I couldn’t silence the negative voice in my head and keep negative thoughts away. It was just too loud and I couldn’t scream loud enough in my own positive voice to squash out the negative self-talk. I just couldn’t stop thinking negative thoughts. There really was just no controlling the bad thoughts. In the past I used meditation to get rid of negative thoughts, but this particular day there was no way I was going to get rid of negative thinking, anxiety and depression. I needed to understand how to stop thinking depressing thoughts and how to deal with anxiety and negative thoughts on my own.
Recently I had a depression relapse. I thought that I had the tools to pick myself up and crawl out of the dark hole of depression that I experience. We all have our own personal brand of hell, and this day was a particularly dark one for me.
In my relapse, my anxiety was starting to build and build. Eventually when my anxiety peaked, I wasn’t able to combat the negative thoughts that were in my head, with positive ones. Not being able to drown out the negative voice in my head led me to a point where I tipped over into a full-blown depression episode.
My depression in this episode looked like something that I haven’t seen since the beginning of my journey, two or three years ago. I found myself on the floor crying, sobbing, hyperventilating and having a full blown panic attack complete with internal negative self talk and very scary thoughts that come along with my depression.
But something was different this time. I had found a tool to combat my depression and anxiety, stop the self sabotage and get rid of negative thoughts. Using a technique called “flipping the script” I was able to stop negative thinking in its tracks.
Flipping The Script To Combat Anxiety And Negative Thoughts
I’ve learned how to control my negative thoughts, why I am getting negative thoughts, and how to defeat negative thoughts. You can learn how to get rid of negative thoughts too. This simple technique will give you a road map on how to overcome negative thoughts and how to remove negative thinking from the mind.
I’m sure you can think of examples of negative thoughts, lists and lists of negative thoughts and see the negative thought patterns that can seep into your day. It’s incredibly hard to be dealing with constant negative thoughts all day. There was a point for me where I felt like all I have are negative thoughts. But I knew that there had to be a way to stop negative thinking. I had to find out how to combat negative thinking.
So I asked myself:
Why do I always get negative thoughts?
How do I stop negative thought patterns?
And how do I get rid of negative thoughts?
A.K.A.
Why do I get this, how can I stop it, and how do I get rid of what is still there?
Getting back to this particularly bad day… Even though I was in the deep throws of a very bad episode of depression and anxiety, I was able to find a way out and break the cycle of negativity. I flipped the script on my depression and was able to stop negative thoughts.
The Power Of Flipping The Script On Your Depression & Stopping Negative Thoughts.
The power of flipping the script on your depression and stopping negative thoughts comes from the will to keep living, and the want and hunger for change in our lives. None of us want to wallow in our sorrow, and if you do, then you need to take a good look at what is going on behind the scenes and understand what it is you are really aching for that the attention of your pity party fulfills.
Negative Thoughts & The Brain
Negative thoughts about yourself are difficult to combat at different seasons in our lives. We can find ourselves in stretches of time, weeks, months, even years of no negative thoughts, and suddenly find ourselves at the bottom of a dark well of sadness. Negative thoughts affect our emotions, physiology and cause our mental health to crumble. This is a recipe for disaster and can even lead to poor physical health that can shorten our lives without us realizing it.
Negative thoughts and self sabotaging talk amplifies our sorrow and punches up our fear based thinking making it skyrocket. When we find ourselves in a loop of negative thoughts that we can’t stop, like in those of us with depression and anxiety, it can lead to our brains rewiring and solidifying negative connections making it almost impossible for us to get rid of negative thinking. It all becomes unbearable and we crumble under its weight as we wander into the dark corners of our mental health.
Why negative thoughts come into the mind
Negative thoughts come into mind when we are at our most vulnerable. Negative thoughts and anxiety can lead to debilitating episodes of depression like it does for me. Constantly having negative thoughts can leave a person feeling worn out, worthless, and like there isn’t a point to it at all anymore. This is dangerous territory. To get out we must learn the best ways of dealing with negative thoughts.
How Positive Thoughts Help Shape Our Perspective
We actually have control over our perspective of the world. We can change the lens through which we see the world and try to make it a brighter one. Think of rose colored glasses, when you put them on, all is right in the world. Unlike rose-colored glasses, flipping the script, is about actively shifting our perspective and staying grounded.
How To Stop Negative Thinking & Let Go Of Negative Thoughts
Flipping the script on your depression helps you to stop negative thinking and self sabotaging internal dialogue. It helps you get out of your head and forces you to look at a negative situation positively.
Make sure to download this free printable for your journal below to help you flip the script on your depression and replace those negative thoughts with positive thinking. This download will guide you as you flip your own script and conquer negativity.
Quiet The Negative Voice In Your Head
Replace negative thoughts with positive thinking and find confidence, acceptance and connection again. This download will guide you as you flip the script on your negative thoughts and feel whole again. Download this FREE printable below!
Yay!!!! The link to this free download in waiting in your email!
Here’s how it works:
Before you begin, download the free printable above so you can discover how to get negative thoughts out of your head.
Step 1: Write down your negative thoughts.
What are negative thoughts? Negative thoughts are those beliefs or feelings you have that put yourself down and in the end lead you spiraling down into a dark abyss. Negative thoughts are also intrusive and mainly fear and apprehension based. In other words, the big dark and scary fear of the unknown. This can also be anything you fear that can trigger negative thought patterns in your head that lead you spiraling down into your own particular brand of hell.
Example of Negative Thought: “I am a worthless, stupid idiot, which is why everyone hates me.“
Examples of negative self talk:
There’s no way it will work. I’m worthless. What’s the point? I wish I was __. It will never get better. No one wants me.
Step 2: Write the direct opposite of that thought in a positive statement.
Look at the negative thought you wrote down and flip it. Say the exact opposite.
Example of The Direct Opposite Positive Statement: I am full of worth, smart and have amazing things to contribute to the world, which is why people like me.
In my video below I talk about a really bad episode of depression that left me wishing that I didn’t exist. I had to learn to let go of this negative thought and tell my depression “I wish to live” instead of listening to it shouting the opposite at me. Through mindfulness, I consciously decided to take my depression head-on and say, “I am excited to wake up tomorrow.”
Then I refined that statement even further to say, “I am excited to wake up to tomorrow to do X Y & Z.”
Examples of positive self talk: “I am excited to wake up tomorrow to see the Sun Rise, read my book, and see my kids’ smiling faces. Or to pet my cats or to walk my dog or whatever it is that you really find joy in doing and experiencing.
Flip the script on the negative self-talk your depression is saying to you, and say the opposite. Say that you are excited to live, you are excited to get up in the morning, and you are excited to get out of bed.
Step 3: Write Your Affirmation Mantra
The affirmation mantra contains the supporting evidence and reasons why the positive thought is true. The affirmation mantra, as you say it over and over to yourself, is what shifts your perspective to a positive one. This is the tool that helps you uncover the evidence and sends you off on the positive track.
Try writing your affirmation mantras with the beginning “I am __”
Example of Positive Affirmation Mantra To Combat Negative Thoughts: I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me! – Stuart Smalley
Comment down below if you know who Stuart Smalley is!
Whatever that negative thing your depression is telling you, flip it and say the positive opposite. Practicing positive thinking every day can feel silly at first, but trust me, it’s worth it, and you deserve a bright sunny happy mindset everyday.
Tell your depression NO.
Tell your depression that you are doing the positive opposite of what it’s telling you to do.
If you find yourself asking, “why do I have negative thoughts?” Try to remove negative thoughts by changing negative thoughts into positive ones that are the direct opposite. You can figure out how to get rid of overthinking and negative thoughts. It’s not easy to stop repetitive negative thoughts, but I know you can do it. I’m here for you. Remember to practice positive thinking every day.
You are not alone. I am not alone. We are not alone. We are a community. Even though we are separated by miles and miles we are all connecting. That is why I write these articles and make videos, so that we can find each other, because no one who is hurting has to go thogut it alone. I am here for you and we are a community.
If you are struggling with depression, thoughts of suicide, anxiety, or PTSD. There is help. Please call for help:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call:
1-800-273-8255 or call 911
They’re available 24 hours everyday and even have an online chat if you can’t bring yourself to talk about it out loud.
I have depression, anxiety, & PTSD. Thankfully after years of help, I’m able to identify my triggers. Living with depression is draining, deafening, and can be deadly.⠀
Are you struggling right now? I know it’s hard right now given the state of the world here in April of 2020, but you are going to get through this, and I want to help in any way that I can.
I’ve found that journaling really helps me in times of stress and uncertainty.
These reflecting prompts also help my mental health. You can find all of my journal and writing prompts right here!
This journaling practice definitely gives me pause for reflection, which I feel like I don’t have enough time for in my life. Taking pause is something that I have a hard time making and taking the time for. But with this practice its built into my routine at the end of the month with my journal and into my mornings as a part of my journaling morning routine.
Journal Prompt:
What makes you feel enlightened and uplifted? How can you bring more of it into your life?
My Experience
This journaling prompt was really interesting for me. I was shocked when I read it at first and was almost offended that my journal prompted me with it. I know how silly that sounds! But it’s how I felt that morning. I wasn’t sure if it was an appropriate journal prompt because of all of the pain, suffering and uncertainty that the global pandemic has given the world. But then I started to realize that my upbringing on the farm had prepared me for this moment. This journal prompt helped me zero in and focus on the things that make me feel enlightened and uplifted. These things also make me feel prepared and safe.
My Answer to This Spirituality Journaling Prompt…
What makes you feel enlightened and uplifted? How can you bring more of it into your life?
“The world has shutdown due to COVID-19. Right now in this state of the world, what makes me feel enlightened and uplifted is, gratitude for my station in life, resourcefulness & frugal up bringing. These things make me feel prepared. My plants, gardening knowledge and sewing knowledge make me feel enlightened. The good humans of the world and their stories make me feel uplifted and help me to see hope.”
Watch my video below to see how I’m bringing more feelings of being enlightened and uplifted into my daily life. I also go into detail on how I’m feeling about the state of the world right now, what I’m upto and what is helping me cope with isolation.
I’d really love to hear what your answer is (if you can share it) in the comments down below or email me. I really love to hear from you. I love getting emails from you. It’s amazing to be able to interact with you on a much more personal level in actual genuine back and forth conversations. It makes me smile and it just warms my heart whenever I get these messages from you all.
I am very very grateful and thankful to have you as a community and to know that I’m not alone when it comes to mental health struggles or just normal everyday struggles. Sometimes I’m just too hard on myself and I’ve got to remember that I’m human. It really helps to have a community to support me and also have a community that I can support back as well.
There is still time for you to ponder the Spirituality Journaling Prompt this month. This can even be a part of your end of the month journaling review. I like to ask myself the same questions each month plus a Spirituality Question that gets me thinking and gives me a chance to connect to my truest most inner self, my spirit. If you’d like to see what questions I ask myself each month check out my April Plan With Me, which includes all of those questions that I ask myself at the end of the month to see how I’m doing. I like to see what I’ve learned and just to see where I’m at. This monthly life review also helps my mental health.
This journaling practice definitely gives me pause for reflection, which I feel like I don’t have enough time for in my life. Taking pause is something that I have a hard time making and taking the time. But with this practice its built into my routine at the end of the month with my journal.
Monthly Spirituality Journaling Prompt:
What brings you bliss and harmony? How can you bring more of it into your life?
My Experience
This journaling prompt was really interesting for me. It was surprisingly calming. To be honest I was worried that I was going to stress out about all of the things that make me happy that I’m not able to do right now since the world is in lockdown. But it made me zero in and focus on the little things in my daily life that bring me bliss and harmony.
My Answer to This Spirituality Journaling Prompt…
What brings you bliss and harmony? How can you bring more of it into your life?
I experience bliss and harmony in the escape of my dreams at night and when the day is done and I crawl into bed. My bed is a place of refuge at night.
During the day, cooking, my plants, board games, and my pets bring me bliss and harmony.
I will bring more bliss and harmony into my days by checking my plants every morning with my plant moisture meter and by playing one card game by myself each day.
These are the little things that I can do during COVID-19 quarantine and self isolation that are easy, manageable, do-able, and bring me bliss and harmony.
I’d really love to hear what your answer is (if you can share it) in the comments down below or email me. I really love to hear from you. I love getting emails from you. It’s amazing to be able to interact with you on a much more personal level in actual genuine back and forth conversations. It makes me smile and it just warms my heart whenever I get these messages from you all.
I am very very grateful and thankful to have you as a community and to know that I’m not alone when it comes to mental health struggles or just normal everyday struggles. Sometimes I’m just too hard on myself and I’ve got to remember that I’m human. It really helps to have a community to support me and also have a community that I can support back as well.
This week I want you to focus on connecting to yourself through long form journaling.
Benefits of connecting to yourself through long form journaling:
You’re actively seeking a dialogue with your inner self.
You’re getting that much needed alone time.
You fill your cup first so you can be the best version of yourself to take care of others.
You might notice that these benefits are just like last week! Daily journaling (last week’s spirituality tip) is extremely important too, because it flexes the writing muscle and helps build the habit. Here on Owls&Indigo I talk a lot about journaling, connecting to your inner most true self, and filling your cup first so you can be the best version of yourself to take care of others. These are all activities that promote good strong mental health. Struggling with mental health is something that we all go through to various degrees and in different seasons of our lives. There is no shame in getting help. This is a shared common experience of human existence. It’s something that we all go through.
My Personal Experience:
I really love long form journaling, its a place where I get to let out my frustrations, air my grievances, recuperate, and restore my sanity. Long form journaling is an activity that I can get lost in for hours and spend a whole afternoon or morning on.
Because I can spend so much time on journaling, I tend to save the long form journaling for the times when I really really have something to say. These are usually the times when I am stressed or days that are filled with good memories that I don’t want to forget. There are even times when I’m working on journaling exercises in my journal and I get swept away with writing.
My Current Long Form Journal Set Up:
Therapy & Mental Health Journal
Digital Journal on Evernote
Moon Themed Bullet Journal
The therapy & mental health journal is reserved only for my therapy sessions, doctors visit notes, and mental health journey notes. In the beginning of that journey I was writing in this journal daily to record the symptoms, side effects, and triggers that were unique to me. As I have gotten to a stable place (two years into this journey), I write in this journal every few months or so, and any time I have a therapy session, for notes and reflections. To see more of my mental health journey click here.
The digital journal is where I type furiously and fast! These are normally the moments when I have too much to say and I can’t get it out fast enough. These entries are sometimes stream of consciousness, rants, or recounts of memorable days. I tend to write digitally once a month unless I have lots to say. To see my daily journaling setup click here.
The moon themed bullet journal is where I keep my daily calendar and work schedule. I don’t use this journal often for long form journaling, but when I do, it is normally work related. These entries are infrequent. You can see more on my bullet journal setup and monthly spreads here.
You don’t need a fancy pen or journal, any old pen and spiral notebook will do.
Your thoughts on the page are what is most important.
Don’t feel guilty for getting lost in your writing. Time spent with a journal is time well, spent getting to know the most important person in your life, you.
Fostering self connection through long form journaling can be time consuming and make your hands cramp like hell. This practice of long form writing can also be a bit uncomfortable spiritually and emotionally at times because you are letting your deepest, most hidden thoughts, out onto the page. But you have taken the first step by reading this week’s spirituality tip.
By fostering a self connection through long form journaling I have found that I am more in tune with my truest, most inner self, and that I am better able to control myself by knowing what my inner child needs and craves. This gives me a chance to take care of myself first, long before anything bubbles to the surface and erupts like a volcano.
Create the space for long form journaling once a week and let your inner voice speak to you.
Have you tried connecting to yourself through long form journaling?
This week I want you to focus on connecting to yourself through daily journaling.
Benefits of connecting to yourself through journaling:
You’re actively seeking a dialogue with your inner self.
You’re getting that much needed alone time.
You fill your cup first so you can be the best version of yourself to take care of others.
You might notice that these benefits are just like last week! Intentional Solitude (last week’s spirituality tip) is extremely important too. Here on Owls&Indigo I talk a lot about journaling, connecting to your inner most true self, and filling your cup first so you can be the best version of yourself to take care of others. These are all activities that promote good strong mental health. Struggling with mental health is something that we all go through to various degrees and in different seasons of our lives. There is no shame in getting help. This is a shared common experience of human existence. It’s something that we all go through.
My Personal Experience:
The first time that I even encountered daily journaling was waaaaaay back as a child. My mom kept a daily record of anything that happened in a datebook. This datebook was normally a small datebook the size of a checkbook, anyone remember those? It was the size of two debit cards. You can find these datebooks anywhere, even at the dollar tree. It’s a really great way to get started with daily journaling. As I have gotten older I have discovered one thing about daily journaling….
Consistency is key. To get the maximum amount of benefit out of your journaling practice you need to visit the page every day. But that doesn’t mean that you need to write a toam every day. I have a variety of different journals for different purposes and have found that the best journal to solidify the daily journaling habit is The Five Year Journal.
Some links in this article are affiliate links, this means I earn a small commission if you use them! Affiliate Links are one way I am able to provide videos, articles, and resources for free. Other links go straight to the Owls & Indigo Shop where you can support me directly.
This little journal is the size of your hand and just over an inch thick. Each page has 5 entries on it one for each of the five years that you will be using this journal, for a grand total of 366 pages, with a page for the leap year. I love this journal because there is only space enough for 1-2 lines a day. This has made it SO DAMN EASY for me to achieve consistency with my daily journaling practice and keep it going long term. I just write in a line a day and chronicle how my day went, any special memories, or something health related. I like to fill it out each night as I get into bed or first thing in the morning over coffee.
I am now in my fifth year in my first Five Year Journal and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE being able to look back on my journey on a given day of the year to see my progress. I have also discovered some things that I didn’t realize were still issues years and years later…. like Dan not cleaning the litter box consistently…. I swear… 3 years from the first time I wrote about it and he still hasn’t been able to solidify the habit OR identify a trigger for the habit. I digress….
If I need more than the space allowed on a given day because I have more to say or more to rant about, I start in my five year journal and then make a note on which journal I finished the entry in. I have separate journals for mental health + therapy and what you would call a “diary” type of journal. I like to keep these two separate because of therapy and doctors visits. I don’t want to have to leaf through multiple journals to find health and therapy related things that I need faster access to. So for me, having a “personal diary / journal” and another one for mental health + therapy, works really well. You might not need separate journals. Find a system that works for you.
If I need more space to write a journal entry (which isn’t often anymore unless I’m having a particularly hard day), I choose my personal journal / diary, which is currently digital, or I head over to my therapy journal which houses notes from my therapy sessions, mental health updates, and doctor visit notes and tracking for my mental health as well. I have spoke before about my mental health struggles, you can see my journey here. You are not alone, we are all in this together.
things to remember…
You don’t need a fancy pen or journal, any old pen and spiral notebook will do.
Your thoughts on the page are what is most important.
Consistency is key. Just showing up to write down your mood can start and reinforce a daily journaling habit.
Fostering self connection through daily journaling can be hard and uncomfortable because you are letting your thoughts out onto the page. But you have taken the first step by reading this week’s spirituality tip.
By fostering a self connection through daily journaling I have found, that I am less afraid of my inner thoughts and that I am better able to manage my anxiety. It was really hard to get to know my inner self and let her speak her mind. I have found that if I don’t pacify myself and create the space for that inner exploration through journaling and meditation that I am much calmer because there is nothing bubbling beneath the surface that I am clueless about.
BUT none of this means that I always journal daily. I forget, get lazy, or choose bad habits over good ones. I am constantly trying to get to know my inner self and it’s a struggle. But also a life long journey that have been scarily beautiful. I have already learned so much and have so much more to discover. Create a space for daily journaling even if it’s just one line a day and let your inner voice speak to you.
Have you tried connecting to yourself through daily journaling?
I hope that you focus on connecting to yourself through daily journaling this week. I’d love to learn about your practices in the comments below, or drop me an email jenny@owlsandindigo.com I’d love to hear from you.
Setting yearly goals isn’t always easy and can sometimes feel daunting. I know that it did for me before I realized I had depression and anxiety. Now that I am in a better head space, I’m able to live beyond the end of the day and see further into my future wants and desires. Thankfully, these yearly goals now seem attainable and realistic! This list may seem like a lot, but I have a lot to catch up on, and I promise that they all link together in one way or another.
These goals are going to lead me to the biggest goal I have which is living a life that is working so well that I don’t even notice it. I hope that one day, everything just seamlessly flows together and supports each other to just plain work (without me even noticing!)
This year I decided to make a flip-out version of my spiritual goals that way I don’t have to keep rewriting them every time I do my New Moon Goal Setting Ritual. I set goals by the moon every single month. As you head to the beginning of this year in my journal you’ll see an overview for the year with the calendar months and the moon phases too. Right next to this section I have my flip out yearly spiritual goals.
Making a flip out is really handy for me because when I was setting my goals for the new moons last year I kept re-writing my goals, which took up time and space in my journal that I found that I needed for planning. The flip out allows me to reference my goals no matter where I am in my journal with no flipping back and forth to see what they were.
There is no setting and forgetting this way. By using the flip out I can keep them top of mind when I’m having a hard day by just leaving the page out so I can be inspired by what I have in store for myself.
I did something a little different with the way that I set my goals and intentions for the year. Instead of “I want to accomplish this by blah blah blah date” or “I want to do this bah-bah-bah thing.” I wrote my goals and intentions in a way that was present. Like a mantra that I was already embodying. Writing it this way felt more actionable to me.
My 2020 Goals & Intentions
I let go of my solitude.
I embody calmness and love.
I am dedicated to healing my mental health with oils, good fats and good veggie carbs.
I nourish myself with plants, oil, water, yoga in its various forms, spirituality, and techless bedtime.
I am fully integrated with my dream self.
I embody my spiritual yoga practice in its various forms: learning the history of yoga, breath work, meditation practices, stretches, poses, yoga flows.
I’m learning: – the spiritual side of yoga – to reinvigorate my apothecary with foraging – composting – oils and good fats for brain health and longevity
I’m reading: – John Muir’s collected works – Haus Magik – Hatha Yoga – The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
I tend to be a little bit of a hermit crab and I’m an introvert and I’m also a Cancer… so I just want to stay in my shell and in my home. I never want to go out. I’m such a homebody and I don’t want to go anywhere, ever. This has kind of become a little bit of a problem… so I want to release that solitude and let go of it. I have some physical health intentions, body health intentions, and some mental health intentions. I have depression, anxiety and every once in a while PTSD just really hits me hard.
I’ve seen a doctor and I have the support of my doctor, my therapist, my husband, and my family. They have all helped me through the really hard days. It’s difficult some days. Even though its difficult, I do have goals for my mental health. I am currently on medication and would like to eventually get off medication with the approval and support of my doctor.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor. I am only sharing my journey, what works for me and what hasn’t. Please consult your doctor before changing your diet or medication.
This year I’m trying a way of eating, I don’t want to say diet because it’s not like I’m doing this to lose weight (even though I could stand to lose the weight). I’m doing this new way of eating to promote a better brain function. I’ve been doing some research and it seems like good oils, good fats and a low-carb way of eating can help mental health. It should help with anxiety too. This way of eating should help the synapses fire in the brain better. The diets that I’ve been looking into also help with Alzheimer’s, elderly adults, longevity and brain function.
My mental health is very important to my spiritual health because if my mental health is not sound then my spirituality just tanks. I turn into a very dark place. It’s like my spirit is just zapped out of me and it sucks. It’s terrible. For me mental health and stability is a part of my spiritual practice along with all of these other things.
I’d love to know in the comments down below what your spiritual goals are for this year! Is it something as simple as finishing a book in the religion that you follow? Learning about other religions? Starting a daily meditation practice or daily yoga practice? Sitting in nature or sitting with your pets? Tending to your plants?
If you are struggling with depression, thoughts of suicide, anxiety, or PTSD. There is help. Please call for help:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call:
1-800-273-8255 or call 911
They’re available 24 hours everyday and even have an online chat if you can’t bring yourself to talk about it out loud.
I have depression, anxiety, & PTSD. Thankfully after years of help, I’m able to identify my triggers. Living with depression is draining, deafening, and can be deadly.⠀
Is your heart hurting? Try this journal prompt for healing your heart and getting yourself in a better more loving mindset.
Healing our heart can be extremally hard. From loss to grief, we may not know what to do. As someone with depression, I am no stranger to having a confused and hurting heart. Sometime we may not know what is causing us pain, only that something is wrong, out of wack, feeling unbalanced, or off kilter.
This journaling practice purposefully gives me pause for reflection, which I feel like I don’t have enough time for in my life. Taking pause is something that I have a hard time making and taking the time for. But with this practice, it’s built into my journaling routine.
This heart healing journal prompt is part of my monthly journaling session at the beginning of the month. This can prompt can also be part of your end of the month journaling review.
For my end of the month journaling review in my bullet journal, I like to ask myself the same questions each month to give myself a chance to connect to my truest most inner self, my spirit. If you’d like to see what questions I ask myself each month check out my January Plan With Me. This video includes all of those questions that I ask myself at the end of the month to check in with myself to see how I’m doing. This is a great way to gauge your progress over the course of a year, this monthly life review also helps my mental health.
Monthly Journaling Prompt To Heal The Heart:
What movements or changes does your heart need right now right now?
My Experience
This journaling prompt was really grounding for me. It made me feel like I was taking a deep look at my true desires and letting my heart lead the way and have a say in the direction it wanted to go in. This journaling prompt just felt good. It was exactly what my heart needed.
My Answer to This Spirituality Journaling Prompt…
What movements or changes does your heart need right now right now?
My heart needs a lot of stillness. It doesn’t really need movement outward. It needs movement inward and movement in the changes that I make to find that calm and stillness. My heart also needs love right now. I have made a lot of changes to the way that I’m perceiving things and looking at things. I’ve shifted my focus a little bit and I’m trying to look at the world, my situations, and my everyday life in a new light to promote love, calmness, and stillness. Those are the things that my heart really needs right now.
