I have never regretted a journal entry I have made, terrible handwriting and all; what I do regret is all the entries I didn't write because I thought nothing noteworthy was going on.

At 6:29 Thorn talks about the hurdle of getting it ruined (a fear) and this Margaret Atwood Creative Writing MasterClass ad quote comes to mind: "If you really do want to write and you're struggling to get started, you're afraid of something. Remember, it's only you and the page."

"You are a terrible judge of how valuable your thoughts are". Whoa....thank you. I agree totally. It's amazing how often I will share something and a friend will repeat it back to me and I have a momentary spilt dimension experience where I think "Wow...that's pretty insightful/wise/kind/interesting" and then I realize it's what I just said. I have found that one of the most healing things for me is speaking my thoughts to someone I trust and that loves me and then allow them to tell me if those thoughts are helpful/true/kind and good for me or if I need to actively change those thoughts and subsequently my actions and behavior that come from them. The less I am in my head and the more I'm in my heart I find I'm much better at life. I appreciate how your talks always help me to see things, inside and out.

Once I discovered the bullet journal method it became easier to start a BoS. I always struggled with being able to find anything. I’ve also have a master index in a binder to allow for multiple editions. Between the Bullet journal system and the zettlekasten method I have increased my regular journaling and entries into my BoS. It has helped me recognize and acknowledge that I have an annual period when I go “mundane” for a several weeks and that is part of my practice. To be able to see that through my journaling took a long time, and I had to get past a lot of the reasons you discussed in this video. I am very glad I have discovered your channel.

@nicerr5247

3 жыл бұрын

The Bullet Journal method has been my solution as well. I run a BoS for rituals, but keep everything else in a bullet journal

@drawingKenaz

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! I love bullet journaling! It’s such a great strategy, and I think it’s made magical journaling a lot more manageable for many practitioners.

@McMoldys

2 жыл бұрын

OMG!! After yrs of rewrittening my digital BoS I finally came to the conclusion of the Zettlekasten method!! I didnt even know there was a name for it. I definitely resonate with this comment!

I just realized that this video is from two years ago. I hope that you still get notifications of new posts on older videos. I just recently found your channel and find it very helpful. Holy moly woman, you hit the nail on the head! lol Quite a few times. It is always good for someone (me) to be reminded that there are plenty of other people who share similar feelings of self dault and hang-ups. I tend to forget this fact and get frustrated with myself. I can also relate to everything you talked about in this video. So thank you for that.

Thorn I really appreciate your calm, no-nonsense approach to life and magic. I hold you in my heart as one of my best KZread finds of 2020. Your ramblings have enriched me.

@drawingKenaz

3 жыл бұрын

Omg Gina, that’s so kind! Thank you very much for the warm words. It’s very encouraging.

Basically those beautiful books are worthy of our mistakes and imperfections.

@drawingKenaz

3 жыл бұрын

I think that’s a great attitude!

I have a dip pen set I love. It's the first dip pen that I've been able to write with reliably. I also ask a big fan of fountain pens. My biggest fear is my bad spelling. I'm dyslexic and I can find unique ways to misspell all kinds of standard words.

I just have like a normal notebook and I add what I have read and sometimes if I remember I would write down spells I have done. And write how feel as well. And when I go for my walks and I notice the different smells of the land and the beautiful flowers and how strong the scent is. I really love my books. Along time ago I used to write my own stories and then I got put off by one person saying that my writing isn't any good. I have tried to get back into it but am having trouble finishing it off these days. So now I take photos and put them on my facebook page. When I first started my You Tube Channel I used to add photos to music and it was turned into a video but now You Tube don't allow photos it has to be videos only. Maybe one day they might bring that back. Cause I really enjoyed those. But at the the moment Brisbane, Queensland, Australia are in locked down for 3 days. I hope you are staying safe. Blessed Be.

Your Craft utility sounds so drone I shan't imagine falling asleep just hearing of it! The Teacher in Second Grade used the signet sigil in long running banners that spanned the entire upper four corners of the class room thus sealing the children inside enslaving us through a chained spell to the practice of calligraphy, a known Black Art were with the implement was signed in Lead.

These are such great tips! I especially loved the thought of "ruining" a book by spilling tea on the first page. :) I think it's so cool that you are inspired by the thought of someone discovering and reading your book. I love the concept of that. It's kind of funny though, because that is one thing that actually held me back from journaling for years. I would read something I wrote after a few months or years, and think it was so stupid, and sometimes I would end up destroying it out of embarrassment. This past year is the first time I have faithfully journalled on a frequent basis and not been at all concerned about what I wrote. I can refer back to it and be totally fine with what I wrote, and I think part of the reason for that is that I stopped trying to look at it through someone else's eyes, and started seeing it purely as a private outlet for expression. I'm also glad you spoke about the handwriting issue. That was a great reminder that beautiful handwriting is not something you are born with, it takes practice!

@drawingKenaz

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing your own thoughts and experiences! I’m so glad this past year was a turning point for you! It really can be sort of gently life changing to have that perspective shift! 💙

It feels as though you are speaking to my soul. Yesterday I opened my BOS, and let's just say it's been a while, and I felt so guilty about it. One thing I really appreciate about the way you speak and talk about subjects is that you're so grounded and realistic about everything, magical to mundane. You have a very comprehensive yet raw approach that I really relate and feel drawn to. Thank you for everything you've been doing for us, your viewers, know that we truly feel inspired by you. 💜

I have a hang up with the linear aspect- writing from beginning to the end. So when I got a really nice new book I thought of what the chapters would be, divided it up and wrote a table of contents. Now everything I sit down I have a few ideas of chapters I want to work on and if I want to start at the end I can

This video helped me decide that wrecking a few pages before actually starting my BoS was an essential step to sabotage my perfectionism enough that my "mess ups" don't matter now. It also helped me write with my own voice talking to my future self in my headspace, rather than someone else's voice overtaking my thoughts like it normally does. Thanks for this video! Wish I had found your channel earlier in life.

My handwriting is a combination of cursive and print. It drives people crazy, but I can read it, and I lean in to it, using it as a sort of magical alphabet. I know for a fact that my book looks like an art journal full of gibberish to my boyfriend, but I can crack it open and do a full ritual reading from it just fine.

@paperstorycraft

Жыл бұрын

I’m a mix of cursive and print too.

Think of your Book of Shadows as a lifetime companion, the very best of you, a friend to hold an essence of who you truly are (at that time in your life with the things you were dealing). Accepted I had practice a lot beforehand, but I'm thankful the me from 1991 is still written there, saying it loud, witness and reminder. I know that makes it seem all the more daunting but that is how it grows power, significant things always take a lot of work to create. Could you build a whole house from an hours effort? I advise getting the gorgeous paper, stuff that feels good to the hand, colour that pleases your eye, even a smell and obviously that will take ink and paint you use. Binding it is easy, there's a hundred how to's on YT and if you can bind it you can rebind it better the next time. Finally what the rush? You got a lifetime to get it done.

Ohhh this was a much needed reminder. I started a book to write down all our family traditions and the plan was to give it to my son when he's grown up. I bought pens in beautiful colours and really planned on making it all especially beautiful. But so far...3 pages are filled... I think it's really time to continue. Wonderful thoughts from you, thanks Thorn.

@drawingKenaz

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for watching! I’m so glad it was inspiring!

I feel this. I have so many expensive beautiful journals I’ve collected over the years and they still sit there. Some are custom made and some I bought at the bookstore I worked at. I’d see a journal and I’d get a perfect idea for it. Hence the stack of journals I have. So I went through them and gifted them and kept a few

Digital journaling on my iPad has changed my practice for the better. I definitely miss the feel of pen and paper sometimes, but the organization and flexibility of going digital has been worth it!

I always start on the second page for this exact reason. I love the idea of introducing yourself in a new book. This is a fantastic video, and just what I needed.

Great ideas ,,, Thank you I have a hard timing beginning. I have taken a handwriting analysis class and the most ineligible handwriting comes from the most intelligent people. Introduction of yourself at the beginning of beginning a new journal is a great idea , because I know if someone gets a journal after the author passes the person is going to read it

I completely get not wanting to “ruin” a journal because I don’t know enough yet or whatever. Now I have been putting the information in cheep notebooks and plan to refine and copy it with art in the nicer journals.

I needed this. It’s like you read my mind and called me out, lol. Thank you for the swift kick in the rear. ❤️

I've been through page after page and I can't stand the way people talk like a textbook or just repeat themselves over and over again. YOU! YOU ABSOLUTE ANGELIC FORCE SENT TO ME ARE PHENOMENAL. So natural and knowledgeable, feels like having tea with the coolest friend ever. Not too mention you always seem to post exactly what I need when I need it, like today's video. Please never stop💕

Great video. I got over the "it's too nice" thing by getting a fancy tooled leather book cover/sleeve. It looks super fancy and witchy but inside is just any notebook that fits. So if I "ruin" some pages I can just replace the notebook as a worst case scenario. The pocket of the cover also is a good place to stuff random pages with observations, additions and works in progress. I also stick stuff like pressed leaves in there and other witchy stuff. I have loved this decision ever since I bought it. And to get over the crappy handwriting I actually got into typerwriters. I have my little Underwood 378 I use for typing stuff out and then a little glue stick to put it on the page and done.

Fantastic idea about introducing yourself at the beginning of the book. I'm definitely trying that one out! 🥰

I immediately went over to check the post and I'm very happy I did! I'm a recent fountain pen nerd (two years and counting) and have over 20 pens right now. My favourites were both a gift, and both BENU and I love them so much. The BENU briolette silver ore I asked for my birthday because I wanted a seperate pen for my daily witchy journaling. I hope to write my book of shadows with it one day when I switch from digital to handwriting. I use the hexagon D for my fiction writing with a pretty Peter Pauper galaxy notebook that matches the colours of my pen. Which makes me excited! On top of my antique writing desk which is in my temple room I'm slowly growing a creativity altar, and I love the idea of adding a deity of writing to that. So enough gushing! I'm inspired to make my writing implements more magical and will probably be blessing my pens and inks soon. So thanks, Thorn! (And if you want to gush more about pens and notebooks, you know where to find me ;))

This was totally a struggle I had last year. In 2018 my grandmother bought me this beautiful leather journal and for 2 years it took up space under my bed cause I felt I needed to save it for a special occasion. When I decided to retire my old Book of Shadows (after 5+ years of use) I went for the leather one, went to the very last page and just straights up used it to test ink and paint samples for the paper. It helped me to get introduced to the book, how it works, what materials work with it and feel less afraid to touch it. Now I know what I wanna write in it and am just waiting for new ink to arrive to get started. 2 years later and I had to force myself to not fear the pretty journal haha

Thank you for just being grounded and so good. You have a gift. I dont agree with everything you present. Saying that I do agree with most you say. Great work and keep it up!

This was such a well said and helpful video! I think my biggest issue with writing in my BOS has always been that I want it to look perfect. I’ll spend wayyy to much time planning things out and waiting to have the right materials to do the entry justice, but that time just never comes. I’ve missed out on documenting a lot of my journey because of that and I’ve been trying to break that mindset for a long time now. Thank you for the awesome tips!

@drawingKenaz

3 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! I’m so glad this was helpful!

I 100% have a book that was given to me almost 2 years ago that is too pretty! I even bought 3 different types of pens and decided none of them were what I was looking for. I did actually read your fountain pen article a few days ago and will definitely be getting one. Although, I did write in the first page of the book (a poem), but that did not encourage me enough to keep going. But, I also already have a mundane daily bullet journal that I sometimes write magical things in.

This is a really great video Thorn! These hang-ups are something I do see a lot of beginners fall into and this advice is clear and so valuable. A change that I implemented in my craft was using binders! That definitely helped me overcome the fear of messing up pages, since I had the comfort of being able to take them out and re-do them as I please.

@drawingKenaz

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! 💙💙💙

My biggest problem has been taking what I've written down in my various notebooks and transcribing it into my "beautiful" journals because I feel my handwriting would somehow make the journals less pretty. I plan on starting in on page two today and finally jumping off the metaphorical cliff. Perfectly imperfect is my new mantra.

I think writing as though someone has found your journal at a bus stop is a hindrance for me. I find I’m less afraid of it if I just think “Well it’s only me reading it”. Then there’s less pressure on how much detail to put in, how interesting it is, how many mistakes I make.

@marjolijnashara1726

3 жыл бұрын

I write for myself as well. It really helped me in my writing, both fiction and witchy, to have a notebook which I designated as "just for me". No one, not even my partner, will read what I wrote in here. And that made it much easier for me to just *write*, without the fear of it needing to be "good enough" (of course, whatever you write is already good enough, but you know what I mean). It gives me an excuse to write whatever, even if it sucks, because no one will read it anyway.

I am a pen enthusiast, too.

My Grimoire isn’t the neatest, but it’s me, my journey. I actually see the growth. Yeah it’s not as pretty as others I have seen but it’s mine and I love it.

@tasiablock5928

3 жыл бұрын

The roadblock I have is that I make my standard too high. I love to put a lot of effort into a journal entry, adding art, thinking through my thoughts, finding poetry that adds to the conversation, and more. There are post-it notes for days before I write. I do this because I'm an artist and I love to make beautiful things. But then, I have a need to just free write as catharsis or take records, and these just look like rambles of badly spelled text and hasty diagrams. To make room for these necessary pages in my journal and turn down the voice-of-judgment I have started putting watercolor washes down on a stretch of pages in a row. I've made a safe space for spontaneity. And you know what, I've grown more from allowing myself to show up and be vulnerable. You are 100% correct that what is important is the growth.

Loved this video. I think I need to figure out WHY I haven’t started a bos before I can even get over all these other reasons.

I had the same experience I got a gift a big leather book with blank parchment paper and I didn't use it for about 2 years I only just started to write in it recently 😅

One thing I found helpful in starting that 'beautiful' journal was to cut out clippings, recipes (magical, herbal) other people's spells or pictures and/or symbols I liked, and glue them in the book where I might want to write about the ideas I got from them. Thanks for the advice, very helpful!

Thank you, Ms. Thorn.

This was such a valuable video. Thank you.

@drawingKenaz

2 жыл бұрын

I’m so glad! Thank you for watching!

Really good advice. I have atrocious handwriting and have always wanted a pretty super magical grimoire, but I know it isn't possible with my handwriting as it is. On top of that, I did a dumb move and chose a very thick (like king james bible thick) book, which I'm now considering just switching to a new book entirely because part of the reason I didn't want to write in it was because it was such a literal pain to write in (i always had to elevate my arm and wrist with something else jus to be able to write in it). In essence, your tools really do matter and don't make it harder for yourself! I struggle with journaling my magical stuff and I know I really should get to that because it felt like such a chore lol. Thanks for the video, I really like your simple vlog and teacherly approach :)

Love this video! When I started my book I just had to force myself to start. I remember when I made the first mistake I started doing art over it like you suggested! I also think there is this obsession with romanticized antique looks and that’s silly. It’s silly because when we are old (or dead) people may be writing with different utensils (or digitally!) and our books will become the new antique! What we use and write with for our books is a sign of our times, and that’s a beautiful thing. When my book is opened over a hundred years from now and someone sees the image of Gaia painted with Hot Topic glitter nail polish, they’ll know it came from the early 2010’s during the era of emo and scene fashion. And that’s okay, because it was made by a child with limited resources! Also, about the static... it can be removed with a few quick audio editing tricks. I’d be happy to share some tips with you for how to get rid of it, but I totally understand if you don’t even want to bother since it takes a little extra time and downloading Audacity (free audio editing software).

@marjolijnashara1726

3 жыл бұрын

"When my book is opened over a hundred years from now and someone sees the image of Gaia painted with Hot Topic glitter nail polish, they’ll know it came from the early 2010’s during the era of emo and scene fashion." I absolutely love that. And you're absolutely right, we're obsessed with our Books of Shadows or Grimoires looking like the "Tomes of Old". And, to be fair, it does look cool. But does it really reflect who we are and where we are in our practices. You've given me something to think about there...

@paperstorycraft

Жыл бұрын

I honestly love the idea of using glitter nail polish because it’s made with limited supplies but tons of enthusiasm. That enthusiasm is what I want in my BOS.

wow.. Thank you for the tip

Thank you so much for this video!! I seriously appreciate this so much. I love how practical, and to the point you are! I do not personally handwrite because I can't so I've been working on my book in Braille with tactile art. I hope to keep it for a long time so I want a physical book. These tips helped me in so many ways! Blessings!

Fountain pens!! You're my new favorite person :) That reminds me, someone asked me to talk about my pens at one point, I should look into it. These are all great suggestions, thank you!

I would love to see and hear about pens! My friend just asked me about what pens I got, and they got way more details then they expected I think LOL

I would love to hear more about your collection and your pen cleaning routine! :) Thank you for your lovely content!

Thank you for sharing the advice of starting your journal a page, or two, or three in! I think this is my most daunting barrier to journaling. I don't know where to start because I don't know where I will end up. Now I realize that I can give myself the permission to not start at the beginning. Beginnings are scary and it's so me to jump in somewhere in the middle and take off running. I like the idea of saving the beginning for later (or even last) when I know where I am going. Then I can properly introduce myself. Thank you for making me excited about journaling. I have a few composition notebooks, with pretty covers, that I have been saving for the specific purpose of journaling.

Thank you for this post! It's been really helpful for me. I am trying to learn how to daily journal with the goal of writing at least 3 pages a day. I am someone who kinda freezes when it comes to typing things on the computer, so I always write long hand, but because I never built up my ability or habits I always would write a chapter or less and never go back to it. Hoping to change that this year.

This is really great, thank you. If anything, it made me pick up my bujo I've been neglecting all quarantine to write down my to-dos. But I'm very much one of those people afraid to commit to a fancy journal, hence keeping my notes and spells in OneNote where they can be edited and rearranged. I've been thinking of a half-size binder (loose sheets) so it can still reorganize as needed.

You're so amazing! Blessed Be 🙏 🌛⭐🌜

@drawingKenaz

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! You’re so kind! 💙

Yes to all of the above! My husband buys me these beautiful journals and then I’m too nervous to write in them. But I want more lol I love your spilling idea. Definitely trying that later.

But obviously I'm super grateful for these tips! Thanks!

Microphone demons at work. 🎙️👹

Love yo

@diannahess8179

3 жыл бұрын

Love your channel. Are you aware there are 6 commercials during your 17 min talk?

@drawingKenaz

3 жыл бұрын

I’m sorry about that! I can’t control the number of ads that KZread places!

Im looking for witch hangouts. Where we can post, ask questions and just share our experiences. Im on tumbr, but just doesnt seem like very many on there. Any ideas?

Some of us moon in pisces first house saturn in 2nd . Then nothing till mars 6th house leo soul planet have too many enemies to want to articulate , but it is tempting and thinking someone might find it long after I'm dead is pleasuring to imagine then finding my enemies gravestones and graffiti dicks on it

Great video, but unfortunately my handwriting REALLY has got worse (neurological disease that affects hands, feet, legs)

Your tone seems different in this and your Mistakes video.

Great video, I enjoyed watching! You're welcome on our channel too 💖

Hi Thorn, Great content. You have hit on all the reasons why it's so hard to bring myself to the page. I love your tips too. I wanted to say that I love listening to your videos as I'm cleaning the kitchen and just zoning out thinking about my next witchy project. But, one small thing. There are so many commercials in this video and I think sometimes others, that I'll have my hands wet in dishwater and then some hair growing commercial comes on or some VW bus commercial comes on. And I've forgotten the rest of the commercials, but I find this so distracting and so annoying that I'm compelled to not watch your content even though I love you and respect what you're doing. Is there any way you could diminish all of these interruptions. I'm getting to the point where I'm just going to have to zone out and listen to someone else because I'm so tired of ads being forced down my throat. Best wishes. I hope my small bit of criticism comes off as constructive and not otherwise. Best wishes and take care!

@melcog8670

3 жыл бұрын

It's my understanding that KZreadrs have no authority to stop the ads, unless they purposefully do advertising within their own videos. And I think the more subscribers a KZreadr has, the more advertising KZread shoves in. I am seriously considering joining Thorn's Patreon. I am fairly certain that there aren't ads because content providers are behind a paywall. Unless it's changed, I think Thorn's subscribers can pay as little as $1/month. Definitely worth it, in my opinion, to avoid all these stinking ads.

@drawingKenaz

3 жыл бұрын

I totally understand! Unfortunately I can’t control it! I think KZread is putting up more ads in order to encourage folks to subscribe to KZread’s paid service, which is ad free! But I don’t disagree. I enjoy a lot of ASMR and meditation videos, and the ads make those impossible sometimes!

@Hanna_Hoh

3 жыл бұрын

@@drawingKenaz I would join your patreon. You’ve probably provided a link at some time. I’ll look you up.

@marjolijnashara1726

3 жыл бұрын

@@Hanna_Hoh I'm on a firefox browser and use an YT ad blocker extension. I have had zero commercials in this video. Maybe also something to look into.

@Hanna_Hoh

3 жыл бұрын

Marjolijn Ashara Great tip! I'll try that. Thank you!!

Ur stunning wow, lets hold hands under rainbows lol hahhahahah. Sorry im weird...Meow