A soft space to reflect, reconnect, and create with feeling.
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Hi, Dear Reader,
Have you ever walked in a place that made you feel both small and completely alive?
I just returned from Adršpach in Czechia, where I wandered around an enchanting lake and into the sandstone rocks made famous in The Chronicles of Narnia. Tall stone shapes rose from the fields like giant cups and towers, as if witches and wizards still lived among them. Some paths led through narrow caves, others climbed high into the forest. Each turn revealed a new form — mysterious, playful, impossible not to imagine alive.
Walking there felt like stepping into another world, part Harry Potter, part fairy tale. The physical movement, the smell of the forest, and the strange, beautiful rock formations made me feel recharged in a way only nature can.
And it made me think: sometimes emotional rest arrives when we let the world hold us. When we walk, breathe, and let our senses wander, the weight we didn’t even know we were carrying begins to lift. But what happens when nature, or people, aren’t there to hold us — when we still need a sanctuary of rest?
Adrspach, the sand rocks from Narnia
How to Recognize the Need for Emotional Rest
You feel heavy, flat, or drained without knowing why.
Irritation or sensitivity rise quickly, even over small things.
You go blank or numb, as if your system quietly shut down.
You feel lonely even if others are around, or unsupported even when life looks okay.
These are signs your emotional self is asking: “Please notice me. Please let me rest.”
Ways to Rest Emotionally, Even When You Feel Alone
Be a Safe Space for Yourself​ Ask: “What am I feeling right now? Can I sit with this for a moment?”​ You don’t need to fix anything. Simply allowing the feeling is a first step toward rest.
Stop Performing, Even for Yourself​ We often pressure ourselves to “keep it together” — even when no one is watching. Rest grows in honesty, not in performance.
Write to Be Witnessed​ Journaling can act as your quiet listener: ​“Dear Me, I see you’re carrying…”
Let the Body Speak​ Walk, sway, stretch, or shake gently. Movement carries what words cannot.
Curate What Surrounds You​ Protect your energy with soft light, soothing music, and safe spaces.
Receive from Nature​ Even when people can’t hold you, the world offers comfort: the wind on your skin, a warm bath, the softness of a pillow.
You may feel alone, but you are never entirely unheld.
Journaling Prompts
Where in my life am I carrying too much without realizing it?
What would it feel like to be “held” right now — and who or what could hold me?
How can I give myself permission to rest, even if nothing else changes?
Creative Invitation​ Create a page or canvas that feels like being held. Use soft, embracing lines or colours that cocoon you.
A Little Muse for You
This week, I’m sharing my painting Healing Cocoon — a reminder that even when life feels heavy, you can soften into spaces that hold you.
If The Journaling Muse no longer feels like the right note in your inbox, you can update your preferences here and still receive occasional whispers—like VIP sneak peeks and special offers. But if it’s time to step away from all my messages—paintings, stories, and soulful invitations—you can unsubscribe completely here.
No matter what you choose, I’m thankful our paths have touched. 🌿
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