The Journaling Muse – Issue #25​
​Art as Sanctuary
A soft space to reflect, reconnect, and create with feeling.
Hi, Dear Reader,
"When despair for the world grows in me
And I wake in the night at the least sound
In fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
Rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds."​
—Wendell Berry, The Peace of Wild Things
Sometimes, the world feels like too much.
The news.
The noise.
The long list of things that hurt or demand or wait.
And in those moments, I don’t need to solve anything.
I need a place to go. A space where I can simply be.
For me, that space is often art.
Reflection — A Room That Holds You
There was a time when I couldn’t speak what I was feeling—not even in my journal.
The grief was too tangled, the pain too private.
So I painted instead.
It wasn’t pretty.
It wasn’t planned.
But slowly, layer by layer, a quiet series emerged—what I later called Songs of Pain.
These pieces were never meant for display.
They were a sanctuary.
A place I could return to, again and again, when I needed to breathe, to feel, to heal.
A room without judgment.
A room made of brushstrokes and silence.
And that’s what art can be:
Not performance. Not decoration.
But shelter.
Journaling Prompts – Your Sanctuary Within
- What places or practices feel like sanctuary to you?
- When was the last time you felt held by something—art, nature, silence, or someone’s presence?
- What does “refuge” mean in your life right now?
- If your journal could be a cocoon, what would you write inside it?
Creative Invitation – Make a Quiet Page
This week, try creating a journal page or small painting that feels like a safe space:
- Use soft, grounding colors like deep blues, mossy greens, or gentle creams
- Layer textures that feel cozy or protective—collaged fabric, gentle pencil marks, soft pastels
- Write words or phrases you need to hear: “It’s okay.” “You are safe.” “Rest here.”
- Or just make marks in silence. Let the page hold what your voice can’t say yet.
Closing Whisper
You don’t have to be strong all the time.
You don’t have to know what to do.
You only need a quiet corner where your heart can land—and art is often that corner.
This week, may you find sanctuary in whatever form you need.
With warmth and gentleness,
​Beáta
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No matter what you choose, I’m thankful our paths have touched. 🌿
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