10 Daily Spiritual Practices for Authentic and Clear Writing

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First we sage, and then we write.

I see writing authentically as THE holy grail of great writing.

Not grammar. 

Not spelling.

Not sentence structure.

Not elaborate wording.

Not length.

Writing from the heart, not the head, touches me the most. 

When reading someone's writing, most of us can sense when it was the product of hours — or maybe months of overthinking, questioning, and doubt. 

If I asked you right now …

“Do you feel your writing is authentic?”

You’d know the answer immediately. Even if you say “yes” (or want to say yes), your body might give you different information. The body can’t lie (neither can I, and as a teenager, trust me, I tried).

Why write authentically?

It’s honest, trustworthy, pure, and accurate. 

The thing I love most about authentic writing is that it’s actually a heck of a lot easier to do than writing to perform, convince, or impress.

Authentic writing is easier to understand, giving our readers less brain work to do. This is especially true in the business and nonfiction writing worlds. Writing clearly is an act of service for our readers.

Your reader feels your proving energy just like they feel your authentic writing.

Write from a place of authentic service.

“Create from the heart; authenticity resonates with others.” Julia Cameron

In writing, being useful is far more captivating than being prolific.

If your recollections of writing involve professors, red pens, or parents with disapproving frown lines, it might take some time to get used to writing just for fun, clarity, and to fulfill your soul's wants.

You can heal the wounds that these wrinkly creativity-wreckers left on you and emerge as an impactful, brilliant writer. You may only need to redefine what brilliant means for you.

Good writing is meant to connect and touch our emotions.

So, how do we do that?

Here are some daily spiritual practices to support your authentic writing.

Note: These are helpful no matter what you’re writing — from website copy to presentation to an email nurture sequence to a social post about your book. Most of them are free.

1. Morning pages. 

You knew this would be on this list. A nod to Julia Cameron, who made morning pages famous in her book, The Artist’s Way. Morning pages are three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing, also known as freewriting or journaling, written by hand first thing in the morning. They’re for clearing the busyness of our minds. I also use these sacred pages for manifesting. I’m writing my third book and tapping into the wisdom of the morning pages as a launching pad for my book writing each day. Morning pages help us tap into our true voice because we can drop all the filters and be ourselves in those composition notebook pages. Bring that same energetic quality to your writing.

2. Meditation, Quietness, Prayer. 

Meditation and prayer look different for everyone. It might be as you sip your cacao latte, writing might be your meditation, riding your motorcycle through the country, or painting. Getting quiet to hear what your higher self wants to tell you is important for our best writing to come through.

3. Sun on your eyeballs at sunrise and sunset. 

I underestimated the power of getting sun. Thankful to sunshine state life, I enjoy more sunny days than the grey midwest or northern parts. I aim to get outside for just a few minutes a day at sunrise and sunset, plus eat my lunch outside, take a walk, or read outside in the afternoons. Getting natural light at these key times of day helps our sleep, hormones, circadian rhythms, and a plethora of other things. We’re meant to live outside! I’m working on leaving my sunglasses off my face — which is challenging at times with light eyes, but it’s important to let the sun hit my naked eyeballs.

4. Grounding. 

Also referred to as earthing, it’s putting your feet on the earth. It’s the process of connecting with and soaking up Earth’s energy, or electron flow. I work this practice into my sunshine ritual (always looking for sneaky ways to be efficient) — heading out at sunrise and sunset sans shoes (fun fact: my first business was called Barefoot Essence).

Since reading the book Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever!, I’ve been walking barefoot as much as I can, even while walking the dogs. The kids’ embarrassment is real. I also invested in grounding sheets and a grounding mat for under my feet at my desk.

5. Noticing. 

Simply go through your day looking, listening, and feeling for new things — sights, sounds, sensations. Even walking in the opposite direction of your typical walk opens our minds.

6. Intention-setting. 

As I sit down at my desk each morning, I set an intention for the day. It might involve reviewing my 12-week plan, essentially answering the questions, “What will make this day amazing/productive/good?” and “How can I serve?”

7. Gratitude. 

Before bed, I review the day and jot down a few things I’m grateful for in this line-a-day, five-year journal (I’m on my second one). I love reflecting on past years to recall those old memories and see my growth. I also weave in gratitude as much as possible throughout the day.

8. Ho’Oponopono. 

This is an ancient Hawaiian prayer you can recite when you witness and want to clear the air or transmute the energy. If it’s in our awareness, it’s our responsibility to clear. This goes way deeper than I talk about here. The prayer reminds us that nothing is outside us or “out there” — everything is inside us.

The short version of Ho’oponopono:

• I’m sorry

• please forgive me

• thank you

• I love you

The order you say each sentence doesn’t matter. Say them as many times as you like. I work them into my morning pages practice, too.

I say it before and after all calls, before emailing someone, and as I go throughout my day when I bump into anything I perceive as negative.

9. Cleaning the air. 

Whether it’s lighting a candle as I sit to write, waving a little palo santo or sage around, or getting an essential oil diffuser going, the scent is grounding and relaxing. My favorite essential oils to diffuse are frankincense, lavender, patchouli, and myrrh.

10. Coffee enemas.
Did I save the best for last? Perhaps not a common spiritual practice — it’s been one of my favorite ways to ground, center, and err… release. Paired with a healthy plant-based diet, cleaning your vessel (at this end, too) helps me show up for clear writing. Clear mind, soul, and body. I pair this 15-minute ritual with a meditation to start the day relaxed and ready to go (and get shit done …pun intended).

🎉 The Intuitive Writing School Community is accepting new members!

Est. 2018.

WHAT IT IS: A monthly membership for creative business owners, writers, and authors who want accountability, support, and resources to write authentically and write well.

You’ll love this online writing space if…

• You run a business and spend a lot of time serving others and very little time creating content or writing the stuff that excites you

• Your inner critic is loud AF, and you’re wasting a lot of time self-editing and censoring yourself

• You feel like you can only write if you’re “inspired,” — which is fun, but you have writing to do and a business to grow

• You haven’t sent a newsletter in months because you don’t know what to say

• You’d love to start a blog or write your book but don’t know where to start

There’s NO…

• Fake urgency to sign up now

• Critique or red pens (only share your work if you want to)

• Fluff & BS