Whelp, hello. It’s 2024? Yes, it would appear that it’s now officially 2024. I spent some time writing out all that I love about the turning of the year, but then I backspaced it away. This is a long post with a lengthy journal along video at the end, and we don’t need me caught in a rimble ramble about the new year, admittedly saying nothing new. Sometimes “rewind, delete” is our friend.
And, so. These are high holy holidays for journal and planner people, perhaps the only period more sacred than September planner release time, when the most devoted among us begin our techo kaigi with a fairly neurotic (and frankly life affirming) tenacity.
I am spending today in deep journal and planner peace, letting the soft animal of my body loves what it loves. Now you know, after my last post, that I have 5 active dated planner/journals including my Hobonichi Weeks (for work) - a lot for 2024. LOL (??!!!). And, LET’S GOOOOOOOO.
Today is all about setting up my intentions and focus for the year, pulling cards, listening to my astrology for the year ahead (thank you chani app), reviewing 2023, hopefully cleaning out some desk drawers, and resetting my altar. Oh, and a nature walk.
speaking of 2023, these are the wrap up list ideas I’m tossing around:
highlights and lowlights inc. current events
hyper specific most hilarious moments highlights
some of the low lights will be very bleak (re current events)
it all lives together IRL, so it can live together on my pages
live music and comedy that I saw
favorite movies
lessons learned / new information onboarded
leaving behind in 2023
grateful for in 2023
looking ahead lists:
what’s in and out or “less of” and “more of” in 2024
what upcomings am I excited about for this year
words of the year (themes to focus on for growth & learning)
astrological events I want to pay attention to
intellectual pursuits I want to endeavour
people, places, things I want to fall in love with this year
what to expect from This Page is a Portal in 2024
ALL SUBSCRIBERS (Hello, all the free subbies - I love you and so glad you’re here)
at least one full post per month with no pay wall, sometimes including videos and affirmations, reflection, and inspiration prompts for your journaling practice
at least one free downloadable PDF of original Journal As Altar images for cutting and pasting
PAID SUBSCRIBERS
all of the above
occasional podcast episodes
2-3 posts per month
one free downloadable PDF of original Journal As Altar images for cutting and pasting per quarter, or 4 per year
access to 2-3 pre-recorded workshops for free, for a limited time, before they are available for purchase via journalasaltar.com
ENTHUSIASTIC FOUNDERS
all of the above plus a generous papercraft kit with pens, stickers, collage bits, vintage ephemera etc mailed to you!
This Page is a Portal Year in Review
I love everything about this community and what we are building. We get to be passionate nerds for paper and pens, as well as humans connected to each other and the collective, striving for a better world. We are limitless…
I learned this year that I may have been overzealous when I built the plan for 2023. I was able to deliver on some but not all of my goals for you. I didn’t offer as many workshops to paid subbies as I’d hoped, but did offer 3. That’s pretty generous, I think, considering that even offering workshops with a Substack subscription is highly unusual. I also thought I would post once a week, and that was much more time consuming than I had imagined given my other responsibilities. So, the list above is feeling like a more realistic offering. I hope it pleases you!
1/13/24: join this workshop with me!
INTENTIONAL JOURNALING: CULTIVATING A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
new years day tools for your practice
(Journal Along With Me video below, for paid subs - peak further in to my lineup and chat with me while I set up 2024 pages in a new book)
My hobbies don’t define me, though they help me define myself for me.
My creative practices for 2024 can be low stakes, high impact. No muss, no fuss.
My creative voice is a gift, not a chore or an obligation. It is meant to be freeing, not inhibiting.
JOURNAL AS ALTAR IS A FREEDOM PROJECT, NOT A PASS OR FAIL ASSIGNMENT.
Evergreen question: How do I want my creative practices to FEEL in 2024?
How can I set up routines that invite this feeling, while releasing pressure to perform?
Think about what you enjoy about welcoming a new year. Traditions, cultural practices, personal routines, aesthetics, etc. Now translate these in to words and images for pages as you engage in the reflection questions and write the affirmations if they resonate.
xo erin 🍉 CEASEFIRE NOW 🕊️
(Journal Along video below)
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