Valerie Sjodin

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Art Journaling on Fire!

Fire, flame, Light, Spirit, illumination, passion... are words that are highlighted for me this season. So my usual response is to ask God about it, research, read, write, and make a journal...

close-up detail of the cover

The qualities of light and fire have repeatedly come to me through other people, things I've read etc. I revisited a book I read last year Water, Wind, Earth & Fire, The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elementsby Christine Valters Paintner. It is one of those books I keep close at hand to refer to. You can check out Christine's website and books at: http://abbeyofthearts.com/

Companion journals: Wind/Flow & Fire/Illumine

Many of the quotes used in these two journals are from her book, along with some from the Bible, one from Oswald Chambers (In the Flow/Wind journal), and then some I wrote reflecting my own spiritual journey. About a year ago I had made a little art journal as I studied about wind and the metaphor of the Holy Spirit with a prayer/art group.

It's so great to have friends that are kindred spirits. The kind that don't think you are totally off base by asking questions like: If you were an element, what would you be? or What color do you feel like today? That's one real benefit to having relationships with like minded creatives. Life's never dull, but full of possibilities with a new view.

Wind & Fire Journals standing side by side

Here are the backs of the journals standing together

For the swirls, I used a large swirl stencil by craftersworkshop.com sprayed with acrylic paint spray. Then as you can see above I left a small portion with the white background showing and doodled with pen and acrylic paint in the rest of the swirls.

Detail of doodled swirls of Fire Journal cover

Here are the links to the Flow/Wind/Spirit Journal in chronological order in case you'd like to check it out.

1. http://visualblessings.blogspot.com/2013/07/flowing-with-spirit-weekend-journal.html

2. http://visualblessings.blogspot.com/2013/07/flowing-with-spirit-part-2.html

3. http://visualblessings.blogspot.com/2013/07/flowing-with-spirit-part-3.html