Automatic writing can be a powerful tool for introspection and personal growth so I want to share some prompts and techniques to get you started.
Journaling and automatic writing can feel very similar at the beginning but they are distinct practices . At first, you're likely to be doing a version of journaling, which is where you're emptying out your feelings and thoughts and emotions and bringing them up from the unconscious to the conscious mind and then getting them out on paper. Automatic writing will start a bit like that, but the difference is that whereas journaling is accessing information from your subconscious, automatic writing is accessing information or knowledge from a source distinct and separate from either your subconscious or your conscious mind. For that reason, you've got to constantly be thinking, "Okay, that's great, but I want to hear from my guides or the highest truth and integrity." There will be a point where you will feel this switch and the source of information will feel different and that's when you know you're onto something.
Over the years I have tried different prompts and techniques until I found what was right for me. When I started teaching these techniques my students also found them beneficial, so i'm sharing them with you here. Ultimately, you need to find what works best for you.
We need to remember that our automatic writing is not about performance. It's a space of curiosity that you intentionally hold for yourself. Don't put pressure on yourself to have genius or perfect insights, we need to just let the process unfold naturally, and you'll be amazed at what comes up.
It might seem strange at first, but trust me, the process can be life-changing. When you start, just let the pen flow without thinking too much. You can start with a prompt like "What I need to know right now is…"
Just start writing and maybe the first few words and lines might feel strange, but keep going until you feel like something new is coming up. It's natural to feel anxious or resistant to this process, especially if you fear being judged or misunderstood. But remember that this is a private practice and not for public consumption. Reassure yourself that it's safe and focus on the wisdom that is available to you.
Another helpful prompt I use is "What would help me the most at the moment is…" and just keep writing without holding back. Don't worry about making sense or being perfect. This is about allowing a source of information to move through you. Trust the process and keep moving forward, and you'll discover insights that you never knew existed within yourself.
There will be a point where you get past the surface level stuff, and that's where the really good shit is. Don't just stop at answering the question, just keep going. You want to be constantly giving space to whatever emerges, ideally with your eyes closed. Don't worry about time or how much space you're taking up or how many words you've written. Just keep going until you feel like a vessel that needs to be emptied, and when the vessel is empty, you'll know. There'll be a qualitative shift, and then you can move on to the next question or prompt.
The third prompt that can help to get to the real issue underlying your thoughts is, "The real issue underlying my …is…" This prompt can lead to insightful conversations with your inner self or other beings and go very deep into your own self knowledge.
These prompts are my most used prompts for myself and what I teach but it's also really powerful to get prompts from your own subconscious. You might just need one sentence starter, and you'll answer all of the other questions that you might have if you just keep on writing. Don't feel like you've got to work through all three of them, just find the one that keys into something for you and start with that.
It's important to remember that this process is about training your brain to stop seeing the object or the thing, and just be a vessel for the information. The first part is just moving the hand on the paper with the pen, and the final bit is the wisdom. It's about going through the motion of writing a sentence and carrying it on, maybe allowing your subconscious to write it, but at a certain point, that process is done, and then the grace is bestowed upon you.
To channel a specific version of yourself or timeline, you can try prompts like "Perhaps 15-year-old Kate is present, and what I need to know right now is." This will help you focus your intention and allow that particular energy to come through.
The final piece, if handwriting is difficult for you, you can try recording yourself or typing with your eyes closed. The goal is to shut off the internal critic that's concerned with grammar and syntax. Just let it flow without judgement. You can use all the same prompts but speak it out loud. I speak into a dictation app that writes it out for me.
I hope this has been helpful to you, and I encourage you to give automatic writing a try. Even if it's just a small step, it can be very powerful and transformative. Remember, joy and pleasure should always be your priorities, and anything else should be in service of those things.
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