Intuitive Writing
By Dr. Laura Biagi
Remember when you were a kid? What is your first memory of play? What do you remember about it? [Actually take a moment to remember]
Whatever it is you did, you probably loved it, were in a flow (that is, time flew by), and were immersed in the experience.
Intuitive writing is a form of play in which we use words to express ourselves by integrating a rational activity – writing on a journal, computer, or phone – with an intuitive exploration of our psyche, heart, and gut. Sometimes this form of writing is simply referred to as journaling and other times as “free-flow” writing.
WRITING ABOUT WHAT?
Anything that requires an integration of mind, heart, gut and the erotic can be a prompt for your writing. Let me give you a few examples drawn from my own experience:
CHOICES
- When you need to make a very important decision and you are not able to figure out the best choice for you and all involved
- When you are afraid to change but you know it’s time for something new
- When life demands that you change and you need guidance
TRANSFORMATION
- When you feel negative emotions towards yourself or others
- When you need or want to forgive yourself or someone but you can’t quite do it yet in real life
- When you want yourself or others to know something (perhaps about how you feel or how they hurt you) but you are not ready to have that conversation yet
LOVE & GRATITUDE
- When you feel excited
- When you want to express love
- When you want to express gratitude
WHY IS THIS GOOD?
Why is it important to learn about this form of writing? It is quite likely that, since elementary school/first grade, you have been associating writing with a practical function as in “I think therefore I write.” Intuitive writing encourages us to honor an embodiment of language summarized by the statement, “I am, therefore I write.” In this way, we are able to use writing to express a deeper level of intelligence that is often muted by our constantly vigilant minds.
Many of us were told or made feel that our voices don’t matter, particularly our internal, negative, or intuitive ones. When we work with intuition, we are often told we are “crazy” because intuitive knowledge is not based on facts and figures, but on the perception of the luminal and the experience of the intersectional. Intuitive wiring is a self-manageable way to reclaim the expression of our feelings as not only valid, but also essential for a healthy and content life.
At the heart of feelings of loneliness, isolation, and overall lack of connection there is an inability to articulate the complexities of our humanity. Learning to write in a wholistic and embodied way trains us to be more articulate in the description of our emotions, and teaches us to speak up for ourselves, stand by our values, assert our will, and clarify our intent.
I use this form of writing in my personal life, and also teach in in workshops and academic course on storytelling. I have shared it in schools, community centers, arts organizations, hospitals and jails, and the results are always amazing. You can use it as your personal ritual, share it with your loved ones and, if you are an educator, mentor, leader, you can integrate it as part of your meetings and classes.
At first, it may happen that you don’t know how to start. That’s your mind trying to protect you from going deeper than analytical senses. Take a leap. Just type the first few words and follow the flow. Once you trust your intuition, you will learn that you have a well of inspiration to draw from.
HOW DO WE DO IT?
- Set up five minutes in which you will not be disturbed. Turn the phone ringer off, close the door, tell your family of friends that you are going to need a little quiet time.
- Prepare your journal, pen, computer or phone. While it would be great to reserve a special place for your intuitive writing on your devices – like a folder, or an actual journal – this is not necessary. The reason why is that we are valuing the process of writing over the product. This process is not designed to produce a specific piece of writing. While it is wonderful to go back and reread what you wrote, it is my experience that the best “aha” moments happen during the writing session, and that the messages travel straight from yourself to the page and back to your body, heart, and soul for an immediate release and growth.
- Take a deep breath and start writing without interrupting for at least a couple of minutes. JUST. WRITE. Don’t think, judge, edit, stop, re-read. Allow anything that needs to emerge to be expressed, and make sure you include all of the voices that bubble up, from inspiration to desperation.
- Breathe consciously and deeply while writing.
- Feel your body while writing. Feel how you are sitting, the sound of the pen or board clicking, the feeling of fingers on screen or holding a pen, observe the color of the page or the screen. Make this experience a multi-sensorial one. [Note: deep breathing is essentially for sensual expansion]
- Lastly, witness what emerges, bubbles up, unfolds.
HOW DO WE START?
Use well-designed prompts. For example, it may be more difficult for intuitive writing to emerge if you ask analytical or punitive “WHY-questions” like, “Why did this happen?” “Why is this so hard?” “Why did (person x) do that? Rather, get real on what truth needs to emerge (self-sabotage, jealousy, envy, anger, joy…).
For example, if you know that you have a challenge with binge eating, you may address the food directly in a prompt like this, “I am your cookies (pie, pizza, ice cream, etc.), and this is what I want you to know….”
Or if you have hard feelings towards yourself and others, let those feelings talk to you directly in a prompt like this, “I am your fear of change, and this is what I want to tell you….”
Alternatively, you can write a prompt that sounds like the beginning of a letter, such as “Dear ….”
Lastly, if you are in the middle of stormy or super excited vibes, just write! Let it all flow.
WHAT IF THIS DOESN’T WORK?
First of all, there is no “right” way to make this work. You are breathing, you are letting words flow. That’s it. If they don’t flow, it may be because your analytical mind is censoring the expression of feelings. if you don’t know what to write, write just that, “I don’t know what to write, this exercise is weird, why is this important again?” Let it all out. Then take another deep breath and try it again. Eventually, you will break through rational resistance and will find your flow. Again, a good prompt is key. If you are unsure how to create yours, write your questions in the comments below.
THIS IS NOT THERAPY
A word of care. If you know or sense that this type of exercise may bring up traumatic memories, overwhelming fear, or the desire to self-harm, please refrain from doing it, or bring it up as an option with your doctor, therapist, coach or spiritual guide and receive their opinion and guidance. Thank you.
WHAT NEXT?
You may decide to reread the writing, edit it, publish it, adapt it onto a poem, a novel, a script. Or not. Maybe you never read it again. Maybe you take that page and trash it, or burn it. Maybe you transfer some of its messages on a post it and stick it where you can see it. You will know what to do with this. If not, let me know.
READY TO TRY?
Use the comments below to give it a try! You may frees write and then only leave an excerpt, if you prefer.
Here is the prompt for you:
I am your intuition and this is what I want to tell you….
July 6, 2020 at 8:05 pm
[…] How to Use Intuitive Writing to Express Yourself by Dr. Laura Biagi […]
3 Comments
Super Cool. As a writer, this spoke to me!
Thank you! Your comment means a lot! Looking forward to reading YOUR writing!