Hello friends and welcome back to Going Gentle, a place where we celebrate the ways that we tune in to what helps us slow down, get in the moment and appreciate what brings great satisfaction. In this post, I am sharing with you some new MUSIC, which I am super excited about! Music is such an integral part of who I am as an artist, song writer and composer of melody given to me through my spiritual practice. 

Here’s a bit of context: when I have my spiritual practice, I mix prayer, meditation, study and song writing, and I record those melodies for future reference. So a few months ago, I went back to those recordings and found one I wrote in September of 2023 called The Magic. ​

I love the word Magic since it encompasses so many aspects of life, from creative expression to listening to your heart, hearing from your Higher Self, and seeing that Magic is the Divine Spark in each of us. 

Making this melody really opened my eyes to recognizing where the Magic resides, such as in the twinkle is someone’s eye as they look on you with love, or the creative hand that makes magic happen through many avenues that make a difference and bring satisfaction. 

The more I pay attention to where I see and experience Magic as the Divine Spark, the more I see and feel it rise up in my heart and flow out to others and it flows back to me. It’s a wonderful circle I want to live in all the time!  Don’t you? 

I have offered the lyrics to The Magic​ below so when you watch/listen to the music, you can follow/sing along if you like! 

The Magic
Written & Composed by Dawn Herring

The Magic in Your Eyes
Always takes me by surprise
It twinkles and it shows
the Love I’ve come to know

The Magic in Your Hands
That moves at your command
Bringing Goodness my way
I am grateful today

Chorus:
Magic in Your Eyes
Magic in Your Hands
I see your love arise
The sweetness is Alive
Magic in Your Heart
Magic You impart
Bringing Joy and Gladness to my heart

Vs 2
The Magic in Your Heart
Never Departs
Always Ready to Show
And My heart knows

The Magic You impart
Is a Gift from the start
Ready to Deliver 
​Right now

Bridge:
I feel it right now
It amazes me
Filling me up
Consistently
I love the magic in my way
That you gift to me
Thank you for the magic that you give

You’re the Joy and Gladness in my heart

I’ve included in the video some footage of some very important people who bring me JOY and Gladness…in my Grandma Heart! (Yes, that includes my new grandson born on the 4th of July…so I get to share my birthday with him!) Also included are clips of my sketching the eye of each of my grandsons using 6B pencil, which is like Magic for me as an artist! (The eyes are the window to the soul, as they say!) 

Please enjoy the music from my heart to yours. 

May the Magic of the Divine Spark touch your heart today! 

Journaling Prompt: 
Where have you see/noticed the Magic of the Divine Spark in yourself? In someone else? What did it feel like? Look Like? Describe it in detail. What emotion did you feel as you experienced it? What activity that you enjoy most brings out that Gentle Divine Spark in you? 

Remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle! In today's post, I'm sharing an In The Studio video where I feature the many tools of my art trade as I work through subsequent layers of the making of an art journal spread with collage, gesso, and mark making. 

I love the whole intuitive process of creating an art journal spread, and this particular spread has been many months in the making. With a combination of collage elements (paper and fabric), plus stamping, and mark making with various tools, it continues to give me a satisfying place to express my emotions and build a history of how I'm feeling each time I come to it. 

I'm never in a hurry or wonder why it's taking me so long to complete. It's not about the final "product", so to speak; it's all about listening. To my heart, to my soul, to those intuitive nudges, to the colors and textures I'm drawn to use and make. 

In the video, I share specific tools from my art studio stash that come in handy with the visual interest I am building with my current spread. As you watch, it is my delight for you to be inspired to follow your own heart with your creative expression no matter what media you choose! Enjoy and you're welcome to share below in the comments about what tool you liked the most and how I used it in my art journal spread. 

My goal and aim with art journaling is not to be rushed but to Go Gently and intuitively, honoring my heart's message and what it has to say. I want to be always listening. 

I wish you the same. 
​And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle, where we talk about every day strategies to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the decision making process and you're just not sure which way to go with something? We've all been there, right? But how frequently does this happen? Every day? 

It can help to have reliable strategies to help ourselves get UNSTUCK while in the process of deciding what to do in any given situation. 

For more complex issues, it can help to compare the Pros with the Cons. Writing down the details of what you are deciding and making it visual can sometimes make all the difference. (I talk about this more in the video.)

One of the issues and keys to making an informed decision is to GET Clarity on the issue you're addressing. 
Sometimes writing down and/or keeping track of your decisions and why you made them and then looking back on how it turned out can turn out to be a learning process so you can get more strategic next time! 

I talk about other ways to make decision making easier in the video, so you're welcome to check it out! 

Nothing is more challenging than feeling STUCK, because we want to get UNstuck ASAP but we're often uncertain as to how. 
It can help to trust ourselves more by looking back on where we went right with decisions in the past; so take the time to reflect! It might just give you the clue you're looking for! 

Journaling Prompt: 
What was your most recent success with making a decision. Detail the ins and outs of the context, any relationship impacted, and why it went right. 

Now contrast that with a decision that went inevitably wrong and where you got derailed in the process of that decision. What didn't you see coming? What did you learn from that decision so you can avoid that same trajectory next time? 
Don't beat yourself up when your decision doesn't work out. Just Learn and Live! 
​And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle, where we share every day strategies to decrease our stress and increase our peace! And this week, we're talking about COMPARISON and how it can create unnecessary stress in your life and what you can do instead! 

In the video I share about how falling into comparison that undermine your confidence, leaving you feeling inadequate. That is not a fun place to be, is it? 

It is easy to look around at what others are doing, perceiving that they have it all together, while you feel like you're just not measuring up. 

Well, I propose a radical idea of Just Being Yourself, no holds bar! Unapologetic. Being YOU means all the parts of you, even your quirks! Or maybe especially your quirks? (I'm all for quirks; that is part of what makes us unique!) 

So, when was the last time you took a good look within at Who You Are, what your skill sets are, what your POV is? Your thoughts, ideas, strategies, problem solving skills, what you know that no one else knows? 

If it's been a while, perhaps it's time! Celebrate Yourself with no apology. 

Wear those crazy clothes if that makes you happy. Dance like no one is watching. Make that art you're been itching to make. Write that song and sing! Go for your dreams. 

But Do not fall for comparison. It will only steal your joy. So. Not. Worth. It. 
Just BE YOU. You're the only one who can be YOU. And if you don't, we'll be missing out! 
And we don't want that to happen, do we? 

Journaling Prompt: 
When was the last time you compared yourself to someone else? What was it about that person that got your attention? Detail that in your entry. 
Now look within at your skill set, what sets you apart. What are you naturally good at? Detail that in your entry. 

Is there any overlap? Is there something about your own POV that feels familiar to what you're seeing in that other person. What we see in others is often a reflection of our own hearts. Celebate who you are today! 
​And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle where we talk about strategies we can use every day to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 

This week we're talking about a way we can set the tone for our day and feel the most accomplished and relaxed by Choosing Just One Thing! I talk about the benefits of following the strategy of One Thing so we don't feel so overwhelmed with the Many Things on our To Do list. We all have them, don't we? 

Sometimes it can be helpful to take a closer look at what we want to accomplish and determine what we think would have the most impact, leaving us feeling confident and more relaxed. 

And who doesn't want to feel that way every day? The more relaxed we can feel, the more we can do with ease and flow, rather that stress and constriction. 

What would be your ONE Thing to choose today that would set your day in the right direction? Perhaps it would be helpful to take it to your journal for some clarity on the subject! 

Journaling Prompt:
Make a list or reference the one you already have and ask yourself the question: What would ONE Thing on this list accomplished make the most difference in my day today? Is it something I'm putting off? Something time consuming? Consider your list and choose one thing to do. When you're finished, record a follow up entry describing if it made a difference in how you felt afterwards. Did you get more done? Were you more at ease with yourself? 
Yay if so! It's all about being aware of what creates stress and choosing ways to increase our peace! 
​Remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle where we talk about daily strategies to decrease our stress and increase our Peace! This week, we're talking about what makes us feel most at home and when to determine it is time for a Homecoming of sorts! 

(I'm not referring here to a family reunion or school reunion but those are fun too!)

We often put off the things that bring us the most joy in the busyness of life, but what happens when we put it off for too long? Do we forget the benefits of engaging in things that speak to and feed our souls? What about the satisfaction we can experience after doing something that feels most like home to us? 

These things are vitally important for our well being. As we choose to Go Gentle with ourselves, that includes not only reducing what stresses us (or eliminating it all together), but also Enhancing our Lives with what brings us the most JOY and ENERGY! 

So, let's not put off what we love; let's make it a priority! 

I give some ideas on what brings me great satisfaction in the recesses of my own soul and why you would benefit doing the same. Of course, this is never to guilt you but to inspire you toward what makes you feel the most At Home. Because Home is Where the Heart Is, and how you feel in your heart matters! 

So let's have a Homecoming together! Share in the comments what feels most like HOME to you. I want to cheer you on! 

Journaling Prompt: 
Make a list of the places or activities that give you that feeling of HOME. What is it about that place or activity that lifts your spirit and gives you energy? 

Put one of those things on your daily calendar and start today with a Homecoming of your own. 

And remember that Gentle is Magic!

Welcome back to Going Gentle, where we talk about every day strategies to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 

For today's post, I thought I would address the issue of being down in the dumps and how a Personal Party might be just the thing to get ourselves back to a better place and mindset! 
In the video, I share several ideas for a Personal Party and how this can change the energy to help give us a fresh perspective, since, sometimes, that's what we need! 

Have you ever had a day where you just felt grumpy and couldn't quite shake it off? 
Have you ever considered what you could do to get yourself into a better space? 

The last thing we want is to stay stuck in stagnant energy that drags us down, leaving us feeling exhausted and unhappy. We sometimes need to take Gentle Action toward creating a shift, to shake things up a a bit, but in a way that is fun and uplifting! 

What will you do to get yourself out of the dumps? 
Share below what works for you! I 'd love to hear about it and others may benefit from what you do as well! 
We are here for each other in community as we Go Gentle together! 

Journaling Prompt: 
Detail the last time you felt "down in the dumps" and what might have 
triggered such a feeling. 
Now write a list of the things that help you create that shift in the energy, that make you feel vibrant and alive. 
Now pick one of those things and do it as soon as possible! 
One goal is to get out of that stuck place. 
A secondary goal is to prevent getting IN that stuck place! 

Let's take preventative action to stay aligned with positive, healthy energy that leaves us feeling peaceful and satisfied. 
​And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello friends and Welcome back to Going Gentle where we share strategies to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 
For today's post/video, we focusing on our Heart's Desires and how we can more gently align vibrationally to manifest those desires! 

In the video, I talk about the issue of resistance we may be creating without even knowing we are! How? With our emotions. I share some tips on how to resolve this resistance. 

How can you tell when you are creating resistance? 
Ask yourself the question: How am I feeling when I think about what I desire? 
We are often completely unaware of how we're feeling at any given time, but especially when it comes to our emotional state in connection with what we desire in our hearts. 

It really doesn't matter what those desires entail, whether it's for something specific that you're drawn to out of curiosity or something that you have held on to for many years that you would love to do or experience. 

What your heart desires is there for a reason! So don't get frustrated...instead get grateful! 
Now I know that can be hard to do, especially when it feels like what you want will never happen. That can certainly be disheartening. I completely understand! I've been there myself! 

But I find that when I engage with what I already have, reminding myself of how blessed I am, that I feel so much better! Less stressed, more at peace. 

And that's what we all want, right? 
So here's to attracting what we desire because we already appreciate what we've got! 

 Journaling Prompt: 
What is your most cherished heart's desire? Do you have a dream of doing something fun, inspiring or maybe life changing, but it seems so out of reach? How have you felt about this dream? Are you frustrated or determined, aligning with gratitude for where you are right now? What would get you into that positive space in a short amount of time? Consider doing that right now! Don't hesitate! 
​                                      And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle, where we talk about strategies we can use to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 
For this week's video, we're talking about the Mundane; and how we can choose to be present with all the tasks we do on a daily basis rather than getting stressed out and pressured by what we need to do next. 

Do you always find yourself in a hurry to get things done? All the time, right? 
We just can't seem to slow down our pace enough to actually appreciate our own efforts when we do what needs doing! 

Well, we can change that! Watch the video to get my take on the mundane and how we can approach it completely differently for well being and self care in the process. 

Every moment matters in this life; why waste it stressing out when we can bring calm and peace to our every day? 

Let's determine together to pay attention, stay aware and be in the MOMENT as much as possible. Our hearts (and bodies!) will thank us! 

JOURNALING PROMPT: 
What was the last mundane tasks you did? Where was your mind as you accomplished that task? Thinking ahead? Were you stressed out or calm in the process? 
Note the details of that time and strategize how you can Stay in the Moment the next time and see how different you feel. 

What sense do you like to use when staying in the moment with a task? 
Consistent awareness can really help to make the mundane more magical! Imagine that! 

​Remember that GENTLE is Magic! 

Hello and welcome back to Going Gentle, a place where we strategize to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 
For today’s post, we are focusing on challenge and what our challenges can tell us about ourselves. How can we do that? By paying closer attention to the details! 

I share in the above video how our challenges can show us things about ourselves that can enable us to learn the way we think and what stresses us the most in the challenges we face. 

We all want to approach challenge with strategic confidence, don’t we? But how often does that happen? 
Do we find ourselves met with trepidation, frustration and even anger and resentment? 

It’s time to take a challenge and break it down into the tiniest bits like we’re going on an excavation to learn about what lies beneath. We can determine what our trigger points are and why they are there. We can recognize patterns in the way we respond to challenge, and learn from what we can do next time, to be Gentler with ourselves and come out strategically successful on the other side. 

So, watch the video for some inspiration and prepare to meet your next challenge with strategic confidence! 

Journaling Prompt:
Detail the last challenge you met up with and how you handled it. What was the greatest stressor point in the challenge and why? What was the context of the challenge? Where would you have wanted to change how you responded to that challenge? ​Always remember to recognize any effort you made in meeting that challenge, especially if it was unexpected. We’re definitely going for GENTLE here. No space for beating yourself up, ok? Nope. We all handle challenge differently; so give yourself space for that as you reflect. 

​Remember that Gentle is Magic!