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Creative Life Midwife

Inspiring Artistic Rebirth

Healing What Wasn’t Said “Back Then”

September 30, 2024 by jjscreativelifemidwife

In Spring of 2023 I said something aloud which is what I ought to have said about this haiku project long I did.

“I’m sort of on a pilgrimage” I said to a stranger.

While it was true of that Spring day and it was true of writing haiku for 377 days and hugging trees for 377 days (and beyond) and writing love notes for 377 days saying “I’m sort of on a pilgrimage” is easier to say to strangers or people you doubt you will see again. 

Even more odd was this person I didn’t recognize is someone whose history intersects with mine but I never would have known if we hadn’t had a conversation, inspired by me taking note of the writing on his t-shirt.

On that Spring Day in 2023 I was in a garden I visited regularly as a child. It is a public garden I used to walk by on my way to school. Honeysuckle grew on its fences, a delight to taste at the opposite end of the block where I spent 14 formative years. 

I decided to go there randomly on a recent Saturday because I was being called to deepen my healing – why or how or because – the details are unclear.  I simply knew that in order to get the work done I was supposed to visit the place where my memories began.

Where was the wild path?

Long ago invitation to fear –

Now step beyond it

“I was afraid of everything as a little kid,” I said to the man wearing the interesting t-shirt. “I was even afraid of lightning bugs.”

I rolled my eyes and looked away, more than slightly embarrassed.

 This was less than ten minutes into our conversation. He had spoken my childhood story, “Are you Sue Jordan’s sister?” referring to my older sister. She was the personified antithesis of being afraid of a lightning bug.

“I was afraid of the gully at Carteret Park,” I continued. I was on a roll. 

Somehow, I held onto my dignity enough to not mention my first near death moment choking on a gum ball outside the now long-gone Grand Union.  

The adult me, though, authentically spoke of being on a pilgrimage even though I had no idea why those words flowed out of my mouth with authority, but a soulful lightbulb went off in my head as I spoke to them.

These 377 Goals weren’t goals at all. They weren’t challenges or projects or something to check off a to-do list.

The haiku writing and tree-hugging and the daily love note greetings from my everyday life were all post near-death pilgrimages back to being fully alive. 

These experiences of pilgrimage left evidence that said, “I am still here. I am alive. I am curious. I am not done with this life and this life is not done with me.”

These haiku say “I am devoted to continuing. I am devoted to holding life and all the love I can inside these measurable, meaningful, love-drenched everyday containers of creativity.”

Patricia Hampl said “The paradox: there can be no pilgrimage without a destination, but the destination is also not the real point of the endeavor. Not the destination, but the willingness to wander in pursuit characterizes pilgrimage. Willingness: to hear the tales along the way, to make the casual choices of travel, to acquiesce even to boredom. That’s a pilgrimage — a mind full of journey.”

Inhale: look at what is in front of you (first line)

Hold: Allow yourself to bring the message of the image in front of you into your body (middle line)

Exhale: Let the image go – hold the clearest bits in language for transcription! (third line)

Hold: Check in – repeat or complete? Sometimes you may even break rules.

You, who is reading

With a body, breath and soul

Crack your heart open

Haiku as a Verb

Question: Have you ever taken a pilgrimage? Whether you have or haven’t, where would you go if you were creating a pilgrimage?

I’m so grateful you are here, reading and look VERY forward to deepening our connection.

Woman at her desk, drinking coffee, preparing to blog.
Julie Jordan Scott

🌟 Creative Life Coach & Muse Cultivator

 🎨 | Award-Winning Writer/Actor/Storyteller

🌱 | Empowering Your Second Act

🎉| New Courses/Programs soon!

🎁   Your presence here makes me feel grateful. 

✍🏻I am a writer first, writing & creativity coach, multi passionate creative next. Writing has always been my anchor art and to her I always return. Thankfully, with great love.

🎯 My aim is to create content here that inspires and instructs – if there is ever a topic you would like for me to explore, please reach out and tell me. My ultimate goal is to create posts, videos and more that speak to your desires as well as mine because where these two intersect, our collaborative, joyful energy ignites into a fire of love, light and passionate creativity.

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Filed Under: Rewriting the Narrative, Storytelling Tagged With: 377haiku, 377TreeHugs, Julie JordanScott, Pilgrimage

Today I am Declaring Independence From….

July 4, 2024 by jjscreativelifemidwife

I, Julie Jordan Scott, declare independence from my inner mean girl and in fact, I declare independence from and will no longer tolerate the behavior of outer mean girls as well.

Women encouraging, supporting, enriching one another has been my normal experience. I will NOT accept self-loathing, deprecation and meanness wreck my life anymore.

Bu-bye Inner Mean Girl. Consider yourself banished.

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Filed Under: Creative Life Coaching, Daily Consistency, Healing, Intention/Connection, Rewriting the Narrative, Storytelling, Ultimate Blog Challenge Tagged With: Meanj Girls

Belonging In The Body, Part 2: Day 24/31 of (Self) Belonging

October 24, 2023 by jjscreativelifemidwife

With a week to go in October, I am starting my monthly ritual of preparing my documents for November.

I like having physical journals and checklists and files, but I also do a lot of my work here at the keyboard. I always begin with the beginning of the previous month, copy and paste.

On October 1, I was recounting a trip to Middletown, New York to look for new shoes. 

New shoes have been a big deal since childhood AND believe it or not, the experience has been primarily unpleasant since around 2019.

A-ha just now – as that coincides with when I first had Valley Fever and Sepsis and spent 13 days in the hospital recovering from my body shutting itself off.  I haven’t been comfortable wearing heels since then. I haven’t worn “cute shoes” since 2019 and have mostly lived in a succession of nearly identical wide width running shoes – wide to make room for the tailor bunions on my left foot – 

On October 1, I purchased three pairs of shoes. Two bootie style, one with a heel (!) and a pair of Mary Janes – perfect for casual dresses. 

On Sunday, I wore the Mary Janes all day – and I was on my feet a lot, and my body did not hurt afterwards.

My body did not hurt.

MY BODY DID NOT HURT!

This morning I woke up and noticed my knees weren’t complaining.

On one of my walks from the kitchen to my desk, I did a exercise I have been trying to incorporate into my routine. It looks easier on the Instagram Reels than it is for me – and once again noticed the stability in my feet and although tired, my body simply felt good. Grounded. Like I belonged within it, like my body and I are joyful companions, not two disparate beings with conflicting agendas.

Huge.

And it all began with belonging.

Allow that to sink in. 

My body simply felt good. Grounded. Like I belonged within it, like my body and I are joyful companions, not two disparate beings with conflicting agendas.

It all began with belonging.

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Filed Under: Creative Adventures, Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Daily Consistency, Healing, Intention/Connection, Rewriting the Narrative, Self Care

Books Reflecting the Longing to Belong: 21/31 Days of (Self) Belonging

October 21, 2023 by jjscreativelifemidwife

Last night I finished the book “Lessons in Chemistry.” I loved it all the way along, but the last 100 or so pages I found myself so deeply connected to the characters and the messages and the story I could not stop the tears.

I kept flashing to messages from “Braving the Wilderness” by Brene Brown. It was uncanny, how the two connected.

The story itself – one of not fitting in and only feeling a smidgeon of belonging to oneself and only a smidgeon of belonging to a small group of people – it hit home so squarely. The author even used similar phrases that Brown uses. 

As I neared the end of the book, I cried even harder when I realized my favorite books of 2023 had similar themes: grief and belonging. Belonging and Grief. My top four fiction reads this year so far are “Take What You Need” by Idra Novey; “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin; “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus and “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano share a stunning similarity that the book I am currently reading “Playing the Witch Card” also shares.


Struggles with belonging to oneself and the connection of that to true belonging with others.

I write those words and a part of my nervous system says, “Go to sleep.”

Interestingly enough, when reading “Playing the Witch Card” today I almost shut the book when a scene hit too close to home. I didn’t want to read more. The desire to stop reading wasn’t  to process what I had just read, it was to push away what I had just read.

I wanted to forget the truth reflected in my own life from what I just read.

Ouch and YES!

I kept reading. I will continue writing.

I will grow in belonging with and to myself. I will continue to use this spiritual practice of awakening and notice the connections that are popping up everywhere because in saying YES to belonging, it is also saying YES to synchronicity, even those moments that feel painful at first.

What are you saying YES to in your life today?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Filed Under: Creative Adventures, Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Healing, Rewriting the Narrative, Self Care Tagged With: Julie Jordan Scott, Lessons in Chemistry, Read More Books

Spread the Love: Day 20/31 of (Self) Belonging

October 20, 2023 by jjscreativelifemidwife

I wrote a long post and decided not to publish it. Instead, I am offering the opening line from my original post. a belonging quote, a prompt and a short road map to creating your own (self) belonging community.

Yesterday started badly (and processing and choosing to step away, mindfully, helped me to present something more aligned with who I am as one who belongs with you today.

“When you know and respect your Inner Nature, you know where you belong. You also know where you don’t belong.”

Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

What was a moment in time in the last three months where you felt like you absolutely belonged, without a doubt?

Take three minutes to write about this experience in detail.

If you can’t recall a moment in the last three months when you felt like you absolutely belonged, consider a small action you may choose to take so that three months from now you will be guaranteed to have an experience where you felt the deeply transformative feeling of belonging.

Ways to Create a (Self) Belonging Community

  1. Ask one to three people to help you with your own belonging project. Invite this person or people to be mutual believing mirrors – look at one another with authentically open eyes and reflect back what you see about each other that is remarkable, unique, significant – and back that up with tangible evidence and witness because concrete visions of “remember when” bear a great deal of meaning, more so than vague concepts. Tune into developing ways to see your inner nature through other people’s perspectives.
  1. Choose to add an action-step to daily times of quiet time. One of my quiet times of the day is driving without the radio, a podcast or playlist going. It gives me space for my mind to wander. This is when discovery deepens – and adding action to those insights questions  like “With whom do I feel the most sense of belonging and satisfaction? Reach out to one of those people via email or actually make that phone call.” These quiet times followed by action will be another tangible way to make friends with your inner nature and your highest self.
  1. Notice the features and qualities of people in your everyday life that you would like to emulate. I have a co-worker who sets the treadmill to walk uphill for twenty minutes a day, for example. I may say to him, “Your walking uphill on the treadmill reminded me I could do that, too, in order to become a better hiker. I won’t start with 20 minutes, I will start with two minutes and work up to ten to start.” Not only does this help you, it helps the people in your life feel a sense of belonging, too. 

Spread the (Self) belonging love!

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Filed Under: Creative Adventures, Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Healing, Intention/Connection, Rewriting the Narrative, Storytelling Tagged With: (Self) Belonging Community, Community Building, Take time to Process

Belonging Appears in the Strangest Circumstances: Day 18/31 Days of (Self) Belonging

October 18, 2023 by jjscreativelifemidwife

After writing from a deeply emotional space yesterday, I am stepping into a more lighthearted arena today. I will be back in the deep zone in the next couple days – and I have found my healing works best when I recognize it and give myself pause to remember the times when belonging came easily.

There is a reason I enjoyed driving for a rideshare company: I am primarily openhearted and the instant connections I made with people as I drove them to their destinations was such fun.

This wasn’t true with every single person I drove, but it was uncanny how many people would be 100% vulnerable with me shortly after they got into my car. I gave away free books and some decent conversation as well and sometimes referred to myself as a bartender on wheels without the alcohol.

Yesterday at work I had two separate episodes where I felt instant belonging with new people I met who also work at the school. One I had met before but never had a conversation with until yesterday.

In the first conversation we bonded – connected – felt a sense of belonging when we both confessed to appreciate skunks, up close and personal. 

The second person I had emailed but never met. I have actually seen him but didn’t know who he was. We connected over the Camino de Santiago. Hiking and walking with a soul purpose.

If you have been following me for any amount of time, you know I have been hiking regularly as an adult since 2020 but have loved being on trail since I was a very little girl. It was my father who introduced me to the Appalachian Trail and since moving to New Jersey in 2022 so close to “The AT” I have been fascinated with long hikes. 

The second person was thrilled to talk about “The Camino” and when my excitement matched his, we stayed late after school. I apologized – but he reassured me he loved talking about this and I thought, “Wait a second. This energy feels so familiar.” 

His parents also watch his toddler like I watch my grandbaby. With so many instantaneous belonging key points including him loaning me a book about a Grandma Hiker and me exuberantly telling him to look into Peace Pilgrim I realized this could be an ongoing friendship.

If this sounds foreign to you, remember what it is that creates belonging: In this series we are looking at belonging as an experience of living, working, playing, creating and growing vulnerably with others within a community who are committed and devoted to care for one another – even if it is a temporary, 5-minute community. With belonging, we don’t just talk about caring for one another, we act with care towards one another in a context of transparency, acceptance and openness. All emotions are welcome.

When we see, hear and listen closely to the people we are in relationship with, we are forging a space of belonging.

A smile, a greeting, an extra awareness and kindness all cultivate an environment that says, “I am glad you are here, on this planet.” Everyday, surprise moments of belonging can be great practice for offering compassion and love to those we share our lives with everyday.

The bonus is the ripple effect of each person walking away from an interaction smiling.

Can you remember a 5-minute time of belonging? Please tell us about it in the comments.

Woman (Julie Jordan Scott Julie JordanScott) seeming to burst through a broken wall on an abandoned home.

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Filed Under: Creative Adventures, Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Healing, Intention/Connection, Rewriting the Narrative, Self Care

Hold Space for the Process: Day 17/31 of (Self) Belonging

October 17, 2023 by jjscreativelifemidwife

This morning I wrote a mish-mash of notes and I decided to share them here because sometimes the growth towards belonging includes a lot of messy, cluttered, uncomfortable thoughts and examination that doesn’t fit nicely into carefully curated containers.

Last night I forced myself to write a poem about what happened after my mother died and I experienced an episode of extreme anti-belonging. The antithesis of belonging. Another variation of not being seen, not being heard and as a result, being left out of the services for my mother.

I really didn’t even want to write that here.

I didn’t want to put it in black and white.

I wanted to sidle into that reality sideways, not telling the whole truth and instead leave context clues but my fingers on the keyboard forced me further.

Last night I forced myself to write a poem of the extreme pain of the aftermath.

I wrote a sentence and then wrote a poem using the words of the sentence as the beginning of the poem. 

I found it difficult to finish. It most likely won’t be shared, but there is a high value in the process of shaping those words meaningfully.

Sometimes belonging to myself means guiding myself down a cragging unsettled path, like when I walk on the rockiest parts of the trail. The trail hurts my feet and my ankles as I balance and move slowly, methodically, my eyes on the ground to steady myself. I wonder in these moments why do I proclaim how much I like to hike? 

Who cares about hiking and healing and belonging if it feels this tortuous to get here?

Sometimes belonging means I must do the things I want/don’t want to do.I must face the most painful aspects of my stories.

Slowly and methodically I am picking up the pieces of grief and examining them and in order to do that, I need to dust and vacuum away the aftermath – the pain I experienced after Mom died, indirectly as a result of Mom’s death that was and wasn’t about Mom’s death. 

The pain is an echo of my core life stories that have caused me the majority of my sadness, my off-and-on-again relationship with depression and the internal battles I have fought for decades.

In order to heal the pain, I need to give myself room to examine it with not only love and compassion and hope. I need to allow the red hot coals of anger to be at the metaphorical table, too. Tthe difference is, perhaps for the first time only. I am recognizing anger directed toward the outside instead of deflecting anger back into myself – which is what reflects the adage from Sigmund Freud, “Depression is anger turned inward.”

In reading an article from Downtown Somatic Therapy’s blog post, I read “love” and “anger” in the same breath. Anger is love? Anger has a component of love? 

For now, at this stage, I am going to engage with anger and let it help me find my way into a deeper sense of belonging to and with and for myself.

Even as I write this, I brace myself for people who will say some variation of “get over yourself and move along” but what is vulnerability if not knowing people may not understand the value of the work and the healing I am doing and going forward, anyway? Isn’t this an example of belonging as opposed to fitting in?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Filed Under: Creative Adventures, Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Grief, Healing, Rewriting the Narrative, Storytelling

Grief & Belonging: 31 Days of (Self) Belonging

October 16, 2023 by jjscreativelifemidwife

Belonging in Grief: Grief is among the most difficult periods of life. We often shy away from talking about grief or death because our culture has norms that are more accepting of thriving, health and youth than “failing”, not being well and aging.

This is exactly what makes belonging within the context of grieving so difficult.

My mother died in mid-August and my grief has only just begun – and complications due to feelings of not belonging have made it even more difficult than it might have been. 

There are times when grieving helps create more belonging. From an unlikely source today, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, we read about NFL Football coach Tony Dungy, who built his team to be successful from having habits to help them win. When Dungy’s 18-year-old son died from suicide, the team became a space of belonging and used that longing to triumph.

This is a bittersweet story. 

Then there are the words of meditation teacher Tara Brach who writes, “A sacred space of true belonging allows us to thrive. We feel seen, understood and valued. We are free, safe and held in love. In this place of true belonging, we have some protection of the darkness found in our world.

“We feel deep grief when this sacred place of true belonging is severed.”

Claire Bidwell Smith, in her book “Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief” discusses “Designing Your Own Resilience Plan” which is easiest in the company of at least one understanding, trusting person with whom you share a feeling of belonging. Use the planning to attract more people who may become your circle of belonging during this challenging time,

Start with one person, baby steps, and allow yourself the room to go slowly. 

You may have a team or organization, a church, a club who may gather to support you in a larger way like the Indianapolis Colts did. You may prefer your experience of belonging to be quiet during your experience.

If you love someone who is grieving, overcome your discomfort in small steps, too. The best step is by letting them know you care about them enough to be uncomfortable. Offer several choices for your friend to choose how to be supported: “Would you like to drive through Starbucks with me or would you like me to drop off a coffee?” might work for some people.

Grief and Belonging don’t naturally seem like they are likely to intersect and it is critical to cultivate belonging after a loss, whether you are the person who is grieving or if you care about the person who is grieving.

This barely scratches the surface AND I think it is important to bring up and talk about, together.

What are your initial thoughts?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Filed Under: Creative Adventures, Creative Process, Grief, Healing, Mindfulness, Rewriting the Narrative, Self Care, Storytelling Tagged With: grief, Grief and Belonging, Self-Belonging

Week Two Recap: 31 Days of (Self) Belonging

October 14, 2023 by jjscreativelifemidwife

The second week in this self-belonging experiment has been rich in Synchronicity. 

It has been discovered through consistent moving toward and into belonging.

I have been on the inside looking out instead of the outside, looking in.

Last Sunday, I wrote this: The first draft of this was written as I sat in High Point State Park, using my phone to write. The sense of belonging I felt within the forest was palpable from the soles of my water logged oldest pair of sneakers to the top of my scalp.

If you look at the words above you will see “invited” “seemed to enjoy me” “forgives” and “glad we are here”. 

When I arrived at the “front door” of the trail, I felt lonely and detached from caring. Only steps into the woods I began to feel as if I belonged, as if I was at home, as if I was forgiven for anything I might have done wrong whether inadvertently or on purpose.

Today, at the end of my work week, I returned to that same trail and the sun was shining rather than freshly rained upon. I found a spot on the Appalachian Trail I had been seeking for months – and will return to as early as mid-week – and as a bonus, re-found a human friend who just happened to choose to hike in the same area at the same time I was who  likes hiking and music, also.

On Wednesday II wrote about belonging in my body because of purchasing and wearing new shoes. On Thursday I went to yoga class for the first time since school started. I’ve had two days in a row with over 10,000 steps,  I hiked three days in a row. I truly feel a deeper sense of self-belonging now than when this week started, 

I can’t remember how long it has been since my body has felt this good.

It was exactly a week ago that I felt completely discombobulated and unseen on the campus where I work and now, at the end of this week, I have plenty of quirky stories of connection and belonging with me being 100% me without holding back due to wanting to “fit in”.

I have practiced belonging to and with myself and miraculous rewards have come about as a result.

What happened this week in your life that thoroughly delighted you?

Also, where do you feel the most sense of belonging in your life these days?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Filed Under: Creative Adventures, Creative Life Coaching, Rewriting the Narrative, Self Care Tagged With: 31 Days of Self Belonging, Self-Belonging

Intuition & Synchronicity: Day 12/31 Days of (Self) Belonging

October 12, 2023 by jjscreativelifemidwife

Julianne: have you heard of her?


She is the name I use when referring to my highest self: she takes form in intuitive hits and synchronicity, be it the songs I hear or the images that surprisingly show up in my path.

Befriending Julianne by name has made a huge difference in my life, especially when we became deeper collaborative partners.

She will show up in my writing tomorrow, also, because I had a major a-ha during this morning’s writing practice. I know she was the one who tapped those loose morsels through my brain and out onto the page.

It is natural I discovered this sense of belonging with Julianne when she became a big part of my writing practice. 

I had long wanted to have an evening practice that would be a good “bookend” to my well honed morning practice of writing, stretching, planning, intending, praying. I never seemed to “get it right”. 

I still mix it up and find myself shuffling (which is indicative of being human, right?)

My evening writing practice became something I call “Roll Over and Write” and sometimes “Roll Over and Right” because the practice itself makes everything just right, like how Goldilocks finds  baby bear’s porridge, the chair and the bread.

It’s easy: I have a notebook by my bedside. I jot a few notes before I turn out the light and when I wake up, soon after waking, I write again – often in response to dreams I had or insights that come out only when I move my pencil.

Julianne figures in because I usually address her in those pages. I find both Julianne and the Divine there, in my notebook. 

My notebooks, in fact, are my most regular, consistent believing mirrors and conduits for positive change. My Mining for Story Gold runs a close second – which makes sense because that space of writing practice comes in the next phase of my morning rituals so I am slightly more awake.

Julianne – my highest self – helps me remember what belonging really feels like: to live, work, play and grow vulnerably with others within a community who are committed and devoted to caring for one another. Not just talk about caring for one another but acting with care towards one another in a context of transparency, acceptance and openness.

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Filed Under: Creative Adventures, Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Intention/Connection, Rewriting the Narrative, Self Care Tagged With: 31 Days of Self Belonging, Belonging to Self, Self-Belonging

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How to Use Your Text & Other “Throwaway Writing” to Make All Your Writing Easier.

Newbie Nomad Diaries: Let’s Begin with the Rust Belt Companion Series

Trust in Creativity: Start with What’s Wrong

Self-Forgiveness: Often Forgotten, Always Worthwhile.

Beliefs: Review and Revise is it time? A clock face that needs revision with a bridge in the background.

Your Beliefs: Foundations of Your Creative Path to Peace

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