Hilda St. Clair

I like the idea of keeping a spiritual journal. Writing is cathartic and I have benefited from the practice of regular reflection. However sometimes I get stuck on the blank pages and I have way too many journals with just the first few pages filled in. Paraclete Press and Hilda St. Clair, has compiled a spiritual journal All Shall Be Well: A Spiritual Journal for Hope & Encouragement

This isn't a traditional journal with a pithy inspirational quote at the top of a gilded page and lots of wide open space. There are inspirational quotes on the glossy pages but they are set off by Hilda St. Clair's artwork on the left-hand-side pages. The right-hand-sided pages have questions, activities and interactive exercises to guide your time of reflection. So instead of a bunch of blank pages there are lots of helpful prompts which encourage reflection and creativity.

This is a beautiful journal. The quotations are chosen from the Christian tradition (i.e. St. Jouhn of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Françis Fenelon, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Sienna, Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas à Kempis). St. Clair's artistic designs combine calligraphy with water color mixed-media (note: as these pieces are printed in a book, I can't say for certain which medium the originals were created in). There are some sample pages from the publisher's website which gives you a sense of what to expect.

Whether you are in the market for a new journal for inspiration or are looking for the perfect gift to give a soul friend, this is a great choice. I highly recommend it.

Note: I received a sample copy from Paraclete Press in exchange for my honest review… (meer)

Keeping a journal helps us reflect on our personal experience and understanding. Taking time to contemplate the nature and practice of love in our own lives, impacts how we interact with our loved ones. Love Never Fails by Hilda St. Clair, is a new journal which combines the beauty of calligraphy and mixed-media artwork and inspirational quotes, with interactive writing exercises.

I am smitten by St. Clair's journal (I reviewed her journal All Shall Be Well previously). This is beautiful. The left-hand pages have a full-color piece of art with an inspirational quote. The quotations are mostly drawn from the Christian tradition. The exercises on the right-hand pages offer a good variety of activities. St. Clair has us: draw, color, list things, put stuff in boxes, interpret, plan and act on our reflections. Some of these exercises are conceptual—focusing on how we would describe love or depict it. Other entries evoke gratitude, causing us to reflect on where we've received love from others. Other exercises require action, asking us to love those we know need it. I found using this journal is a lot like going on a spiritual retreat, and this wouldn't be a bad resource to accompany you on one.

You won't learn to love someone from reading a book. You may gain some insights but real love, like prayer, involves sacrifice, presence, and cultivated relationship. Books dispense advice and increase our relational and conceptual awareness, but he who thinks he knows does not yet know as he ought. A Journal like this helps bridge gap. It draws away from mere knowledge toward introspection and self-understanding. St Clair's artwork, quotes, and exercises help us step out, to love in tangible ways with Love as our center.

The publisher's website has a flip-book with some sample pages to give you a sense of what to expect here. I would recommend this both for personal use, or to give away to a loved-one. It is fantastic. I give it five stars.

Note: I received this Journal from Paraclete Press in exchange for my honest review.
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