Blog | Mindfulness, Meditation, Journaling & Walking in Nature
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Writings and Readings Blog

Madhu Bazaz Wangu

Monthly Guiding Points

Posted on January 31, 2026
in Journaling, Meditation, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Sharper Brain after Retirement, Well Being
2 Comments

JanuaryYour decision to walk on the path of spirituality and creativity is noble. If followed diligently it leads to wisdom, peace and joy. But the journey is filled with blocks, pitfalls and false dead ends. In order to overcome any strenuous situation you need persistence and perseverance. To help you successfully journey on the spiritual way I have collected ten practical points about mental clarity that I promise would guide you along the way.  I have learned and recapitulated these lessons from the works of great thinkers, spiritual masters, philosophers and teachers; their written and spoken words. Each guiding point is a practice; simple but not easy. But when practiced seriously, mere words turn into physical sensations and feelings. Eventually they impels us to act accordingly. Once activated they amaze us...

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Thursday, January 29, 2026

Posted on January 28, 2026
in Journaling, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Spirituality, Well Being
4 Comments

Self-doubt is one of the major emotions we all go through. There are days when you feel overwhelmed and sluggish without any tangible reason. What can you do? You allow the heavy dark clouds of emotions and thinking to shower on the pages of your notebook, a rainstorm of words. You trust that by the end of two to three pages it will shed light on things you were only partly aware of. And it will present possible solutions to your malaise and listlessness. I started doing serious journaling in my early fifties that encouraged me to change my profession from teaching art history and world religions to become a freelance writer. It felt the right thing to do, I wished I had started journaling sooner. Not only was I able...

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Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Posted on January 26, 2026
in Journaling, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Well Being
4 Comments

The Final Post on Daily Journaling:What you pour on the blank pages of your journal can be compared with autumn leaves. The mountain of dried leaves of your mental trash is all biodegradable. It decomposes into mulch. Into this mulch you’re ready to sow new seeds and watch them sprout as fresh green saplings. It often happens, that upon rereading your journal after some time, you gain greater insight into the things that have happened. Personal events gather universal significance. You realize such exchanges and events, good or bad, are human. The edges of harsh events have softened. You’re pleasantly surprised at where one month’s or one year’s journaling has led you.  When you don’t journal for a while a restlessness gnaws at you. Your mind feels muddled and overwhelmed with mosaic...

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Thursday, January 22, 2026

Posted on January 22, 2026
in Journaling, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Spirituality
6 Comments

The eminent social psychologist, James Pennebaker in his book, Opening Up by Writing Down, writes that not fully expressing negative emotions, suffering in silence and keeping secrets—swallowing them or pushing them down—affects your heart, mind and body for the rest of your life. By hiding your fears, anger, and hurt from the world, you hide it from yourself. In order to replace the mask of social “goodness” and “niceness” with authenticity you must first recognize the anger, the hurt or the fear buried deep inside you. The recognition must be followed by acceptance of your negative emotions. Some of us may require therapy or hypnosis to cleanse the system but most of us can do this by, as the title of the book suggests, “opening up and writing down.” If you like, write...

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Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Posted on January 19, 2026
in Journaling, Meditation, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds
4 Comments

The way we observe physical hygiene for cleanliness, we must cultivate emotional hygiene for mental clarity. What practices could we follow to cleanse our mind? Meditation, journaling and mindful walking in nature. (The other two disciplines of the practice that I teach, Writing Meditation Practice, are reading and creativity.) This month we are focusing on journaling which helps us clear the mental mess which is created every single day. Transforming our mind-mess in words and jotting it down is like someone lending an ear to our problems. Especially for the things we can’t share with any person. It reveals possible solutions to an issue at hand and heals emotional wounds. So if there is a difficult situation on your mind or something is hurting you or knotting your belly, why not...

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Thursday, January 15, 2026

Posted on January 14, 2026
in Cooking, Journaling, Nonverbal Activities, Reading, Walking, Writing
4 Comments

A sketch from "Writing Meditation Practice," 2019 When you shine the light of awareness on yourself, you begin to awaken to an authentic life. With the help of daily journaling you begin to become conscious of what masks your Authentic Self. You pen down passing thoughts and emotions running through your mind like a broken record and leave them on the pages of the notebook. Journaling daily clears your mind and lightens your heart. More importantly, things about yourself are revealed to you which you were not even aware of.  So place the bubbling thoughts, not under your control, of bitterness, anger, resentment or sorrow triggered by a family member, a friend or social event on the pages of your notebook. Then watch the petty or vindictive thoughts, careless actions or unnecessary...

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Tuesday, December 13, 2026

Posted on January 13, 2026
in Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Originality, Spirituality
5 Comments

Spiritual and Creative Journey, 2026 Going within is not easy to do. It is harder than going around the world. When we are new to meditation and sitting in silence and solitude, for the first time we notice the narratives that circle our mind. Until then we are not aware of this quiet blabber which keeps our mind consistently occupied. In order to feel the clarity, peace and joy that meditation promises we must purge the mind of the narrative made of petty thoughts about past and future. They muffle the present moment. Here-Now is the only moment alive with which we build our future.  Benefits of Meditation and JournalingAt first when someone talks about the present moment its reality is hard to grasp. You think, I’m living in the present moment; how else would I...

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Tuesday, December 6, 2026

Posted on January 6, 2026
in Journaling
4 Comments

The cave you fear to enter may hold the light you seek.”—Rumi Have you ever closed your eyes and entered an imaginary shrine within? You say, what shrine? So you haven’t. I’ll teach you how to build one. Begin by imagining a space preferably in your heart. Make it a habit to go in there every morning and ask Who am I truly? Once created it will reflect a cozy and comfortable corner in your home. This is your spiritual power spot where you will meditate upon and journal whatsoever is on your heart and mind. Meditating and journaling are two of the five disciplines that makes Writing Meditation Practice. The other three are Reading, Walking, and Creative Activity you enjoy doing. The purpose of this practice is to connect with your Authentic Self. Once...

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Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2026
in Journaling
5 Comments

Happy New Year to You All from Our and Our Daughters' Homes!Here are three auspicious platters for you to view and welcome 2026. On New Year’s Eve, Kashmiri families prepare an auspicious platter, thaal to welcome the New Year. The early morning of January 1, the mother of the family carries the thaal to each slumbering family member’s bed so that they can carefully view each item on the platter the first thing and awaken to the day. They look at the bowls of milk and yogurt, sugar and salt, fresh and dry fruit and flowers, and a meaningful book, a notebook, a writing tool, gold/money and a mirror. The items are placed over uncooked rice. Other items may include hot chili, pods of tamarind or similar items. At the end of the day each...

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Thursday, January 1, 2026

Posted on December 31, 2025
in Awareness, Flourishing, Spirituality, Well Being
2 Comments

From Our Family to Yours, "Happy New Year to All!" Happy New Year All! Each year the last ten days of December and the first day of January are celebrated with family gatherings, sharing special foods and giving gifts. It is also a time of gratitude, generosity, self-evaluation, self-reflection and resolutions. These are darkest, coldest, and bleakest days around winter solstice and of hope for healthier and happier time. Happiness and hope are symbolized by lighting our homes and gardens with candles, lamps and electric lights. Numerous families, businesses and government agencies create dazzling landscapes with rainbow-colored illuminations on buildings, in gardens and wooded areas.  The outer lights stir the inner light of consciousness and awaken us to the spiritual illumination within. They inspire us to be humbly thankful to our joys and blessings as...

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