I always know that I need to do more shadow work, which makes me think a lot of people could too! This is a emotional writing prompt, the first step towards spiritual awakening and starting on the new path in life.
It’s not a prompt where you write for a long time, but a quick project to get you started with understanding your shadow self. Because we must find the negativities to release them.
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This is a good place to start to help figure out what’s holding you back in life. This starts with the conscious ideas you have about yourself, and eventually you’ll find the unconscious ideas as well. I am connecting this emotional writing journal prompt to the devil tarot card. And I’ll explain why further below!
Before you Begin
*Please remember this post is meant to act as a guide, not as the only tool you can use. It is not a substitute for professional help. Don’t hesitate to seek further assistance from a professional to work through trauma.
Ensure you are in the right mindset and physical space for this. Try to find a place that where you won’t be interrupted. Maybe find the devil tarot card in your deck for inspiration.
If you’d like, set soft music or light candles. Get out your journal or work on your computer (like I did for this prompt). Make sure you have a plan for after this work to bring yourself back. Take some time after; don’t rush into the next task.
You can also get an inexpensive PDF following this cage journal prompt that is Ad-free here.
(looking for music to play relating to this tarot card? Check out this playlist based on the devil tarot card!)
Looking for other shadow work journal prompts? Read Major Arcana Shadow Work Prompts
Connecting The Prompt To The Devil
I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about the Devil tarot card lately (you can read more about the description here), and even asked my followers on Instagram for their ideas behind it. And one thing became really clear. The images in the card make it seem like the devil is this scary, external monster, but really it’s internal. It’s a battle of wills inside.
And you have to break free. So the idea behind this journal prompt is to define the cage. Define the cage that you have trapped yourself into. With the negative thoughts, with all of the bad feelings about yourself.
You have to put yourself into the metaphorical cage. The one that’s probably defining your life already, but look past the edges and bars. Now it’s time to define the edges and what is trapping you. It’s the only way to break free. You can’t move past limitations until you’ve defined and identified them.
The Journal Prompt
So that’s what I want you to do. With this emotional writing prompt, I want you to define the edges, define the cadge that you’ve locked yourself into. The one of the negative feelings, the thoughts that you have about yourself.
Above you can find an image of a very simple cage that you can use as inspiration for the one you’ll be creating with words. Try to put your words, your negative feelings, the bad things you think about yourself into an actual cage-shape. To really bring the point across.
Below, you can see an example of just some of the ideas that I associate with mental health and the devil card. Take some of those words for your own cage, or write entirely new ideas. This just a starting point to look at for inspiration if you don’t know where to start. The cage depicted below has 22 ideas on it.
Try to keep it around that number, but don’t limit yourself. Some of the ideas might be connected, or all separate. Try to connect the ideas into succinct phrases or individual words.
Even though this one depicted is primarily vague, and mostly about ideas about the devil tarot card and negative mental health, I found this prompt to be very cathartic.
I hope you feel the same way! The more personal you make it , the better.
Are you looking for longer journaling prompts? I really like this one by Paranormal Sarah, or find the rest of the tarot related journal prompts here! If you’re just starting out and want an idea of how to create a spiritual journal, I have an entire article dedicated to it that you can read about here!
Let me know what you thought of this by sharing with me on Instagram @moonofgemini or #moonofgemini!
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