OUR STORY
Journalling in the Sand
Journaling in the sand was created by me, a counselor who loves journaling but dislikes writing, art, and isn’t particularly good at music.
I was searching for a way to express myself and discovered a love for toys and sand while studying play therapy. I found that these mediums helped me express myself in ways that created awareness, insight, and brought closure to aspects of my life.
Additionally, this method has enabled me to express myself better than any other. It’s a playful activity where you can unleash your inner child and be carefree with your thoughts. There’s no pressure to make it perfect, and it’s great for those of us who aren’t as drawn to writing, art, or music as forms of expression. (Just saying, I’ve learned that sand is really forgiving!)
So, give it a try, have some fun, and hopefully discover something new about yourself!
FIRST STEPS
Journalling in the Sand
Why should I journal using sand? Well, why not? A sand journal is a visual diary where you can practice making art while expressing yourself at the same time. A sand journal can be anything, really. Anything goes as long as you do it for yourself and have fun!
You can even take a picture of your sand journal entry and write down some notes on your phone!
Start by creating a sand journal entry that describes whatever moved or troubled you during the week. For example, create a sand journal entry about a happy moment you had during the week or a moment where you felt annoyed.
If you feel a bit awkward and lost about your first sand journal entry, try the ideas listed below!
Introduce yourself
- Choose items to represent 5 characteristics you love about yourself.
- Choose items to represent 5 characteristics that you dislike about yourself and place them inside the sand journal tray.
- After that, take a photo of the entry and note down what you chose and why.
4. Take it a step further and create a sand journal entry for each negative characteristic.
5. Take a photo of each sand journal tray and note down your explanation for each characteristic.
6. Note down why you dislike it, how it affects you, and what you can do to change.
Congrats! You have just completed your first sand journal entry!
Emotions
Feeling happy
1. Create a sand journal entry that describes a happy moment you had during the week.
2. Use items to depict the event/events you want to remember and take a photo.
3. Note down the reasons behind the characters you chose and any other specific items that were intentionally chosen.
4. Note down how you felt as you were choosing the items, creating the journal entry, and after it was finished.
Feeling annoyed
1. If it was about a moment where you felt annoyed,
2. Use the items to depict the event/ events that you want to remember, take a photo.
3. If you could rewrite that moment, how would it look? Feel free to move the items around or add more items.
4. Take a picture and note down your explanation and how you felt!
Congrats! You have just completed your first sand journal entry!
INDIVIDUAL PROMPTS
Journalling in the Sand
Use the sand journal to write about your ideas for a new personal project, or any other ideas, no matter how odd they may seem.
The vault dump
When you’re not sure what to create, try what's called a brain dump.
Just unleash your stream of thought onto the sand journal. It helps you get those thoughts out of your mind and onto something visible.
Start by jotting down random items that you are drawn to and placing them onto the sand journal, arranging them as you go.
Emotions
Create a sand journal entry by choosing one of the questions below:
How do you feel today? Why?
How did it feel when your work wasn’t noticed, or when you got stood up?
What were your feelings when you reached that life goal of yours after so many months of hard work?
What you think a certain feeling looks like? (E.g., Create a tray that shows how excitement looks like to you.)
Other journalling prompts!
- A favorite memory from your childhood / week
- Lists : Dreams list, Travel list, Bucket list
- Your current thoughts and feelings
- Goals for the upcoming week, month, or year
- Objects and activities that bring you joy
- Something that scares you
- The next place you’d like to travel to
- What you did today or over the weekend
- A negative memory from the week that you want to let go
The PA (positive affirmations)
- Create a sand journal entry depicting the positive affirmation (PA) you have chosen. This could be based on a past experience or a situation from your imagination.
- Consider the perspective differences between an aerial view and a front view of where you are placed in the sand journal entry.
- Would the view cause the affirmation statement to change?
- If so, what would the new affirmation be and would it be applicable to your life today?
After you have finished your sand journal entry…
- Take a step back and observe your sand journal entry. Is there anything you might want to change or rearrange?
- When you are satisfied with your entry, consider taking a photo and noting if there’s anything that stood out to you.
- Write down the reasons why you chose certain figures, including the figure that represents yourself, and how you felt before, during, and after creating the sand journal entry.
- Try to observe your position within the sand journal entry and your proximity to different elements.
- When you're finished, give your entry a title!
FAMILY PROMPTS
Journalling in the Sand
If you want to do this with your children, choose a question that you would like to answer as a family and create a sand journal entry as an expression of that answer.
Suitable for children 10yo and above.
- What is your favorite memory together?
- What is your greatest responsibility?
- What do you consider your proudest moment in 2023?
- What is the hardest part of growing up?
- What did you have to say goodbye to this year?
- What do you look forward to this year?
- Create a tray that shows 2 things you are grateful for today!
After you have finished the sand journal entry as a family...
Share about the sand journal entry that you have made.
Each family member has to say 1 thing that they liked or noticed about the sand journal entry.
Note down any interesting thoughts that have been shared.
Give your sand journal entry a name! You could even ask the rest to name your entry for you.
Repeat this process until all the family members have had a chance to make a sand journal entry.
OTHER FAMILY PROMPTS
Journalling in the Sand
These activities are suitable for children 10yo and above.
Guess Who!
- Create a tray about an interesting person in your family. (The creator of the tray is not allowed to talk during its creation or the group discussion.)
- All the other family members are to discuss who they think the person is.
- Once decided, the creator will reveal share about the tray before revealing the answer.
- The game ends once everyone has had a chance to create a tray!
Gratitude Tray
- The oldest person (parents, it’s time for you to shine!) starts the gratitude circle by creating a gratitude tray for the person to their right.
- Create a tray depicting an act that the person has done this week for which you are thankful!
- The circle ends once everyone has had a chance to create a gratitude tray for someone in the group!
- It’s just like writing a thank you card, except this time you are using figurines and sand to express your gratitude for the person!
ANY QUESTIONS
Journalling in the Sand
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