On Automatic Writing and How It Can Give You the Answers You're Looking For

Just ask Love (or your angels)

Recently I’ve added automatic writing to my morning routine.

This idea came from two different sources at the same time — because this is how the Universe works. What I was looking for found me.

Automatic writing is exactly what it sounds like. You put pen to paper, and allow the pen to take over. No judgements or edits. It’s allowing, it’s flow, it’s nonresistance. Don’t think, just write.

Many people are familiar with The Artist’s Way and the daily writing exercise called Morning Pages, as recommended by author Julia Cameron. This is a type of writing where you just put everything out on the page. Just an upheaval of any and all thoughts, ideally first thing in the morning. I’ve done this at various times in the past and it’s always a helpful exercise.

What I’m experimenting with now is automatic writing where I am asking a question to my Spirit Team (my guides, angels, loving ancestors) or I’m asking a question to Love – and then I allow my pen to flow, allowing for whatever comes out. I’m asking my ego to take a break so that I can tap into something deeper, something outside of myself.  Beyond my thinking brain.

The first, where I write to connect with my Spirit Team, was first brought to my attention by some of my soul sisters who recommended I read a book called Believe, Ask, Act: Divine Steps to Raise Your Intuition, Create Change, and Discover Happiness, written by psychic medium MaryAnn DiMarco. MaryAnn suggests doing this exercise as a way to make a stronger connection to our personal guides so that we can create a deeper relationship with them.

The second, where I ask a question to Love, is an idea brought to my attention by author Elizabeth Gilbert who has a practice called Love Letters. (Follow Elizabeth’s Substack newsletter “Letters From Love” here.)

I’ll share a bit about both below, in case you would like to try one of these writing exercises – and then, I’ll share my personal automatic writing from a recent morning.

MaryAnn DiMarco: Connecting to Spirit Through Automatic Writing

DiMarco recommends a beautiful practice to help us get to know our Spirit Guides so that we are in constant connection with them. Word on the street is, our spirit team really wants to work with us. They are waiting for us to ask for them help. So, why not lean on Divine guidance? This is a way to help us move forward with faith in the Universe, especially when the path sometimes does not feel easy.

So her practice is speaking with Spirit through automatic writing.

These are suggestions from DiMarco:

• Sit in a comfortable spot, light a candle, and take some deep breaths. Have a journal or piece of paper, and a pen at the ready.

• State out loud: “I only intend to work with my highest angels and guides to call in the most positive energy.” And then say a short prayer asking them to protect you and to only allow for high level energy to assist and guide your writing.

• Write one question at the top of your journal or paper … and then write. Let it flow; don’t judge what comes out. Ask without any rules attached.

• If your writing starts to sound negative or pushy, stop. Take a moment to imagine yourself in a bubble of sacred white light, and ask your angels to clear the room. And then start again.

• DiMarco recommends doing this writing first as a way to get to know your team. Almost as if you’re interviewing your guides. Do this once a day, every day for a week. You can ask questions like, “What should I call you? Who are you? How are you guiding me? Where do you come from?”

And then after you’ve done a week of getting to know them, continue connecting with them by writing any question you want… and then let the messages come.

I often simply ask, “What would you like for me to know today?” The answers are always exactly what I need to hear in that moment.

Elizabeth Gilbert: Letters From Love

For over 25 years, Gilbert has written daily letters to herself from love, as part of her daily spiritual practices. This writing exercise helps her to tap into the Universe and download messages that are meant for her from Love.

Gilbert says, this type of writing “starts as an act of imagination before it moves into an act of faith.”

Try it yourself…

These are writing suggestions from Gilbert:

• To begin, it’s helpful to first read a spiritual text or a poem. Gilbert believes that poets leave the door open and then we pick it up from there. I mean, don’t you feel like your heart has cracked open after reading a poem by Mary Oliver or an essay by David Whyte? (Do yourself a favor and add both of these books to your collection: Devotions by Ms. Oliver and Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte. Take out a piece of paper or your journal, and write at the top of the page: “Dear Love, what would you have me know today?”

• Set a timer for five minutes.

• Put pen to paper, and write. Gilbert recommends that the first line include an endearment like Darling or Dear or Sweetheart.

• See what unconditional love has to say to you.

• Think of this as a two-way prayer. You are getting direct Divine revelation. Use it as a daily practice.

Again, if anything comes up that doesn’t feel loving, that is not the voice of love talking – that’s our ego sneaking in. If you find this happening, stop, close your eyes, take deep breaths… and begin again. 

So, what does Love want to tell you today?

My Personal Example of Automatic Writing

Here, I’m sharing my writing with you from May 9, 2024.

Q. Angels, what would you like for me to know today?

You are divinely guided. Trust. Your ego wants you to feel, do, and know things that may make you feel safe, but are keeping you small. Trust that the Divine knows your highest evolution and path. It is more magical than you ever may imagine. Trust – and let go. Let go from holding on too tightly. What you have known is changing – and this is good and beautiful and expansive. We would not guide you in any other way. Let your light shine. Let yourself be seen. Let your beauty and light emanate from you. Guide through – and with – Love. Let Her show you the way every time. There are no mistakes. There is growth and expansion and beauty within the unfolding. 

Let it be, Darling. Let it be.

Allow for grace and trust in the Divine. We are here for you – so you are never alone. No one is ever alone. If we all just placed our faith in the Divine – just a little bit more, the fear of the unknown would dissipate. There are so many magical possibilities in the unknown. Feel into that magic and let life unfold. Non-resistance, fearless faith, love. It is all here for you. 

It is you. 

Darling, sweetheart, release expectations and any dissonant thoughts that keep you feeling stuck. Keeps you feeling like you’re stuck in the tar. The only thing keeping you stuck is fear of your own magnificence and the unfolding of your beautiful life. 

Let there be ease. Today, feel into ease. And allow what it meant for you to find you. Keep yourself open. Breathe. Breathe easy. Deep breaths.

There is so much love for you here.

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Thank you for reading. I have so much love for you.

Also, below are a couple ways that we can connect online. (If you are in Los Angeles, I also hold in-person events. Comment below if you’d like to hear about them.)

xo, Laurie