A Year of Zen - (Year of Reflections Journal) by Bonnie Myotai Treace

Book Synopsis

Reflect, meditate, and explore through a year of Zen journaling

Each day is a new empty space to bring to life-it can be loaded with stress or decorated with moments of calm and clarity. Embark on a wondrous journey through the self with this 52-week guided journal from Zen priest and teacher Bonnie Myotai Treace, sensei. Her wise, thought-provoking prompts will lead beginners and experienced practitioners alike through the seasons, filling the blank spaces with peaceful self-exploration and reflection every day.

Explore topics from the mundane to the holy with creative prompts like:

• Reverence-Zen artists tend to be very reverential toward the tools of their trade. Describe your pen, brush, musical instrument, etc., with the deep, precise attention that reflects that reverence.
• Being a Curious Being-What if you could become more curious and impartial toward your thoughts instead of being so easily persuaded by them? Write a few lines as you consider.
• Evening Threshold-Catch yourself at sundown, light fading from the sky. What does the arrival of night trigger or bring up for you?

Walk the path of growth and build a mindful daily practice with this Zen Buddhism journal.

Review Quotes

"A Year of Zen is a treasure trove of inspiration for journal writers and daily page enthusiasts looking to add a structured spiritual dimension to their contemplations and for Zen students interested in engaging with a formal writing practice. The daily prompts, which range from deeply provocative to delightfully playful, all skillfully point the reader toward a deeper understanding of self. Delving into the exercises will spark insight into the ways both conscious thoughts and submerged beliefs impact the ways we experience our life. This book invites an inquiry into and a celebration of the ordinary. It shines a glowing light on the sacredness within the most mundane moments." --Lisa Schaewe, Psychotherapist, Artist, and Meditation Instructor

"This brightly polished gem of a journal is packed with illumination and inspiration, inviting us to become more intimate with our true voice and our true nature. Reading A Year of Zen, I felt like I was in a cozy fireside chat with a Zen master as Myotai whispered her wisdom in my ear." --Tania Casselle, Award-Winning Writer and Contemplative Writing Coach, Faculty at Sage Institute Meditation Leader Training

"What could be better than a year of peace, clarity, wisdom, and compassion? Is there anything the world needs more than this? Beautifully designed, filled with exercises to spur creativity, inspire, and bring us to greater mindfulness, A Year of Zen delivers exactly what it promises: a treasure house of tools to deepen our connection to everything that really matters in life, drawn from Zen teacher Bonnie Myotai Treace's many years of intensive practice experience." --Sean Tetsudo Murphy, Sensei, Award-Winning Author of One Bird, One Stone: 108 Contemporary Zen Stories and Director of Sage Institute Meditation Leader Training Program

About the Author

BONNIE MYOTAI TREACE, SENSEI, is the founder of Hermitage Heart Zen, as well as the author of Wake Up: How to Practice Zen Buddhism, Zen Meditation for Beginners, and other books. She lives in Black Mountain, North Carolina, where she offers writing retreats and at-home meditation instruction