The month of April and its tradition of stationery
April cold with dripping rain
Willows and lilacs brings again,
The whistle of returning birds,
And trumpet-lowing of the herds.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82)
Like a fine wine, the history of stationery has aged with grace, imbuing within its fibers a narrative that connects a modern individual to their ancestors and to the earth itself.
This blog post is a celebration of the potential locked within your very thoughts. It is a call to action, a gentle push toward a blank canvas where you'll inscribe the colors of your mind. Through the rich history of journaling, to the positive psychological effects, make April a month of liberation through writing.
April, with its capricious blend of sunshine and showers, marks a time of renewal, rekindling, and, historically, an important juncture for the quill and parchment. This is the time when the natural world begins its vibrant cycle, and in the historical past, the scribes would find renewed energy to compose, basking in the longer and warmer days that the month ushers in.
April rekindles our creativity just as well as it did for the medieval scribes, who saw it as a time to begin new projects, document new laws, and create new history. They recognized the importance of seasons in their work and found April, in particular, a month of inauguration. Stationery has become a thing of value, a collectible art form that stirs the stationery enthusiast's heart. The emergence of beautiful notebooks, pens and note cards sweep us away in the bloom of Spring.
No two journals are alike, just as no two individuals are the same. The type of journaling that suits you will depend on your personality, and lifestyle. The act of journaling is almost as old as the written word itself. Take this month to lean into your passions, write them down and make them come true!