Perpetual Journal

Journal of Daily Observations

A Perpetual Journal is an ongoing documentation and recording of your observations in nature day by day and year by year. This idea originates with Lara Gastinger and her husband. Her website is full of information about the process of journaling  perpetually and the idea's birth. Read more here

To kick off your own perpetual  journal, you’ll want either a 52-page spread journal or two separate journals—though I started with three! I made my own and decided to use them together for a seamless journey. I opted for hot pressed paper, which feels great for my personal enjoyment to work on. Each spread covers a week, so you’ll date it, like 1 - 7 January. Since it’s a perpetual journal, no need to worry about the year; just come back to it year after year until those pages are filled up! It’s such a delightful way to document nature and see how things change over time. You can flip back and compare what’s blooming or fading with the seasons. 

What I love about this practice is its easygoing nature—don’t stress about making it a masterpiece! Jot down some notes, make a few sketches, and if you miss a week, no biggie! There’s always next year to catch up. 

Enjoy the process!