I have a webcam journal. It's one of my most effective methods for self-expression that I've discovered to this date. Ultimately whenever I'm feeling a bit "off" or find myself facing a particular obstacle or fear - the webcam journal is my go to. The idea behind it is to speak to yourself like you would speak to a friend, but without filtering anything and just saying the first things that come to your head. When you say what you are thinking, you start to perceive your thoughts in a new way. Sometimes I'll recognize that my thoughts are untrue, other times I'll realize that my thoughts are right on - and now that I've said them out loud, I know how to express them. Ultimately, it's nice to have friends to vent to, however, it's not a practice I would turn into a ritual. Having a webcam serve as the unconditional observer makes a big difference.
There is a book entitled "The Artist's Way" that utilizes a similar technique, except instead of a webcam you have a writing journal. The whole idea behind the technique is to activate your creative mind by clearing out the filters that bog us down. Thousands of individuals who thought they were incapable of being creative have found their creative edge simply by free writing 2-3 pages each day. I think the webcam ritual utilizes a similar mechanism, and can be extremely useful tool for finding that true place ;-)
