About Labyrinths

As I wrote in my previous post, hubby and I built a labyrinth a couple of weeks ago. Many have walked it and told me they enjoyed it. Some already know what a labyrinth is all about, others aren't quite sure, so here's a little info on them.

The Labyrinth is the universal symbol of transformation. It is a metaphor for our journey through life, very much a right-brain meditation activity.

A labyrinth provides a space to listen to our inner voice of wisdom. We can ask for guidance and pray for ourselves and our loved ones. It calms the confused mind and fearful heart.

It is also a fun-filled and joyful activity for young children. Giggles and laughter emit from them as they race through the path, helping us to remember that labyrinths are not only healing, meditational and spiritual, but they are also very joyful.

To prepare you may want to reflect before walking the labyrinth. Do you have a question? Do you just want to slow down and take time out from a busy life? Have you come to find strength to take the next step? Have you come to the labyrinth during a time of grief and loss?

Walk it in silence. Let all thoughts go. Allow God to speak to you in an image.

A labyrinth can help.

Today when I arrived at our store, Moonstone Path, there were workmen patching the mortar on the back of the building. They had inadvertently trampled on my newly planted impatiens. Feeling in a murderous mood, I headed for the labyrinth with the purpose of cooling off. By the time I was done walking, I had calmed down and was in a pretty good mood. And I think the flowers are going to survive after all.

My perfect record is broken, darn!

For three weeks I've been meditating 8 minutes a day, every day. Except yesterday. I kept thinking, I'll do it later. Well, later didn't come. Woke up this morning and realized that I forgot to meditate yesterday. You would think that this is no big deal, it's not like forgetting to medicate. Or is it. I'm feeling off. Kinda of like something is missing. What to do, what to do...

Well, I'm darn sure gonna make sure that I meditate today, and get back on track. And I'll forgive myself for slacking off.

Been busy painting our store for the grand opening on January 14th. It's a small space, in Byron (part of London, On) and you would think that it wouldn't take long to paint. Wrong. All the walls are retail slat walls. They have been painted a dark red. I don't want them to be a dark red, would prefer a soft mauve. So on goes the primer. I am currently painting all the grooves in the slat wall. It takes time. A lot of time. The fun has gone out of it.

Mephestopheles has painted the ceiling, bless his heart. He has been totally helpful, and so far he hasn't fallen off the ladder. He did however get an eyefull of paint. He said that it stung pretty bad.

Good ole Meph. tends to be accident prone. He recently won an electric drill at a Christmas party. My first thought: "Better make sure the first aid kit is up to date".

Still meditating

Meditating is fun! And relaxing. And good for you. No I'm not being sarcastic, it really is all that. I finally read a book that I had bought eons ago about meditation, and it really works for me.

You are instructed to meditate for 8 minutes each day for seven days just doing one thing, for example: the first week all I had to do was really listen to my breath, feel it in my body, my nostrils, going down the back of my throat etc.

Sure my thoughts ran away with me constantly, but, as the book advised, I allowed them to come and gently released them. It actually works, I bet out of 8 minutes, I had about 10 seconds of pure meditation. Ten seconds is better than nothing.

This week, my 8 minute meditation is focussed on hearing the sounds around me. Not judging them, just listening to them. I am finding more space between my thoughts than last week. I'm probably getting about 20 seconds of pure meditation. Major improvement.

Any meditation is good meditation. The only bad meditation is no meditation. So, if I sit still for 8 minutes every day and have a thought fest going in my mind, it's still all good. Things will chill after a while, I can feel it.

I'm going to meditate on that right now. (You could see that one coming, right.)

Is it just me...

Is it just me or is meditating something that is darn near next to impossible. Meditation experts say that it is important to pay attention to your breathing. When I do so, I find that suddenly, I don't know how to breathe very well...let's see inhale--pause--did I pause long enough?--OK I'm getting lightheaded, time to exhale--exhale--oh geez how do you know when you have exhaled long enough--wait I need air NOW--inhale down to my stomach, wow that's not very comfortable is it?--pause, ummm OK that's long enough--exhale--crap, do I exhale through my nose or my mouth--nose it is, I don't like exhaling through my mouth even though it might be wrong--I should look that up---ummm pause then inhale or is that inhale and then pause---ARRGH.

Despite my difficulties, I will continue my meditation moments daily (I have lots of time on my hands) and hopefully will become more comfortable with it. I want to listen to that "silence within" that Wayne Dyer is so fond of speaking about. My question is, however, "If you listen to the silence, is it really silent" .

Think about it. But not too hard.