progress!

a great article on labyrinths

Enjoy this wonderful article by artist and author Meryl Ann Butler, by clicking the link above. It is all about touring the Portland, Oregon area labyrinths while attending The Labyrinth Society's annual conference earlier this month. Thanks, Meryl Ann!

welcome

the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary's labyrinth

enter....all are invited

another view of the path

a quiet spot to reflect

just beginning to build our tiny Chartres labyrinth

embracing the circle

it takes many hands to build a labyrinth

marking the turns

working as a team....

putting in the petals

tiny Chartres

welcome to a new path....

preparing the circle

A very special thank you to Miss Cary and Miss Kath and all the countless other volunteers from the First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach who made the Annual Club 56 Peanut Island Trip such a wonderful success!

light of Christ

Reverend Ron Hilliard led all the parents and kids in communion after a time of fellowship and singing. As we circled around the campfire to receive the sacraments, I was (naturally) reminded of a new type of labyrinth walk.....

sunset peanut island

another path observed

"and an ocean tumbled by with a private boat...."

...."for Max (or me, or you, or whoever) and he sailed off through night and day and in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are."
- Maurice Sendak from WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (with my own emphasis added)

A couple of weekends ago I had the blessing of accompanying my son and my husband on a church youth group camping trip to Peanut Island. I do not camp. When I learned, however, that most all the other moms were going to be roughing it, I became a very last minute, wary and somewhat reluctant, tag-a-long.

I was sitting alone on the beach contemplating sleeping outside in 90 degree Florida heat when I first saw this little boat sail past in the distance. I had no idea at the time that anyone from our church group owned it or even dreamed that they had built it completely by hand!

Immediately, I was struck with an incredible sense of peace and tranquility. On that crowded beach which was teaming with boaters, snorkelers and swimmers, the sight of the miniature boat felt timeless, authentic - sacred. The noisy world around me fell completely and inexplicably silent.

This little vessel continues to sail the spaces of my heart almost daily now, carrying me to visit my own Wild Things and then thankfully "back over a year and in and out of weeks and through a day and into the night of (my) very own room...."

My prayer is that your private boat will soon sail into the harbor of your heart, too.

Peace for your Path.

join me tomorrow at "third thursdays on the labyrinth"

We'll be walking the labyrinth in the lovely outdoor garden at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd between 10am and 12pm. Drop by anytime!

Join us to discover Peace for your Path.....

listen to "the wisdom of the labyrinth"

Tomorrow at noon Pacific time, Dr. Lauren Artress, the founder of Veriditas, will be interviewing Daniel H. Pink, author of the amazing book A Whole New Mind. Don't miss it! (But just in case you do, all of the radio shows are archived so check it out anyway when you get a chance).

thank you good shepherd friends!

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday here in South Florida for The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd's annual "Blessing of the Animals" on October 4th. My yellow lab, Lily, finally met Father Bob's golden retriever, Mac, for the first time.

A lovely ceremony was held in the church courtyard for the sixty or more people and pets in attendance. Each pet's name was spoken aloud to the group by his or her human family member. Dogs, cats, and rabbits (all leashed and crated) greeted one another cordially and in the spirit of true friendship. After beautiful scripture readings by the clergy staff, each animal was blessed with a sprinkling of Holy water and prayed for individually.

Several attendees enjoyed snacks and conversation afterward while others ventured over to the labyrinth. This was the first "Paws on the Path" event to coincide with "The Blessing of the Animals".

Though Lily did not walk with the same contemplative spirit as her elder friend Mac, she did bring her own brand of youthful exuberance to the Path. All together, Lily and I estimate about 12-14 dogs and their people (plus one brave cat!) walked the outdoor labyrinth together.

St. Francis himself was most surely smiling down upon our happy gathering!

lily finds her center

a few of the paws on the path

and all will be blessed

the blessing of the animals at the church of the good shepherd

the feast day of st. francis of assisi

Do something beautiful for the earth and its wild creatures today.....

DOES EVERY CREATURE HAVE A SOUL?

A tool
in your hand I am, dear God,
the sweetest instrument you have shaped my being into.

What makes me now complete -
feeling the soul of every creature against
my heart.

Does every creature have a
soul?

Surely they do: for anything God has touched
will have life
forever,

and all creatures He
has held.

- St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

st. francis of assisi

A prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi as recorded in the collection of legends surrounding his life called The Fioretti:

"My sister birds, you owe much to God, and you must always and in everyplace give praise to Him; for He has given you freedom to wing through the sky and He has clothed you... you neither sow nor reap, and God feeds you and gives you rivers and fountains for your thirst, and mountains and valleys for shelter, and tall trees for your nests. And although you neither know how to spin or weave, God dresses you and your children, for the Creator loves you greatly and He blesses you abundantly. Therefore... always seek to praise God."

paws on the path was inspired by the veriditas labyrinth journal

Read our Spring 2009 edition with the special theme "Tails of Spirit: Animal Friends on the Path" in The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From the Labyrinth. (Extra-special thanks to writer, Maia Scott and her dog Tessa for lending us the wonderfully creative title, "Paws on the Path"!) Learn how labyrinths have inspired people and animals to connect in countless, special ways.....

or, walk with us in spirit, wherever you are in the world!

Visit the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator to find a labyrinth in your neighborhood.

paws on the path

Please plan to attend the annual Blessing of the Animals this Sunday, October 4th at 4pm at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. All are welcome to experience this lovely ceremony in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Bring your pets, leashed or crated, and receive a special blessing from the pastoral staff. Father Bob Taylor will be there with the event's ambassador, his golden retriever, Mac (pictured above leading me through the labyrinth), along with other clergy members.

Immediately following the blessing ceremony, meet me and my yellow lab, Lily, along with other members of the Good Shepherd Labyrinth Committee in the outdoor labyrinth garden. Enjoy walking the stone pathway with your beloved animal companions. Lily has chosen some special snacks for her four-legged friends (cats, too!), so be sure to stop by to say hello!

Read more on page 8 of the October 2009 edition of Tidings by clicking "Paws on the Path" above. This promises to be a memorable family event!

theMotherhood

It was such an honor to be interviewed this morning on theMotherhood. I have been enjoying editing my blog there, "Moms on the Labyrinth" since April. So, I was completely thrilled to be asked to talk with Deborah this morning in the "Up Close and Personal: A One-on-One Interview" circle. It was a great experience and I wish to personally thank this amazing community of women for their interest and support.

Log onto theMotherhood today and join the conversation!

Peace for your Path,
Robin

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

don't miss this new PBS series

The National Parks: America's Best Idea began last night on PBS. I hope you can watch this latest series by Ken Burns. Visit their site for more info and to check your local listing....http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

my favorite sand labyrinth....

....is most certainly Nature's very own!

walk with a PURPOSE

Some photos from our Saturday event...Another beautiful morning on the labyrinth!

photos from Third Thursdays on the Labyrinth

A very special thank you to Merike Seely for taking, and sharing, these pictures from our morning on the labyrinth! I feel very honored to be pictured with Mac....

one more of the birthday girl

Oh, how fast they grow!

one of my special labyrinth friends

Meet Mac. He is Father Bob's golden-hearted retriever and Good
Shepherd's beloved ambassador of Love. It was my second opportunity to
walk the labyrinth with Mac today. I am always blessed by his calming
presence. Mac frequents the halls and the hearts of Good Shepherd's
parish on almost a daily basis.....

Today, Mac inspired me to suggest to the church staff that we add a
labyrinth walk to Good Shepherd's annual "Blessing of the Animals"
event in honor of St. Francis. Mark your calendars for Sunday, October
4th at 4 pm.

Lily will be there!

a special morning on the labyrinth.....

happy birthday, lily!

third thursdays on the labyrinth - TODAY

our almost birthday girl....

Lily (pictured at about 11weeks) turns one this Thursday. Check back
soon to find out how she'll celebrate.....

sunshine found....

A labyrinth walker left this drawing in the sand one morning last Spring. I had placed my favorite bowl filled with sand and a borrowed stick in the center of the labyrinth on that special Ash Wednesday. I just found this picture on my cell phone this morning. Grace.....

circles

"Everything I see, hear, touch, feel, taste, speak, think, imagine, is completing a perfect circle God has drawn." Meister Eckhart

meet me in theMotherhood !

Join my circle "Moms on the Labyrinth" today!

third thursdays on the labyrinth

I am delighted to once again host an Open Labyrinth Walk this coming Thursday, September 17th in Tequesta, Florida at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Drop by anytime between 10am and 12pm to walk the labyrinth with me in the beautiful outdoor garden:

http://www.goodsheponline.com/labyrinth.html

For more information on this and other upcoming labyrinth programming and events, please visit my website, www.labyrinthwellness.com

See you on the Path!

today....

A couple of poems for this day both written by St. Francis of Assisi (as found in the book, Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West by Daniel Ladinsky):

Anyone Who Suffered

I
would not
leave this earth until God
promised
me

that my hands could always touch the face of
anyone who
suffered.



In His Sanity

If all the tenderness in this world could reflect
from my eyes, would you accept
that love?

If all
the forgiveness
the heavens have known could be offered
from one
face,

would you accept that
divine pardon?

In His sublime sanity -
every moment God offers
that to
us:

anything that might
comfort.

a quote for today

I love this. It feels just right for today. May each of us find what we need for our next step forward in faith.....

"When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take that step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen; there will be something solid for us to stand on or we will learn to fly."

- Patrick Overton

once in a blue moon - coming soon!

Mark your calendars now! This year a Blue Moon (so named as it is the second full moon to appear in a month) will be visible on December 31, 2009. Happy New Year! Find a labyrinth to walk on this special night....(The next Blue Moon will not occur until August 31, 2012).

Don't miss it.

a quote about loving....

"We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person."

W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965)

my latest article just published in The Bahamas Weekly

Please enjoy reading "Coming Full Circle With Grace in the Bahamas" on-line now.
http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/grand_bahama_labyrinth/Coming_Full_Circle_with_Grace_in_the_Bahamas7437.shtml

Special thanks to Veriditas for granting permission to share my article with another fantastic magazine!

thomas merton quote

I love this quote from Dialogues with Silence:

"My God, I pray better to You by breathing. I pray better to You by walking than by talking."

Walking labyrinths is a wonderful way to center your focus. Walk at a natural, comfortable pace and enjoy the contemplative silence.....

Visit the Worldwide Labyrinth Locator at http://labyrinthlocator.com/ to find one today. Simply enter your zip code to search.

coming full circle with grace in the bahamas

Please enjoy our latest issue of The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From the Labyrinth by clicking on the title above. My latest article regarding my visit to The Grand Bahama Labyrinth back in April (see additional pictures right here on my blog!) is on pages 7-8.

Peace for your Path,
Robin

devozine

It is such an honor to write for this wonderful magazine.....

Check out my latest devotional piece entitled "Words to Speak" in the September/October 2009 issue. My article is part of the I Believe theme.

open labyrinth walk this friday night

Please join me in the chapel of The First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach this Friday afternoon, July 31st, anytime between 4:00pm and 6:30pm. Allow approximately 20 minutes for your labyrinth walk. Consider bringing a journal with you to record your experience and thoughts....

www.firstpresnpb.org

no remedy....

"There is no remedy for love but to love more."
-Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

a new journey on an ancient pathway

centering.....

a quiet moment on the labyrinth

first walk with my new labyrinth!

Last night, I was thrilled to unfold my brand-new Seven Circuit Modified Chartres Labyrinth for my first walk.

my brand-new website is up!

Visit www.labyrinthwellness.com and tell me what you think.....
Thanks for your interest and your support!
Robin

a great article in Time Magazine

This Special Health Report entitled "A User's Guide to Good Health at Every Age" features a picture of a lady in the center of a labyrinth! Check it out by clicking the link above....

Moms on the Labyrinth

Check out my other blog "Moms on the Labyrinth" which is now a Circle on theMotherhood.

Peace for your path!
Robin

Labyrinths and Horses: A Connection of Spirits

Please enjoy this article I wrote for the Spring 2009 edition of The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From the Labyrinth on Cordelia Rose of Whitewater Mesa Labyrinths and her horse, Blake.