one more way to share hope today.....

Emily Dickinson's "Hope is the Thing with Feathers"
http://www.textflows.com/flow/19729

a copy to print out for your own pocket

Hope is the thing with feathers (254)
by Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

hope in my pocket

second annual poem in your pocket day

This Thursday, April 3oth marks the second anniversary of "Poem-in-Your-Pocket Day". As a member of the Academy of American Poets, I am thrilled to promote National Poetry Month. This celebration began in 1996 in an attempt to further the mission of the Academy which is "to inspire the reading and writing of poetry, and to bring together poets and poetry audiences across the nation".

On Thursday, the idea is simple. Just make a copy of your favorite poem and carry it with you to share with others throughout the day.

Spread the love of poetry around your community. Visit www.poets.org for more information.

Find and share the rhythm of your heart,
Robin

labyrinth wellness is now on www.themotherhood.com

I just joined an intriguing online forum today called "The Motherhood" in my attempt to share the message of the labyrinth with more women around the country.

Check out this wonderful site at http://www.themotherhood.com/

I started a circle there under the heading of Body and Soul called "Moms on the Labyrinth".

Meet me there if you'd like!



Peace and light,
Robin

follow me on twitter

Labyrinth Wellness, LLC is now on twitter! Click on the title above and follow me....

trying to recall being green again.....

Here is a poem by Rumi that speaks to my heart today. I don't know if it has a title. I do hope you find comfort in it, too....

We began as a mineral.
We emerged into plant life,
And into the animal state, and then into being human,
And always we have forgotten our former states,
Except in early spring when we slightly recall
Being green again.

That's how a young person turns
Toward a teacher. That's how a baby leans
Toward the breast, without knowing the secret
Of its desire, yet turning instinctively.

Humankind is being led along an evolving course,
Through this migration of intelligences,
And though we seem to be sleeping,
There is an inner wakefulness
That directs the dream,

And that will eventually startle us back
To the truth of who we are.

- Rumi

world labyrinth day

The first Saturday in May always marks the Kentucky Derby for a Louisville native like me....

Though I will certainly watch the horse race as always (praying continually for the safety of all the horses), this year I will also be celebrating another historic happening....

World Labyrinth Day is a new global event celebrating the labyrinth. This day is intended to bring people from all over the planet together in celebration of the labyrinth as a symbol, a tool, a passion or a practice.

Consider joining me and countless others as we "Walk as One at 1". Find a labyrinth near you, and at 1pm your local time, walk. It is that simple and that beautiful. As the earth turns, we will become a rolling wave of walkers across our planet.

Visit the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator to find your nearest local labyrinth:
http://labyrinthlocator.com/


Peace for your Path.....

happy earth day

In honor of the first Earth Day celebrated in 1970, please enjoy this poem by Christina Rossetti. Let us all, each uniquely human one of us, celebrate our interconnectedness to one another and to all the creatures who call our sacred planet "home".....

"Hurt No Living Thing"

Hurt no living thing;
Ladybird, nor butterfly,
Nor moth with dusty wing,
Nor cricket chirping cheerily,
Nor grasshopper so light of leap,
Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat,
Nor harmless worms that creep.

- Christina Rossetti

the grand bahama labyrinth in the garden of the groves

During my recent visit on April 3, 2009 to Grand Bahama Island with my family, I had the most wonderful pleasure of meeting Ms. Barbara Chester in person. Barbara and I had corresponded via email since I interviewed her for my article entitled "The Grand Bahama Labyrinth" in the Winter 2009 edition of The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From the Labyrinth. . Please enjoy my article on page 6 of The Journal by following the link below:
http://www.veriditas.org/newsletters/archive/LJ-Winter2009.pdf

Our Spring Break trip to the Bahamas was extremely last minute. I had no idea until we were in the taxi to our hotel and we passed a sign that we were staying so close to The Garden of the Groves. I had not tried to contact Ms. Chester prior to my arrival to let her know I was coming and we had never once even spoken live on the phone. For about a day, I mulled over whether or not I should try to find her. Finally, I decided I would likely always regret it if I didn't. After several failed attempts with the local phone book, I finally obtained her cell phone number and I dialed....

Ms. Chester could not have been more delightful after receiving my surprise call! She immediately rescheduled her busy afternoon and arrived to pick me up at my hotel a short time later. For three glorious hours, I toured the paradise of her lovely island sanctuary. The Grand Bahama Labyrinth that she has created for her beloved community was even more beautiful in person than I had envisioned.

I enjoyed meeting a three-year-old darling boy named Daniel who was visiting the labyrinth with his family for the very first time. As you can see from this video, Daniel completely embraced the labyrinth from the moment he stepped on it with Barbara and his mom:






In a few short moments, he was intently following the lines of the sacred path all on his own:






While I watched and absorbed the beauty of this scene and the company of this precious child, I was lucky enough to learn a bit more about a very special native tree and its unique fruit. Barbara and Daniel's grandmother kindly allowed me to eavesdrop on their conversation about the many uses of tamarinds:




Barbara invited Robbin Watchell, editor of The Bahamas Weekly to join us and cover the excitement of our meeting. Please enjoy learning more about The Grand Bahama Labyrinth and all the happenings on this beautiful island at http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/grand_bahama_labyrinth/index.shtml .

The day was such an incredible blessing to me. It truly embodied the remarkable way that the labyrinth brings people together as only the labyrinth can do. My journey across the ocean and my new friendship with Ms. Barbara Chester truly came full circle in The Garden of the Groves. I will be forever be grateful for the Grace of this experience....

the grand bahama labyrinth

Visit my blog soon for a very special story and pictures about my visit last week to this incredible labyrinth.....

upcoming labyrinth walks

If you are in the South Florida area, please join me and the rest of the Labyrinth Committee of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Tequesta for a very special Good Friday evening labyrinth walk. On April 10th, immediately following the 7:30pm Taize service of prayer, silence and meditation, we will be hosting a labyrinth walk at 8:30pm.

This will be a candlelight walk in the beautiful outdoor labyrinth garden. Lovely meditative music will be playing and the reflection fountain will be flowing to add to our walkers' quiet experience.

Visit the church website at www.goodsheponline.org for directions.

Please feel free to email me anytime for more information on walking labyrinths. I would be happy to schedule a time to meet with you or your group for a guided walk or simply help you locate other local labyrinths which you can explore on your own....

If you are new to walking labyrinths, you may enjoy my article, "Walking the Labyrinth" at www.devozine.org. Access it by clicking on "Health and Help" and then "Spiritual Practices."

Blessings to each of you on your Path!

third thursdays on the labyrinth

Join me this Thursday, March 19th, anytime between 10am and 12pm in the beautiful outdoor labyrinth garden of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Tequesta, Florida.

For more information and directions to the church, visit www.goodsheponline.org .

For more information on walking labyrinths, I invite you to read my article, "Walking the Labyrinth" published by devozine at www.devozine.org .

My article is archived under the "Health and Help" in the category of "Spiritual Practices."

http://www.upperroom.org/devozine/2009/marapr/health_sub.asp?item_id=620549&back=3210&week=3&issue=638157
(or, simply highlight, copy and paste the link above into your browser bar).

See you on the Path!

robin's "pilates" meditation selected as devotional of the week

I am so honored that devozine selected one of my meditations as their "devo of the week" once again. It is truly such a blessing to write for this wonderful magazine!

Please read "Pilates" from week one of the current March/April 2009 issue in print or online at http://www.upperroom.org/devozine/2009/marapr/devo.asp?week=1&issue=638157
(you will need to highlight, copy and paste this link into your browser as it is now cached).

Visit www.devozine.org to read many more inspirational stories....

Thank you for your interest!

locate a local labyrinth

For more information on walking labyrinths, visit www.veriditas.org .

Click on The World-Wide Labyrinth Locator tab to find a labyrinth near you!

thank you signature healthcare, llc

It was truly an honor to attend the Signature Healthcare Learning Congress 2009 from March 2-4th in Louisville, KY. I was deeply humbled by the number of Signature Stakeholders who embraced the spiritual practice of walking labyrinths this week, most of them for the very first time....

We had a beautiful, full-sized Eleven-Circuit Medieval labyrinth available for a candlelight walk Monday evening at the Seelbach Hotel's majestic Medallion Ballroom. The Chartres Cathedral-style design was warm and welcoming to the participants who had traveled all day in frigid temperatures (many with flight cancellations and weather delays) to attend the first day of meetings. Gentle meditative music filled the room, creating an oasis of peace at the end of a busy, yet exciting afternoon. So many walkers came, that we kept the labyrinth available for an entire extra hour to accommodate their interest....

The following two days, many other Stakeholders enjoyed utilizing finger labyrinths in the historic Rathskeller. Gentle lighting and Gregorian music enhanced the setting of this uniquely designed room filled with decorated pillars. Constructed of rare Rookwood Pottery in 1907, the Rathskeller, with its medieval cathedral appearance provided the perfect location for learning more about labyrinths, formulating breath prayers and enjoying personal time with one's journal in between meeting sessions.

None of this could have been possible without the loving support of my husband, Scott Hansel, who has been with Signature Healthcare now for over five exciting years. Our dear friend, E. Joseph Steier, III, Signature's President and CEO, was kind enough to invite Labyrinth Wellness, LLC to attend this year. Joe wanted to share one of his favorite spiritual tools with his Stakeholders at this ground-breaking, innovative meeting.

When our connecting flight was canceled out of Charlotte, NC due to a snowstorm, Virginia Watkins and Mark Johnson, treasured friends from St. Paul United Methodist Church in Louisville came to the rescue. They quickly loaded Kathleen Kaelin's labyrinth into a van kindly and expertly driven by Signature's own Stephanie Hope. These wonderful individuals were met by Joe's ever-organized executive assistant, Tiffany Blackwell, at the Seelbach Hotel while Scott and I raced in from Nashville, TN in a rental car with several other re-routed Signature Stakeholders. We arrived just in time to immediately begin setting up the sacred space for the evening.

It was quite a remarkable journey, and dear friends along the way made all the difference. Gathering in the center of the labyrinth, holding hands in prayer together before the first walkers arrived, was a moment I will never forget.

Thanks also to Rex and Maggie Bradley for making the long journey South to care for Dylan (and Lily!) and to Jerry and Jewel Hansel for your continued prayers throughout the week.

You are all Lights on the Path for me....

the veriditas spring 2009 journal

It was such a pleasure interviewing Cordelia Rose for my latest article, "Labyrinths and Horses: A Connection of Spirits." Please visit the Veriditas website and read the entire issue of The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From the Labyrinth.

Our Spring 2009 edition is full of stories connecting people and animals on the Path:

Visit http://veriditas.org/newsletters/archive/LJ-Spring2009-Updated.pdf to read the Journal.

ash wednesday labyrinth walk

Please join us at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd this Wednesday, February 25th in Tequesta, FL for a very special Ash Wednesday labyrinth walk. Immediately following the 9:30am church service of Holy Eucharist and Healing and the Imposition of Ashes, come and walk the labyrinth from 10:30am to 12:00pm.

Visit www.goodsheponline.org for more information and to obtain other worship service times that day.

(Please note that this special time replaces the regular "Third Thursdays on the Labyrinth" for this month only).

This is a wonderful opportunity to mark the beginning of the Lenten season with a time of quiet reflection and prayer. I look forward to seeing you there.....

thank you for following this blog

I sincerely appreciate your support.

If you like what you've read here, and if you want to learn more about labyrinths, please sign up to be a "follower on the path" by clicking the header on the left side of this page just below my mission statement. You will be updated of new posts to this blog when they occur as well as invited to share your comments with me.

I welcome your feedback and I would love to hear of your experience with walking labyrinths.

Thank you for sharing in my passion....

Robin

walking the labyrinth with signature healthcare

When E. Joseph Steier, III, President and CEO of Signature Healthcare, LLC invited my company, Labyrinth Wellness, LLC, to introduce the labyrinth at The 2009 Learning Congress, I couldn't have been more excited. I am a huge fan of Signature Healthcare, not only because it is also my husband's company, but particularly because of the innovative, spiritual focus of this family-oriented organization. Please visit
www.signaturehealthcarellc.com
for more information on this wonderful company.

This video, (brilliantly filmed by my creative husband!), was made as a brief introduction to walking labyrinths for the Signature Healthcare Stakeholders prior to their annual meeting. For more information on walking labyrinths, I invite you to read my article, "Walking the Labyrinth" published by devozine at
http://www.upperroom.org/devozine/2009/janfeb/health_sub.asp?item_id=620549&back=3210&week=8&issue=624845

A very special thank you in advance to Sister Kathleen Kaelin for allowing me to borrow her beautiful Eleven Circuit Medieval Chartres Cathedral style labyrinth while I am in Kentucky for this event. Thanks also to Virginia Watkins, my dear friend, of St. Paul United Methodist Church (my heart's home) for being my "Labyrinth Lifeline" in Louisville.

Remember, a labyrinth is not a maze. There are no walls, and no dead ends. There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. All are invited to experience this gentle spiritual practice.

See you on the path!