Peace for your Path...

"peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." (unknown) http://www.labyrinthwellness.com

Monday, March 15, 2010

rise up....

Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land. The fig tree put forth her green figs and the vine with the tender grapes gives a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away!

From the Song of Solomon 2: 10-13

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Peace for your Path, Signature HealthCARE! Labyrinth Wellness, LLC thanks you for choosing our company for your corporate labyrinth experience. It was truly a wonderful week!



There are so many incredible people I have to thank....

My husband, Scott Hansel, who is the President of Renew Rx (a Signature HealthCARE company) is my obvious connection to this wonderful organization. Scott is my Light here on earth (and also the only individual who can correctly fold up my new labyrinth so that it fits perfectly back into its crate for travel!) Thank you, my love, for believing in me and for encouraging my ministry and my dreams.

E. Joseph Steier, III, who is the President and CEO of Signature HealthCARE, LLC, believed in me last year when he invited Labyrinth Wellness, LLC to the first annual Learning Congress 2009 (story pages 3-4) in Louisville, KY. Joe, his beautiful wife Sony and their wonderful kids have been treasured friends of ours for almost two decades now (wow, that makes me old!). As a leader, he inspires me daily with his passion and his commitment to his company and all its employees. Thank you, Joe, for your tremendous support and for your loving friendship!

Dr. Joseph Barimo, VP of Corporate Learning, has also been amazingly supportive of Labyrinth Wellness, LLC. We were so glad we could share in your birthday celebration this year, Joe! Your enthusiasm for education and growth is absolutely contagious.

Tiffany Blackwell, Executive Assistant to the President and CEO, has been (as always) invaluable to me personally and to Labyrinth Wellness, LLC in countless ways. Always graceful under the most extreme pressure, Tiffany, is the go-to person for everything "Signature" and also someone I consider a dear friend. Thank you, Tiffany! You are a treasure....

Kim Engel, Director of Spiritual Initiatives, was absolutely amazing to work with as well. Kim came up with the idea for the Zen Mediation Garden Walk which tied in just perfectly with the labyrinth programming she and I planned together. Kim invited me to creatively add some extra events this year for Signature employees which incorporated my Pilates and Physical Therapy training. This was lots of fun for me. Kim's commitment to sharing Spirituality with Signature Stakeholders through her creation of the Dove Coalition and her other innovative ideas, continues to richly add to the personal growth of each person who embraces her gentle ideas.

Holli Jones, QOL Program Manager, was wonderfully supportive in securing ballroom space for the labyrinth walk on Monday night and for reserving the beautiful Labyrinth Meditation Room which was so well utilized the rest of the week. I loved getting to visit with you, Holli, in that quiet space....

Jason Kwart drove my labyrinth and my supply crate (along with a giant van of Signature HealthCARE supplies) all the way from South Florida to Atlanta and back again. Thank you, Jason, so much, for taking care of my treasured Path! Sean O'Malley helped Scott and I pack up labyrinth supplies Monday evening and our old friend, Mark McFerron, loaned us his sturdy cart to tote them around.

To these individuals and to the rest of the fabulous 2010 Learning Congress Committee: Jeanne Boshchert, Janet Bradley, Erica Staley and Brandon Ludwig, I thank each of you so very much!

And to all the Walkers and Seekers I met this past week: I am truly blessed to have spent such quality time with you.

Peace for you Path,
Robin

my favorite cozy corner of the Labyrinth Meditation Room at the Signature HealthCARE Learning Congress 2010



As I continue to reflect today on a fabulous week, I take comfort in these warm pictures from The Atlanta Room of the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. Although outside it was snowy and cold, inside the Labyrinth Mediation Room we were content within the comfortable container of a truly sacred space....

I enjoyed sharing information about labyrinths with each Signature HealthCARE Stakeholder who stopped by in between busy meeting sessions. Many of these individuals had never seen a finger labyrinth. I was able to share informational handouts with them and they could trace finger labyrinths of all shapes and sizes if they wished to do so: wooden, metal, glass, sand, and cloth. Instrumental music, vanilla candles and books and articles about labyrinths were available at all times.

Some attendees came in just to sit and pray for a few brief moments.

I was truly blessed to meet every individual who journeyed with me on this Path.
May you all find deep healing and Peace!

Love,
Robin

comfortable chairs provide sacred space to relax by the picture window

conference attendees could read books about labyrinths or "walk" finger labyrinths

soft lighting and candles helped to create a peaceful oasis

a view from the Atlanta Labyrinth Meditation room

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

the waterfall from within


The Japanese Zen Mediation Garden of the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead was spectacular! An unexpected snowy Tuesday morning provided a rare compliment to the natural beauty of this incredible space located right in the midst of a bustling, urban area.

The third floor Garden was exquisitely silent. I was spellbound for many long moments, and I couldn't stop taking pictures. I wanted to take the gentle silence with me forever....

My heart felt pure and full and as light as the feathery snow falling on my scarf-covered head. It was freezing, but I was deeply warmed beyond all understanding.

For me, this Path simply radiated Peace.

one last look at the path

winter tree

above the waterfall

the lovely zen garden at our hotel


Each morning at 6am, I had the exciting opportunity to lead a group of walkers on a Spiritual Pilates Walk through the lovely Japanese Zen Meditation Garden. The weather was COLD, and we had to modify our programming quite a bit to accommodate this.

Still, we managed to learn how to perform the proper Pilates breath, how to locate neutral spine and walk with this maintained, how to formulate a personal breath prayer and, finally, how to use that breath prayer in our meditative walking practice. I was blessed by this programming probably the most of anyone....especially as we gathered in a circle of silent unity, holding hands in the darkness.

My heart goes out to each of my special walking friends. Thanks for getting up so early with me, dear ladies! You are all lights on the Path for me. I will never, ever forget you.

Next year, it WILL be warmer (right??)

Peace and Love,
Robin