Synergistic Healing, Lafayette, La. Labyrinth
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This 11-circuit design is a replica of the labyrinth built at Chartres Cathedral in the 13th century.  Pilgrimages were made to Cathedrals such as Chartres for those that could not make it to Jerusalem. This ancient labyrinth provided a walking meditation as part of an important spiritual practice for early Christian pilgrims.

Unlike a maze which has many twists and turns and many exit points, the labyrinth has only one path.  This path quiets the mind as the winding course is followed to the center. As one walks the labyrinth, the path becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives.  The present day labyrinths serve as a tool for spiritual exploration.  The path belongs to all cultures and all religions.  There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth.  Walk the labyrinth with an open mind and an open heart.
WALKING THE LABYRINTH

                                          The Energy Keepers:  A Circle of Loving Support

Imagine standing at the center of a labyrinth and being surrounded by healing, loving light and energy. This energy is being sent by more than 110 individuals throughout the world who are all asking that any issues you are facing – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, financial, decisional – be resolved for the highest good of all. This is the work of the Energy Keepers.

The Energy Keepers is a very dedicated and active group of volunteers within the Labyrinth Society. We offer loving support to all our members as a way to be there for each other through life's transitions, challenges and celebrations. This is a benefit of being a TLS (The Labyrinth Society) member and it includes your families and circle of loved ones.

The healing power of prayer is well documented and receiving the loving energy of 110-plus steadfast hearts and minds can have a powerful impact on any adverse situation. Requests for support and energy are made by e-mail and then distributed to the growing number of Energy Keepers who are spread out across the world. Energy Keepers are from every walk of life and are representative of all religious denominations.

These days of concentrated prayer can be very powerful and are an excellent time to expand your own circle of prayers or meditations to include those in your neighborhood or community that are in need.

The Energy Facilitators Role

“Now, more than ever before, we can tune into what is happening anywhere on the earth. We can get ‘real time’ images of disaster or images of compassion brought right into our living rooms. With this increased knowledge and awareness of world events comes a greater responsibility on our part to do something about them. We have a responsibility to co-create a brighter future—a future where love is present—where compassion flows from one to another; a future where fear and hatred are replaced by love and acceptance.

“We ourselves hold the key. Our primary task is to raise ourselves as individuals to a level where we can hold the energies of love and compassion and share these with our family, friends, and all those around us. As we do this, their energies will flow into ours and we will become stronger. Our individual sphere of influence energetically will grow and expand to encompass more individuals."

“This is part of the role of the energy facilitator. Our task at hand, and our challenge, is holding the light of increased vibrations and higher levels of love energy. Being able to hold such energies and direct them outward to others is at once a beautiful gift and a unique and powerful challenge."

“As the levels of energy available to us increase, we have a greater opportunity now to incorporate these into our lives. More and more people are becoming aware of subtle energies and their effect on our lives. This is a reflection of the growing consciousness which we are witnessing and which we are a part of.

“We are both participants in and recipients of this new energy and the new consciousness that goes with it. As we raise our consciousness and our vibration individually, we assist in the raising of the planetary vibration and in the evolution of our species. At this point in time, this is our assignment.”

“Living from the Heart: Exploring Subtle Energy in the New Millennium,”
by Mark Greenia

COMPLIED BY SUE HELDENBRAND, CHTP
(certified Healing Touch Practitioner)
Synergistic Healing
CONTACT SUE @ (337) 232-4799 or
Email:

credit: The Labyrinth Society
CLICK HERE FOR THE LABYRINTH SOCIETY WEBSITE
Louisiana Correctional Institute
for Women
St. Gabriel, Louisiana
Sue was a member of the Labyrinth Angel Team that brought the Labyrinth several times a year for the women prisoners to walk.

The Labyrinth is a walking meditation that reflects your spiritual life journey.
Labyrinth Angel Team

Group Picture of the members of the team that visited Louisiana Correctional Institute
St. Gabriel, Louisiana
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                   Labyrinths for Meditation and Reflection-guest article by Irma Haggith

On March 1st, on the Dr. Oz show, he summarized Deepak Chopra’s suggestion that if we were to meditate a minimum of 5 minutes a day, that it would improve our mind/ body connection.

Unfortunately most of us will not carve even 5 minutes a day to spend with ourselves, let alone meditate. Meditation takes practice and commitment to learn and do. This is where Labyrinths come in.

What is a Labyrinth, is it a Maze? This is a common misconception. The multicursal path of a Maze is full of blind alleys, dead ends and wrong turns. You have to use your left brain, or logical mind to problem solve your way in, and out. Labyrinths on the other hand are a unicursal path, with a clearly defined centre. Labyrinths provide us space to solve problems, instead of being a problem to solve. To walk a Labyrinth is to walk your life, and to walk in meditation.

Feet are what are usually used to walk the many left and right turns of the Labyrinth. But, there are also portable boards with the same designs carved into them, for you to trace or finger walk with your hands. The one that I favour is the left and right handed mirror image of a Classic or 7 circuit Labyrinth. The mirror image allows you to use both your right and left hand at the same time to trace the paths. This use of the dominant and non dominant hands, at the same time actually helps to balance the left and right brain. This puts the user into a somewhat meditative state, allowing them to feel calmer; more grounded, and be able to pay attention with greater ease. This double board appeals to people for relief from stress or anxiety. So, in 5 minutes or less, your fingers can walk their way to peace, calm and focus.

The most famous Labyrinth is in Chartres France and is about 50 feet across with 11 circuits of right and left turns. Pilgrims would come and walk the path on their knees in penance for their sins. Today Labyrinths are enjoying a rebirth into a modern age. No longer are they looked upon as merely spiritual or religious tools. Today we can look at Labyrinths as tools for healing and personal transformation. A Labyrinth is a metaphor for your life and how you live it. This is why they are used by coaches,  counsellors, Hypnotherapists, in schools, hospitals, and retirement homes.

Whether walking a Labyrinth with your feet or your hands, your life and what you are experiencing at the time, will be reflected back to you. Being aware and understanding this, makes it an extremely useful personal reflective tool.

So find a Labyrinth near you and walk it today. Reflect on your life and where you are, or where you want to be. Put one step in front of the other and follow the path. Set an intention before your walk. Be aware as you navigate the turns. In the centre, stop and enjoy the stillness. When you walk back out, it is as if you are returning to the surface. Take a breath, acknowledge and be in gratitude for the gifts, or insights you received along the way. At the exit, take a moment and honour the Labyrinth for your journey. Keep a journal close by and jot down your thoughts, feelings, and ideas while they are still fresh in your mind. Enjoy your journey.

Copied with permission
Irma Haggith©, March 1, 2010
A Maze Your Mind Labyrinth Solutions 

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Website: www.amazeyourmindlabyrinths.com
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SYNERGISTIC  HEALING
Sign up for Sue's Mind, Body Self Care Strategies and learn more about self care and the labyrinth.  Labyrinth Walk included. Lafayette, La. CLICK HERE to see photos of
Labyrinth Walk during workshops