As one walks the labyrinth, the path becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. The way you walk the labyrinth may also reflect your life. Do you rush through it like you are rushing through your day? Do you take the time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings as you put one foot in front of the other? Each walk may be different depending on who you are with, if you are with a group, a loved one or by yourself.

Labyrinths go back thousands of years. The oldest labyrinth that was dated in existence today was carved onto a clay tablet about 4,000 years ago, and was found in Southern Greece. The original form contains seven circuits, or rings, and is called the classical or Cretan labyrinth.

Pilgrimages were made to Cathedrals such as the one in Chartes, France 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.

One suggestion as you begin your walk is to take a moment to quiet your mind as you enter. Give yourself permission to let go of all stress or concerns that are troubling you as you walk the path to the center. Once you have reached the center, take time to listen for the still small voice within or to pray. As you retrace the pattern to exit, allow yourself to imagine that you are gathering all the grace or insight that you need to deal with whatever your life holds in that moment. Once you have completed the walk, you may find it helpful to write down your reflections of your journey and how it relates to your life. Anyone who desires can walk the labyrinth. It is accessible to everyone. As a walking meditative practice, it can help center, focus, and relax. 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. Sue was fortunate to be able to bring a portable canvas labyrinth into a women’s correctional institute for many years as part of The Angel Team.

To see what a labyrinth looks like and to read an article about the labyrinth experience, please visit: http://www.synergisticcenter.com

Sue Heldenbrand BS, CHTP, CIET

Lafayette, La. 70506

337-232-4799

energyworker2003@yahoo.com

Sue became involved with Healing Touch in 1998 and received her certification as a Healing Touch practitioner in 2002.  She is also a Certified Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Trauma Release and a Quantum Touch Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Personnel Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.  She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations, as well as presenting at state conferences.  Sue has written articles on energy work for alternative and complementary newsletters. She has developed material and has been a trainer for education classes for child care providers in several cities in Louisiana since 2003.   She has been able to integrate energy- based therapies into local hospital’s operating and recovery rooms as well as providing these therapies to newborn babies at a local hospital.  As a volunteer at health fairs and cancer survivor retreats offering energy based therapies, Sue has gained experience in dealing with a variety of health challenges.  Sue is also an Instructor at Blue Cliff College and has helped conduct workshops with local hospitals and hospice for caregivers.

Training in an advanced Healing Touch technique for PTSD (“amygdala connection”) proved helpful for recovery personnel dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes as they dealt with anxiety, confusion, sleeping disturbances, undiagnosed pain and other symptoms of acute stress disorder. Trauma Release is helpful for health providers to reduce secondary stress effects of working with traumatized clients or in trauma settings like hospitals, first response settings, disasters, battle zones, etc.

Sue’s private clientele includes World War II and Iraqi war veterans, abuse victims and other individuals reporting symptoms of stress from life-threatening illnesses, chronic pain, accidents, and the death of loved ones. As a volunteer working with cancer survivors and hospital personnel, Sue has assisted individuals dealing with the trauma of their illness.

Sue has a private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

When I was a little girl, we walked to church as often as the weather permitted as a family. I can remember my mother and father taking turns carrying my sister who is five years younger than I. We all wore the handmade clothes my mother was so adept at making and I can remember being the one at the head of the line as I skipped and walked much faster than my brother who was three years younger. It was a ritual that we attended Sunday School, then the church service and then the bustling and shuffling began. I would run to find my Sunday School friends and we would all take turns having Sunday Dinner at each others’ houses. Once I decided whose house I was going to, I’d run between all the people having coffee and doughnuts to find my parents to ask permission. They always said, “yes!” It was always an exciting venture to visit someone else’s house for Sunday Dinner. Sunday Dinner was something very special back then.

Sunday Dinner was a time when the whole family sat down for a big meal after church and we would share our thoughts about church, what had happened the week before in our lives and then sometimes about what was happening in our country. Depending upon how open the family was that is. Some people kept their political beliefs to themselves then, but if you were very lucky you would get an earful of politics along with the opinions on the minister’s sermon for the week. Anytime I would get the opportunity to hear adults air their opinions on ANYTHING I was happy as a clam at high tide.

As I was listening to the Sunday morning news shows this morning, I was listening as Tom Brokaw recalled when he was a youth and anytime the President of the United States spoke to the American public, it was considered an “honor” to hear what he had to say. Sometimes in school, I can even remember the President’s speech would be televised in our classrooms for all of us to try to understand. It was the American thing to do. The President was the leader of our country and we needed to show him respect and listen to what he had to say.

So as I remembered back to the times that I thought it was so extremely extrodinary that I would be able to listen to the opinions of someone elses’ parents on religion and politics at Sunday Dinner away from home, Tom’s words also hit a chord with me in considering what the nation is talking about as one of the number one topics today – the President’s speech meant for our country’s young people. I’m a bit confused as to the rumblings that parents do not want their children exposed to the President’s speech because they don’t want their children indoctrinated by any political rhetoric the President might impose upon their children.

It’s extremely alarming to think that in this country at this time our country is so divided. Sunday Dinner was almost a comeback after September Eleventh happened to this country and people began to merge as one – an American public. People were shown together in open prayer, thus exposing the closeness of religion and politics again. It’s all very personal, but it’s all American. We live here in America because we have the freedom to choose what we want to believe in. This country is so wonderful because we get to choose and we get to talk about what we believe in as well.

It’s the honorable thing to do to listen to the President of the United States when he speaks. Our country needs to bring back the “honorable” practices it once took part in. We need to bring back Sunday Dinner when it’s special to sit down together and talk and share our opinions and ideas. Family and friends sitting together as one united force, sharing, loving each other, we need more of this today. We need to let our children listen to what we believe and what the President has to say so that they can make up their own minds to what to believe as they learn what their own belief system will be. Imagine your children being able to form their own convictions! It’s the way it needs to be in this land of freedom of choice.

Too often in the past children believed what their parents believed and never asked any questions. Just as often those children would grow up not knowing why they believed what they believed. That’s just a shame. Why do you believe in God? How horrible that someone would not be able to answer that question! Why are you a republican or a democrat? How strange it would be for an adult to say, “…because my mom and dad were republican.” We allow children to practice the ritual of voting within their schools and yet we won’t let them listen to the President speak?

I’m dumbfounded. I say, “Come and dine….” feed on the words of the President of the United States of America, feed on the words of the Savior and talk openly about what you believe because you have the right to it. Allow your children to be open and learn to make their own decisions. Allow them to digest the words of the leader of our country even if he isn’t the leader of your choice. Your children are Americans and they have the right to listen to the President of the United States of America.

Ask them and see what they say! Ask your children if they’d like to listen. Give them choices because they will have to make them throughout their lifetimes. Teach them life skills from the get go and be sure they know how to defend their beliefs. We need children to grow up to defend our country and their religious beliefs. We need to bring back things that are “honorable” as the Declaration of Independence shows us what our rights are. Let your children learn to feel independent and strong. Allow your children to experience freedom. It’s so important in their ongoing development. Just be a part of what they believe and talk to them about what they think the President was saying in his speech. Make your child feel important and ask for his or her opinion.

Send me an e-mail with your opinion or make a comment below! I’d love to hear what you have to say. Identify your emotions and feelings on this topic and let me share them with you!