Labyrinths of sand – a walking meditation
Circling inwards, eyes down, the
sweeping lines of the labyrinth guide me. Though my mind wants to make sense of
it, and plan ahead, I quieten it down. All I need is trust: follow the pattern,
go with the flow.
My feet follow the spiral path
which will lead me to the center and out again. I breathe deep: inspired.
The waves dance in and out on the
beach beside me, whispering their song as they lap on the shore. The lines of
the labyrinth ruffle the smooth beige sand, cool and damp beneath my feet. I
rest in the center. Looking out on the vast ocean, wave upon wave into infinity
– I enjoy the sense of my own smallness. The gentle breeze caresses my cheeks;
the warmth of the sun soaks through my skin. I drink in the sounds of the
seagulls wheeling overhead and my children filling buckets with sand, somewhere
far off a dog is barking. But here I am, quietly centered in the midst of the busy
world. I feel myself fully rooted in the present moment, connected to the flow
of life. For the first time all day my thoughts slow down to near stillness, I
can feel myself breathing deep into my belly. I am here.... Read more...
I wrote this piece about 9 months ago for the Rhythm of the Home book, which will sadly no longer be happening. So I thought, once I had gotten that news, that it still needed to appear in Rhythm of the Home magazine. Oh, and whilst we're talking Rhythm of the Home - they always run a giveaway when they launch a new issue - to be in with a chance to win an e-copy of my most recent book, Moods of Motherhood, be sure to enter.
The labyrinth has been getting stronger and stronger for me. It has become the central motif in my third book, The Rainbow Way to describe the creative path. And then it has just touched me again from Sue Monk Kidd's wonderful, Dance of the Dissident Daughter, which I read this week and has quickly become one of my all time favourite books, where she uses it as a symbol of a woman's journey - I adore her interpretation of the Ariadne myth.
Does the labyrinth call to you - do you find yourself drawn to walk them, draw them, do you like to make them from clay or sand? Or are they a new discovery to you? I'd love to hear your thoughts...
lovely piece Lucy, really enjoyed the magic your beach labyrinth weaved with the three children and their grandfather ... true power. Much love X
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