Thursday, or Thereabouts - June 14, 2018

Feeling a bit restless, I took the furry beast out for a hike in the forest this morning. It was a lovely tromp along the dirt paths, through the long grasses, and by the streams. Truly an over the river and through the woods kind of trek, without the snow and sleigh of course, (Well I should ruddy well hope so - it is June)!

The play of light and shadow, the waft of warm and cool, the fragrance of earth and flower, all accompanied by birdsong was calming, restorative, and stimulating. In short, it was idyllic. There are few things that can't be solved by a walk in the forest.

It helps to have a beloved dog lead the way too!

©2018 April Hoeller

A to Z Challenge - L is for Labyrinth

Writing in the 4th century, Augustine penned, “all problems can be solved by a walk.”  While he may have been a tad overly optimistic, I know that in my experience, a walk settles me, gives me time for perspective, a cooler head to prevail and often opens to me a solution to what ails me.
Neither the location nor the pace seems to matter.

A stroll along the beach, a hike in the forest,

...or a power walk along the street where I live, all afford me benefits beyond just steps on my pedometer.

A dozen or so years ago, a colleague introduced me to the path of a labyrinth.

Medieval Labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral, dates from the 11th century

I was skeptical - how could walking around in circles be of any value? It took some months, more than a few walks around the winding paths before I discovered that a labyrinth walk can soothe, comfort, and for me, deepen sacred relationships. It proved to be a walking meditation that traced the journey of my life: circuitous, complex, and anything but a straight line.

In 2006 my colleague and I scribed over half a mile of pathway into the ground in the backyard of the church where we worked. It took the two of us about five full days of bone-jarring, muscle-vibrating work with a weed-whacker to etch an 11 circuit Chartres Labyrinth into the ground.

Some years later we fashioned a wall hanging for a local dance company to use in a dramatic portrayal of human spirituality. The four corner colours, represent, clockwise from the bottom left, earth, wind, fire, and water.

Also a Chartres (medieval) pattern, this wall hanging adorns the space above the fireplace in my living room. I look across to it from my kitchen and if I linger there a bit, I am able to recall the comfort and serenity that I was gifted with on so many labyrinth walks.

When I'm traveling, if I discover a labyrinth nearby, I will drop by and if the spirit moves me, take a stroll along the path.

Five Oaks Retreat Centre, Brant Ontario

Bath, England

Sometimes I can let my fingers do the walking...

San Martino Cathedral, Lucca Italy;
labyrinth dates from the 12th to 13th century

Labyrinths are good for me when I am tired of words.

Loretto Maryholme Retreat Centre, Roches Point Ontario

©2018 April Hoeller