Heidi’s Happiness
Maybe happiness is this: not feeling like you should be elsewhere,
doing something else, being someone else.
Isaac Asimov
I attended a retreat at the Mother’s Healing Garden located in Dell Rapids at the north side of the cemetery. You ask, cemetery? Yes, enter into the cemetery, drive past the grave stones to healing. The Mother’s Healing Garden is a very special place that is infused with healing energy. In the garden is located a labyrinth. This was the focus of the retreat. It was facilitated by Twylla Alexander who wrote a book on Labyrinths.
Gathered on this beautiful Saturday were fifteen women at different stages of life. Some came from as far away as Spain and Africa that were visiting a friend from Watertown. The mixture of souls was set for a day of richness.
During the retreat Twylla helped explain the labyrinth and how long the known existence of it has been. Do you realize there were civilizations all over the world building labyrinths but they didn’t have a way to communicate with each other? I believe there is a Divine connection and reason people are drawn to walk them.
During the morning labyrinth walk, Twylla held space for each of us. This is a very special moment to have done for another. I hold space for people when I conduct workshops, it is a feeling of safety, peace and calming. All of us walked the labyrinth during this time, separated by Twylla’s direction of when to have the next person start.
I found myself holding onto the stone that was part of my gift bag. It said “Trust”. My intention for the day was to be “Open”. Walking inward I found tears being released out and the message was, release, let go, these things that are tears, they are thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories, beliefs that are no longer to be a part of you. I was creating more space by releasing.
When I reached the middle, my friend Jeannie (one of the co-founders of the Mother’s Healing Garden) was there and I found myself crying more, releasing more, I hugged her. Her inner strength is beyond what I can imagine and I simply leaned into her. Trusting she was there at that moment for a reason.
As I was walking out, I was reminded that not only am I making space, I was allowing what is already inside me to expand even further. I felt my spirituality, my understanding of the Divine, of my purpose deepen to a richness I’ve not experienced before. I am open and I am allowing.
As I reached the opening of the labyrinth, I was greeted by Carol, (the other co-founder of the Mother’s Healing Garden) and I hugged her, hard. She too has a strength that is beyond my comprehension and I felt so deeply grateful to have these two women in my life.
In the afternoon, I walked the labyrinth again. This time, on my own. There were others that were walking also. One person in particular, JoAnn (a beautiful soul) who was wearing a bright yellow top and shoes that reminded me of my mother, was walking out of the labyrinth as I was walking in. We passed each other three times. I walked with my eyes downcast and meditative. The first two times we passed, I sensed my mother with me. It was like she was walking also, and as we passed it was like she was saying hello, I love you, all is well. The third time we met, JoAnn stepped to the side and the feeling of my mother saying to me, it’s time for me to leave, for now, you’ve got this, you’ve got the strength, do not be afraid. I cried, tears of sadness and yet, tears of joy.
I’ve walked the labyrinth numerous times over the years. I’ve never had these kinds of experiences before. It was truly a spiritually divine day.
What kinds of ways can you enrich your life? What are things you can let go of to make space for the richness of life that is just waiting to grow and expand within you? You may just be surprised of the answers waiting for you!
