Peacefulness

 For example–the quality of Peacefulness:

Practicing inner calm that can come from a sense of gratitude,
we speak and act in non-violent ways.
Pursuing peaceful solutions to conflict,
we respect and promote justice in relationships.

Dhyana Raynor, interviewed by Al Rider

Al:  Dhyana, tell us about yourself.  

Dhyana: I design labyrinths, create them, and bless them.  As a facilitator I introduce them to others, then step out of the way and just let the labyrinth take over and do its work.  Amazing things happen.

Al: How did you get started?

Dhyana: About 20 years ago I came to a time of crisis in my life.  Out under the stars at Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Colorado, I threw my arms up and said a prayer: “God, I’ve done life my way. Now I want to do it your way, but I don’t know what that looks like. Surprise me!”

As a fine wine sales person for 20 years, I travelled a good bit; so on a trip to California wine country, I stopped at Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill in San Francisco.  There I walked my first labyrinth, and was hooked.  I had an “energy vortex” experience at that spot, a moment of holiness, power, and peace.I was walking an outdoor labyrinth one day at Waycross, a retreat center here in Indiana.  I reached the exact center and folded down into yoga position.  The sky was ominous and in the surrounding hills, the rumbling of thunder.  It looked like rain would let loose at any minute, but I didn’t care.  As I was coming up, slowly raising my head, one tiny drop of rain struck me right at the center of my forehead.  One drop, that’s all…!

That one drop changed my life, brought it all together.  For me it was a baptism of connection.  It was a miracle, a blessing.  I said out loud, “I hear you, I am yours.”  It was my coming-home moment, and it happened for me in a labyrinth.  That’s now a labyrinth that I serve as a volunteer.  I weed and mow it today.

Lauren Artress, then a priest at Grace Cathedral, is the “mother” of the labyrinth movement through her organization “Veriditas” (www.veriditas.org) at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, CA.  Her book is Walking a Sacred Path: Discovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice.  Spiritual connection was new to me, so I applied for her class as a “seeker.”  I knew that I needed to become a facilitator.  I wanted to help spread the word.

For me, walking the labyrinth is like communion, like a sacrament.  Walking the labyrinth periodically is like a sacred journey, a pilgrimage, a step of intention that brings a person’s heart and mind toward receiving whatever blessing is in store for us next.  The mystery of Spirit comes when I walk the labyrinth periodically, it’s new every time.  I stand at the entrance of the path with an intention, but without knowing what lies waiting for me along the way.  I open myself to receive, and I take what comes each time as sacred, as holy.

Al: Dhyana: Does this fit with Sage-ing for you?

Dhyana: Oh yes.  On my 60^th birthday, my mentor gave me From Age-ing to Sage-ing, one of the most important books I’ve ever read.  In Reb Zalman I found inspiration to continue to live fully, and there’s hardly a page that’s not underlined, starred, commented on, or exclamation-ed!  After being a part of the Indianapolis Wisdom Circle for this past year, I feel and now know Sage-ing’s value and want to be a part of the movement more fully.

Al: What’s your growing edge now…?

Dhyana: I design and paint portable labyrinths on canvas and vinyl, and large-scale outdoor installations, too.  And I want to do more focused labyrinth workshops.  I want to share it.  I’m thinking I might write up workshops, articles, even a book perhaps, with themes for integrating the labyrinth into the spiritual life…

Al: Dhyana, thank you!  You are a blessing to us, as you have been blessed yourself.