New World Fair- Drumming, Stone Balancing, Zen Garden & Labyrinth

This weekend, while I was feeling under the weather with a bad cold, the thought of staying home on a steamy hot day, just didn't sound very comforting or inspiring.

Who would think a long commute to the Pasadena Convention Center would be such an uplifiting experience when battling a sore throat, coughing, sneezing and lethargy?

I knew I was in the right place when I saw the Walking Labyrinth. Putting one foot in front of the other, I felt more calm, content and had a little more hootzpa. I love this form of mediation because the path is clear - there are no dead-ends or tricky, misleading turns. Sure the path winds back and forth and around, but if you pay attention, it is easy.

This lead me to the Zen Sand Tray. I've been familiar with the concept but not with the actual symbolism behind it. The patterns you create can help you understand more about yourself and your relationship to others. For example, rocks can represent land formations while sand may represent water. Or you are free to attach other meaning - choosing rocks to be representative of friends and family. The rake patterns are like water ripples affecting everything in its wake - showing an interconnectedness betweeen all things. It is said that the sand tray will quiet your mind. I found that I was drawn to raking a completely new pattern, erasing all before me - and although it may sound like I wasn't playing nicely in the sandbox, I felt calm knowing that life is about change - nothing stays that same - and soon the next person would rearrange my design just like waves over a sand castle. To me, that is the beauty of the Sand Tray.

The next type of meditation was Stone Balancing. I always admired stone stacking monuments in Hawaii but never knew what they meant. At the Fair, it was said that stone balancing teaches "spiritual qualities and the process itself is a metaphor for the way we live our lives...discover more about what balance is and how to achieve it." For me, I was drawn to selecting 6 large rocks and placing them front and center on the table. The rocks were not perfectly snug in their arrangement and there was a little wiggle when pushed on either side but still they stood strong. For me, this represented my family. I chose the big rocks because we are big people. I chose 6 because there are 6 members. It suprised me a little later on when I thought more about it, since my father passed away awhile ago. Without even thinking, he is still here and still very much alive in my mind. This was a very good exercise for me.

The next experience for me was a drumming circle. Boy was that FUN! There is a lot of joy in this acitivity and it sure gets any negative emotions out as you pound the drum. Soon there is only positive energy and a lot of smiling and laughing. I found I was a little timid at first but by the end, had lost my inhibitions and felt very happy.

This lead me to listening to the reggae band before heading home. I had a wonderful day - flopped on the bed, exhausted from stretching my physical limits with the cold/flu and feeling very gratified.

I'm always interested to hear comments from readers - and if any of you have thoughts or experiences regarding these various types of meditation, please feel free to write a comment.

The Labyrinth - A Walking Meditation in Palos Verdes

Today I had the pleasure of introducing a meditation practice to a new friend. The "walking labyrinth" is a spiritual took used for meditation, prayer, and personal reflection. My favorite labyrinth is located on the grounds of the The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes. Imagine Spanish style church grounds replete with wrought iron fences, manicured gardens, fountains, a walking bridge, and the most amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and California Coast line. There is plenty of inspiration to draw upon, plenty of benches to sit quietly and reflect. On a day filled with sunshine, a light breeze and the sound of crashing waves, this active form of mediation can be a refreshing practice for body and soul.

A Catholic writer describes their spiritual significance in this way: "The labyrinth is a universal symbol for the world, with its complications and difficulties, which we experience on our journey through life." The labyrinth is an ancient practice in which there is only one path leading to the center. (Not to be confused with a maze which has many paths meant to confuse and confound.)

How does one walk the labyrinth? It's as easy as putting one in front of the other and following the path. Walking paces vary. There's no worry of doing it incorrectly. Sometimes the practice clears the head, provides a way to unwind or to reflect on intentions or seek a solution to a problem. When you enter the labyrinth, you begin to meander back and forth creating literally creating shifts in views and figuratively in perspectives. In reaching the center, it is typical to stop to pray or linger to think quietly. When leaving the center, and returning to the beginning, you usually feel lighter.

Amazingly, the labyrinth is an old practice which spans many cultures and regions and some references date back thousands of years ago. Labryinth images have been found on rocks and tiles, on pottery and baskets, and in Medieval churches. The medicine wheel in Hopi culture used the labyrinth as a symbol for “mother earth”.

I was introducted to the labyrinth almost 10 years ago and find it to be a very calming, mind-clearing and rewarding practice. I was very pleased to introduce this form of mediation to a new friend.

On a humorous note - we had walked down to a lower balcony and continued our meditation practice past dusk and into early evening. We realized all too late church gates had been locked. Thank goodness we successfully scaled the church fence and laughed at our circumstance.