I’ve been feeling edgy and cooped up lately in large part that has to do with not connecting with nature, not going outside, not engaging my source. So when the source came knocking on my noggin this afternoon I knew to Not Pass Go and get outside and go to the Labyrinth on Lake Minnetonka.
Normally when I get the urge for walking the labyrinth I go to St. Kates but today it was Deephaven on Lake Minnetonka.
It was calm and peaceful with a background of home construction today (if you let that bother you – I didn’t).
I walked in with the question "Who do I want to be?" I asked that at every turn. When I got to the center I was probably more tense than when I started.
I was about to jut out when I got this very strong pull back into the center of the labyrinth and a message - "Take off your shoes." OK. and a question "What do you intend?" Hmm. Good question.
As I unwound from the labyrinth I stopped at every turn and stated an intention. This seemed silly at first so I made it more powerful. At each turn I repeated what I had intended before AND stated a new intention. By the fifth turn, I just knew I had to give voice to these intentions as I went round. WOAH and WOW!
I intend to be me
I intend to be happy
I intend to expand
I intend to be content with what is
I intend to engage what is green
I intend to BE a leader of my own life
I intend to feel good
I intend to listen to the world
I intend to MOVE (as in move my body – this one made me chuckle as the list got longer since I was standing still while stating this intention so instead I ended up swaying and moving my voice)
I intend to seek out Joy
I intend to lead other people
I intend to learn the names of the birds who greet me these days
I intend to follow the wind
I intend to create space
I intend to feel the pulse
I intend to travel
I intend to build a family
I intend to be clean (put only clean ideas, food, water, etc in my system)
I intend to see people as people just like myself with needs, desires, wants, and passions
I intend to TURN OFF THE TV
I intend to read more for fun
I intend to seek out people
I intend to center myself daily
I intend to use the labyrinth more frequently
I intend to share what I have learned
~ Wow what a new framework to be in!
Resources for Labyrinths
Labyrinth Society
Worldwide Labyrinth Locator
MN Outdoor Labyrinths
St. Paul’s Wisdom Ways Center aka Labyrinth at St. Kates
Inspirational Labyrinth Cards with a Pocket Labyrinth
The Sand Labyrinth : Meditation at Your Fingertips, this is a finger labyrinth which is covered with fine sand to prevent you from seeing the path and allow you to focus on the sensation in your finger and ground you in the moment. I use one before coaching. I also sell them. - $45 + shipping ($35 for clients/$40 MCA members) contact me.
Fresh, handpicked – by my own hands even – BLUEBERRIES. – I just had a bowl of cereal with my blueberries on top and reflected on my my last FREE DAY.
Fridays are my rejuvenation days. No work. No email, No phones – unless I make the call for personal use. Fridays are my FREE DAY to do what nourishes and nurtures me. So this past Friday I did what I love to do the most –
EXPLORE!
I have been wanting to pick blueberries for years. In the past I have missed the window, gone to non-pick your own places, or have been traveling. Well this year was different.
It all started while I was kicking back at Starbucks by the Galleria in Edina after my early morning Yoga class. I was sitting outside relaxed casually reading and watch people venture in an out – mostly in their morning rush. All the tables were full and I had this table with three chairs I wasn’t using.
(This is going to sound like one of those out of the box stories – well it kind of was, because I was in an out of the box place in my mind - Everyone wants to sit outside. I can choose to be resistant or responsive. (and if you don’t know what I am referring to read Leadership and Self Deception by the Arbinger Institute)
This man walk out laden with papers and briefcase and beverage and at a loss. "You are welcome to sit with me," I say to the man who seems stunned and pleased at the same time. This was a man on a mission, mailing by hand a number of packages to clients, or potential clients. I was curious about his process and who he was so I asked gentle probing questions and found out that he was a sales man of medical products – correction- redistributed products of a medical nature. Bizarre and intriguing stuff in itself. Anyway. We chat about contacts and leads and manual versus electronic organizing – mostly me asking questions and him answering. I get the impression that he can’t figure me out. He finally asks what I am doing here and share with him that this is my free day. This catches his attention but he is still a man on a mission and he’s off.
However, just before he leaves I ask him "If you were to have a free day to explore new places locally that not many people see where would you go?" His whole countenance changes. This palpable relaxation takes over and he suggests that I go to Lake City on the Mississippi. He returns to the table, opens his sachel and pulls out a map and proceeds to share with me how to get there. I thank him and he asks my name. He walks, almost floats off on his way to his appointment. Change what you thinking about and your perception of the world changes.
Thus explains the destination which called my attention to BlueBerries. FARMS are along the way. So Look up Pick Your Own blueberries in Minnesota and find this fabulous farm called Rainbow Ridge Farm about fifteen minutes S of Hastings (651) 437-7837. Their blueberries have seen only water, food and sunshine. No pesticides. You are expected and encouraged to eat and "sample" them as you go. WHAT FUN! I walked off with three pounds of fresh picked blueberries. It is a little know spot but the local families bring their kids to pick for an summer afternoon activity. Blueberries are probably one of the easiest berries to pick – no thorns and medium in height bushes. So go get-em before their gone. In the Midwest the season runs from Mid June to early August.
