Our first meeting
in January 2008 stemmed from a desire for connection to bring the circle together
and form support, knowledge, research, and to share the stories and concerns of
individuals who are inspired by the amazing tool of the labyrinth. We use it in
our lives to enrich and grow, we use it for others to share the magic and the
mystery and in all we use it in the many ways that bring us all back to the heart.
Some
of us are members of the Labyrinth Society, some trained by Veriditas to facilitate
the labyrinth experience, and some are simply interested and enthusiastic to share
and know more about this spiritual device. Together we begin the circle of the
heartland to experience together even more.
Our
first meeting yielded a name, a purpose, sharing and networking as well as a wonderful
walk sponsored by Ellen Bintz Meuch and Ellen Sheaffer at the Gary Methodist Church
in Wheaton, IL.
Our second meeting
in April 2008 allowed us to take a look at our next steps as a group and how we
might go about furthering our purpose. Here's our Top Ten List:
1.
Listing labyrinths in the Heartland area: Lynda has begun a
listing of the Illinois labyrinths forming stories and pictures from visits. If
you are interested bring materials to meetings and work on this over email together
2.
Keeping in touch/sharing labyrinth events - Use website to
list, send invites to everyone on our list if it is an open event
3.
Honoring our unique abilities: Creating the HLC directory will
give us a start. Simply fill a page of who and what you offer
4.
Providing support for Certification
Create an availability
list of those who have attended
the Veriditas training and are willing to evaluate
new facilitators seeking certification.
5.
Sharing best practices
Getting a bulletin board on the
website or a journal of best practices to be facilitated by one member
6.
Educational/spiritual gathering for members to Create a retreat
intensive that is directed to our group
7.
Hosting TLS Gatherings
Preparing ourselves
by first hosting our own intensive. Hosting the DreamQuest. Create a planning
group that has attended TLS, Veriditas groups, other areas such as Midwest Gathering
8.
Bridging the Gap
Sharing the best practices, creating
an intensive, creating an HLC directory, sharing
9.
Experiencing other labyrinths
By
creating a directory of existing labyrinths such as listed in #1, as part of an
intensive experience, by providing support for others in certification process,
hosting our group meeting, creating a day trip
10.
Building community
It occurs that we must first build
our community and use the resources we develop from it to build others and support
others in their individual communities
