“Hard times arouse an instinctive desire for authenticity.”
—Coco Chanel
It’s the Global Healing Response’s 20th Anniversary! As a labyrinth community we have been responding to disasters, emergencies and holding intentions for two decades. That is just amazing to me. The science of collective healing and the power of intentions has come a long way in those years. But we always knew—Never underestimate the power of unified energy and the labyrinth!
This year our theme is Authenticity. As I have researched this during the “bubbling up” phase of deciding on the annual theme I learned so much and could feel the need for the world to be grounded and authentic. This is going to be a great year. During the second quarter we will focus on Grit and then we will look at Honesty and Integrity.
This quarter we will hold on to the groundedness we found last quarter with GRIT. As we look inward, the words determination, passion, perseverance, come to mind. And as I consider our world I think of clarity, knowing what is right and wrong and rootedness play out. I love what John Ortberg said about grit, “Over time, grit is what separates fruitful lives from aimlessness.”
I hope you can take a few minutes to listen to the podcast episode Clive Johnson and I did on Authenticity the first week of January. You can find it here: Impact!: Embracing Authenticity
Focus: Grit
Quote: “Over time, grit is what separates fruitful lives from aimlessness.” — John Ortberg
Picture/Symbol: Flower growing from a rock
Prayer/Meditation:
I step forward with a heart that is determined,
a spirit that refuses to give up,
and hands that will continue to work until the end.
I ask not for an easy path,
but for the strength to walk through every storm,
for the wisdom to find my way when the road is unclear,
and for the courage to keep moving forward,
even when the weight is heavy.
May I have the grit to rise each time I fall,
the patience to endure,
and the unwavering faith that I can persevere,
even in the darkest moments.
Help me to remember that with every trial,
I am being refined,
and that my struggles will not be in vain.
Grant me the endurance to keep walking,
not because the journey is simple,
but because I know I am never alone.
Ideas for benefiting organization: Malala Fund- https://malala.org
The Mala Fund advocates for girls’ education, especially in regions where access to education is limited.
It is Inspired by Malala Yousafzai’s personal survival after being attacked for pursuing her education, the organization fights for education rights in politically challenging environments.
Ideas for ambiance: Natural beeswax candles in concrete or iron holders for a grounded, organic feel.
Music: Ólafur Arnalds – “Saman” A tranquil blend of strings and piano with underlying resilience.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=XmHs_sMDueA&si=64PJMY9Ap0wlA3J4
Earth Day is April 22, 2025 World Labyrinth Day is May 3, 2025
A PDF version of these materials can be found here.