Have you noticed that in the last year or two that your life has had a large amount of chaos and confusion? The last two years have seen my stress levels climb to the highest levels in all my years. The job of dealing with day to day problems has been intensified by many astrological aspects but mostly I think it is just the pressure of day to day living. Let’s face it; the price of everything is climbing and the need to achieve is a fact of life in this day and time. If you’re breathing, you’re probably stressed.
Stress manifests itself in many ways and as an empath I have been picking up the bunched muscles in the neck and back, the inability to focus, and the drop in the ability to keep immune systems up and running. I’m aware of these symptoms everywhere I go, not just during my readings. This was brought home to me in a strange way (I just love the strange, mystical things that happen in my life) several weeks back. I noticed that my house was suddenly quiet. No television murmuring in the background, no radio, no visitors; I was alone. I crave being alone. This is the time that I sit quietly and try to slow my whirling brain and bring myself a little peace through meditation. I couldn’t do it. I tried mantras, deep breathing and even tried Tai Chi but I could not reach the calm place that I needed to find. At that moment I was closer to panic than I have been in many years and I didn’t like it at all.
Well, I thought to myself, if I can’t make my brain be still I’ll just use that state of mind to do a little research and see if I could come up with some useful information
I found many articles stating that stress levels are at an all time high. All the articles were written by medical professionals and confirmed that my observations were correct. Stress is at an all time high. These professionals primarily recommended exercise to combat the chaos. Of course they all mentioned relaxation techniques and meditation. According to one article written about a study at a large university in the Pacific Northwest, meditation is in the lead (by 20%) to enable you to relax and manage the anxiety that keeps popping up nowadays. I’ve tried all the recommended ways and have found that they all work to a degree but each one takes, above all, time. Time to carve out 30 minutes a day to exercise, time to learn relaxation techniques and time to learn the best mediation for your life problems. Most of these also include a layout of a nice chunk of money. Really good shoes for exercise, money for classes, instructional video tapes, yoga mats, whatever. Frustration began to creep in to keep my stress from getting lonely.
Then my old friend, synchronicity, came by to visit. I ran across my little labyrinth. Labyrinths differ from mazes because there are no obstacles to figure out. Labyrinths are, in theory and philosophically, a productive, though ancient way to find answers to challenges and issues. Tracing the labyrinthine path also helps to quickly find that place of serenity that meditation helps you to achieve. I am having a problem quieting my mind to the point where I can meditate and have found that the labyrinth helps me achieve that state quickly and easily.
My labyrinth is a Cretan Classic labyrinth. It is a disc about 3 inches wide. It’s cast in pewter with a raised circuitous path that one traces with a stylus. There are also labyrinths that are about 4 inches wide that allows you to trace the path with your finger. I have also found a pewter labyrinth that is cast in the Chartres pattern, a more intricate path than the Cretan but interesting. I use both labyrinths depending on what I feel I need at the time. The Cretan circuit calms and makes focusing extremely easy, the Chartres on the other hand, seems to heighten creative energies while allowing a relaxed frame of mind. I can feel interaction between the left and right sides of my brain while using the Chartres labyrinth.
I have given labyrinths to several people to test drive, so to speak. Five experienced in meditative techniques and five who have wanted to meditate but never seemed able to reach the stillness that is so treasured. All ten people stated that they were more relaxed, less anxious and less stressed. One participant, a student working on her Master’s course at the local university, swears that she increased her grade average from a C to a B+ in three weeks by using the labyrinth before class and before she began studying.
I had been searching for these particular labyrinths for several months. I decided to use the labyrinth and focus on finding the exact type that I had been given. Thirty minutes later I was talking to the creator of these labyrinths. Luck? Coincidence? Universal Assistance? Either way, I am very happy to be able to announce that I now am able to offer the 3-inch Cretan labyrinth with stylus and velvet storage bag (cost is $20.00 plus shipping and handling), the 3-inch Chartres labyrinth with stylus and velvet storage bag ($20.00 plus shipping and handling) and the 4-inch Cretan labyrinth with velvet storage bag ($25.00 plus shipping and handling) to my readers. The 4-inch is so perfectly cast that it is possible to use your finger to trace the path.
The storage bag may vary in color.
All these labyrinths are easily portable and virtually indestructible, as my grandchildren can attest. My website is currently undergoing a much needed upgrade, so when you are ready to order go to my website and click on Contact Jerre and email your request. I will answer ASAP with total price and shipping date and of course, answer any questions you may have about the labyrinths.
I hope to have a 4-inch Chartres labyrinth available within two weeks. Check out the photos below to see which of these wonderful little labyrinths.
From left to right: Chartres 3in; Cretan 3in; Cretan 4.5in