Inside Awareness Center for Integrative Somatic Learning

Drawing a West Coast Sand Labyrinth

Posted on August 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP @ Inside Awareness

Walking through a sand labyrinth for the first time may bring you an unexpected quality that could increase your experience of joy and renew your romance with life along our coastlines.

After drawing and creatively decorating a sand labyrinth it will be time to simply enter the walk. Walking the labyrinth pathway, your attention may be drawn inward, increasing your focus on what’s in front of you. This is when you may begin to notice the simple beauties of beach life that sometimes gets lost in the vastness of the bigger view. For example, tiny bird footprints, a shell embedded in the sand and seaweed sitting softly on top.

These bits of life may jump deeper into awareness in this type of meditative walk creating a deeper sense of expanded connection to your senses in some way.

If you are planning a beach event or simply find yourself with time at the beach, consider this an opportunity to deepen your connection with our coastal life.

Read more on drawing a sand labyrinth:

Recommended:

Like Greater Victoria Labyrinth & Events on Facebook – Not for Profit
Greater Victoria Labyrinths – Not for profit

Copyright 2014 – 2026 Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,

Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

Find “inner artist” drawing a sand labyrinth

Posted on August 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP @ Inside Awareness

Once your labyrinth is drawn, take a few moments to engage in exploring the beach you are on for interesting pieces to place around the outside of the outer ring of your sand labyrinth. You may find some treasure in the small pieces of wood that have become rounded and can be placed along to match the rounded edges of your outer ring.

Remembering all the while she will reclaim the wood and sand and leave it as tho never played with fresh a canvas for the next beach visitor!

Choosing the wood pieces and placing a round the outer ring became part of the meditation in this walk

You may even find some interesting pieces that can up along the outer ring. If you are at the beach for the day you may want to dig in larger pieces of wood to create more of a sculpture around parts of the outside.

Read more on drawing a sand labyrinth:

Draw a labyrinth in the sand in 8 easy steps!

Posted on August 19, 2012 | 2 comments

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP @ Inside Awareness, Living in Natures Love Blog & Renee Lindstrom Live

8 Steps for drawing a labyrinth in the sand:

1. Draw a cross in the center.
2. In each corner of the crosses quadrants draw two sides of a square shape.
3. In the missing corner of each of the four boxes plant a tree.
4. Working left to right from the first line of the cross draw an arch from the the top of this line over to the first line of two-sided square. This will be the center of the labyrinth when you walk into it therefore, you can be creative depending on your walking motivation. In this one I used a heart.

Drawing a sand labyrinth – You can see the original center cross

5. Continue working left to right and arch the left side of two-sided box line over to the tree you planted earlier on the right side.
6. Working left to right arch from the tree you planted on the left side to the second line of the two-sided box.
7. Continue left to right arching lines as you join up the two sides, remembering the right side is always one lower in the pattern.

8. Your last left point will arch around and close the labyrinth leaving one opening on the left side of the first line of the cross you began with.

Here you have it! One beautiful moment in time to enjoy at the beach the next time you find yourself on a sand bar.

Walking on our completed sand labyrinth.

Read more on drawing a sand labyrinth:

Recommended:

Greater Victoria Labyrinths – Not for profit

Like Greater Victoria Labyrinth & Events on Facebook – Not for Profit

Copyright 2014 – 2026 Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,

Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

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Posted in Drawing in Sand

Tagged #yyjLabyrinths, Activity for balancing right & left brain hemispheres, Beach Activity, Chakra Activity, Drawing a Labyrinth, Drawing a Sand Labyrinth, Drawing Sand Labyrinth, Labyrinth, Somatic Experience with a Labyrinth, Walking a Labyrinth

10 Steps to Empathy!

Posted on August 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

getting InTouch with Inside Awareness Center for Integrative Somatic Learning

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Personal Steps to Empathy

Techniques transforming “doing” into “being” with others and self

Pause take a breath and make a choice to either “be” in empathy by simply being a reflection back to the speaker, or to “do” conversation. (This is being attached to what you are thinking as the other person is sharing.) Making a choice may give you conscious recognition of how you are listening to the speaker throughout the sharing.
If you choose to “be” in empathy remind yourself that responding to an urge to tell them something is not empathic listening. This is not going to be “about what you think.” It is about “hearing what is going on for the speaker” and being present to mirror back what you are hearing from them.
Notice your posture and placement of your feet. If you are sitting, bring your feet flat to the floor directly under your knees hip width apart. If standing, notice if your legs are hip width apart and bring your attention to your feet for a moment. How are you sensing them? Simply shift your weight first from one foot to another a few times and notice if you begin to feel more sensation. Shift your weight forward and back a few times and then notice the sensations.
Now take your focus of attention from your forehead area back into your head towards the centre of your brain. Consciously bring it down to the centre of your torso behind your sternum. Notice when your attention strays away from this area and bring yourself back. Notice the sensations.
Separate your teeth. Let your lower jaw hang down ever so slightly separating your upper and lower sets of teeth and place your tongue on the floor of your mouth, if you can, letting it’s weight remind you to keep your lower jaw soft.
Begin to practice softening your eyes while making gentle eye contact.
Practice keeping your attention in the area between your lungs and hearing what the speaker is saying. Notice if the quality of how you are receiving their words is calmer and more reflective.
If you use “words,” begin by matching the energy of the person speaking and only reflect back what they are saying. Trying to use as many of their words as possible. Pay attention to their response and notice if they are becoming softer and calmer.
If you choose to name what you are sensing their feelings and needs to be, pay attention to their response. If they are shifting away from being soft and receptive switch back into simple reflection. Drop your attachment to naming the feelings and needs. If they stay receptive to hearing you name the feelings and needs, pay attention to where your focus has shifted to. Are you still able to stay with your attention in your chest area or has it shifted to the front part of forehead area? If your focus is in your forehead it is no longer empathic listening and you have shifted into it being about you.
When you feel that they have become quiet, check to see if there is something more they want to share or ask them if they have something they are wanting from you, of themselves or from someone else in this moment.

REMEMBER EMPATHIC LISTENING IS:

A flow of energy described as compassionate between you and another. Being present and having contentment in the moment. Having no experience of being in agreement or disagreement with what you’re hearing.

Renee Lindstrom, GCFP – renee@insideawareness.com

Download PDF – Personal Empathic Connection Steps

Hands Across the (Tar) Sands – Press Released today!

Posted on July 23, 2012 | 1 comment

HANDS ACROSS THE (tar) SAND(S)

Contact: Renee Lindstrom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: 250-361-7508
Email: renee@insideawareness.com

Hands Across the Sand – Willows Beach on August 4th!

Victoria, BC – local residents Renee Lindstrom and Zia Cole have announced their plans for the 3rd annual Hands Across the Sand event on Saturday, August 4th, but this year founder Dave Rauschkolb has nicknamed the event “Hands Across the Tar Sands.” Everyone is invited to gather at Willows Beach at 11 a.m. At 12 noon, participants will form a line in the sand and join hands for 15 minutes.

People will be lining up at hands at Hands Across the Sand events all over the world on August 4th to support clean energy solutions. “This isn’t your typical social activism event,” says Lindstrom. “It’s a coming together of different traditions for a common purpose, recognizing the longing of humanity to deepen our connections while caring for our oceans, coastlines, and marine life.”

Rauschkolb founded the movement in Florida in 2010 as a response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and it quickly caught on. On June 26, 2010, more than 1000 events were held in 43 countries worldwide. In Victoria, over 400 people showed up at Willows Beach to join hands, forming a line that stretched from one end of the beach to the other.

“This year,” says Cole, “Rauschkolb is asking Canadians to stand together against the ever-expanding Tar Sands. Air and water pollution, habitat and species destruction are all direct results of these operations in northern Alberta that affect us all. It’s absolutely vital that we make the shift from toxic to clean, renewable energy sources right now – and this event is a positive step in that direction!”
The aim of Hands Across the Sand is simple: joining hands sends a powerful visual message of solidarity to world leaders. People are unified in the defense of the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the food they consume from dirty energy sources. Joining hands in this way means supporting clean energy solutions.
“People are invited to join our Facebook Page by searching ‘Hands Across the Sands – Victoria, BC’,” says Lindstrom, “and if anyone is interested in helping us promote this event, please feel free to get in touch.”

“In 2010, there were 400 of us at Willows Beach,” adds Cole. “This year, let’s make it a thousand!”

For more information on the global event, visit: www.handsacrossthesand.com.

-END-

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Tagged Clean Energy, Dave Rauschkolb, Florida, Hands Across the Sands - Willows Beach, Hands Across the Tar Sands, Renee Lindstrom, Zia Cole