This month Renee Lindstrom, of Inside, was invited to present and feature the topic of ‘contemplation practice’ at the Church of Truth in Victoria, B.C. She decided to explore two maps of consciousness for learning and growth in one’s inner and outer worlds. These two maps of consciousness are the *Labyrinth and the *Medicine Wheel. The month began with sharing a labyrinth walk by candlelight in a local Victoria park on the eve of the anniversary of Gandhi’s birthday, October 1st. This date is also recognized internationally as the “Day of Nonviolence.”
The community group hosting these events, The Church of Truth, had shared weekly evening walks on this labyrinth all summer. By doing so they have begun to develop a heart-felt connection to the land and deepened this among themselves. They shared their own wisdom, healing and conscious awareness techniques throughout the summer while walking this ancient pathway.
The evening focus of October 1st was to open the month as a “gateway” to explore a personal deepening awareness while experiencing *sacred space. The purpose was to experience this ancient pathway and it’s sacredness and in doing so, integrate the inner body wisdom this map reflects. Each workshop this month will continue to be a multi-layered learning experience for deepening one’s connection to inner wisdom. Each workshop has its own learning benefits and can be experienced separately or together.
A planetary need is for all human kind to connect to and grasp a “point of consciousness” in our daily practice. A point of consciousness that is our recognition and understanding of the full circle of life, that which has all things.”
A learning point that Renee introduced Oct 1st was this circle with a cross in the center. The cross represents the four directions. This circle in the drawing below was drawn to represent the Map of the Medicine Wheel. Yet on October 1st it was introduced as the Map of Body Balance. Yes the body has four directions: north, south, east and west. It is circular and is three-dimensional, not two. The invisible lines of the cross in the body represent balance from side to side and front to back.
Explore your balance! Stand with your feet together. Shift your weight from side to side a few times. Shift your weight forward and back a few times. Each time you shift your weight you are crossing your center (plum) line. Each time you take a step in walking you are crossing both lines) Imagine walking a map that represents this inherent body pattern?
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*Labyrinth: The Labyrinth was adopted by North and South American from the European Continents.
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*Medicine Wheel: The Medicine Wheel has been adopted here along the West Coast of B.C. from the Plains of North America.
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*Scared Space: Sacred space is an experience created by one’s inner connection that is reflected in one’s outer nature and the their environment. It is the ability to experience a particular connection to; oneself, what is above, what is below and around oneself in the landscape. This connection includes reverence and honor. It represents balance within oneself of the physical (north, south, east & west), mental (masculine), emotional (feminine) and belief systems (values, devotion).
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Renee Lindstrom spent the 90’s exploring and training in the arts of sacred space and landscape. In the mid-nineties she had her own consulting and teaching practice that included creating sacred space in environments (indoors & outdoors) and in relationships with oneself. This was in part the incentive to delve deeper into human nature (Feldenkrais Method Training & Language of Compassion.
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Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement since 2000, Labyrinths of Victoria since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Grassroots Calendar Founder, Vice-Chair of World Children’s Summit on Peace & Nature in 2015
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Recently I enjoyed viewing a “Coles Notes” explanation of the a Medicine Wheel from a fellow Canadian in Alberta. This Elder was connecting with a troubled youth through the act of walking. There was not a direct focus on any issues. I observed through their discussion that the Elder was very aware of this youth and their needs through their behavior and unspoken expression. Rather than being direct and telling the youth anything, it was through guidance and modelling. The Elder began sharing the concept of the Medicine Wheel and encouraged the youth to walk, enter and stop in the center. The explanation of the Medicine Wheel was subtle and included the four directions, north, south, east and west. There was also mention of the balance of the four aspects of self for connecting to ones center. 
Inside Awareness Center for Integrative Somatic Learning 