Sunday, January 6, 2013

Stitched: Labyrinth

Hello again! It's only been a couple weeks since solstice but already the lengthening day light is noticeable. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I also feel the return of energy, ideas, enthusiasm. I have much going on to start the year, but I will get to that in another post. First I want to share my first embroidery of 2013. When I looked back on last year, I realized that energy spent on planning and stitching in thread was a good use of energy, indeed. I want to place more focus there. Since it's been a while, I decided to start with something small.


A labyrinth is not a maze; it contains no decision points. One path in, one path out. 2012 was hard, and I didn't have a choice about most of it. There was no, "Shall I take this path, or that one?" Most of the year was just the one path, and at times it felt rather thickety and brambly. Many days, I walked that path with grace. And many days, I did not.


So I stitched myself a labyrinth, this first week of a new year, to remind myself that even when I don't have a choice of which path to walk, to walk the path with grace and mindfulness nonetheless. And I share it with you. As our planet continues on its annual path--bringing those of us in the northern hemisphere incrementally more sunlight as it goes--we have another year to traverse. Our own path to follow, and while we don't always get to choose which path, we always get to choose how we walk it.

Welcome. Welcome to 2013. Step in, and step mindfully.

6 comments:

Karen Isaacson said...

well said, wise woman.

Donna Lee said...

I love that. "We may not be able to choose the path we must walk, but we can choose how we walk it". I'm going to put that up on the wall in front of my desk.

I have a metal labyrinth with a small wooden stick with a beautiful bead on one end. It mimics a walking one. You can move the stick slowly in and out on the path. It is meditative and helps to cleanse the thoughts and settle them down.

Lori said...

beautiful words and a beautiful image to go with it!

Rose Red said...

Very true, very wise!

Carolyn said...

"even when I don't have a choice of which path to walk, to walk the path with grace and mindfulness nonetheless"

Words to live by...thanks for sharing these thoughts. The path 2012 took for me was difficult, I'm trying to walk that path differently in 2013, even though the difficulties are still present. Wishing you the best for the new year...I loved the card!

Bells said...

this is both visually and symbolically beautiful. I do think I'll be taking this up some time this year. Hopefully. I've got visions of adding embroidery detail to my skirts!