Ponderings... - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Vim&Vigour · 10-22-2008, 12:27 PM

Eric!
You sound rich!

No, no, no, not THAT way, (though a good income might help), I mean RICH as in fortunate enough to appreciate the positives in life and taking them to the fore!
Yes, lawyer was what I gathered, gay, not something I particularly think about (though I do love the PINK visitors' page!), had come across the reference to recovering alcoholic elsewhere, but cocaine too! You have indeed had a lot on your plate to deal with! Just for the "common mortal" to have to deal with any ONE of those areas is a major event in someone's life, let alone experience them all!
How wonderful that you are able to find a path through your faith. I always feel sorry for those who do not experience faith of some kind, as though they are missing out on something strengthening.
I'm interested in your reference to a labyrinth. As in a normal maze or am I missing an element? How far do you have to go to access a labyrinth? What thought processes do you use? I have a labyrinth very near home: Hampton Court Palace, the home of King Henry VIII. Of course, there is a secret method in which you reach your centre!
Best wishes to you my friend.
Yours in London!
Vim

OsoDelDesierto · 10-22-2008, 02:55 PM

Vim, thank you again - yes, I am indeed rich, though not in money!

Labyrinths are "a path of prayer, a walking meditation, a crucible of change, a watering hole for the spirit and a mirror of the soul." - Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress.

The Hampton Court labyrinth you're describing sounds very fun and I would love to visit it when I finally get to see London (and would love to meet you and Sheree and Gwen!), but a hedge maze is very different from a labyrinth used for meditation - a meditation labyrinth has no tricks, secrets, dead ends, or false paths. It is not designed to test or challenge the intellect - it is strictly spiritual in intent and effect.

Labyrinthine designs originated several thousand years ago on Crete, and there is still a "Seven Circuit" or "Classical" labyrinth based on an ancient Cretan design that is used today for walking meditation. In the Middle Ages, various styles of labyrinths were inlaid into floors in many European cathedrals - roughly one in four medieval cathedrals had a labyrinth. Few survive to this day, unfortunately, but Amiens still has one, as does Chartres. The "Eleven Circuit" or "Chartres" design is very popular, and that's usually what I walk. Not a lot is known about how people walked the labyrinth in the Middle Ages, but labyrinths were commonly used as a substitute for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem by those unable to make an actual pilgrimage - they were sometimes called "Le Chemin a Jerusalem" - the road to Jerusalem, and the center was referred to as "La nouvelle Jerusalem" - the new Jerusalem.

There is only one way into a meditation labyrinth and one way out - the same way you came in! Many see the path as a metaphor for our life's journey. There is no right way or wrong way to walk a labyrinth, but a common practice is to try to release or let go of our jumbled thoughts and feelings on the way in, then do praying and/or meditating in the center (receiving guidance, for example), then prepare to rejoin the world on the way out, carrying whatever we've received out into our life...

Heere is a link to the website for Veriditas, a world-wide labyrinth organization headed by Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress, former Canon of Special Ministries at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco:

Veriditas: Experience the Wisdom of the Labyrinth

I could go on at length about my personal labyrinth experiences, but I'll stop now!

Toony · 10-22-2008, 03:27 PM

Vim... the house is great! I'm still settling in - and there is still a list on my fridge of things the builder needs to finish off. I took a vacation day today to stay home and supervise all the work that was promised to me... NO ONE SHOWED UP! I called at 10:30 and found out the carperter-fixit-guy had called in sick... ARGH!

Not a wasted vacation day tho --- it's our THIRTY-SEVENTH wedding anniversary - so it was good to be home with my sweetie all day. I got a lot of piddly things done around the house - and enjoyed a surprise visit from our granddaughters.

I'm having problems with my pouch... Ms Thumbelina can tolerate anything other than dry meat... Believe me, I've tried just about everything in the past 2 months... The enormous bill from the hospital was a slap in the face --- all this money and I'm sabotaging the whole thing with my horrible habits and lack of discipline...

I'm back on track --- focused on protein and water right now --- and awaiting word from the hospital or insurance on the "negotiations!"

Your friend in mid-America!

katie

Vim&Vigour · 10-22-2008, 03:36 PM

Now Eric!
You have me super excited!
I walked Le Chemin a Jerusalem last summer in Chartres Cathedral! The magnificent cathedral! And only 5 days after my mother died.
(More on my mother in my thread "Mothers and daughters... and wls" posted today.
Thank you for your excellent explanation. I am completely with you on that one, only had never heard it referred to as a labyrinth, hence my confusion.
I derived great comfort from my Chartres experience and walked it for 4.5 hours with a dear, dear childhood friend of mine. She lived in Chartres for many years and has since moved to Seattle, but it has been our observance, every five years to meet and spend time together either walking our path together or spending time in a retreat together, separately.
You have now rekindled forgotten thoughts... Thank you for that.
I look forward to more path references with you!
Incidentally, do you speak French? I was brought up in French in a French convent in Switzerland, catholic though I was born protestant and have become a Quaker some 30 years ago.
Best for now!
Vim

Vim&Vigour · 10-22-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shereeks

Thank you once again for your usual thought provoking post Vim!

You speak so many truths and make me stop for a moment to analyse certain things in my life.

I too have noticed the negative elements creeping into this forum and have therefore been absent myself (probably not notably!). I hope that some of us oldies can bring the forum back to its' old positive vibe with a little effort.

Hej Sheree!
thank you for dropping by with your kind comments!
With all that is going on in your life lately do you even have a moment to analyse?! May all go well with the final stages (?) of your "old/new" home - will you be able to let it?
I agree, let's make an effort to revitalise the quality that I initially found on here. Free speech and all. On the other hand, we know how and where to find whomever we are after!
I would really enjoy seeing you again and catching up - another trio with Gwen get together in some convenient triangle or dinner at "Tummies"?
Best for now,
Vim

Vim&Vigour · 10-22-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toony

Vim... the house is great! I'm still settling in - and there is still a list on my fridge of things the builder needs to finish off. I took a vacation day today to stay home and supervise all the work that was promised to me... NO ONE SHOWED UP! I called at 10:30 and found out the carperter-fixit-guy had called in sick... ARGH!

Not a wasted vacation day tho --- it's our THIRTY-SEVENTH wedding anniversary - so it was good to be home with my sweetie all day. I got a lot of piddly things done around the house - and enjoyed a surprise visit from our granddaughters.

I'm having problems with my pouch... Ms Thumbelina can tolerate anything other than dry meat... Believe me, I've tried just about everything in the past 2 months... The enormous bill from the hospital was a slap in the face --- all this money and I'm sabotaging the whole thing with my horrible habits and lack of discipline...

I'm back on track --- focused on protein and water right now --- and awaiting word from the hospital or insurance on the "negotiations!"

Your friend in mid-America!

katie

Good news about your home Katie and typically annoying about the "workmen" though! I'm experiencing exactly the same thing - my 3rd shower installation was to have been completed today, but... guess what? Another 3-4 days work... And endless cups of tea too!

37 years? Interesting number! Inspiring too that a young bride could keep the longevity of a marriage. (we have "only" managed 25 so far and it feels as though we have only just begun!

Thumbelina complains just like my "Dille" [Dr. Dillemans] or "Dillem" on a bad day (and signal to my DH). NO dry meats or salmon for that matter either!

Intresting to see how we transpose our stresses from foods to other means when facing difficult issues! What are you doing instead? May you resolve your insurance bill pdq! It is indeed very distressing and a setback. However, know thy enemy and take the bull by the horns - know the small print and NEGOTIATE!

Best of luck to you Katie!
(Incidentally, TT is in BIG demand over here!).

Vim

VanessaSFL · 10-22-2008, 04:57 PM

A thread with Vim, Katie, Erick, Shree & Corine...very cozy in here tonight.

I have nothing to add and even if I did I am not a gifted writer like Vim..Just nice to see names I know

150 some threads tonight under "New",always look forward to yours Vim.

Thank you~

VPA

sherry7 · 10-22-2008, 05:07 PM

Vim, I always look forward to reading your posts. You are a very eloquent writer, and your posts usually make me "re-think" things.

Congrats on your 1 year anniversary at TT....and I am hoping there are many, many more to come in the future.

Claire-in-Texas · 10-22-2008, 05:24 PM

Vim, Corrine said it so well - you give us courage to think, to face ourselves. Yes, a gift,for sure.

Don't go anywhere that we can't find you - you are a gift in many ways. It is a wonderful thing just to inspire people to THINK!!!!

Lots of hugs!

oregoncora · 10-22-2008, 10:30 PM

Vim, if it were not for your first pm to me I would not be here reading. Your kindness made me cry, even now as I think about it. I have learned much about what lies ahead for me because I am still here. Your posts are always most insightful. I am learning which people here have things that are always inspiring and are willing to impart true knowledge. Thanks to you and thanks to many of you, this forum is a good place to be even when it has problems.