When I discovered that spirituality and religion were different in early 1988, I instantly knew what had been missing from the first 44 years of my life. Having searched for meaning and connection to the “life force” that I believed was “there” since I was a child, I was now able to focus my search.
The 12 Step Program for Adult Children of Alcoholics gave me my first understanding of spirituality by broadening the religious definition to “the God of my understanding.” What freedom!
The power of being in a group of strangers who were openly sharing their feelings while receiving unconditional support, gave me the courage to share forbidden “secrets” for the first time and provided a feeling of safety I’d never had before. This gave me the gift of a new perspective and deep sense of connection unlike any I’d ever experienced.
As my level of self-awareness grew, my explorations included a myriad of ancient and mystical traditions, taking the parts that resonated with me from Native American traditions, Buddhist traditions, metaphysical perspectives, Hindu traditions and The Course in Miracles to create a spiritual framework that now supports me in all aspects of my daily life.
I learned that my soul’s purpose in this lifetime is the “Show-er of the Sacred Path” anchoring joy, embodying the love vibration of adoration and raising awareness of the spirit in all things, including business!
While studying Reiki, I became an Ordained Interfaith Minister of the Order of Melchizedek through the Sanctuary of the Beloved, Inc. in the State of New York. Three weeks to the day following my ordination, I walked my first labyrinth as part of a Winter Solstice celebration in 1995. I instantly saw the metaphorical connection to our life’s journeys, and knew this powerful symbol would be an important part of my ministry.
Within 6 months of that first labyrinth walk, I was founding a labyrinth ministry at a United Church of Christ in Pelham, NY. On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1996, we offered the labyrinth to the community for our first public walk. For the next 18 months, we made the labyrinth available for public walks twice a month, creating rituals for the beginning of each walk to honor the solstices, equinoxes, important celestial occurrences and the energy of other holidays.
In 2001, I designed and created the 3 circuit Celebration Labyrinth, initially for use as a framework for weddings. Since that time I’ve performed numerous weddings, many using the labyrinth, to celebrate this wonderful rite of passage for two people.
Honoring life passages of all kinds is not something our culture emphasizes except within religious traditions. I believe that consciously honoring and celebrating all of the turning points in life is essential to deepening our connections to ourselves, each other and to Spirit, however we define that. It is my deep honor to participate in the personalized, heart-centered co-creation of all of life’s rituals to pay special tribute to each phase of our life journeys.
May joy and peace fill your journey!
Judith Joyce