Patrick Flanigan, who served in the U.S. Navy, walking the labyrinth at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
(Image by Cintia Cabib) Details DMCA
MAB: That's great! What is your favorite story (or two) that emerged from meeting the people you connected with while creating your documentary?
CC: I was very moved by the story of an Iraq war veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury. He participated in a mind-body therapy program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. They have a beautiful indoor labyrinth. In the film, he shared his story and recounted how walking the labyrinth helped him heal. I also loved the story of Vickie Baily's labyrinth, which was constructed on her lawn. The neighborhood kids enjoy walking the labyrinth and it is a popular destination during Halloween when costumed children run around the labyrinth.
MAB: That sounds like fun! How can people watch your documentary, and what to you hope they will get out of it?
CC: I would like people to use the documentary as an educational and inspirational tool to show others the powerful effect walking the labyrinth can have on people's lives. I hope that those who watch the film will be inspired to create their own labyrinths, hold their own labyrinth walks, and get ideas on how they can use the labyrinth to help the individuals they serve. The film's website has all the information on streaming or purchasing the film.
MAB: Thanks for visiting with us today, Cintia, and I hope you have a great World Labyrinth Day!
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Natalie Burton is a birth doula, a wardrobe designer for stage and film, and a labyrinth facilitator. Not not long after walking a full size labyrinth for the first time she started embroidering finger labyrinths.
Meryl Ann Butler: Thanks for visiting with us, Natalie. I'm also a fiber artist as well as labyrinth builder, and I love your book One Step At a Time. What inspired you to write it?
Natalie Burton: I've known for a long time that I wanted to create something that would help introduce children to the labyrinth. What I didn't know was how I wanted to go about it! As time went on I found myself using my embroidered finger labyrinths with my own kids and talking them through the little life lessons that applied to them at that time. We often talked about the chaos of tangled up yarn relaxing, and relaxing into the complex, but very simple path of the labyrinth as you took one step at a time. Sometimes adults who had never heard of labyrinths heard me mention this and asked for more information, and over time the development of a concise explanation connected with those embroidered visuals in a poem that can resonate with kids of any age.
MAB: Well, it's lovely, Natalie! Thanks for visiting with us. Before we finish, where can readers get your book?
NB: Please find it at my website!
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