Life honored step-by-step

FORT RILEY, KS, UNITED STATES

10.02.2019

Story by Collen McGee 

Fort Riley Public Affairs Office

September was Suicide Awareness Month and Irwin Army Community Hospital staff held a Value of Life Honor Walk Sept. 26 in the labyrinth healing garden.
Lt. Col. Robert Parish, director of Behavioral Health Services at IACH, said the event was for more than just remembering those who passed but also to acquaint people with a resource, which is available all the time.
“The other purpose for this is to bring attention to this ancient tool,” he said about the labyrinth. “This (is a) metaphor for life. Because I think most people that walk back and forth, have no idea this is even a healing garden. Let alone that there’s a meditative labyrinth here.”
More than 40 people participated in the walk and while some walked to remember a loved one, others went to relax. Arlene Dennison, program manager for Bariatric Services, IACH, said even though she hasn’t lost any one to suicide, she walked to inspire those needing help to ask for it.
“I would hope that if anyone were ever at the end of their rope, they would reach out maybe before they got there,” she said. “So, I think it’s good that we do these things. It helps.”
She said she also walked the labyrinth to do something relaxing.
“It was stress relieving,” she said. “It helped me refocus my day and helped me to reset for my mindfulness.”
Before starting the walk, participants were given a handout of information and questions, commonly asked about walking a labyrinth, including how to do it.

HOW IS IT DONE?

The most basic metaphor for walking a labyrinth is that of life’s journey. People may walk the labyrinth for themselves, or for someone else.
• The path to the center is sometimes called “The Way of Purgation” or the way of letting go. It is the "Way of Release", according to the handout. Think about the things to let go of, those things that weigh a person down.
• The center is “The Place of Illumination,” the place where one may directly "receive" — here the walker should be still and breathe deeply the love that surrounds them.
• The path to the exterior is called “The Way of Transformation,” or the "Way of Return." It is the path back to life to which there is new energy.
• While one walks, they should pay attention to where they might feel lost — where did that occur?
• What about the twists and turns, how are they like the twists in life? Do they resist some turns more than others? Pay attention to the resistance — what is it saying?
• Some people repeat a prayer as they walk.
• People may wish to walk the labyrinth in thanksgiving, in memory of someone who has died, for protection of someone in danger, for healing and reconciliation of a broken relationship or for healing of their
grief.
Parish said he hopes to make a permanent informational sign near the labyrinth so people will know how to use it anytime someone comes
to the hospital, not just when events like this happen.
“It’s been here every day since before the hospital was opened,” he said. “But nobody really has understood the purpose of this labyrinth.
So, putting up some instructions, just talking about what it represents. How it is a metaphor for life. How it’s an opportunity to be mindful,
even if you only have maybe five minutes to walk through, on your way to an appointment or following an appointment. It can be extremely
powerful.”

• Date Taken: 10.02.2019
• Date Posted: 10.03.2019 17:51
• Story ID: 345915
• Location: FORT RILEY, KS, US
• Hometown: FORT RILEY, KS, US