We all shared stories about our families and realized we had much in common. When we had the art therapy class, we had to pick a picture card at random, look at it and then explain how it related to us personally. Most were pictures of flowers, animals or mountain scenes, but mine was a picture of an older man and woman in an embrace. When it came my turn to tell what it meant to me, it dawned on me that all the things that I worried about in this world, especially my children’s well-being, also concerned my husband and that I was not alone. It was a moment of self-realization that my husband was there to share my burdens, and that we needed to support each other rather than carry it all alone. The leader of the group said the card stood for commitment, and that I needed to recognize that my husband was as committed to our family’s well-being as I was. It was a beautiful moment.
Our last event was the hike into the red rocks on my birthday. While we sat on the rocks by the babbling brook, Cheryl had us close our eyes and she led us into guided meditation. I have never been able to free my mind long enough to achieve a meditated state, but in that environment with Cheryl leading us, I found myself totally relaxed and at peace. At one point, Cheryl took out a flute and played a haunting melody. It was at that moment I felt a sensation in my feet, traveling up through my body to my head. I can’t describe that fleeting moment but when I mentioned it to Cheryl, she explained that I was receiving the energy from the earth. It was amazing and life changing.