The Labyrinth of Caregiving

By Gail Sheehy

Walking the labyrinth is an exercise in practical spirituality. It's a meditative exercise. A labyrinth is often confused with a maze. But a maze is a riddle. It has many paths, hidden with hedges or other dividers, which are intended to trick our thinking mind.

A labyrinth has one, well-defined path that will eventually lead us to the center and then back out again. But the path is not visible, nor is it predictable—just like the journey of the caregiver. A labyrinth challenges our intuitive mind and forces us to go inside to seek self-knowledge—our true path.

In this "Labyrinth" video, you will see me walking the beautiful outdoor labyrinth at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco while I describe the nine turnings as symbolic of the caregiving journey.

• Continue reading Gail's "The Labyrinth of Caregiving" journal