In this heartwarming episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I’m taking you along with me on a journey back to Yale Divinity School for my 25th reunion—a place where old friendships, profound growth, and life’s deeper questions all come together. Reuniting with friends, revisiting cherished memories, and even leading a Labyrinth walk, I found myself reflecting on what it truly means to reconnect with both people and places that have shaped who we are.

I’ll share the magic of the labyrinth as both a spiritual tool and a metaphor for life’s journey—how its twists and turns mirror our own paths and how it can guide us through the beautiful complexities of growth, purpose, and joy.

In this episode, I'm sharing:

• The themes of reunions, self-discovery, and finding one's purpose through heartfelt conversations and experiences from recent events.
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• My recent reunion with her friends from Yale Divinity School and UC Santa Barbara, and the special moments of revisiting cherished places.
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• My deep connection with labyrinth walks and how they have been a source of inspiration and guidance in her life.
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• The journey of her podcast, Jump Start Your Joy, from its inception in 2015 to its current focus on retreats and labyrinth facilitation.
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• The importance of showing up, the transformative power of retreats, and how self-confidence can lead to personal and professional growth.

Resources

Interview with Christopher Freimuth: Gardens, Labyrinths, and Spiritual Journeys

The First episode: Kathleen Davies on 'More Light,' Love and Acceptance

Compassion Quest: Join us on November 23rd

Dr. Aimee, The Egg Whisperer: Choosing to Sparkle Everyday

Morgan Bolander on Singing, Songwriting, and Finding Joy

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Exciting Reunions
01:38 Welcome to Jump Start Your Joy
02:28 Reconnecting with Old Friends
04:34 Reflections on Life and Career
06:22 The Journey of Jump Start Your Joy
12:52 The Power of Showing Up
18:27 Rediscovering Purpose and Joy
25:33 Wrapping Up and Looking Forward

In this episode of 'Jump Start Your Joy,' join Paula in a rich conversation with Christopher Freimuth, a Yale Divinity School student and owner of CF Gardens in New York City. The episode unpacks Chris's journey from his rural upbringing in Connecticut to becoming a professional gardener in New York City, with a focus on the spiritual and ecological significance of gardening. Chris shares how he employs gardening to create ecological habitats and foster a connection to nature for his urban clients, emphasizing a meticulous approach to sourcing materials and plants.

In this coversation, we talk about:

• Christopher Freimuth's journey from rural Connecticut to professional gardening in NYC
• Gardening as a spiritual and ecological practice
• Chris’s transformative work on the Yale Divinity School Labyrinth
• The historical, cultural, and inclusive spiritual significance of labyrinths
• A reflection of the Minotaur's story from a queer perspective, inwhich Chris finds deep meaning in asking why the Minotaur was cast from his family and pushed into the realm of "other"
• What we can learn from embracing our "inner minotaur" (or those parts of ourselves that feel more difficult to embrace)
• Navigating life’s complexities through the metaphor of a labyrinth
• Practical ways to cultivate joy and community through public gardening initiatives

Resources:

CF Gardens website: https://cfgardens.com/

The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith

Walking a Sacred Path, Rediscovering the Labyrinth as Sacred Practice by Lauren Artress

Walking the Labyrinth: A Spiritual and Practical Guide by Sally Welch

Join me for the next Compassion Quest retreat, in person at San Damiano Retreat on November 23, 2024.

Others:

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Labyrinth Information, and Free Labyrinth Walk Guide

Check out Jump Start Your Joy's back catalog and resources: JumpstartYourJoy.com

Sign up for the free labyrinth walk guide: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/labyrinth-basics/

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