My life path has been built upon the desire to hold compassion and its expression through caring for others. I have been a long time student, practitioner and teacher of healing traditions and the integration of mind/body/spirit. The key to my evolution and personal growth has been to view the world through holism, heart-centered spirituality, creative expression and respect for human dignity, diversity and the natural world.
In 1973, I began my nursing career that spanned over four decades, and gifted me a wide range of experiences —often caring for individuals in their most vulnerable states. Early on, I knew the most important aspect of healing and my work would be to connect with others through the heart and treating/seeing individuals as being whole—no matter what. I became increasingly drawn to holistic health care practice and working with trauma survivors and those who felt fragmented . For ten years , I developed programming and was lead faculty for the Holistic Health Care Practice Certificate Program at the University of Southern Maine. The last eleven years of my nursing career, my practice was focused on integrative behavioral health as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and advanced practice holistic nurse, with emphasis on compassion-based therapies, mindfulness, and mind/body approaches for restoring oneself to wholeness.
As I have gathered wisdom through over 7 decades of life experiences and study, having witnessed much suffering while holding a safe space and empathy for others, I have felt my heart and attention focused on the simple, but profound concept of Metta - a practice of loving kindness, universal love and heartfelt concern for all living beings, in all situations.
My Spiritual Practice
has always been interconnected with my healing practices and my service to others. The foundation of my spiritual practice and its underpinings of compassion and loving kindness has been inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and His holiness, The Dalai Lama, and enriched by many other spiritual teachers, philosophers and poets. More recently, Neem Karoli Baba ’s teachings and Bhakti Yoga are my soul's guide for deepening my practice and being in continued service to others, especially through Awakening to the Heart and life partnership with my husband Norman.
Bhakti Yoga and Sacred Music
I am grateful for the expression of Bhakti Yoga and the devotional, prayerful practice of singing healing mantras through my personal Sadhana. I offer my voice, accompanied by ukulele, harmonium, and various sound healing instruments when I share this practice with others in Open Sangha/ Group Meditation Practice,Community Kirtan,Metta Practice,Labyrinth workshops, and other events.
Metta Labyrinth
For many years, I envisioned building a labyrinth. I wasn’t sure how, but I knew it would happen at some point along my path. When Norman and I decided to share our home sanctuary and build a yurt, I knew the time had arrived. With the opportunity to build it on this special land, surrounded by majestic mountains, there was no question as to what I was called to do.
A labyrinth holds ancient history and symbolism from many indigenous cultures and religions. It endows a sacred space to connect with one’s soul and receive wisdom from that which we cannot find within our mind. My intention for Metta Labyrinth is to create a place where we can plant our feet on this earth to connect with Mother Nature, return to the sacred, and to create rituals for healing—for ourselves, for all beings and the world.
I walk for Compassion. I walk for Peace. I walk for Unity. I walk for Love. I invite all who come and walk the labyrinth to join me in finding their own center, their own purpose along the path.
Cynthia is a Veriditas Trained Labyrinth Facilitatorand a member of VIA, the Veriditas International Association of Professionally Trained Labyrinth Facilitators. She offers introductory workshops and themed labyrinth walks often including the use of mindfulness, guided meditation and sacred scound immersion. Veriditas was established in 1995 by Reverend Dr. Lauren Artress, author of “Walking a Sacred Path; Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool”. The word “veriditas” originated with Hildegard of Bingen and means “the greening power of life”.
My service to others has always been guided by compassion…
In addition to over 40 years of conventional & holistic nursing practice, I have had the privilege to study, practice and teach:
- Holistic & Integrative Health Care
- Mindfulness
- Meditation / Contemplative Practices
- Stress Management
- Nonviolent Communication
- Trauma Recovery
- Mind/Body Integration
- Massage & Somatic Therapies
- Guided Imagery
- Energy Work
- Music & Sound Healing
- Labyrinth Facilitation
I am happy to continue to be in service and share my experience with others whenever I am able. Many of these healing modalities I integrate into Metta Practiceofferings .
“May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”
Love, Serve and Remember
Thiis video is a clip from our October 2025 community kirtan. The song is written by John Astin and arranged by Cynthia for this kirtan. “Love, Serve and Remember God “is a message that Neem Karoli Baba gave to Ram Dass just before he left India to return to the U.S.
