Describing the Social and Cultural Dimensions in My Organization Essay Example for Free

Describing the Social and Cultural Dimensions in My Organization Essay Social and cultural theories strive to explain how people relate to each other and/or the surrounding environment. Organizational culture represents a common perception held by the organization’s member. This was made explicit when we defined culture as a system of shared meaning. Therefore, those individuals with different backgrounds or at different levels in the organization will tend to describe the organization’s culture in similar terms. Most large organizations have a dominant culture and numerous sets of subcultures. A dominant culture expresses the core values that are shared by a majority of the organization’s members. When we talk about an organization’s culture, we are referring to its dominant culture. It is this macro view of culture that gives an organization its distinct personality. Subcultures tend to develop in large organizations to reflect common problems, situations, or experiences that members face. These subcultures are likely to be defined by department designations and geographical separation. The purchasing department, for example, can have a subculture that is uniquely shared by members of that department. It will include the core values of the dominant culture plus additional values unique to members of the purchasing department. Similarly, an office or unit of the organization that is physically separated from the organization’s main operations may take on a different personality. Again, the core values are essentially retained but modified to reflect the separated unit’s distinct situation. If organizations had no dominant culture and were composed only of numerous subcultures, the value of organizational culture as an independent variable would be significantly lessened because there would be no uniformity in the interpretation of the values that represented appropriate and inappropriate behavior. It is the â€Å"shared meaning† aspect of culture that makes it such a potent device for guiding and shaping values in the cultural behavior. But it is not to be ignored that the reality which many organizations contained also has subcultures that can influence the behavior of their members. The field of sociology focuses on cultures that are ethnically or geographically defined. However, the study of any culture is referred to as â€Å"a group of people who work (or play) together and journey towards a shared meaning and assumption†(Griswold, p.133). Griswold (1994) also shared that â€Å"culture† is one of those words that people use all the time but have trouble defining. Peterson (1979) states that when sociologists talk about culture, they usually mean one of four things: norms, values, beliefs, or expressive symbols. Norms are the way people behave in a given society; values are what people hold dear; beliefs are how people think the universe operates and expressive symbols are representations of the culture. Moreover, Lincoln and Kalleberg (1990) hold that â€Å"the quality of relationships between workers and their co-workers is positively associated with commitment and satisfaction.† If the people within a school do not connect and work together toward a common goal or passion, the culture is said to be stagnant or unproductive. Lincoln and Kalleberg provide three models of organizations. The consensus model holds shared goals and values within an organization that are the norm and dissidence is a problem requiring correction. The cleavage model has distinct groups within an organization that have different interests, especially fault lines that exist between job levels. The fragmentation model shows that are riddled with ambiguity where people hold multiple perspectives. It is plausible that most working environment can fall under all three models or have factions of each model within one department. I am now attached with SMK (P) Methodist, Pulau Pinang as an operational clerk. My services here include the basic operation of the school administration and also involved accounting for the staff and stock inventories in the school. I am under the Ministry of Education and the Jabatan Pelajaran Pulau Pinang. My school consists of 42 academic staff, 8 non-academic staff and 640 students. We have a unique ethnic diversity whereby most of the teachers are Chinese, four Indians and ten Malays. The students are also diversified into the three main ethnicity in Malaysia with minimal number of mixed ethnic students. My Principal is a Chinese lady. Her name is Wong Soon Kee. She is a very fierce and strict head of department. I do not have a very close rapport with her. She does not have very much concern for the teachers as well. It has been a very stressful environment for me and most of the staff here. But, the teachers have been very helpful and understanding to me. They are very friendly and accommodative towards me. At the office, there is a typist and a general worker to assist with my work here. This really helps ease my work and release my pressure of working here. My works is about service conformation of the teachers and support workers, prepare salary and pension worksheets and do the necessaries if there is any changes. My work also involved accounting such as preparing the accounts, paying bills, and bookkeeping. Every month, I have to settle the bill and make orders for items needed by the school. Any bills that I received will have to be settled in 2 weeks time which is a very short dateline for me. However, it is the ethics of the Jabatan Pelajaran Pulau Pinang. We have to abide by the rules set by the upper hands. If I have any meeting by the JPN, I will meet up with my friends from other schools. During this time, we will exchange our experiences about work and how to handle certain situations that arise. It is very useful and helped me a lot to improve my performance to do better than before. Every year, auditors from Jabatan Audit Sekolah will come to school to do auditing on the school accounts. They will take a week to check the accounts and identify whether all the transactions are according to the rules or not. Nevertheless, there will never be a session where they had never found any errors. If we had done a lot of errors, our school will be categorized under â€Å"Audit Bersyarat† and the JPN will send us for a course on how to improve our accounting skills to upgrade our performance. With the teachers’ high spirit and determination to guide the students, the PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah/Lower Secondary Assessment) and the SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia/Malaysian Certificate of Education) results are very encouraging. Most of the students show fortitude and willpower be it in their academic or co-curricular activities. All these achievements had helped them to be successful and quite a number of them had furthered their studies abroad. As a conclusion, a social and cultural dimension in an organization is important. It is because, it portrays the relationship between employees in completing their daily tasks and ensuring that the tasks are done well with high quality. Culture Beginnings and the Impact of Founders as Leaders spring from three sources: 1. beliefs, values, and assumptions of founders

Discussing Bresslers definition of Marxism as a literary theory :: essays papers

Discussing Bresslers definition of Marxism as a literary theory Marxism is not the hot topic it once was. With the collapse of Communist U.S.S.R., mainstream North America had thought it had seen the last of Marxism and the communist party. However, with the People's Republic of China becoming a reality, those early beliefs may have proven to be premature. Defining Marxism is not difficult. Marxism is the belief that the common workingman (the proletariat) is under a rule of tyranny by the upper class owners (the bourgeois.) Someday (according to Marx) the proletariats will rise up, overthrow the bourgeois and create a society of communism. Communism is the political idea in where a society would be controlled mostly by the government. Personal property would not be allowed and therefore eliminate the bourgeois; a utopian society in which every man works for the common good. Marxists believe that (based on the works of Karl H. Marx) everything we do or think is influenced by the bourgeois. This is simple. Marxism becomes difficult when defining it as a literary theory. The original intentions of Marx were those of social and political revolution. Many of Marx's followers however, were and are scholars. Therefore the transition from a social economic theory to a school of literary criticism was inevitable. Charles Bressler is faced with this seeming difficult task of defining Marxism as a literary school of thought. Bressler attempts to define and explain Marxism as a school of literary thought by examining past Marxists, the assumptions which one must adopt and the methodology (as he does with every chapter.) He succeeds in some places and fails in others. Bressler's definition of Marxism is as follows, "[the belief] that reality itself can be can be defined and understood, society shapes our consciousness, social and economic conditions directly influence how and what we believe and value, and Marxism details a plan for changing the world from a place of bigotry, hatred and conflict due to class struggle to a classless society where wealth, opportunity, and education are accessible for all people". Bressler does a decent job here. He defines Marxism as it was originally intended: an economic and social view of culture and its influences. He provides a clear, simple definition of Marxism which is easily understandable. After this however, Bressler's chapter begins to fall apart. He succeeds in giving a brief description of Marxist events and theorists, but fails in his assumptions and methodology.

Financial assets are made up of securities

Financial assets are made up of securities, stocks and derivatives. These are claims to the cash flow generated by real, tangible assets which are the lands, buildings and machineries we use. These pieces of paper are how citizens of highly developed countries increase their wealth. Wealth generation involves risk, for no business activity is certain to provide returns. Financial markets allow investors to participate in money-making ventures without being physically present in the project site.Most risk tolerant individuals prefer stocks, for it has the potential to yield very high returns, while conservative ones go for bonds which provides a steady, fixed income. In this activity, stock trading is the main focus. Objectives Just like any investor, generating cash flow was the primary goal. The amount of cash to be gained from trading should compensate the risk undertaken. The goal was to achieve steady growth. The expected was return is 40%. After setting the required return, a po rtfolio strategy was chosen.Assets were then selected which would comprise the efficient portfolio– provides the highest return for a given level of risk. Fundamental analysis was the method used to pick the stocks. Diversification was another tactic used to maximize return while spreading the risk. Construct a portfolio Portfolio construction was a tedious task. I had to weigh the risk and returns, and sometimes, to trust my gut feel. Stock prices, as studies have shown follow a random walk movement. The approach used was a top-down portfolio construction. A portfolio is basically a collection of investment assets.The type of assets to be held was first determined. It was then followed by security analysis to pick out the stocks deemed profitable. Diversification was one principle used in choosing the stocks. It simply meant that equities from different industries were held in the portfolio so that risk exposure was limited. Shares from the software industry (RIMM, JAVA), ar ms(SWHC), pharmaceutical (GERN), computer (PALM), insurance (HUM), health care(HMA), power (FL), SAM, metals and mining(AUY, AA) ,oil and gas(IEO), index fund(SWPIX), cement(CX),AXP Asset Analysis Fundamental analysis was mainly used in the decisions undertaken.This approach uses earnings and dividend prospects of the firm, expectations of future interest rates, and risk evaluation of the firm to determine proper stock prices. It relies on the company's financial health indicators. The stocks’ annual growth rate, quarterly earnings records, and P/E (price-to-earnings) ratios were measured. Historical data was also used. One such statistic is the EPS, or earnings-per-share ranking. PALM stocks were bought since the firm’s return on investment was stated at 2470. 70%. Also, on the day that it was traded, it was lower priced. Smith and Weson, SWHC had a P/E ratio of 5. 50%, an ROE of 19.7%. Thus, a total of 4000 shares of SWCH were bought. Alcoa, or AA’s ROE was 16 . 20%. Its EBITDA was 5. 45 B. Meanwhile, its P/E ratio was 11. 60 and its annual dividend was at . 68 per share. Alcoa looks financially healthy, but was expensive, so only 1000 shares were purchased. Similarly, FPL’s ROE was 14. 6%. Its P/E ratio was 12. 7%. Its EBITDA was 4. 47 B. The market values FPL shares highly. But, I found it unsmart to invest in highly valued stocks, because market perceptions fluctuate wildly. Thus, I only acquired 700 shares of FPL. RIMM had an ROE of 30. 60%. Its P/E ratio was 50%. For me, RIMM shares were really costly.In fact, it was has the highest cost per share in my portfolio. But I was attracted to its financial forecast. Furthermore, its 52 week high was at $148 so I found the $80 per share enticing. I thus bought 1000 shares from RIMM. HUM had an ROE of 19. 9% and a P/E ratio of 18. 00. It was quite overpriced, so I only bought 1000 shares. HMA was the lowest priced stock in my portfolio. But, I decided to purchase it believing that dem and for health care services will increase in the near future. CX, compared with its competitor, Heidelberg cement had higher earnings and historically displayed returns higher than the market average.I bought 1000 shares. I also bought SWPIX, an index fund as a comparison for the return of my trading activities. Event Selection One of the most remarkable news was the launching of PALM’s Pre. With the belief that the Pre will be hot in the market, just like Apple’s I-pod, I bought 4,000 shares from PALM. I deem that the future value of PALM will increase more than two-fold once the Pre is introduced. The hype will push the price of its stock. Thereafter, I can sold my shares at a profit. In addition, the popularity of smart phones, or phones which serve more than just talking devices was forecasted to increase steadily in the near future.Aside from purchasing PALM stocks, I decided to buy shares from BlackBerry’s maker, RIMM. News of the global swine flu outbrea k prompted me to purchase HMA shares. HMA , a healthcare provider would have more profits if the flu would become widespread. In addition, Citigroup upgraded HMA shares from hold to buy. Meanwhile, the news on the pending sale of JAVA drove me to sell my 1000 shares. Monster stocks which were identified two weeks in a row included AUY. The information urged me to buy 3000 shares of AUY.

Mathematics And The Mathematics Competency Test Essay

Mathematics is an area that I have consistently struggled with throughout school and has continued into adulthood. The difficulty and negative experiences that occurred as a child impacted how I viewed and achieved in mathematics. I believe I perform at an average to below average skill level when completing mathematical tasks and struggle to attempt higher level activities. Simple maths that I find relevant to my everyday life I view as very useful and is an integral part of my life. Mathematics components such as algebra and quadratic equations are seen as not relevant and a waste of time as they are not utilised in everyday living. In school, I achieved high academic results for English and English-based subjects such as History. This resulted in being drafted into higher level mathematics classes although my performance and abilities within mathematics were below average. Constant inability to achieve good grades and predominant failure or barely passing created a negative disposition and unwillingness to try which inhibited further academic achievements. For the Mathematics Competency Test (MCT) I expected to achieve around sixty percent. For the surveys, I expected them to reflect an attitude of low confidence and strong negative disposition towards mathematics. The MCT results differed from what I expected. Due to previous experiences with maths tests I expected a low grade no higher than 60% and actually scored a mark of 82%. Upon completion of the MCT I realised IShow MoreRelatedTechnical Competency And My Disposition Towards Mathematics1362 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction This units has improved my mathematical competency and my disposition towards mathematics. I now feel a lot more confident in many specific mathematical areas and in mathematics in general. Also, I am much more aware of the progress in my mathematical understanding as I have identified my current strengths and weakness as well as created solid plans to improve the weaker areas. A negative disposition or anxiety towards mathematics, can hinder improvement. Students who are anxious, boredRead MoreTeaching Mathematics and Filippino Student Performance1485 Words   |  6 PagesRationale Most mathematics teachers have observed that many students have poor performance in mathematics. Classroom researches over the years show that mathematics instruction has continuously been taught in a traditional manner wherein only a few students understand and grasp the concepts (Winters, Cerulli, Bjork, Mor, 2006). Teaching mathematics has been viewed as unappealing to the majority of students and has been outdated and not connected with their interests and experiences, bringing aboutRead MoreHow Education Is The Key Focus On Improving Test Scores1635 Words   |  7 PagesFor many years the government has played a role in how education was run. For decades, politics has placed its focus on student test scores, how to increase those test scores, and standards that must be followed in order to achieve the goals the politicians have set. Early childhood education has been the key focus on improving test scores. According to the politics, test scores must meet above average level s in order for students to become college and career ready. Greater emphasize is pushed onRead MoreDesigning Evidence Based Games On Mathematical Thinking Essay1665 Words   |  7 PagesDESIGNING EVIDENCE BASED GAMES TO ASSESS MATHEMATICAL THINKING Saurabh Khanna Centre for Education Innovation and Action Research, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai The goals of modern mathematics education are progressively being based on foundations of innovative learning and problem solving skills, the foremost one being mathematical thinking. Mathematical thinking runs throughout any mathematical activity as a process, and hence cannot be effectively gauged by prevalent assessments whichRead MoreDoes The Otl Mathematics Instruction For Conceptual Understanding Matter?960 Words   |  4 PagesDoes the OTL Mathematics Instruction for Conceptual Understanding Matter? 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Possible means for obtaining this information could be from the students†™ former teachers, previously taken standardized tests, and priorRead MoreThe Development Of Mathematics Changes And Grows Continually992 Words   |  4 PagesAssessment 1A Maths The development of mathematics changes and grows continually. Teachers are finding new ways and strategies to keep up with learning and having a broader view on the ways chidren learn and develop. Their are many views of which theories are best suited in teaching mathematics, different age groups are better suited to different theories.Constructivism is a theory which has become a challenge in teaching mathematics with learning how to develop models of teaching that build on,Read MoreAnalysis of National Achievement Test of Second Year High School Students Basis for Development and Evaluation of an Expanded Remediation Module2566 Words   |  11 Pages : ANALYSIS OF NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST OF SECOND YEAR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: BASIS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN EXPANDED REMEDIATION MODULE Researcher : RICARDO S. PAIG Degree : MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION MAJOR in EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION Adviser : DR. PORFIRIA F. FERRER Date Conferred : MARCH 13, 2011 This study aimed to analyze the National Achievement Test (NAT) of Second Year High School of Hermano MiguelRead MoreMeasurement And Measurement Of Measurement1271 Words   |  6 Pagesnumber of people; rather than actually measuring all the people which would be extremely impractical. Thus, I approximated the measurement using a known referent. †¨ I showcased my knowledge of the measurement mathematics area when answering question 5 of the Year 9 NAPLAN 2012 Numeracy Test for assessment 2 (appendix 14). This question involved writing out the scale used in the diagram as a ratio, simplifying it and then converting it into a written statement. At first I could not remember the methodRead MoreThe Duty Of Any Teachers883 Words   |  4 Pagesscores in the standardized test, many teachers have begun to employ test preparation practices that are usually not in the interest of students. These activities may include giving extra classes to drill on test content and sometimes eliminating curriculum content not covered by the test. This kind of practice has been noted in many countries such as Canada, Australia, England, China, Japan, and my chosen context, Indonesia. In Indonesia, students must take a standardized test in order to graduate or

Eastern Cottonwood, a Common Tree in North America

Essay The Lucifer Effect Understanding How Good People...

he Lucifer Effect raises a fundamental question about the nature of human nature: How is it possible for ordinary, average, even good people to become perpetrators of evil? In trying to understand unusual, or aberrant behavior, we often err in focusing exclusively on the inner determinants of genes, personality, and character, as we also tend to ignore what may be the critical catalyst for behavior change in the external Situation or in the System that creates and maintains such situations. I challenge readers to reflect on how well they really know themselves, and how much confidence they have in what they would or would not ever do when put into new behavioral settings. This book is unique in many ways. It provides for the first time†¦show more content†¦Federal Bureau of Prisons. That notoriety of this study is traced to examine extensions and replications of the SPE in research, the media, and recently as an art form, with critical analyses of the good and the bad directions that have been taken. A major contribution of this book resides in its systematic application of the lessons learned from the SPE and social science research to a new understanding of the abuses at Abu Ghraib (chapter 14). I do this by integrating my psychological expertise with the special expertise I gained by being an expert witness for one of the accused Military Policemen involved in the abuses, Sgt Ivan Chip Frederick. I have gotten to know him well and, therefore I switched my role into that of investigative reporter as I tracked down his performance evaluations as prison guard in the States, the basis of his 9 medals and awards, corresponding with his family members and engaging psychologists to provide personality and pathology assessments of him. I have also been able to get special insight into the nature of that horrid prison from several personal contacts with military officers who have worked there. As an expert witness, I also had access to many of the independent investigations into these abuses and all of the digitally documented images of depravity that tookShow MoreRelatedPhilip Zimbardo s The Lucifer Effect On Understanding How Good People Turn Evil1593 Words   |  7 Pagesresearching how and why people’s behavior change in situations, unexpectedly. For example, a good person committing a bad crime. Zimbardo’s research has brought a lot of knowledge to the study of psychology. His work has helped me to better understand the reasoning behind people’s behaviors and actions. One of his best accomplishments and famously known for is the Stanford Prison Experiment. Philip Zimbardo is also an amazing author of many books, including the book, The Lucifer Effect: UnderstandingRead MoreTo See, or Not to See. Evil Exists and Grows.973 Words   |  4 PagesWhen a small amount of evil is seen yet disregarded, the ignorance breathes life. The evil grows and strengthens, gradually taking over any good that may be left. But when evil is all around and good is hard to come by, does that same evil now become normal? During a time of war, good people become killers and bad people become customary. The fine line between good and evil becomes blurred into a senseless smudge in the eye of reality. The good people now, whilst protecting their freedom and familyRead MoreThe Lucifer Effect Is A Theory Of Psychology1568 Words   |  7 Pagesmorally and cognitively. When things don’t turn out the way we expected, it is common that we begin to try and alter the situation to favor our desires. Have you ever considered that the situation might be changing you? This phenomenon is known as â€Å"The Lucifer effect.† The title originates from the biblical name for Satan, and is described as the demoralization of an individual’s personality and behavior due to a horrific event/experience in their life. ‘Lucifer’ was said to be an angel of the Lord inRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of The Lucifer Effect 846 Word s   |  4 PagesRhetorical Analysis: The Lucifer Effect The Lucifer Effect examines how the human mind has the capacity to be infinitely caring or selfish, kind or cruel, creative or destructive. This work analyses the Stanford Prison Experiment, and the author’s personal experiences as an expert witness for one of the Abu Ghraib prison guards, to raise fundamental questions about the nature of good and evil. Mankind wants us to believe that there is a little good in all of us. Zimbardo created a min blowing experimentRead MoreSummary : Leviathan 1156 Words   |  5 Pagesadult-free environment was given to the kids in Lord of the Flies when their plane crashed into an island. The island lacked the presence of adults or authority; and, thus, kids became more accustomed to anarchy. Due to this lawless environment, the evil human nature gradually overtook Jack and his hunting group and eventually led to savagery. Although there is no reason to behave in a polite manner, Ralph suggested that they ought to have rules and let kids vote for a chief to control them (P58)Read MoreDr. Zimbardo s The Lucifer Effect 1491 Words   |  6 Pagespromotes good will and condemns evil. So what makes ‘good people’ turn the corner between good and evil? We often see evil as an outside force interrupting our lives! We consider evil an entity or quality that is inherent in some people, that turn people into monsters! Unimaginable atrocities like the 9/11 incidents are caused by disturbed minds, not by us, normal people! We could never do something like that! Dr. Zimbardo’s book, ‘The Lucifer Effect’ is an effort to understand how good, decentRead MoreIs Abu Ghraib : How Good People Turn Evil?945 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Psychology Week 8 For this week’s discussion I was given, Genocide to Abu Ghraib: How good people turn evil. Abu Ghraib prison was a US Army detention center for captured Iraqis from 2003 to 2006. An investigation into the treatment of detainees at the prison was started by the unearthing of graphic photos showing guards abusing detainees in 2003. According to Fiske et al., (2010), aggression is generally defined as any behavior that is intended to harm another person who does not want toRead MoreMacbeth Good Vs Evil Essay1522 Words   |  7 Pagesbetween good and evil is a conflict full of strife, where consideration of natural law is continually overshadowed by the seductive illusion of power. William Shakespeare’s 17th-century play Macbeth shows the conflict of an honourable man who is provoked by external factors to fall from goodness and execute deplorable crimes. Not only does Macbeth become evil due to his inner nature, but external factors such as pride and greed cause him to su ccumb to an existence of sin. The majority of people areRead MoreSocial Psychology, By Philip Zimbardo1143 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Psychology is a branch of psychology that tries to find out how people behavior is influenced by others and the development of human interactions. According to the psychology professor and author of the book Fourty Studies that Changed Psychology, Roger Hock: â€Å"Social psychology may also be the research domain that contains the greatest number of landmark studies.† By this being said, social psychology contains a great amount of pioneers that have helped the development of psychology as a scienceRead More`` The Lottery `` By Shirley Jackson894 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Philip Zimbardo the author of The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil, he says â€Å"Good people can be induced, seduced, and initiated into behaving in evil ways. They can also be led to act in irrational, stupid, self-destructive, antisocial, and mindless ways when they a re immersed in total situations that impact human nature in ways that challenge our sense of the stability and consistency of individual personality, of character, and of morality† (Philip). In the

Retreat Center free essay sample

The Chapel on the Hill and the Labyrinth One side trip I had to Punta Fuego was the Chapel on the Hill in Don Bosco, Batulao, Batangas (also known as the Mary Help of Christians Center of Spirituality). It is situated on top of hill immediately beside the entrance of Don Bosco. You can see it from the road going to Caleruega, about a kilometer from the entrance of Evercrest Hotel Resort. [The Chapel on the Hill] To get there, take the national highway from Tagaytay City going to Nasugbu, Batangas. Turn left at the entrance of the Evercrest Hotel and Resort (after Petron Station). The Chapel on the Hill is about a kilometer to your left from the Evercrest entrance. Going further down the road would be Caleruega. [See Location map] The chapel has a circular floor plan. Calming, not only because of its location but also because of what you see around. We will write a custom essay sample on Retreat Center or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page With glass walls, you get a 360-view of the surroundings. Equally interesting is its Labyrinth. It seeks to help meditate and facilitate communion with God and ones inner self, aside from the fact that its gradually becoming a prime wedding destination south of Manila. Below is a shot of the chapels interior. Notice the circular pattern on the floor thats the Labyrinth. To explain better the significance of the floor pattern, I am quoting hereunder what is written at the entrance of the chapel and a faithful transcription thereof: THE LABYRINTH Journey to Inner Peace What is it? The labyrinth is a sacred circle with a single path that leads to its center. Walking the path lends itself to prayer and meditation. This kinesthetic style of prayer is especially valuable during those times when words cannot express the depths of heights of our experience. History: The labyrinth has a long history in the Christian tradition. During the Middle Ages, it was customary for the faithful to vow to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Since travel at that time was both dangerous and expensive, seven cathedrals throughout Europe were designated as alternative sites where pilgrims would Journey to fulfill their vows through walking the labyr. (sic) How to Use It: The Four Movements 1 . On the Threshold remove your shoes as an act of humility letting go and connect yourself to the earth. A truly spiritual person is very grounded. You may even bend to touch the ground to connect with the energies of the earth and the labyrinth. Bless ourself with holy water as an absolution and purification readying yourself to receive Gods presence. Xxx 2. Journeying In Try not to suppress the feelings that arise as you walk; instead embrace them. The twist and turns help you to shed layers of attachments, worry, anxiety, biases, distractions that prevents opening up to Gods will. These will enable the mind to stop chattering. The walk sharpens perception and readies the soul. Enjoying the twist and turn can help us to accept the changes in our lives. What seems like retrogression or being lost is actually a moving on toward the center goal. In this way, the Journey is reassuring, reminding us that life is open space you may rest sit, breathe and be still. Here receive a blessing through your crown or your feet. It may be the gift of a word, a feeling or Just stillness. Open your mind to the experience. This is where something new can take root and blossom, where you can let light into the center of your heart. Notice what you may be too rushed to see; ask a question you are normally afraid to ask; it may be the place to express a hidden beauty, Joy or grief. Emptied with distractions, you now have the opportunity to be filled. 4. Journeying out When you feel ready to leave the center, give thanks to whatever you have found or received and begin your Journey out. You may feel faster, lighter and funnier than you did on the way in. When you reach the exit pause, give thanks and rest. You may feel the need t express your journey in words, or with images on paper or want to express your experience with another pilgrim. Prayerful Ways to Approach your Labyrinth Walk: Openness God, what do you want me to know? What do you want to show me? Intercessory Prayer God, I want to communicate with you about this person, situation, need In honor of a significant date or transition Thank you, God, that I have the opportunity Use a prayer Phrase Repeat one of Gods names that that has a special meaning to you (i. e. Jesus, Jesus ) or a spiritual word that has significance to you (i. e. love, love, love ) x x x God, help me to pay attention to what is going on inside and outside of me. As a new approach to an old problem God, I need to talk with you and gain nes insight or commitment about this situation Walking with a question that is happening to you Identify a central question in your mind and heart. God, I am wondering what I need to do next in my life what input you have? Or repeat as you walk: What is my next step? Or if you are unsure of the quation use, What do I seek? The labyrinth invites us to consider how intricately we are fashioned how God continues to knit us, continues to hold us in a loving gaze, continues to be intricately involved in our ongoing fashioning. The labyrinth is a path to connect us to the still small voice, the sacred within ourselves. Below is a sketch of the labyrinth for better appreciation: I have not personally tried the labyrinth walk but transcribing the text alone made e feel some inner peace and serenity. I was wondering if the feeling is better if you personally experience it. Don Bosco Batulao is a sanctuary for retreats, recollections and other spiritual experiences with priests as facilitators, confessors, counselors and spiritual directors. It has the needed amenities and facilities to carry out its purpose such as rooms, dormitories, conference halls meditation camp, etc. The Chapel on the Hill is one of the amenities of Don Bosco Batulao. It was built in memory of Aurelio and Antonia Reyes by their daughter Rosario Reyes-Bartolome on the 27 day of October 2004. Below are other images. The first is the fascade of the chapel taken from the road and second is the entrance: Caleruega: The Hanging bridge, Koi po nd and Elevated walkway Caleruega, in argy, Kaylaway, Batulao, Batangas, is a house of prayer and renewal. It is open to activities like retreats, recollections, prayer and renewal workshops, study, research, youth camps, marriage and family encounters, skills training, leadership activities. To get to Caleruega, take the national road from Tagaytay, going to Nasugbu. After the Nasugbu Welcome Arch, turn left to Evercrest Golf Club, follow the road and youll see directions going to Caleruega. Just take it from there. Easy to find. [Immediately after Evercrest, you may want to check out Chapel on the Hill which have gained popularity as a prime wedding location. See location map. ] It has amenities like conference and function halls, dormitories and cottages, he Transfguration Chapel (which has become its famous landmark), and a camp site and reflection garden which I am featuring here. Below is an image of its entrance (located at the back of the chapel and admin bldg. ) Behind the Transfguration Chapel and Administration Bldg. of Caleruega is a camp site, accessible by going through elevated pathways covered by trees. Waterfalls, fountains and koi ponds provide relaxing sights below. More images on the next page): Below is an image of the hanging bridge: It is accessible (only) by a 5-10 minute walk on paved road. Even then, along the way are several rest areas like the one below: And panoramic views of Tagaytay mountains such as this: Here are other images of Caleruega: calaruega The Transfiguration Chapel Rising tall and majestic in the highest point of Caleruega is the Transfiguration Chapel. From here one can behold the expanse of Cale ruega and witness the glorious opus of radiant nature a symphony of sky, trees, and the distant hills of Batulao. Like St. Peter during Jesus transfguration, anyone who experiences such splendor of natures poetry will declare: Lord, it is good for us to be here (Mt. 17:4). The chapel itself is replete with symbolism. Its fapde is a reproduction of the original chapel in Caleruega, Spain. Its hut-shaped roof is in remembrance of the temporary sheds that the apostles wanted to build for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah during the transfiguration (Mt 17:1-8). The seal of the Dominican Province of the Philippines is depicted in stained glass in the upper portion of the chapels fapde. The seven grapevines ntwined in the steel doors of the chapel not only portray Jesus as the vine and we as branches Cohn 1 5:5), but also symbolize the seven sacraments.