Celebrating World Labyrinth Day!

Despite the rain, we had a small, enthusiastic group turn out to celebrate World Labyrinth Day at the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth in Carleton Place, Ontario Canada on Saturday, May 6th 2017 at 1 p.m.

WLD participants (from left to right): Julia, Monika, Stephanie, Chris, Connie, Kathryn and Debby.

Once again - we are very thankful to local media for helping us to promote our event - in particular "The Humm" and Lake 88 radio station.

We were happy to collaborate with Grace Amirault, Veriditas Council Member via Facetime to read the following opening prayer together.  We wanted to connect with another labyrinth facilitator at the start of our walk - to symbolically represent the power of bringing people together globally to recognize the labyrinth as a special tool for healing and peace.

We walked together and felt contained and held by the space and fully protected by our umbrellas!

 To the Four Directions (a reading for individual voices)

Spirit of the East, spirit of air,
 Of morning and springtime;
Be with us as the sun rises,
In times of beginning,
Times of planting.
Inspire us with the fresh breath of courage
As we go forth into new adventures.

Spirit of the South, spirit of fire
of noontime and summer;
Be with us through the heat of the day
And help us to be ever growing
Warm us with strength and energy
for the work that awaits us

Spirit of the West, spirit of water,
Of evening and autumn;
Be with us as the sun sets
and help us to enjoy a rich harvest.
Flow through us with a cooling, healing quietness
and bring us peace.

Spirit of the North, spirit of earth,
Of nighttime and winter;
Be with us in the darkness, in the time of gestation.
Ground us in the wisdom of the changing seasons
 as we celebrate the spiraling journey of our lives.
Joan Goodwin

This year World Labyrinth Day events were held around the world with 159 participating locations in the United States, 25 in Australia, 18 in Canada, 14 in England, 6 in the Netherlands, 4 in New Zealand, Norway & South Africa, 3 in Germany, Ireland, Italy and Scotland, 1 in France, Hungary, Hong Kong, Sweden, Greece, Lithuania, Spain and Switzerland. An interactive map depicting this can be found at this link.