Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Labyrinth, All Aglow

Once again on Friday September 13th, 2019 - we were very blessed to have so much help for our Light up the Labyrinth event. It was a wonderful evening on so many levels. And very likely the highest attendance ever! We also celebrated the successful completion of our "200 Labyrinth Walks for CP 200" event.

Thank you for making the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth a big part of the "heart of Carleton Place". And thank you to the photographers that help to capture the spirit of the evening with their images.
Our musician Kerron Lamb helped to open the labyrinth walk playing her magical crystal bowl.
Kerron was a wandering minstrel - playing guitar as everyone walked the lit up labyrinth.
At dusk the luminaries really started to glow!
This labyrinth events appeals to the youngsters and the young-at-heart.
Thank you Mayor Doug Black for your ongoing support of our community labyrinth.
Magic happens during Light up the Labyrinth.
Making light art!
And the comments about the event - warm our hearts - and make the work of setting up the luminaries very worthwhile :)

Friday the 13th + Full Moon + Light up the Labyrinth = AWESOME

 At 6:30 pm we went to Labyrinth behind the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum -- and one of the biggest crowds formed - one by one they came - as the sky turned black. We had mystical folks, everyday folks, artistic folks and even wee faeries. They all came to walk the magical steps of the Labyrinths and feel its power. Kerron Lamb played mystical music for all to listen too.


Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Yoga on the Labyrinth

On Sunday August 11th, 2019 we tried something new - yoga on the labyrinth! The Kundalini yoga class was taught by Dawn, a Carleton Place Community labyrinth committee member and trained yoga teacher. She set up at the centre of the labyrinth and we arranged our mats in a semi-circle on the paths of the labyrinth. The energy was beautiful, we felt held in the protective space of the labyrinth and truly energized at the end of the class.

We set up our yoga mats in a semi-circle around the centre of the labyrinth.
We feel energized after our first yoga session on the labyrinth. Everyone who was meant to be there was there!
What a great gift to find this kindness rock near the labyrinth, after our yoga session.
Stay tuned - as we start to plan for a completely different lineup of events for the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth for 2020. We are pretty sure that Yoga on the Labyrinth will be in the mix :)

Finding Peace on the Labyrinth

Once again, we were blessed with a beautiful evening for our Summer Solstice Peace Walk (held on June 21st, 2019) .at the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth. The magic of the evening seemed never-ending! We had all of the volunteer help that was needed. The sun beams landed directly on the labyrinth. The Rhythm and Song Community Choir sang angelically. And our guest speaker Mony Dojeiji, a veteran pilgrim and author, spoke directly from the heart, to all of our hearts.
We are very thankful for the photographers (John Rayner and Robert McDonald) who helped to catch the spirit of this very special event.
Guest speaker Mony Dojeiji sharing some insights about pilgrimage and labyrinth walking from the heart. (Photo: J. Rayner)
The labyrinth was particularly beautiful and the summer solstice energy in the air was palpable! (Photo: J. Rayner)
Labyrinth walkers were invited to select a stone that resonated with them, carry it while walking, then let it go at the centre of the labyrinth. (Photo: J. Rayner)

There was a great feeling of peace and connection during the labyrinth walk this evening. (Photo: R. McDonald)
The Carleton Place Community Labyrinth has an enlarged centre - intentionally designed to give a larger group room to gather and reflect there. (Photo: J. Rayner)
The Rhythm and Song Community Choir, directed by Jennifer Noxon, sang beautifully while people walked the labyrinth. (Photo: J. Rayner)
We truly felt thankful and full of inner peace on this Summer Solstice eve. (Photo: J. Rayner)
We are all loved. (Photo: J. Rayner)


Thursday, August 8, 2019

On Being an Artist in Residence!

When I retired in May 2018, after more than 30 years in marketing and advertising, the little seed of an idea popped into my head. I decided that I would like to be an artist in residence, teaching mosaic art,  somewhere in 2019. This little idea made my soul jump for joy!
This little idea made my soul jump for joy!
In January 2019, I realized that if I wanted to bring the "artist in residence" idea to life - I'd better put it out there. So on a cold wintery morning, I made a cup of tea and started to search the internet for possibilities. After some time I stumbled upon the Muskoka Chataqua website!  Keywords such as arts, culture and spirituality resonated with me. They offered an Artist in Residence program that looked very interesting - so I sent an email asking for more information.

Hi: I am a mosaic artist living in Almonte, Ontario and am interested in being sent information about your 2019 Artist in Residence program. Thanks very much Christine Hume

Within the next week I received a reply!

Hi Christine,
Thank you so much for your interest in our Artists-in-Residence program.
I would love to chat with you. What is a good day and time?
Kindest Gayle

I felt a bit nervous when I read this email, but a big voice boomed in my head "just be yourself"! And the next day when Gayle and I spoke - we had a great conversation! We found we shared a love of labyrinths and she even suggested what I could teach for my workshop. She had read about my yellow Camino mosaic arrow project on this blog, and felt it would make a great workshop to teach how to create these yellow arrows.  The minute she said this - it felt just right and the ideas started to flow re how to bring the workshop to life. 
Gayle suggested that I teach how to create the yellow Camino mosaic arrows in my workshop.
I am now back from spending a week as an "Artist in Residence" at the Clevelands House Resort in Minett, ON.  It was an amazing and inspiring creative experience. Every day was different - as the makeup of the groups varied from young children to twenty-somethings to parents and grandparents. The photos really help to tell the story.
I explain that the yellow mosaic arrows we will be creating are inspired by the yellow arrows found on the Camino pilgrimage path.



I also explain a bit more about the Camino and show the group this map of the various routes.
Pick your own arrow and bits and pieces to personalize it. Some participants brought their own items to add to their arrow.
My outdoor mosaic studio makes me happy!
A young mosaic artist - happily shows me her finished arrow :)
Everyone is immersed in creating their own yellow mosaic Camino arrow.
Lots of stories were told while this arrow was being created.
I just said - can you do a neat pose with your arrow?
This Mom and daughter plan to walk the Camino a few years from now - they really get it! The daughter's proud comment: I did art! :)
Another family group that really enjoyed the creative process!
Great way to sign your arrow, put your yellow arrow name tag on the back.
Bouquet of yellow wildflowers picked along the way, with yellow arrow picks - of course.
Large yellow arrow mural, with notes from workshop participants - set up for the Art Party.


Here are just a few of the yellow Camino mosaic arrows created by workshop participants!
I am so thankful for this amazing experience and for the wonderful people that I connected with. I highly recommend trying out one of the Muskoka Chataqua artist workshops at either the Clevelands House Resort or the New Baldwins Resort if you are in the area. There is a different artist at each resort for eight weeks during the months of July and August.

And I am "trusting the path" and truly looking forward to wherever the Yellow Camino Mosaic Arrow project takes me next!

Dear Christine: thank you so much for the beautiful labyrinth and the time we shared in Muskoka. I love the yellow arrows and the process that was both intuitive and thoughtful in creating both. I thoroughly enjoyed trusting the path with you and I look forward to reconnecting next year. Hopefully you can return for another Artist-in-Residence. Gayle :)

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Serendipity at the Labyrinth

Something very magical happened at the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth recently.

I was heading to Carleton Place to meet with our committee member Connie to help prepare the kindness rocks for the Summer Solstice Peace Walk that was being held on Friday, June 21st, 2019. Something told me to stop in at the labyrinth first - even though I would be a bit late.

As I got out of the car - I noticed that there was someone sitting on the contemplation ring around the labyrinth - very intent on his work. I was so happy to find out that it was the very moment in time that the stones were to be engraved in memory of our dear committee member Julia!
The first step for the stone engraving, tape the stencil to the stone.
The artisan explained that he learned his craft - from his grandfather and his father... And that his father had started out as a stone carver working on projects on Parliament Hill. He tried stone carving for a few months - but it did not resonate the way the sand blasting carving does. I asked for permission to take photos while he worked.
Julia lived in Africa for many years and loved it there. Her daughters chose three of her favourite animals as the images for the stone engraving. The word Chai means "tea" in Swahili.
"Tiari" means tea in Hindi.
"Pamoja" means "together"
Next step, out comes the portable sand blaster.
The stone carving artisan, intent on his work.
Interestingly - I also planned to walk the labyrinth - and was checking on the 200 labyrinth walks sign that is mounted on one of the picnic tables. As I went to check on it - Julia's name tag dropped onto the ground right beside my feet! It had been in the bag of supplies that I had in the car - not quite sure how it came to be right beside me???

SO I carried Julia's card with me as I walked the labyrinth today - saying this mantra:
I am strong; I am beautiful; I am blessed and I am loved.

After my walk I thanked Julia very much for being there with me!

As well - while I was walking there was a grandmother walking the contemplation ring - with her grandson in a baby carriage. Her daughter lives right across the street from the labyrinth and they come often - with her 2 year old granddaughter. They also have a big white cat - that comes to the labyrinth when we are having events. I was able to tell the Grandmother about Julia - and her husband Ted - and showed her the PAX engraved stones (in memory of Ted) - and the newly engraved African animal stones (in memory of Julia) . She really appreciated knowing the story behind the engraved stones.
Getting ready to remove the stencil.
The engraved memorial stone appears.
I love the strength and meaning of this image.
Some more information on the meaning of the words with the images - sent by Julia's daughter:We chose the words "chai tiari pamoja" because of what they signify for us. Mum and Dad often said "chai tiari" for tea time. We really thought that the phrase meant "tea time" but as we were deciding what to write on the stones, we found out both words actually mean "tea"! Chai is in Swahili and tiari in Hindi I think. Pamoja means "together" which we thought significant as well.

Trusting the Path!