Creativity Inspired by Labyrinth Walking

In 2012, while walking the Bennett-Lindsay labyrinth in Burnstown, Ontario two simple messages came to me:

"Take time for creativity"

"Make time for creativity"

And to make room for new ideas and possibilities I first set about to finish various creative projects. 

That, in itself, was immensely satisfying.

To do so - I simply booked "creativity time" on my Outlook calendar - a half hour or hour here and there during the week - and a couple of hours on either Saturday or Sunday on the weekend.

I was amazed - as I started to finish projects - how new ideas started to flow! Here is the story of one of the new projects - creating an octagonal labyrinth mosaic.

First I was given a cool octagonal frame, and then I made this fun fused heart at Current Works of Glass.

Fused heart made from scraps of glass.

Then I stumbled upon this "Squaring the Circle" labyrinth wisdom card (created by Tony Christie) - and just knew that the octagonal labyrinth should be part of the mosaic design.

"Squaring the Circle" Labyrinth Wisdom Card (Tony Christie)

A web search for octagonal labyrinths resulted in me finding this labyrinth - from Rome Palatine
Italy - Imperial Palace on the Palatine, dating ca. 75. This 8 sided polygon labyrinth was 20 meters in width giving 1 meter wide lanes to be walked to get to a fountain in the centre. How fascinating!

Ancient octagonal labyrinth from the Imperial Palace on the Palatine, Italy (ca. 75 AD)

It also occured to me to incorporate the seven chakra colours - starting with red, orange and yellow at the heart centre.

Further inspiration - include the chakra colours!

Pulling the ideas together - just start!

Everything flows together as I start to create the mosaic.

The completed mosaic - grouted and ready to hang! This piece feels extra-special to me.

Octagonal labyrinth mosaic finished and ready to hang!

What a cool creative process this has been! It makes my heart sing.

Start consistently making art!

 

Finding Inner Peace on the Labyrinth on June 16th

                                      "There is no path to peace, peace is the path." Gandhi

From 7:00  - 8:30 p.m. on Thursday June 16th, 2016, the Labyrinth Committee will present "Finding Inner Peace on the Labyrinth” at the Community Labyrinth in Carleton Place.

With this summer evening event, the Committee hopes to focus attention on the need for peace in the world and within ourselves. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools and have even been used for bringing peace and reconciliation between individuals in conflict.

"I believe that walking the path of the labyrinth can bring peace to those who seek it," says Debby Lytle, a volunteer for The Labyrinth Committee of Carleton Place.

Join us for an evening labyrinth walk and be prepared! The committee is keeping tight lipped about a special event that will be happening at some point during the evening.  Then gather afterwards to collaboratively create a large collage

Christine Hume, Veriditas Certified Labyrinth Facilitator & Mosaic Artist will share her experiences with mandala and collage creation and will facilitate the creation of a collaborative collage with the theme “what helps to bring you inner peace”?

Help create a collaborative collage, with the theme "what brings you inner peace?"

All are welcome. Refreshments will be provided. You are welcome to picnic in the garden beforehand.

Carleton Place Community Labyrinth is located beside the Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum, at 267 Edmund St.

For more information contact Debby 613-257-1014. 
Like us on Facebook!

A World-wide Celebration of the Labyrinth

Our World Labyrinth Day walk turned out to be a great success.  Just minutes before one – people started arriving!  And there were 22 people walking as 1 at 1 PM! 

We placed a globe and World Labyrinth Day poster as a focal point on the labyrinth.

We placed a globe and an enlargement of the World Labyrinth Day  poster on the labyrinth too – and we could see people pausing to look at this setup as they were walking.  It was a good thematic focal point to have - and a reminder of that we were walking together with hundreds of other people in celebration of the labyrinth as a symbol and tool for healing and peace.

On a labyrinth walk today. Boy was it fun!

New this year, we had a "reflection table" - where some children (and adults) coloured before the walk – and some labyrinth walkers gathered afterwards to draw or journal while reflecting upon their experience in the labyrinth.

We had a "reflection table" for labyrinth walkers to gather at after their walk.

There was a short talk - at the standing stone - about World Labyrinth Day, the difference between a labyrinth and a maze, the story of the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth and tips about how to walk a labyrinth.

Work of art created after walking the labyrinth.

And then people started by standing quietly on the pausing stone at the labyrinth entrance - and then walking contemplatively. Afterwards – we invited anyone who wanted to be in the group photo to head to the entrance of the labyrinth.

Greetings from the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth!

Walking the labyrinthine way of my life 

No thought, no time, no place, no rhyme or reason for it 

But this step forward 

And this one next 

Feet on ground, heart stone in hand 

Held in the vast emptiness 

Let go, let go

(by Christine Dixon, WLD walk participant)

Creativity on the Labyrinth

A thought occurred to me this summer - that I could start a 30 labyrinth walk journey!  And after each walk I would create a different mandala - using a process that I learned taking a wonderful workshop taught by Kathryn Kasaboski at the Margeurite Centre in Pembroke a couple of years ago.

Mandala supplies - card stock, colour pencils and a pencil sharpener

During the workshop we learned how this ancient symbol can be used for deeper personal reflection, meditation, healing and insight.  Our teacher had been studying and using mandalas for many years - and saw them as a great way to connect with our subconscious and bring questions and problems into the physical plane so we can find new ways to solve life issues.  

We used black card stock and a white pencil crayon to quickly sketch the mandala imagery that came to mind. Then spent some time adding more details with coloured pencils.  Finally we made note of the theme or message that came through to us.

Before walking the labyrinth I have no idea of the theme or central image for the mandala I will be creating that day.  I simply give myself the gift of time to be at the labyrinth and set an intention as a start.  Then I walk to the centre of labyrinth (releasing any cares and worries of the day), spend time at the centre - giving myself time to receive the idea of the visual for the mandala, then return and finish off the walk by creating a mandala. A few examples follow:

A feather found during my walk - inspires this mandela "Free to Be"

Spending quiet reflective time near water reminds me to "Flow Like a River"

A walk at the Stewart Park temporary labyrinth encourages me to "Challenge Myself"

Today I learn to "Listen to my Heart" instead my "Head"

I am reminded that I am on an "Inward Journey"

I am enjoying the creative process of my 30 labyrinth walk journey - and am not really certain where it is taking me - but I will know when I get there!

Have you created any artwork inspired by labyrinth walking?  If so - we would love to hear about your experiences.