Worldwide Labyrinth Day - Celebrated Together

Glad to have celebrated World Labyrinth day with you all today on the site of our “getting closer to reality” permanent labyrinth. A crowd of about 30 people gathered - all were interested and supportive and it was lovely to see some new faces. 

There was a postive energy and a natural flow to the day - from the church bells tolling right at 1 pm - to the recitation of the "Simple Tools" poem by Inez - and to the moment of entering the labyrinth and walking the path - one by one. 

There were smiling faces, embraces, tears and hugs, spine-tingling moments, the much-maligned dandelions brightly leading the way - to the centre!  A moment of being all together - resting awhile - then refreshed , feeling renewed, treading softly back to the entrance, entranced by the feeling of being one of many walking the path today!

Simple Tools (the Labyrinth)

This I know
Simple tools are the best.

When I first gazed
upon a labyrinth path
It reminded me, laughingly, of my life.
As each wide arc
Of effort and emotion that
Carried me down some path
Never seemed to reach it’s goal.
Turning back on itself instead
To inscribe another arching roll
Then coming to a halt
in some empty inner space.
Requiring me to retrace
my steps in parallel strokes
Only to be spit out, frustrated and broke
Near the place where I began.
What a perfect joke! I thought
“Its a child’s toy, no more
Like Hopscotch, without keeping score”.

But with a little more information
And some newly focused intention
I made up my mind, and in I went
To walk the labyrinth path..
Without much effect, at first
But from learning and practice
And walking again
I came to believe that this was a tool
That could ground my journey,
All the way to the end.

Think on this.
A thousand,
Plus a thousand,
Plus a thousand,
Plus a thousand years
and more
Humans have created this pattern
On rocks and walls and floors.
In soaring cathedrals,
In musty hidden tombs
In glorious formal gardens
And simple mud-walled rooms

It has been looked on as a door
To capricious gods
A key to hidden truths
Protection from relentless foes
And long odds.
And a symbol of the christian church.
All of those, all of those, all of those,
and more!

Something must be working
In the flowing pattern of curves and lines
That pulls at the core of human kind
Guiding movement, calming the mind.
Some universal archetype
For all life’s journey taken to find
Our inner truth and outer signs
Of hope.

And no, it’s not a devil’s mark!
There is no evil there.
Only a simple form and true
Inviting you to walk in meditation
A frame for contemplation or prayer
Only a symbol
At the very center of the human breast
Remember,
Simple tools are the best.

By: Inez Dekker, April 2010
LIPS Member (Live Poets Society)

Join us at the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth on Saturday May 1st
as we "Walk as One at 1 for World Labyrinth Day"
Inez will open our walk with this poem!

NYC - Battery Park: Jerusalem Grove and Battery Labyrinth for Contemplation

I had the privilege of visiting New York City this week - taking a course for work.  I did an online search for labyrinths in NYC - hoping to find one I could visit and walk after being inside all day.  I was delighted to find the Battery Labyrinth in nearby Battery Park.  I felt  an incredible sense of peacefulness and going with the flow while walking the path of this lovely labyrinth.  I spent some time at the centre looking out towards the Statue of Liberty, enjoying being in the moment and the warmth of the setting sun.

Here is some more information, as found here on Flickr:
"It was created originally to commemorate the one year anniversary of the World Trade Center tragedy and offers the public a way to reflect, honor and heal.  The labyrinth path is outlined with 1,148 granite blocks that form seven circular rings. Designed by Camino de Paz Labyrinths, it runs approximately 358 feet to the center core and then 358 out again to the entrance.A labyrinth encourages contemplation on a journey with a clear destination. It's goal is to create an internal balance generated by the rhythm of the walking and the mental state of no decision-making. The labyrinth sits within Jerusalem Grove--a grove of 11 Blue Atlas Cedars (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'). The cedars were a gift from Israel and dedicated on July 8, 1976."

Toronto Public Labyrinth at Trinity Square Park

During a very short trip to Toronto recently for a day long "Art of Marketing" conference, I was able to fit in an early morning visit to the Labyrinth at Trinity Square Park.  I discovered that the labyrinth was just minutes away from the Sheratron on Queen Street.   I slipped out of the hotel room by 6:30 am and set out to find Trinity Square Park.  I first was drawn to Nathan Phillipps Square but quickly realized this was not the right spot.  Anyone that I asked that morning - did not know where Trinity Square Park was. So I just headed to the right, past the Bell Building and suddenly I came upon a lovely oasis in the bustling city!  It did not matter that the labyrinth was snow-covered that morning.  I felt a profound sense of peacefulness and also felt very grounded while exploring the area... 

I had printed out and read some articles from http://www.labyrinthnetwork.ca/ on the flight to Toronto.  Here is an excerpt that describes one person's experience in walking this labyrinth:

"When I reached the centre, I hung out for a few moments, looking around at the delicate pale green of the budding trees and at the setting sun reflected off the high-rise buildings, and just breathed, allowing myself to feel the joy of having survived to revel in another spring."

And upon returning to the hotel I found a "PATH" sign above the door, reminding me to just "trust the process, trust the path"!  How cool is that?

2010 Fundraising Campaign

On March 1st, 2010 the Labyrinth Committee will kick off the fundraising campaign for the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth. Our goal is to raise $10,000! Every contribution brings us closer to the reality of creating the permanent labyrinth and completing the gardens that will surround it. Can you help us realize our dream of bringing the labyrinth experience to our community? We believe it can happen! Please read the letter by clicking on the Fundraising Campaign page on this blog, for more details of our project. Ready to make a donation? Print out the Donation Form page, fill out the form and mail it with your cheque to the address noted. Thank you for your kindness and support.

Walk the path

Debby Lytle, Chair

Join us on our journey to establishing a permanent labyrinth in Carleton Place

Welcome to the blog for the Labyrinth Committee (a sub-committee of Communities in Bloom, a striking committee of the Town of Carleton Place). Our committee is working toward the installation of a permanent community labyrinth for Carleton Place. It is our intention to share the story of this journey through this blog.

A labyrinth is a circuitous path with one entrance point that leads through a series of switch-backs to its centre. When followed, the labyrinth leads eventually and without making choices to the centre. Today, labyrinths are undergoing a modern revival in response to the contemporary needs of our time. Labyrinths are being installed in hospitals, schools, parks, retreat centres, and churches all around the world, as a way to reduce the toll of our stressed and hurried modern culture.

Whenever you feel like taking a break from your busy lives - feel free to join us here or on the labyrinth - for a quiet moment of inspiration!