How to Host "150 Labyrinth Walks for Canada's 150th" at Your Labyrinth

Whenever someone walks the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth during the period April 10th – September 8th in 2017, they will be encouraged to register their walk at the labyrinth. We are hoping to meet, and even exceed, our goal of 150 labyrinth walks – and will celebrate our combined achievement during our annual “Light up the Labyrinth” event on Friday, September 8th, starting at 6:30 p.m.

To broaden the scope of this special commemorative initiative – we are also reaching out to other labyrinths locally and across Canada – and inviting them to join in the celebration. A list of participating labyrinths (to date) can be found below.

How to take part:

1. Register your labyrinth by sending an email to chume@bsl.com - subject line:
"150 Labyrinth Walks for Canada's 150th" We want to Participate!

2. Decide the length of time you want to run the event, and how you want participants to register their walks, e.g.

• use the signage or poster (link to downloadable PDF)
• use a log book; or
• set up on-line registration.

3. Set an intention for this event.  Here is an example provided by our friends at the Toronto Labyrinth Network (LCN):

"First, in regards to Canada's 150th, I would suggest, that since the Labyrinth is a sacred space for prayer & meditation a focus be offered to those participating. This universal theme would help to unite all the different labyrinths participating even more strongly. It could speak to the need for wisdom of our leaders going forward or the healing for past wrongs."

4. Promote the event at your labyrinth - by editing this news release (link to editable document) to include your own details. Send the news release out to local media, post mentions of your event on your website, blog and/or in social media.

5. Whenever you do a social media post, make sure to use the hashtags #canada150, plus your community's hashtag, e.g. Carleton Place #cpcan150; Ottawa  #ottawa150; Vancouver #vancouver150; Toronto #toronto150 and so on.

6. Keep track of how you are doing - and post mentions of your progress on your website, blog and/or in social media.

7. Celebrate when you reach your goal!

Bennett-Lindsay Labyrinth in Burnstown, Ontario (Photo Credit: Hoverwolf)

Canadian Labyrinths that are participating (to date):

• Bennett-Lindsay Labyrinth located in Burnstown, Ontario beside the Bittersweet Gallery at 5 Leckie Lane, for more info contact Kathryn Lindsay at kflindsay@gmail.com

• Carleton Place Community Labyrinth  located in Carleton Place, Ontario /http://carletonplacecommunitylabyrinth.blogspot.ca
• Castlegar & District Recreation Complex Labyrinth located in Castlegar, British Columbia at 2101 6th Avenue
  
• Fleetwood Park Labyrinth located in Surrey, British Columbia at 15802 – 80th Avenue – www.labyrinthlady.ca
• St. Luke's Anglican Church Labyrinth located in Ottawa, Ontario at  760 Somerset Street http://www.stlukesottawa.ca/en/become/labyrinth
• The Toronto Public Labyrinth at Trinity Park Square located in Toronto, Ontario - www.labyrinthnetwork.ca
• Tigh Shee Labyrinth located in North Lancaster, Ontario - http://www.roadsigns.ca/wp/about/labyrinths-gardens/  

For more information, contact Christine Hume, chume@bsl.com or 613 722 6832 x238 or cel. 613 859 2136

A New Year of Labyrinth Events

Today seems like the perfect time to reflect on some of the wonderful labyrinth walks and events we have experienced at the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth in 2016. If you scroll through the blog you will see some images and short articles about this!

If you have lots of experience with labyrinths and/or if you have never yet come to visit the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth - here is our list of events for 2017. We look forward to meeting you on the path sometime this coming year.  (The Carleton Place Community Labyrinth Committee)

"Many speak of labyrinth practice as a form of walking meditation, that naturally quiets the mind, brings focus and often results in insight. Feelings of calm and peacefulness are often reported by those using the labyrinth." (Jill K.H. Jeffrion)

Walking a labyrinth naturally quiets the mind!

Carleton Place Community Labyrinth - 2017 Events

APRIL 10 - SEPTEMBER 8
Help reach our goal of 150 labyrinth walks for Canada's 150th
Register your walk at the labyrinth

APRIL 10
Open Labyrinth 7 p.m.
Film and dessert pot luck

SATURDAY, APRIL 22
Earth Day Sunrise Walk at 6 a.m.
Breakfast to follow at local venue

SATURDAY, MAY 6
Walk as One at One - join us at 1 p.m.
World Labyrinth Day
Annual global event celebrated each year on the first Saturday in May. You are invited to “Walk as One at 1” to effect a rolling wave of peaceful energy as the world turns.

BIWEEKLY WALKS 9 to 10 a.m.
June 6, 20; July 4, 18
Aug. 1, 15; Sept. 5, 19
Labyrinth keeper on site

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21
Summer Solstice Walk for Peace, 7 pm

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Light Up the Labyrinth
Set up 6:30 pm, Walk 7:30 pm
Bring your lantern and/or wear your light creations and be part of the fun!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5
Full Moon Walk, 8 pm

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. 
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Connecting Labyrinths on World Labyrinth Day

The Carleton Place Community Labyrinth was honoured to host an 8th annual World Labyrinth Day (WLD) walk on Saturday May 7th at 1 p.m.   A day started by the Labyrinth Society  - as a day designated to bring people from all over the planet together in celebration of the labyrinth as a symbol and tool for healing and peace.

Thankful for the support the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth gets from local media.

As a result of our ongoing promotion about the Carleton Place Community labyrinth - we were especially pleased to have an article about our WLD walk in the Humm (our local arts & culture newspaper) and to be interviewed by Brian Perkins of Lake 88 radio station on the morning of the walk. As well, the Ottawa Citizen featured an article - Daytripping on World Labyrinth Day - in the travel section.

This year there were over 200 events in 24 countries!

This year we were inspired to try a WLD experiment - linking with two other labyrinths (one in Ottawa and the other in Columbia, South America) - to share in reading a prayer for peace at the beginning of our respective walks.

Linking labyrinths: CP Community Labyrinth, the labyrinth at St. Stephen's Church in Ottawa and Buena Vista Labyrinth in Columbia, South America.

We found that our WLD experiment deepened our connection! In Ottawa, we walked linking the St. Stephen’s Labyrinth Peace Walk with the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth Peace Walk. Unfortunately we were only able to connect with our labyrinth contacts in South America by email.

 Thank you for trying.  The Andes are big mountains so it amazes me that we can ever connect with anyone - anytime.
We will be walking with you in spirit.
Blessings
Bailey and Dawn

WLD labyrinth walkers chose an "intention" stone to carry with them to the centre.

Before we began our walks, we shared in these prayers for peace via iPhone/FaceTime.

If there is to be peace in the world,

There must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,

There must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities,

There must be peace between neighbors.

If there is to be peace between neighbors,

There must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home,

There must be peace in the heart.

chinese philospher - lao-tse - 6th century bce

Dear Creator, You, the borderless

sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the

world that which we need most—Peace.

prayer - maya angelou

© 2005 (Last verse of Prayer)

Labyrinth walkers enjoyed the WLD walk and time for quiet reflection afterwards

.

A reflection on peace - a heartfelt expression of what it meant to walk on this day.

Finding Labyrinths Along the Way

While walking the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth early last Friday morning - it occurred to me that I should try to find labyrinths to walk along the way - while on my upcoming journey to the Haliburton School of the Arts to take a course on Soul Collage®.

I checked both the Labyrinth Society's Worldwide Labyrinth Locator and the Ontario Labyrinth Locator for some possibilities. Of course - I only did this on the morning of the day I was leaving. 

And here are the labyrinths that I found and some notes and photos about my experience.

Between Friends - 730 Inglis Rd., Renfrew, ON. Private, outdoor, always open, Chartres design. Wild flowers.

I sent an email and tried to call ahead - but could not connect with the owner - so did not get to walk this labyrinth.

Rocky Bear Labyrinth - located at the Teddy Bear B&B in L'Amable, ON.  Public, outdoor, Cretan design. 7-circuit, 50 foot diameter. Pebbles and quarry rock.

I called and spoke to Diane (one of the owners of the bed & breakfast) - and it was no problem to walk the labyrinth.  Diane was very warm and welcoming on the phone. I saw a sign for the Teddy Bear B&B as I was getting closer to Bancroft - and was delighted to find it quite easily.  I knocked on the door - but no one was home - so I explored the labyrinth path on my own.

I had a very peace-filled walk at the Rocky Bear Labyrinth, located right beside a wee lake.

Grail Springs Labyrinth - Bancroft. Please call in advance if you would like to visit and walk the labyrinth. Also inquire about our Sacred Labyrinth Sacred Life retreats. Private, medieval, inner 5 circuits of the Chartres design, 33 feet diameter, rock, garden, hemlock. 

Unfortunately - I was not able to make arrangements to walk this labyrinth.

Hello Chris,
Grail Spring is a private retreat centre. There is a small window of opportunity for you to meet with Barb Shaw at 6:30 at the front desk. Without an escort it would not be possible. Please answer if this is okay for you and I will inform Barb who will be glad to meet you.
Kind regards,
Grail Services team

Hello Chris,
Sorry I skipped over the answer for Saturdays... Saturdays are not possible because guests would and could very likely be using the labyrinth.
Kind regards,
Guest Services

Haliburton Highlands Tranquility Trail - a labyrinth healing park located at Haliburton Highlands Health Care Facility. Public, outdoor, wheelchair accessible, Cretan design, 5-circuit, 30 foot diameter. Crushed stone path & perennial sedum.

Sadly - this labyrinth has been removed (possibly because it was neglected and needed tending?)  - and has not yet been rebuilt.  However I was able to find out about the Minden Hills labyrinth from a staff member at the Health Care Facility.

Minden Hills Labyrinth - Minden - Public, outdoor, shaded by trees, 7-circuit. 42 foot diameter. Gravel pathway. More than 1000 stones mark the walls. Tree stump shaped into a stool in centre for restful contemplation. Peace pole, “May Peace Prevail on Earth", in English, Finnish, German, French & Spanish. Located across the Gull River bridge on grounds of Minden Hills Museum.

We drove to Minden one evening looking for this labyrinth.  We stopped at the Cultural Centre and I went through to the library.  There I was directed to find George at the Agnes Jamieson Gallery who would be able to tell us more about the labyrinth. Another sad story about a lonely labyrinth.  The stones are being removed, in effect the labyrinth is being dismantled, again because it seems there is no one to tend it.  However, we could still find the path, and George made an exception and unlocked the gate close to the labyrinth so we could come in to walk it.

Some lessons from the labyrinth: he/she loves me; remember to make an exception; can still find and follow the path despite perceived difficulties; let there be light - shimmering through a crystal!

A lovely location for a labyrinth - on the grounds of the Minden Cultural Centre.

I pause and find a crystal along the path.

Labyrinth at Kennisis Lake - Haliburton - Private, appointments can be made via email to Belinda Beer, Petite Chartres, 7-circuit, 24 foot diameter.

When I sent the email to Belinda inquiring about walking her labyrinth - I heard back within minutes!
And synchronistically, we were even taking the same course.  A group of eight of us ended up having a wonderful evening at this labyrinth while we were in Haliburton.

Hi Belinda: I am about to leave Almonte – and will be travelling to Haliburton to take a one week course (on Soul Collage® at the Haliburton School of Arts. I am hoping to walk a labyrinth or two while on my journey. Would it be OK to make an appointment to walk your labyrinth at some point while I am in Haliburton? I look forward to your reply. Thanks Chris

Just left you a voice mail. I'm on that course too. You are welcome to walk whenever you would like. Belinda

We are so fortunate to visit this sacred space, called Cathedral in the Woods

We place our Soul Collage® cards on the labyrinth - what a powerful combination.

The beauty and energy of the forest surrounds us.

  And the labyrinth journey continues. 

What a special gift to walk this labyrinth in the woods today. 

Lessons learned:

Believe and receive all that you need.

Trust your path (supported by our newly created Soul Collage® cards).

Continue to step inside the Circle - and step up to new opportunities that present themselves.

"Listen to your heart"

"Help me find and keep my humble self"

I feel supported by the labyrinth and the group of soul sisters that are here - in this moment!

Journalling at the Labyrinth

We are so thankful to our committee member Julia (for finding this old mailbox) and to local artist MJ Lancaster (for transforming it)!  Now anytime you visit the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth  - our brochures and guest book can be easily found - right at the entrance to the labyrinth.

You've got labyrinth mail! You will find our guest book and brochures here.

Take a few moments to reflect upon your walk and write a journal entry in our guest book...

“Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.”  

― Christina Baldwin

 “This pouring thoughts out on paper has relieved me. I feel better and full of confidence and resolution.”

― Diet Eman, Things We Couldn't Say

"Verba Volant, Scripta Manet"
(Words fly away, the written remain)
― Inspiration from Veronica Chenier, vendor at the Carp Farmer's Market