Harvest Lanterns Light the Labyrinth

On Saturday September 21st, the warm glow of lanterns of all shapes and sizes will illuminate the path of Carleton Place's community labyrinth for the 5th "Harvest Lantern Labyrinth Walk". Festivities take place at 7:00 pm behind the Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum at the corner of George and Baines Streets in Carleton Place.

The Labyrinth Committee of Carleton Place invites you to bring out your lanterns and join an evening walk. Luminaries will be flickering along the labyrinth’s path and colourful handcrafted lanterns will be set aglow in “Labyrinth Park”.

“Borrow a lantern from us or bring your own creation!” says TLC Chairperson Debby Lytle. Along with a candlelit path, expect to enjoy music, and refreshments – all chosen for the harvest theme. For those who are new to the labyrinth experience, it’s a perfect chance to visit the site and discover the serenity and simplicity of walking a labyrinth.

The "Harvest Lantern Labyrinth Walk" has become a popular fall event, as individuals and families from across the region bring along their festive lanterns, enjoy a walk in the crisp autumn air, and cozy up to a roaring bonfire. Garden benches and a wheelchair-accessible contemplation ring encircle the labyrinth for those who wish to relax and watch the candlelight.

Thanks to support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Town of Carleton Place and individuals and businesses within our community, this permanent labyrinth exists for people to use at any time.

Volunteers from the Labyrinth Committee are also available onsite each Tuesday from 9 to 10 am. until the end of October to answer any questions you may have.

For more information, or if you would like to help to set up the luminaries prior to the walk, please contact Debby at 613-257-1014

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Reflecting on our "Walk in Peace" Event

While we began in 2008 fundraising and building our community labyrinth, our role has now evolved to that of labyrinth keepers and event planners.  We are striving always to bring awareness of the labyrinth to our community and surrounding area.

The concept for our recent "Walk in Peace" event, held on Thursday, June 20th, 2013 was to hold a community picnic supper, starting at 5:30 pm,  in the garden that is situated close to our labyrinth.

A perfect evening for a summer picnic!

We invited speakers to come and present a short talk on “Inner Peace”(Claudia Baker, retired teacher and practicing Buddhist) and “Global Peace”(Peggy Edwards, Grandmothers Advocacy Network).

Claudia Baker shares some inspiring quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh.

Peggy Edwards speaks passionately on behalf of African Grandmothers

We followed this with a singing bowl meditation in the garden (led by Karen Jones), an introduction to labyrinth walking and then a walk.  The singing bowls were played during the walk.

We are accompanied on our labyrinth walk by the healing vibrations of the crystal singing bowls!

There were a few props around, a blanket with children’s books on peace, a bucket of bubbles and wands.  We use shepherd hooks around the labyrinth and hung laminated reflections on “Peace” that people could read prior to entering the labyrinth.  Around our labyrinth are 4 benches framed by gardens (we call these meditation areas).  On each of the benches we placed books on peace and finger labyrinths for those unable to walk.

We set up a table with material scraps for event attendees to write prayers and thoughts about peace on.  These were hung with clothes pegs on a line strung between a couple of trees when completed, similarly to the peace/praryer flags seen in Tibet.  This was a popular activity and the squares have gone home with one of our committee members to be sewn together into a “quilt top”.

Event attendees share their thoughts about peace!

A prayer flag is a colorful rectangular cloth, often found strung along mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas. They are used to bless the surrounding countryside and for other purposes.  Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect and the feeling throughout the evening was one of community, unity and peace.  Some people that had arrived frazzled and stressed by their day - left feeling renewed and refreshed!

Blooming Art and Garden Tour

Spend a day in Carleton Place touring seven private gardens, the Victoria School Garden and the Community Labyrinth.

Enjoy the beautiful, individual styles of landscaping and horticulture with the added features of local artists and members of the arts community presenting a variety of artwork, music, and performance art.  Added attractions include samplings of culinary delights and special surprise guests.

Truly a delight for all five senses!

Saturday, July 6,  2013, 10:00-4:00 p.m. (rain date July 7)

Tickets $25.00

For more information visit:
Blooming Tour 
Carleton Place in Bloom 
Arts Carleton Place

New Sign to be Unveiled at World Labyrinth Day Walk

Walking the labyrinth on World Labyrinth Day is the perfect way to celebrate spring!

Join us on Saturday May 4th for our first public event of 2013  as we "Walk as One at 1 pm" in celebration of World Labyrinth Day.  If you are new to the labyrinth experience, this Saturday walk will be the perfect introduction for you. This year, volunteer “labyrinthkeepers” will unveil a new sign that will serve as a year-round guide for visitors to the labyrinth.

Helpful tips for walking and learning more about labyrinths

World Labyrinth Day, declared in 1998 by The Labyrinth Society, brings people together globally to recognize the labyrinth as a symbol, a tool, a passion, and a practice. This will be the fifth World Labyrinth Day walk for the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth, as we join enthusiasts from around the globe who will walk their local labyrinth at 1:00 pm. in their local time zones.

By walking a labyrinth, we are rediscovering an ancient tradition which is still relevant today. Labyrinths offer a special place in a community for people to come together for significant celebrations, to resolve a problem, to enjoy a meditative walk, or to simply take time out of a busy day. The newly built stone-bordered pathway of the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth is situated in a peaceful garden setting beside the Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum at the corner of George and Baines Streets.

Labyrinths exist in many forms, in places as diverse as Peru, Iceland, Egypt, France, and the United Kingdom. Some have been built on private lands, while others, like the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth, have been created as a public space for all to enjoy. Labyrinth construction was made possible by the Town of Carleton Place, individual, business  & community sponsors, and a Trillium Foundation grant. Garden benches and a wheelchair accessible contemplation ring encircle the labyrinth for those who wish to enjoy the natural setting of "Labyrinth Park".

Members of the volunteer Labyrinth Committee invite you to experience the good feeling walking a labyrinth can make in your life!  Fascinating information about the history, benefits and unique aspects of the labyrinth will also be available.

For more information contact Debby: 613-257-1014
Like us @ Facebook.com/CarletonPlaceCommunityLabyrinth

Linking Labyrinths

While visiting a lovely labyrinth this summer, the thought of "linking labyrinths" occurred to us. We felt drawn to connecting with other labyrinths locally, and throughout Eastern Ontario. Reflecting on this now - I am pretty sure that the labyrinth walk that day - and the wonderful companionship that we experienced - prompted this message to come through!

Unique thyme labyrinth built by Elvia Scullion and her husband.

At the centre - a small piece of tile rescued from a Cathedral during a recent visit to South America.



Symbols of love and happiness abound!

A short while later, without having done any more than thinking about "linking labyrinths"  - we received a list of local labyrinths!  And after participating in the Labyrinth Pilgrimage Tour of the Ottawa Valley we were invited to post upcoming event information on a new website to help us stay interconnected.  You will find the list of local labyrinths on the home page of this site.  We highly recommend planning a visit to one or more of these labyrinths sometime in 2013!

"We believe if we work together and support each other in our labyrinth walking, we can nurture even more healing in the world." 



Labyrinth Events for 2013

We are thankful for everyone that walked the Carleton Place Community labyrinth - or just gave themselves time to sit quietly on one of the benches this year.  Here is our schedule of labyrinth events for 2013 - hope to see you soon!

Weekly guided walks every Tuesday morning from 9:00 am to 10:00 am - June through October.

May 4th 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 at 1 pm on May 4, 2013.

June 20th “Walk in Peace” at the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth. Join us at 5:30 for this evening peace walk, bring along a picnic supper, and enjoy the gardens, music and guest speaker. Beverages will be provided.

“The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

September 21st “5th Annual Harvest Lantern Labyrinth Walk”. 7 p.m., Over 600 luminaries light up the labyrinth path along with the warm glow of lanterns of all shapes and sizes. Join us for music, bonfire and refreshments. Bring your own lantern creation or borrow one from us. A fun, free, family event in celebration of the Fall Harvest.

The Carleton Place Community Labyrinth, 267 Edmund Street, is located on the property behind the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum.


For more information call Debby at 613-257-1014 .

Reflections from a Labyrinth Pilgrimage

We had the privilege recently to go on a "Labyrinth Pilgrimage Tour in the Ottawa Valley", facilitated by Ruth Richardson, Registered Nurse and Labyrinth Facilitator. This course was offered through Algonquin College's Personal Development Institute.  We visited seven labyrinth sites in and around Ottawa.  We got to meet the people who created them, hear the stories of their labyrinth journies and had the opportunity to walk a few of them.

Entrance to the Bennett-Lindsay Labyrinth in Burnstown, Ontario

Going through my notes from the Labyrinth Pilgrimage I found some words that I had written after our labyrinth walk in Burnstown.

Sharing with you

A sunny fall day

The mown path before me

Twisting and turning

Uphill and down

Uneven ground

Like my life’s journey

Nature's texture is here

Stalks of tall dry grasses

Seeds pods of new life

Fall softly as I brush by

Soft and woolly plumes

Caress me as I walk on

I sidestep the thistles

Sharp and prickly

The hurts along the way

Like my life’s journey

Wild flowers fading

Colours of yellow, purple and white

Appear unexpectedly

As the smile on my face

The calm in my heart

Celebrating the joy

Of my life’s journey

- Debby Lytle, September 29th, 2012