NEW – Lantern Making Workshop

Fun for the whole family - learn how to make your very own lantern! A FREE lantern making workshop is being held at Brush Strokes at 129 Bridge Street, in Carleton Place on Saturday September 18th, from 9 am – 11 am.

This event is being organized by the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth committee, in preparation for the Harvest Lantern Labyrinth Walk coming up on Saturday September 25th.

Make your own lantern and bring it to the Harvest Lantern Walk! Lantern decorating supplies to be provided, bring a mason jar if you have one.

Space is limited, so register early!
The workshop is FREE, freewill donations appreciated.
Any proceeds will help build the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth
For more information or to register:
Email: Heather Lebeau at n-lebeau@sympatico.ca
OR phone: 613 257 7604

Labyrinth Workshop for You and Your Dog!

Experience the Labyrinth:
Walking in Balance with Your Dog

NEW DATE - Sunday June 26, 2011

11:00 am – 4:00 pm, Pakenham, Ontario

Join us for a fun half-day session in a lovely country setting!

You will learn some simple techniques for

walking in balance with your dog.

And also be introduced to the benefits

of walking a labyrinth, on your own

and together with your dog.

YOUR FACILITATORS:
Jacquie Christiani: Guild Certified TTouch Practitioner
Christine Hume: Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator

TTOUCH & LABYRINTHS…
Tellington TTouch is a method for enhancing the mental, emotional and physical well-being of your companion animal, based on cooperation and respect. It is used to support veterinary care, training and behaviour modification. An additional benefit is increased understanding and more effective communication between humans and animals. It uses a series of circular touches & leading exercises through groundwork equipment, one being the labyrinth. During this session you will learn why the labyrinth may be helpful for your dog and how to lead your dog in balance using some of the TTouch techniques.

HUMANS & LABYRINTHS…
The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool that is thousands of years old. It’s a single, circuitous path that leads you into the centre and out again. It’s not a maze designed to trick you, confuse you or engage you in decision making. There is one way in and one way out. Walking the “human” version of the labyrinth can help you calm your mind, find your centre, and promote healing and growth.

HUMANS, DOGS & LABYRINTHS…
This session was inspired during a “human” labyrinth walk. We will be exploring the connection between the labyrinth used for TTouch groundwork and the Classical labyrinth. We will close the day with a meditative walk in a Classical labyrinth with both humans and dogs.

DO I NEED TO BRING A DOG?
Participants may choose to bring a dog, but this is not a requirement. We anticipate there will be a sufficient number of dogs for everyone to experience the labyrinth, walking in balance. Space is limited for 4-legged participants, so register early!

Luna and Cajun relaxing on the Grass Labyrinth created especially for this workshop!

REGISTRATION IS LIMITED
Cost: $30.00

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Arnprior Animal Shelter

and to help support the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth.

For more information and for registration forms:
Email: zydecocajun@earthlink.net
OR phone: (613) 624-5530

Trillium Foundation Grant Application Update

The Carleton Place Community Labyrinth Committee has applied to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding to support the building of the permanent community labyrinth. We will hear whether we have been successful by the beginning of November. The funds from Trillium will be used in the creation of the labyrinth itself as well as enhancing accessibility features of the site.

Our ideal is to have an accessible paving stone pathway from the parking lot to the labyrinth and a path wide enough for wheelchair use around the outside of the labyrinth. We also hope to have two seating areas that can accommodate wheelchairs. Our dream also includes the provision installation of a permanent finger labyrinth -- allowing anyone who cannot walk the 0.5 km labyrinth path to "walk" the miniature version. The Trillium foundation grant will play a pivotal role in making these dreams a reality. Wish us luck!

Deborah Conners, CP Community Labyrinth Grant Committee

Strawberry Social and Labyrinth Walk

The Strawberry Social will be held in the gardens at the Victorial School Museum on July 10th, 2010 from 1:30 until 3:00 with the Carleton Place and District Community Band playing and refreshments and food served.  Several Carleton Place Community Labyrinth committee members will be on hand and the labyrinth will be available for an open walk!

A portion of the proceeds raised at the Strawberry Social are to be donated to the Labyrinth. Your support for this event is most appreciated.

Community Gathers Around the Labyrinth!

A big thank you to everyone that was drawn to attend the "Lure of the Labyrinth" event last night!  The weather cooperated and the skies cleared just in time for the setup.  Everyone found a seat around the firepit and we were honoured to be able to share in the blessing of a new drum.  The Sisters of the Drum formed a circle around the sister with the new drum.  A small pebble was placed at the centre and tobacco was spread carefully on top of the drum. The new drum owner turned slowly and stood at each direction, while the rest of the group drummed joyfully.  We could see the tobacco bouncing and dancing on the top of the drum.  What a beautiful ceremony and special way to open up the labyrinth for our Summer Solstice walk!

After a brief introduction everyone was invited to walk the labyrinth!  They were encouraged to carry a small stone with them - and on the walk in to think about "releasing" any stressful thoughts and taking this time to slow down and enjoy the walk.  They could let go of these thoughts at the centre - by symbolically leaving the stone there.  And then "return" back out to join the community gathering...

The new stones that  mark the entrance to the labyrinth were also "warmed", they make a perfect bench and a place to rest before or after your walk.  They are also a solid reminder of our commitment to have a permanent labyrinth built here!  We were thrilled to hear that $1,000 had been donated to our fundraising campaign bringing the new total to over $7,800!  We continue to be amazed at the power of positive thinking and very thankful for the community support.

 And finally as the evening was drawing to a close and dusk was setting in - our little votive candles came to life and lit the way!  In closing I have to say "Meegwetch", a First Nation way of saying much more than "thank you".  By saying "Meegwetch", a general feeling of happiness and gratitude over the existence of something or someone is expressed as well as a spiritual connection!

Lure of the Labyrinth

Community Candlelight Walk June 26th Features 'Sisters of the Drum'

"Lure of the Labyrinth" is the theme for this summer's official opening of the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth, a grass labyrinth located behind the Victoria School Museum on 267 Edmund Street in Carleton Place. The Labyrinth Committee (TLC), invites you to join the free festivities from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. on Saturday June 26th, as we celebrate the first week of summer solstice with an 'alluring' evening candlelit walk.

For this sixth public labyrinth event, hundreds of luminaries will be set up along the path, casting a warm glow and guiding the pathway for people of all ages. “This will be a high energy, fun gathering of old and new friends and families", says Christine Hume, a member of the Labyrinth Committee, who will provide an introduction to the labyrinth for participants.

An exciting feature of this year's event will be Sisters of the Drum, a traditional Algonquin hand drum group with members from across Eastern Ontario, who will accompany us on the walk. Sisters of the Drum share native culture and teachings to communities through storytelling and singing, as well as their magnificent drumming ceremonies.

For those new to the labyrinth experience, a labyrinth is a circular path, derived from an ancient spiral symbol. The path of a labyrinth is 'unicursal'- the path on which you enter, is the same path on which you exit. Unlike a maze, the labyrinth holds no tricks or dead ends. The walker can focus on a thought, a prayer, or simply enjoy the walk itself. Walking a labyrinth works through our senses, and can be helpful in supporting healing, meditation, and personal growth.

Don't miss a chance to walk our Community Labyrinth: an evening walk under a full moon, with flickering luminaries, the sounds of the drums, a roaring bonfire, and refreshments promises to satisfy all the senses!

For more information, including how to volunteer for this event contact:
Christine Hume: 613-859-2136 or chume@bsl.com

Photo Credit:  Hand drum image

Striking Stone Signage

On Tuesday May 25th, Carleton Place town staff erected these impressive stones at the community labyrinth site. The stones were donated by Allan Code and moved by the town to the site. I chose stones that I thought would make an impact but had no idea how wonderfully it would all come together...

What a powerful statement, not only as a signpost to announce "this is where the labyrinth is" but as well the striking sculpture is symbolic of our rock solid intention, commitment and determination to build the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth.

Walk the path
Debby