Riverdale Labyrinth

trickling fountain

loud in the silent air --

labyrinth room

with moontime flow

I enter the labyrinth

the ancient seven circuits

honouring the Divine Feminine

I round the turns called

the breasts of the Goddess

spiraling

I go to the centre

and back again

I am a 21st century woman

yet this labyrinth stirs

an ancient response

many before me have walked this path

footsteps

theirs and mine

too soon

the labyrinth ends

the world beyond

awaits

© Debra She Who Seeks 2006

[Photos © Sheryl Ackerman. Used by permission. Thanks, Sheryl!]

My Favourite Labyrinth

For ten years, I have been walking a beautiful labyrinth handcrafted by two Edmonton women, Sheryl Ackerman and Jean Ure. On a large broadcloth base of blues and violets, they stitched down long strands of golden beads to form the classic Cretan labyrinth design. This portable labyrinth is set up four times every year in a local Edmonton community centre, Riverdale Hall.

Each quarterly walk occurs during one of the four seasons -- winter, spring, summer and autumn. Riverdale Hall has gloriously large windows through which the seasonal outdoors can be viewed as you walk. And a seasonally appropriate centerpiece is always placed at the labyrinth's centre, usually involving a candle, small altar cloth and flowers. The labyrinth room is silent except for a trickling fountain in the corner. Men, women and children of all ages come to walk on the appointed Saturday morning.

I fell in love with the Riverdale Labyrinth as soon as I first walked it in 2000. I have never seen such a creative or beautiful labyrinth anywhere else. (And coincidentally, Sheryl was one of the women who designed and created the hayfield labyrinth in Manitoba where I had my first labyrinth experience -- small world, isn't it?)

My next two posts will be poems I wrote which were inspired by the Riverdale Labyrinth.

[Photos © Sheryl Ackerman. Used by permission. Thanks, Sheryl!]

HRH's Hot Date (Part 2)

Well, HRH's suitor was a big handsome tom cat, I'll give him that. Beau bien, le chat français -- a French cat to boot. Very difficult to resist that Gallic charm, very difficult indeed.

He took HRH to a nice French restaurant. Spent good coin on her.

It was a delicious meal. Much better than the gushy food and kibble she would have got at home.

And afterwards, tickets to a fine arts performance . . . .

HRH seemed a bit disheveled when she got home after midnight. But she had a big smile on her kitty cat face, so I'm sure she enjoyed herself. She slept in very late on Sunday morning.

I suppose that waiting up nights for her to return home after hot dates is now my new lot in life. *Heavy martyred sigh*

HRH's Hot Date (Part 1)

Unbeknownst to me, my cat has started flirting with a cat who lives down the street. Oh don't worry -- the vet took care of that little issue years ago. But still, Her Royal Highness does enjoy attracting male attention from time to time. And on Saturday night, HRH had a Hot Date.

Well, of course, she had to get all gussied up for it. First, a nice pedicure . . .

. . . and then it was off to the beauty salon . . .

. . . for a wash and set . . .

. . . and a professional comb-out (what, my brushing isn't good enough anymore?)

But I must admit, the results were stunning.

Promptly at the appointed hour on Saturday evening, there was a yowling and a scratching at the front door and . . . there he was! HRH's Hot Date!

[Like any good soap opera, to be continued . . . .]

Never Say No to Panda

Hey, check out this series of oddly hilarious Egyptian cheese commercials! The last one is the best!

My First Labyrinth Walk

I first walked a labyrinth on the Summer Solstice in 1997. It was a large Cretan labyrinth mown into a hayfield located on womyn's land south of Winnipeg, Manitoba. About 20 women attended the event, many of whom I knew from the local Goddess, feminist and lesbian communities.

It was a perfect prairie summer day -- hot and sunny, with an endless blue sky and only a few fluffy white clouds. We could hear the meadowlarks singing and smell the beautiful scent of clover all around us. We danced our way into the labyrinth, holding the hand of the woman ahead of us and behind us, taking two steps forward and one step back. The dance of life!

While we were spiraling toward the centre, the sky suddenly grew dark and the wind picked up considerably. Out of nowhere, menacing clouds appeared. Then the heavens opened and poured cold, cold rain on us. There was thunder and lightning in the distance. But we kept dancing, two steps forward and one step back.

At the centre, we had a (shortened) guided meditation and the rain finally stopped. We each walked out of the labyrinth at our own pace, alone or with others as desired. As we did so, the wind and clouds disappeared and the glorious summer day returned. It was hot and sunny again by the end of our labyrinth walk.

That particular summer was a real crossroads in my life. I was single, turning 40 and newly unemployed due to government down-sizing. Who knew what the future held? Things seemed very uncertain. Yet within a month or two of my first labyrinth walk, my life changed completely -- a new relationship, a new job, a move to a new city in a new province.

I was definitely on a new path!

[Unfortunately, I have no photos of that long ago hayfield labyrinth. These pictures come from the internet but are reminiscent of what the experience was like.]

Walking Meditation

There are many ways to walk a labyrinth. You can meditate on a specific topic or issue as you walk, asking for clarity or guidance. Or you can walk with nothing in mind and just see where your thoughts take you. Sometimes it's nice just to practice mindfulness and use all five senses to notice what surrounds you.

Some walk the labyrinth quickly, some slowly. I've even seen one young woman walk with her eyes closed, feeling her way with a bare foot. Some people stop to pray at certain points in the labyrinth. When you meet someone on the path, you just briefly step aside for them and then resume your place on the circuit.

Walking a labyrinth is always an introverted activity. You turn and look inward. No one can walk a labyrinth for you, just as no one can make your spiritual journey for you. Silence is the norm, although some labyrinth spaces may feature soft instrumental music in the background.

A labyrinth is, of course, a beautiful metaphor for our relationship with the Divine and for our spiritual journey through life. At times, you find yourself walking close to the centre, to the source. Then the next thing you know, you are far away from the centre on the outskirts of the labyrinth. You turn and turn on the unicursal path, wandering but never lost. And then, when you least expect it, you suddenly arrive at the centre. After a few minutes of prayer or contemplation, you're back on the path, spiraling outwards this time, assimilating what you have learned or experienced.

I like to walk a labyrinth at least three times per visit. I find that it takes a couple of completed walks just for my mind and pace to slow down in order to achieve a more leisurely, contemplative stroll. So I usually plan to spend at least an hour or so for each labyrinth visit. And I always like to finish my visit with a final "gratitude walk" to express my thanks to the Divine for all the good things in my life.