Worldwide Circle of Labyrinths - Labyrinths and Sea Project

Worldwide Circle of Labyrinths
commemorating all who have been touched by the storms of life-

This page provides inspiration and some examples, in words, images,
and in ceremonies which were submitted for the
January 23, 2005 Worldwide Circle of Labyrinths,
and the September 7 - 11, October 15, 2005 events.

We hope these pages will further inspire the creation and walking of labyrinths with water to ask for healing.

Please respect the generosity of those who have contributed photos to this site
and contact the photographers first if you desire copies.

Please share your ideas with each other through the different networks available to you,
i.e.: your group e-mail networks, the Labyrinth Society Forum
(available for visitors and members at:
http://labyrinthsociety.org/forums/index.php),
or if you are a Veriditas Facilitator- through that network, or Labyrinths-International,
and in person with family, friends, and colleagues.

If you live near the ocean...

...you might want to use
kelp and sand.

-Clare Wilson, South Africa

If you live in the snow...

...you might want to make a snow angel at the center of your labyrinth.

-Carol Posch Comstock/Goods of the Spirit, USA

Or if you even live near a mall...

...you might want to use
fragrant balsam fir boughs,
twinkle lights,
and even fake
snow for your labyrinth,
adding somewhere,
the element
of fresh water.

-William Frost/Meditative Space Design & Creative Process Facilitation, USA

You might want to sing in your labyrinth ceremony... The river she is flowing, flowing and growing, the river she is flowing, down to the sea… Mother, carry me, a child I will always be… Mother, carry me, down to the sea. The river she is flowing, flowing and growing, the river she is flowing, down to the sea… Father, carry me, a child I will always be… Father, carry me, down to the sea. -Native American Chant-	Or walk in silence, deep into the woods... -Carol Posch Comstock/Goods of the Spirit, USA
You might want to dance over brick and water... like in this water-labyrinth near the Waalriver in Nijmegen... -Selma Sevenhuijsen, Netherlands	or stand still at the centre, of a labyrinth drawn for the first time ever, in the sand... -Marilyn Larson & Lea Goode-Harris Salmon Creek Beach, California 1997
Or, as you walk your own labyrinth... you might remember the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, or those affected by any storm in life, together with those who have already created and walked a labyrinth... Created in the Swiss Alps, south of St. Gotthard - and already almost gone in the sun... New Year's Eve 2004 - 2005 © Thea Frey, Dancer and Yoga-teacher,USA, & Susanne Kramer-Friedrich, Switzerland/Labyrinth International.
The following ceremonies were planned for the Second and First Worldwide Circle of Water Labyrinths for September 7 - 11, & January 23, 2005. We hope these ceremonies will inspire your imagination as you create, or join in the community making of, a labyrinth event to bring attention to healing were ever needed for around the world.
The following ceremonies were submitted by people in preparation for the second Worldwide Circle of Water Labyrinths on September 7-11, 2005. (The *First Worldwide Circle of Water Labyrinth events on January 23, 2005 follows.)*
Joy Bergfalk, USA, will be holding a community labyrinth walk in the evening on September 11th. Donations will be collected for hurricane relief for- the Church World Service & Habitat for Humanity.
Water and Earth The pain of a mother losing a child to war Spiraling, spinning, whirlpool of dismay Sensuous seas and crying mothers Desperate children pulling and pushing Tears of mothers converging with turbulent waters spilling over the land causing devastation Worried mothers writing prayers for children Thin, gray paper torn into tiny pieces Sorrowful stories printed on newspaper Immersion, churning Lamenting, connecting Sinking into the earth The clay in our palms rotating, blending, seeking balance Forming the earth with hope in our hands We release and let go - Carol Posch Comstock September 3, 2005	Carol Posch Comstock, USA provided the above image which is a group clay/paper project being created by representatives from diverse ethnic and cultural background of the local area as a pre-activity to a peace festival to be held on a college campus on Sept. 10-11, 2005, which will include a primitive pit-firing, overnight camping under the stars, labyrinths, giant origami-folding, ritual, dance and yoga. ©-Carol Posch Comstock
Sante Fe, New Mexico Labyrinth Resource Group members Cy Rinkel & Vicki Keiser have been planning for some time, a day of labyrinth walking at two sites for peace on September 11th. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, they are expanding their prayers to healing for the victims of this latest form of human devastation. They are also inviting participants to concentrate prayers and healing energies on the water of the world.
©-Mark Pilato	Artist & sculptor Mark Pilato of New York is finishing up a commemorative piece for September 11th. His family often helps him in his work. His two children will be sculpting finger labyrinths into the base of the statues. These two pieces are called "Ascent" and will be placed outside of his studio next to a lake on 9/11, before it goes on a two month tour. Mark says, "Ascent is a sculpture for healing, for the family members who were left behind and for anyone who has lost a loved one... " He is including the fingerlabyrinth so others can find... "a path that would help them find peace."
HolLynn of Graton, California will be dedicating her new labyrinth on September 11th. The plans have been long in the making. As part of the preparation, there are ponds being installed near the labyrinth, bringing the element of water into view. Participants will walk with the intention of listening, there will be music, sharing of food, and people are bringing a wish as well as token that has meaning to offer as a giveaway.
Marilyn Larson of Minnesota has been painting since the middle of August, a reopened canvas labyrinth that was first drawn, then folded up five years ago in the year 2000. Marilyn was led to paint it now in three colors that she discovered represented different waters weaving together. The blue lakes, the red rivers, and the green sea. This canvas labyrinth will be available for walking on September 10th.
Nunc lento sonitu dicunt, Morieris "....Any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee." - John Donne, (16th/17th century)	On Saturday, September 10th, Marilyn Campbell and her church in Palo Alto, California will be tolling their church bell the first 20 minutes of each hour from noon until 6:20 pm, as a call to remembrance, a call to prayer, and as a part of their Labyrinth walks where they will have placed large basins of water.
Deb Hansen will be hosting a labyrinth walk in Michigan on September 11th. She sends this picture to share for inspiration.	-photo Deb Hansen
Vera de Cicco of New York City will be hosting a labyrinth walk on Wednesday, Sept. 7th. They will dedicate the energy to water by having a vessel of water at the entrance. The space is in a dance room that is mirrored on one side, so the effect is doubled.
On 9 September Selma Sevenhuijsen will make a beach labyrinth at Neeltje Jans, an artificial island in Zeeland (in the south-west Netherlands). The island is part of the large waterworks that were constructed in that area after 1953, when 1800 people died in the floods brought by a sudden overnight storm. Neeltje Jans is also the name of a regional sea goddess.
Ruth Krall of Goshen, Indiana will facilitate a labyrinth walk on September 13th. Prayers and dontations for relief for all touched by Hurricane Katrina will be offered.
Dee Davidson will be creating a rainbow rope labyrinth for people to walk on September 11th. Dee says, with love, Light, and Laughter, " May the Intentions set forth from this time in the Labyrinth help to bring "Healing and Peace" to all who need it. And So It Is!"
Wendy Williams will be facilitating a Labyrinth Walk in Tequesta, Florida to commemorate and stand with all whose lives have touched by the storms of life, particularly on 9/11/01 and by hurricane Katrina.
The following ceremonies were submitted by people in preparation for the first Worldwide Circle of Water Labyrinths on January 23, 2005.
Dori Bohntinsky, USA, will be on pilgrimage in India during this time. She will take paper finger-labyrinths with her and will lead any who are interested, in a water/labyrinth event right on the coast of Chennai, India. She will blend water, yoga, and sacred healing chanting, with the labyrinth.
Diane Ashton, USA, on a Fullbright Fellowship in Namibia, Africa, will journey to the coast to make her first labyrinth ever. She said she might even make up her own design...
John Ridder & Pamela Bowles, USA, energized a a labyrinth fountain on January 1 to honor the water's life force. They will focus this connection of water and labyrinths to all who have been touched by the 2004 tsunami on the 23rd.
Jana Batey, USA, will be joining with the vision of the Labyrinth And Sea Project to orchestrate a labyrinth walk on a beach in Florida, alternating between chanting OM and listening to the sound of the sea.
Martha Shonkwiler, USA, will hold a water-labyrinth walk at her Community Hospital including showing excerpts from Masaru Emoto's video, slides from Batak Seminary in Pematangsiantar, Sumatra, and using art therapy with participants.
Carol Comstock, USA, will be leading a Great Lakes Gathering Commemorative labyrinth walk at Lake Erie. She will be drawing a labyrinth in the snow, followed by a labyrinth walk and blessing.
Henk Coppens and Selma Sevenhuijsen, the Netherlands, will lay several labyrinths at the beach in IJmuiden. They are inviting participants to bring water with them to collect in a bowl and dedicate to the healing of the ocean. They will also perform a ritual that is inspired by the work of Masuru Emoto.
William Frost, USA, while on vacation in Hawaii, will be leading a Healing Waters Commemorative Labyrinth walk on the beach in Kauai. He will be drawing a labyrinth in the sand, followed by a labyrinth walk and blessing.
You might want to invite participants to bring a small vial of water from their homes, or from a source of water that is special to them. As they carry the water to their destination, and then walk the labyrinth, they might want to focus their attention on what they are personally bringing, into the water they carry. Before, during, or after the labyrinth walk, visitors can let their water mingle with the earth of the labyrinth, or surrounding area in natural sources of water and in nature, or if indoors or on a non-porous surface, into a bowl where later, the water will be returned to the earth, sending their love to all that have been touched by the tsunami.
Gillian Corcoran & Barbara Evans, USA, will be placing a print of Barbara's art, Healing the Waters of the Earth, in the center of the labyrinth, this alone will add very sacred and healing energy to the walk. To enhance this even more, 12 other images will be placed in a circle around the outside of the labyrinth. Placed in memory of all those who passed on and with the intent of bringing healing to all who survived, to the waters of our Earth, and to bring love, compassion and unity to ALL. Participants are being invited to bring a donation of either a “Gift of the Heart” (small packages of toiletries and personal hygiene items) or “Food in a Bag” (quick energy foods like energy bars, small pop-top cans of fruit, and small bottles of water).
Diane Terry-Kehner & Marilyn "Sky" O'Reilly, USA, will be drawing a labyrinth on a beach in NJ. They will have a fire and drumming circle during the walk and mark each circuit with chakra colored ribbons, like the rainbow in the sky after a storm.
Suzanna Alexander, USA, takes care of a labyrinth by a lake and will open it to the healing chant- "Earth my body, WATER my blood..."
Carol House, USA is welcoming participants to come and walk a newly created labyrinth in a loving setting near a stream and waterfall and join with people around the world in sending energy to those affected by the tsunami, including the water itself.
Rita Caroni & Dayle Marshall, USA, may not be able to go out into the extreme weather, they will be immersing finger-labyrinths into water indoors, and walking them with their fingers.
Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoffrion, USA, during a day-long retreat on building and praying labyrinths, will open the day by having the participants construct a labyrinth of large cockle shells to commemorate the victims and survivors of the 2004 tsunami.
Vicki Keiser and Susan Weber, USA, are inviting people to bring a small amount of water, which will be combined at the center of the labyrinth during the walk in New Mexico. To end the ceremony, all will bless the water, send it to Mother Earth at the center of the labyrinth, and intend healing energy for the victims, survivors, and waters of the planet. They will also carry some of the water to the Rio Grande.
William E. Marks, will gather a group of people together on the 23rd for ceremony on the beach beneath the colorful clay cliffs off the New England coast. Those gathered will share silent meditation; poetry; song; chanting.
Connie Fenty, USA, will lead participants on a trailhead that descends through a forest of hemlocks and deciduous trees which leads to a beautiful creek, that flows into a river, that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. On the creek’s shore lies a small stone-lined labyrinth where participants can walk to join others around the world also walking labyrinths on this day, sending healing energy to all those affected by the Tsunami including the water itself.
Justine Giuliani, Ontario,Canada, will have an open house labyrinth on her canvas labyrinth in a local Parish. She will offer reflections on the Tsunami grieving as well as the miracles, combining it with a small water ritual. She will start the day by walking her personal labyrinth in her backyard.
Marilyn Larson, USA, will be doing ceremony in a labyrinth laid out in a gazebo that sits a foot above the water in the middle of a pond. Marilyn reminds us that "the sun is now in the sign of Aquarius, the water-bearer... And, one of the qualities of Aquarius is humanitarian concerns."
Rosmarie Schmidt and Susanne Kramer, Switzerland, will lay a labyrinth in Zurich, near the beach of the lake. One of their participants will perform a song and dance for Jeruba, a goddess of the waters.
Laurie Crawford, USA, will be hosting and joining all in a commemorative labyrinth walk in a park on the Puget Sound on the Pacific Ocean, WA.
Annemarie Rawlinson, USA, is inviting participants to come and build a labyrinth out of sand in Southern California, dedicated to the well-being of all people who are impacted by this disaster. They will also focus on the restoration of the water of the region and send prayers for the purification of water to prevent possible epidemics. An introduction to Dr. Masaru Emoto's work, "The Message of Water" will be given.
©Healing the Waters of the Earth Barbara Evans- Crystal Wings Healing Art One of a series of art pieces linked with the Heart, Emotions and Water with the intent of assisting with the healing and evolution of Humanity and The Earth.
Please return, for more to come...

Labyrinths & Sea: Lore & Poetry	Further Inspiration And Suggestions For Ceremonies	Sources For A Labyrinth Near You
How To Make A Labyrinth	-Masaru Emoto- Love and Thanks To Water Project and Masaru Emoto's Home Page	Links
Worldwide Circle of Labyrinths Home Page
Worldwide Circle of Labyrinths Entry Page www.waterlabyrinths.com