On the summer solstice, Saturday, June 21, at 5 p.m. there will be a celebration at the Southern Humboldt Community Park (SHCP) to begin the project to the install a paved 7-circuit labyrinth. A temporary labyrinth constructed out of branches will mark the location of the permanent one that will be laid in October out of paving stones. The site of the labyrinth will be just beyond the barn along the main trail as it skirts the forest. There will be signs to direct people from the main parking area.
At about 5:30 p.m., Gillian Brown will lead the group in the placing of branches to create the temporary labyrinth, which will be approximately 50 feet in diameter. Gillian did an MA thesis on labyrinths and has studied their history and meaning extensively. She has led the construction of dozens of temporary labyrinths out of sand, stone, plants, seaweed, paper and other materials. Beginnings in Briceland and Heartwood Institute are the sites of permanent labyrinths that she created.
There will be a dinner served at the labyrinth site at 6 p.m., and at 7 p.m. there will be live music with the famous Humboldt County duet, Francine and Nymiah. There will also be a silent auction with dozens of excellent
The Southern Humboldt Labyrinth Project (SHLP) is raising funds to install the permanent labyrinth in the Southern Humboldt Community Park this fall. A labyrinth is a more than 4,000 year-old symbol used in many religious and spiritual traditions the world over. It made a strong appearance on the island of Crete around 2000 B.C.E. where it has been found etched on coins and carved into walls at the Palace of Knossos. During the 12th century A.D., it became unsafe for Christians to travel to their holy land so large labyrinths were drawn or etched into floors of churches so parishioners could symbolically make their pilgrimage. Today, labyrinths can be found in hundreds of churches as well as venues such as hospitals, schools, corporate facilities, retreat centers, and parks. At labyrinths installed around the country, group facilitators and trainers use labyrinths to bring people together for team building, holiday celebrations and rituals. SHLP believes that a labyrinth offers Southern Humboldt citizens a non-faith based venue for such spiritual reflection. SHLP is confident that the labyrinth it proposes will contribute to the health of the community by offering its residents a place for self-reflection, meditation and a venue for coming together as a community for positive experiences and rituals.
Why walk the labyrinth?
Some people find that they are better able to access their feelings about a certain struggle in their life - they walk into the labyrinth with a problem and walk out with a solution or new insight.
The labyrinth provides a way for those walking it to bring focus to a specific question or problem or for simply “unwinding” the mind. Some pray or chant a mantra while walking.
Many people, especially those of nontraditional faiths, report that they find spiritual renewal in places of nature such as the Southern Humboldt Community Park, future home of the labyrinth.
People across the globe report that walking the labyrinth allows them to center and ground themselves in an often chaotic and busy world.
The labyrinth is unique in that it provides a form of walking meditation, which suits a western approach to self reflection that doesn’t constrain the meditator to sitting motionless.
Who is sponsoring the Southern Humboldt labyrinth?
The SHLP’s fiscal sponsor is Redwoods Rural Health Center. The labyrinth fills a gap in the mission of Redwoods Rural Health (RRHC), which is to provide for “body, mind and spirit.” In February of 2007, Kay Christian, physician assistant at RRHC was selected to participate in Women’s Health Leadership, a state-wide program to train and mentor leaders within the healthcare community of California. As part of this program, Kay was charged with completing a project within her community, which would foster the health of its citizens. “I was interested in many different project ideas but finally decided on the labyrinth project after realizing that a number of patients in my practice struggle with anxiety and depression,” Christian said. “I believe it is my responsibility to address the spiritual aspects of health and wholeness and I believe a labyrinth is a perfect tool to address the spiritual needs of a community as diverse and creative as southern Humboldt.”
In 2007 Christian was introduced to Brown and the pair began their journey together to create the So Hum Labyrinth, which was accepted by the SHCP at the beginning of 2008. Brown and Christian also have grant applications pending with the Humboldt Area Foundation and the McLean Foundation. The cost of the paving stones and equipment needed to install them will need adequate funding. Many generous people have offered their time to help with the project.
More information on the labyrinth and the benefit on June 21 can be found at www.sohumlabyrinth.org and information on the SHCP can be found at www.shpark.org.
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