World Labyrinth Day
Photography and Story.
It is World Labyrinth day today. I was going to write a piece about it when I noticed that one of the folk I follow (
) had already done a great job of it. Copied below. Have a read. It is a brilliant piece. Then come back and look at the photos of the Labyrinth I built outside my cabin here and read about how that all came into being.
This was a project in the plagues times that beset us not too long ago. I had returned from 7 months of lockdown in Malaysia to Scotland and to my now mouse shit infested cabin. Deep cleaning on a whole other level was required. It was not the happiest of landings as I had left behind a lover in Kuala Lumpur, not knowing that I would never see her again. Another story for another day.
In the days that followed my return I began to see images of Labyrinths everywhere. Weird huh? I decided to try and draw one. Much headfuckery ensued until I found a helpful guide online. I succeeded in drawing a complete Labyrinth. Yaay. Now to make one with string. Small scale. More headfuckery and constant referral to my drawing. I made one. Maybe 6 feet from side to side. I had a large space outside the cabin where another cabin had once lived until a winter storm blew it off its stilted legs. Another story for another day.
So now I set about making a larger rope version of the labyrinth. The level of headfuckery was supreme and I literally got lost on my own land. But persistent I am (Thank You Yoda) and I eventually made it. You can see that version in the wee gallery above. (Bottom Left).
Once I had the template there was no stopping me and I set about collecting some stones from a wee burn ( small stream) about half a mile away. When I say some I actually mean a lot. 1500 of them to be precise. This was a daily meditation for some time. The rope was rolled away and stones placed in the space until all were there. Then I rearranged them. And again and again. Found other stones and swapped them. Started a Big Stone 4 small Stones Pattern. Looked for white stones for key points. Added a stone Buddha and a Weeping Birch Tree to the centre. The Buddha lived. The tree died. There is a new tree now. It has just survived the winter and is in full leaf. ( Photo Bottom Right above)
Does this sound a bit obsessional? Hmmm. I thought so too! Imagine Richard Dreyfus1 in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, building a mountain from mash potatoes because the voices made him do it, and you get the picture.
In the end I was happy enough to begin a walking practice that I still do to this day.
Literally days after completion I got an application in my inbox to join a Rhythmical Retreat2 I was leading from a woman whose Job Title was Labyrinth Facilitator. I know.!! We have since worked together combing Rhythm work and Labyrinth walking. It is amazing. Good Story huh?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind
https://tintomusicandarts.org/rhythms-and-reflections/
Your labyrinth is fantastic, and thanks for sharing the story of its creation. All my labyrinths are ephemeral shapes on the beach that wash away with the next high tide, though I don't envy you carrying all those stones! Amazing stuff.
Great story indeed! The headfuckery in walking them is already enough for me... To make one! That's another level. I love the sensation of just when you think you are getting to the middle it spins you right to the edge again. Trust in the process. "Many of the truths we cling to depend on our point of view." - Yoda