A Path With Heart
DECEMBER 14, 2012
Walking this heart path,
this mystery becoming,
all is new again.
\*\*\*\*\*
I had the pleasure of working yesterday with the wonderful garden maintenance director, Forest Firestone (to our far right) from Becoming Independent and her crew in bringing the Sebastopol Santa Rosa Labyrinth back to life. This labyrinth was created as a memorial garden to the many teens whose lives had been lost, giving their peers and families a place to grieve, remember, and to celebrate life.
this mystery becoming,
all is new again.
\*\*\*\*\*
I had the pleasure of working yesterday with the wonderful garden maintenance director, Forest Firestone (to our far right) from Becoming Independent and her crew in bringing the Sebastopol Santa Rosa Labyrinth back to life. This labyrinth was created as a memorial garden to the many teens whose lives had been lost, giving their peers and families a place to grieve, remember, and to celebrate life.
Fourteen years ago, it was my first public labyrinth installation. It is actually a miracle that it still exists, and only does so because of the dedication and work of the individuals and non-profit organizations who have cared for it over the years. But this one program is being dissolved and through a series of synchronicities I jumped in to help give it one last make over before this crew is no more.
The tall, beautiful young woman in the above haiku photo is the granddaughter of the woman on her right, our far left. Her father was only eighteen years old when he was killed in a car accident. His girlfriend, who was in the car with him, survived this tragedy to discover that she was pregnant with their child. I held this beautiful baby in my arms twenty-four years ago. Seeing her walk towards me to help uncover the labyrinth after all these years was such a joy.
There is still more work to be done, but by the mid-afternoon, the labyrinth had re-emerged
and is now walkable. Like an old friend, it was a joy to see again.
I hope if you are in the area, you will stop by to visit and take the time to walk it
in celebration of life and in remembering those loved ones who are no longer with us.
and is now walkable. Like an old friend, it was a joy to see again.
I hope if you are in the area, you will stop by to visit and take the time to walk it
in celebration of life and in remembering those loved ones who are no longer with us.
For more Friday haiku my heart
please visit Rebecca and other poets
at recuerda mi corazon
please visit Rebecca and other poets
at recuerda mi corazon
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Labyrinths provide us with a path to practice change. Some labyrinths have withstood the passage of time for thousands of years. Others are here for just an afternoon, drawn in the sand at the edge of the ocean. Many modern labyrinths were meant to last for years, but because of unforeseen circumstances their time is shorter than intended. And they once again help us to practice letting go and giving thanks for the time they are with us. The Labyrinth of Life at the Sebastopol, California Teen Center reached such place of letting go and is at the end of one chapter and the beginning of another chapter that is yet unknown.

Sometimes... a labyrinth can take years to become a physical reality. In 2018 I met with my friend Deb, to discuss her desire to have a labyrinth on the beautiful land she lives on. Despite our plans and several meetings, listening to the land and finding the right spot, the labyrinth did not come to fruition. Fast-forward five years and in the blink of an eye... it happened!