Report back.

It's always good trying new things, and last weekend's combined Labyrinth/art-therapy event turned out quite well. It was a different experience to allow people to engage with the various elements of the Labyrinth and then respond through the use of artistic and creative media...

Quite a few people took the journey, and many others contributed to the artistic responses. In addition, the facilitator led some participants on a guided session exploring some of the themes of the Labyrinth and their own artistic responses.

These are some of the images from the event. A new way of utilising the Labyrinth...

Labyrinth event

Short-notice, but the Labyrinth will be running this weekend at St Paul's in Canterbury (cnr Highfield Rd and Church St, Canterbury.)

On the Saturday (11-4) will be a labyrinth/art therapy arrangement, with the opportunity to respond artistically to what is presented.

And on the Sunday the Labyrinth will be operating (11-3), using the artworks created on the Saturday to add to the experience.

Should be a good event, so if you're local and free, feel free to pop on down.

Just a quick report back from the recent run of the Labyrinth mentioned below - It's been a long time since we've run the Labyrinth, so it felt a tad disorganised and odd putting this one together. But perhaps that was a good thing, as this one differed from others, in terms of how an interactive spiritual installation was put together.

For a start it was a unique labyrinth designed for the specific site - Primarily because the space wasn't big enough for the usual design. But it worked out well - There's something about a purpose-built design for the space that looks better. Plus the ability to tape it down properly and avoid the aesthetic negatives of wrinkly canvas.

Secondly, the gallery (which is a valuable arm of Box Hill Baptist) pulled together a range of artworks related to each of the stations and reflections in this Labyrinth. That means that not only was the labyrinth surrounded by stunning and meaningful art, but also that those who didn't have the time or inclination to engage in the labyrinth journey itself were able to engage in some small way with aspects of its meaning.

There was also something about having the labyrinth in an 'art space' that just worked so well... Maybe it's the lighting, maybe it's all the 'white', but it just worked.

Plus this has been a run of the Labyrinth at which we haven't been present, leaving it in the hands of the gallery volunteers - As a result, we think it's running differently, but equally well. Usually we run it quite intensively with a lot of help and assistance around how to take part in it - but this feels more laid back. As a result, less people are probably engaging with it, and definitely less people are using the portable CD players that guide people around the reflections - but we don't think that's distracting from it. With the artwork and the layout of the gallery, relying purely on visuals and reading seems to work ok.


And then last night we had the reflective service relating to the labyrinth - which kind of also acted a bit like a late 'launch'. And the turnout was quite extraordinary. Not only in numbers, but also in the fact that they were almost all people we didn't know - Not church people, but others who had heard about the labyrinth and the service and had come from far and wide (some as far as Phillip Island - a good 200kms away) from all walks of life to be with us and experience it. That was incredibly rewarding, and the discussion over coffee as people played with bits of the labyrinth was brilliant... The level of interest in this sort of form of worship and reflection/meditation is definitely growing!

So it's still up for another week - so feel free to drop in and have a squiz if you're local...

Walking the Labyrinth

From 26 July - 7 August there will be an opportunity to spend time at Chapel on Station Gallery reflecting through the ancient Meditation Prayer path, Labyrinth.
This guided meditation opportunity will be complemented by Art and specific reflection.

Sunday 29th July at 7pm, there will be an opportunity to share an introduction to the Labyrinth, where we can reflect on the process of the Labyrinth, share coffee and cake, and engage within the Labyrinth as we wish. This will be led by Eddie Chapman.

Gallery Hours
Tues - Fri 11:30 - 3:00
Sat 1-4 :00
Sun 4:30 - 7:00
Chapel on Station Gallery
cnr Station St & Ellingworth Pde, Box Hill 3128
ph 9890 5810

Labyrinth review - St Thomas' Moonee Ponds.

Had a great weekend working with Gail and Cam running the Labyrinth in Moonee Ponds for part of Saturday and Sunday. Was a good steady turnover of people coming through, and a good mix of people from the church community as well as those from a range of backgrounds who had heard about it and come by to have a look.

One comment which stuck in my mind from a participant (who wasn't coming from a Christian understanding) was that she was almost surprised to do something that obviously had a Christian framework and yet within it find what she referred to as a spiritual 'energy'. I find it interesting that people might therefore consider Christianity to be a bit dry and 'empty' of spiritual meaning, but rewarding that through this experience people can begin to experience otherwise...

Congrats to the team at St Thomas for putting it all together...

Labyrinth news from Queensland.

Received an email from Brett at Googa Outdoor Education Centre in Blackbutt (NW of Brisbane), which is a a Lutheran Outdoor Education Centre catering to year 10 students from Grace Lutheran College (Redcliffe,
Brisbane) and Good Shepherd Lutheran College (Noosa).

They're doing this Labyrinth up there as well and found it a huge success in working with young people... Great work!

On a related note:

Not strictly a Labyrinth, but equally fascinating, are Steve Collins' (one of the people who designed elements of this particular labyrinth) latest bits of work around how church and worship could look and run.

Check it out here

NEW EVENTS!

Good news all round...

Thanks to the good-will and generosity of the Victorian Council for Christian Education and St Stephen's Anglican Church, Richmond, the Labyrinth has an absolutely awesome venue for two upcoming dates, which are listed on the right.

These will be great events, and most likely regular and ongoing. We've had a lot of contact from people who have wanted to experience the Labyrinth but for whatever reason, are unable to host it themselves. Well, here's your chance! We really do encourage you to come along, and let all your friends, acquaintances, and enemies know about it! It's free, will be open all day (and some of the evening) and an experience which very few come out of untouched...

Hope to see some of you there, and feel free to email me for any more details if that's helpful.

There's also some other events coming up in the pipeline too, and I'll post about them as soon as I know.

The previous scheduled Labyrinth in Moonee Ponds for the 11/12 September has been cancelled due to some complications - Apologies about that. If any of you were planning on coming might I suggest contacting us and perhaps we could organise a Labyrinth at your own church/venue??

The big Labyrinth weekend - review.

Sitting here blogging during the final stages of the Pt Melbourne labyrinth (thanks to a wireless connection!), and I must say it's gone incredibly well!...

Our two days at Croydon were amazing, with a heap of wonderful young people helping out, a fantastic cafe space, and over 50 people coming through the Labyrinth, many twice, with some great feedback and conversations. The people at New Life Christian Community couldn't have been more helpful, sensitive, or accommodating - Well done guys!!

And today at Pt Melbourne has been good too, with over 30 people through in one day - and as we're now sitting in the dark candlelit ambience, it's still filled with people quietly and reflectively engaging with God. It's been great to see people drifting in off the street too and really being rewarded and blessed by it! Great stuff...

Next Labyrinth will be coming up soon too. Stay tuned...