Endless Circles of Inspiration, 2nd Australian Labyrinth Network Gathering

LAST CHANCE TO BOOK FOR

ENDLESS CIRCLES OF INSPIRATION

BOOKINGS CLOSE Monday 16 April, 5.00 pm

come and join the Australian Labyrinth Network

 Welcome letters have been sent out to registered participants - please check your email. 

We are delighted to welcome Lisa Gidlow Moriarty, artist/designer, master labyrinth maker, spiritual director and advanced facilitator to lead us in walking Endless Circles of Inspiration. Lisa lives in Minnesota, USA, and this is her first visit to Australia.The Pre-Gathering Workshop is limited to 30 participants. Lisa will work with us to create a 7.5 metre canvas labyrinth together. This painted labyrinth will be auctioned and proceeds returned to the fledgling Australian Labyrinth Network. Participants will also create an individual small finger labyrinth during the day. 

Endless Circles of Inspiration follows, a two day gathering of labyrinth walks, keynote presentations by Lisa, breakout sessions and arts-based labyrinth activities, informal conversations and networking, and the popular market space. On Saturday evening we will celebrate the incorporation of the ALN with a Celebration Dinner.  That evening a Walk of Gratitude will initiate and warm the painted labyrinth we made together at the Pre-Gathering workshop. 

On Sunday morning, Cedar Prest will introduce The Australian Way of the Labyrinth.  In small groups we will explore the many current projects, issues and areas of interest inspiring the Australian Labyrinth Network.  A program poster is available with timings for your information, contact organiser.  

Saturday BREAKOUT SESSION descriptions follow:

Peace through Mindfulness with Janice Lewis 

Do you want a more peaceful life? If the answer is yes, you are invited to this experiential workshop. At this workshop, you will be introduced to Peace Club which is active in Chicago, USA. Peace Club is mindfulness, meditation, and contemplative practices; mandalas, labyrinths and peace circles. The core of Peace Club is “peace within,” so we can be more peaceful out in the world. You will hear stories about those who are challenged by poverty, and how they are using the Peace Club skills in their everyday life so that they are less stressed, more peaceful, happier, and make better decisions, and much more. After the presentation, you are invited to participate in the experiential workshop. Come and enjoy!

Janice Lewis lives in Chicago, Illinois. She holds 3 certificates in meditation and is earning her 4th and also the International Mindfulness Teachers Certificate, Professional Level. Janice is an Advanced Peace Keeper Circle Leader, Advanced Certified Labyrinth Facilitator, Trained Mandala Guide and is a Labyrinth Society Board Member.

Make a Tissue Cord finger labyrinth with Lisa Gidlow Moriarty

Creating labyrinths for finger walking is a spiritual process that yields a usable table-top labyrinth that can be an art piece for the wall and a one-of-kind gift of functional art. Made from colorful tissue paper and cording on a canvas board, all materials and instruction provided. No experience necessary. Come with a creative spirit and leave with a 12” x 12” completed labyrinth—a gift to yourself or another special person. Materials fees covered in your registration.

Path to Forgiveness with Peter Bean 

An initial exploration of, and discussion about, what forgiveness is, who it is for, and the benefits of practising and receiving forgiveness. The process of forgiveness, like grief, is usually different for each individual. How can the labyrinth be part of that? We will step onto the "wild" labyrinth at Canisius (rain or shine!) and using a variety of rituals, we will explore ways to guide people move along the path to forgiveness. A debrief and discussion about appropriate ways to use this in your own settings will conclude the session. Peter Bean has lived with forgiveness all his life – from his family friends and anyone who knows him! In his work as a counsellor, school chaplain, workshop presenter, Lutheran minister, and labyrinth facilitator, he has seen and experienced the powerful effects of forgiveness in people’s lives.

Pencilled-in Pilgrimage with Margaret Rainbird

The perils, pitfalls and pleasures of a personal quest. In this session I will share some of what I have learnt while undertaking a personal pilgrimage to walk a different labyrinth every day for a year. I will discuss how the process unfolded from inception to (near) completion and what people may be able to apply to an undertaking of their own. The session will be mainly guided by peoples questions including the oft asked: Why do it? What have you learnt? Which labyrinths were your favourites? What's next?

A Poetic Life - the beautiful question with Tina Christensen

David Whyte, English/Irish poet and philosopher often speaks of the conversational nature of life and finding the ‘beautiful question’. What I love is to be surprised by the beautiful question that reveals itself through poetry. And my inner poet reveals herself most easily in the stillness of a labyrinth walk.

Come with me as I share my practise for ‘poetry water falling’ out of me. No special skills required. I will be encouraging you to explore this practice for yourself. It has become a source of meditation, clarity and beauty through writing from the wisdom within and definitely adds to my experience of living a poetic life.

Path wending
Feet turning
Body following
Where will I go today? TC 22/01/18

Speaking by heart on the labyrinth with Chris Rowntree 

Stand still /The trees before you and the bushes beside you are not lost/Wherever you are is a place called Here….. David Wagoner's poem continues with the metaphor of lost and found and can set the tone for a reflective labyrinth walk. When spoken by heart rather than read, story and poetry connect more deeply with the hearts of participants. Would you like to gain confidence in telling a short story, or speak poetry as you facilitate a labyrinth walk? I will give you a taste of how I work and weave with poetry. In this experiential workshop I will give you a range of visual, aural and kinaesthetic memory aids to rehearse with. Stepping it out on the labyrinth aids memory and brings greater confidence in speaking by heart. You may like to work with the story of how you found the labyrinth, or when the labyrinth found you. Bring a poem or story you’d like to work with, or choose from abundant repertoire available on the day.

Praying the Lord's Prayer in the Rose Centre with Joy Bowles 

The Christian use of the labyrinth stretches down to us from the 12th century when the Chartres 11 circuit labyrinth became the epitome of labyrinth artistry (at least for me). In this presentation, I will draw on my Christian heritage and an idea presented by Kathleen McGowan in “The Book of Love” and show how the Lord’s Prayer can be prayed in the Rose Centre of the Chartres labyrinth. I will also present an interpretation of the various concepts contained in the prayer that affords a modern-day re-alignment process that Christian and non-Christians alike may find helpful.  You will receive an image of the rose centre and will be encouraged to reflect on and meditate on the meaning of the concepts for themselves. Each person will create their own labels for the individual petals of the Rose, based on their insights. The finished page can be used as a mandala or reminder of your intentions.

OUR VENUE IN SYDNEY

The Venue: Excellent meeting rooms, catering and accommodation at Peter Canisius House will support our gathering. There are two outdoor labyrinths on site, one a Chartres 11 circuit and the other Classic is wilder. Food is always fresh and healthy, and dietary requirements catered for with flair.

Accommodation options: Peter Canisius House offers guests up to 46 individual rooms with twin beds and shared bathrooms. 

TICKETING

Ticket Inclusions:Ticket prices cover venue hire and include all meals, morning and afternoon teas, and materials for arts-based labyrinth sessions. Thursday dinner is included in the price for Pre-Gathering Workshop. Book now and secure your place. There are ticketing options for local day visitors.