The Spirit of Veriditas Voices From the Labyrinth Winter 2011 Music on the Path elcome to the Winter have stepped forward to create music as Journal. Our amazingly well. creative journal team has Wselected to focus on music in this edition. It is a very coveted experience to be able Little did I know when we were down on to play at a labyrinth “gig”. The vision of our hands and knees painting the first people walking meditatively, alone yet large-size canvas labyrinth that so much together in community, has captured would flow forth from the labyrinth! the imagination of many who want to contribute in creative ways. In addition to the activity of walking the labyrinth, sacred geometry, pilgrimages Musica Divina, the first musical group to Chartres Cathedral and music have under the leadership of Mihr’un’Nisa all flowed into the world in new and Douglas began when in we initially revitalized ways. Since the publication opened the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral of Walking a Sacred Path in 1995 (and on December 30-31, 1991. Out of this Lauren Artress revised in 2006) over 150 books have experience came their CD Mysteries. So been written about the labyrinth. I am too in Chartres! The Catherine Blaslavsky Grace Cathedral and asked if they could sure there are as many musicians who Ensemble from Paris tracked me down at play for labyrinth walks. Little did they know I needed musicians in Chartres "When a musician is creating meditative space Cathedral, not Grace Cathedral! It could not have been more perfect. That was in for the labyrinth walk, they are playing with the 1994 and their album The Path of the walkers not for them. Their art is to capture the Soul was recorded in Chartres Cathedral. Veriditas continues to work with both of flow in the presence of the unfolding moment" these groups today.

Creating music by the labyrinth is an accurate description of what happens. It is not a performance. When a musician is creating meditative space for the labyrinth walk, they are playing with the walkers not for them. Their art is to capture the flow in the presence of the unfolding moment. This journal will share some of those who are also called forth to offer and hold the sacred space of the labyrinth.

Blessings on the Path,

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 1 www.veriditas.org Veriditas Keeps Opening to a Larger Vision by Dawn Matheny

fter four years with Veriditas, I c Because of changes at IONS, we am no longer the “new” Execu- will be moving our offices elsewhere on tive Director. Looking back, campus. Packing and reorganizing lies IA can now reflect on how I’ve seen us ahead. Our address and phone number change and grow. Veriditas has been in will remain the same. Watch for more constant motion since I began, spiral- programs at IONS in the year ahead as ing down and up and up again. After new meeting space opens up. several tough economic years, we are emerging stronger and more committed c This May in Chartres, we are excited to the importance of this work with the to be offering several unique programs Dawn Matheny, Ph.D. labyrinth in our world. that we want everyone to consider. Veriditas Executive Director email: [email protected]

Thanks to the Board’s Sustained Giving c In Cycle One, Jeff Saward, renowned on Pilgrimage. Get trained. Become a Campaign, we’re beginning to experi- labyrinth historian joins Lauren to ex- Sustaining Donor. Jump in as a Volun- ence a more steady cash flow to pay the plore the history and sacred geometry of teer. monthly bills. We encourage any of our the Chartres labyrinth, while the after- loyal donors to consider an automatic noons will be spent actually constructing Current volunteer opportunities: monthly pledge. Again this year, we are a labyrinth in outside garden space. offering our Sustained Givers the benefit 1. Provide clerical assistance in the of receiving hard copies of this quarterly In Cycle One A, a three day inten- Petaluma Office: mailings, event packet Journal. And, again, we are continuing c sive on “A Quest for Mystical Christi- preparation, filing projects, short term the annual drawing for a free Walking anity” will by led by Judith Tripp and or ongoing. A Sacred Path tuition. Pam Maben Frank De Badrihaye. They will explore (Portland, Oregon) is our 2011 winner the dance of the masculine and feminine and plans to attend Chartres with us this 2. Help us at a Veriditas event – once as manifested in the Christian tradition. you’ve been a participant, consider of- May. The 2012 drawing will be held at Through lecture, art, meditation and our September Chartres reception. fering to volunteer. Each event needs deep contemplation, participants will logistical help with set-up, sign-in, or have the opportunity to find their own clean-up. Other news: place of integration. 3. Join our Auction Committee to help Veriditas is thrilled to be launch- c c Cycle Two, led by Lauren, focuses on find donations for our on-line annual ing The Melissa Posnikoff Community the changes and transitions in our lives. auction. Outreach Scholarship. Named after It is designed with time for processing a much-loved Council member, it your own change process in addition to 4. Our Board and Council are unique provides support for Facilitator Train- tours of the Cathedral and Crypt and groups, working collaboratively to build ing tuition for people working with the private candlelit labyrinth walk in a stronger Veriditas. The Council sup- underserved populations. Applicants Chartres Cathedral. must first be recommended by a Trained ports the Facilitator community. The Board holds the financial, structural Veriditas Facilitator. More information And, afterwards, join Lauren on is available in the Council’s winter letter c and operational vision. Contact us for a unique travel tour to explore other more information if you are interested to Facilitators or by emailing council@ labyrinths in France. This tour begins veriditas.org. at [email protected] and board@ our travel partnership with Insight Out veriditas.org. Journeys. Expect more travel tour offer- c We are delighted to be working with ings ahead. a marketing professional to promote It is always amazing to reflect on how Lauren as a keynote speaker to new mar- big our vision is and how much activity See our website for Chartres program supports that vision. kets and expand her work internation- details and registration information: ally (after her sabbatical this summer). www.veriditas.org The marketing effort will also extend to our Master Teachers, promoting them So, we continue to grow and move both regionally and nationally for work- ahead. We invite you to join us. Come shops and facilitator trainings.

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 2 www.veriditas.org Music Connection A Step in the Song Direction by Tina Margason hy do we use music with free at http://web.me.com/ispiritual/ recommending facilitator directly for a labyrinth walk? We can labyrinth_pages/labyrinth_music.html more details on the music and its use. allow walkers to enjoy the Wsilence as they travel along. However, A unique listing of musical I gratefully acknowledge the generous remember what Ludwig von Beethoven recommendations has been gratefully support of all who participated. Thanks wrote: “Music is the mediator between gathered from facilitators around the also to Roberta Sautter for posting the spiritual and sensual life.” .Quote from world who have used music successfully this information on the Portal. This www.quotegarden.com/music in labyrinth walks. There was such a list is a beginning effort to support generous outpouring of sharing that the the work you each do to “transform As facilitators, we are aware of the list quickly grew to eight pages long! For the human spirit,” which is truly the intention of the walk that we are this reason, the list can best be viewed mission of Veriditas. Look for more of offering, as well as the group of in the special Facilitator Portal of the these projects in the future as Veriditas individuals who come to walk. Keeping Veriditas website. Simply visit the continues to collect resources for its this in mind, we offer appropriate Portal by clicking on this link http:// facilitators. music to mediate between the two. Of www.veriditas.org/network.shtml. If course, we would all love to have live you have forgotten your user name and Tina Margason is a retired educator musicians playing intuitively for our password, just email the Veriditas office who keeps busy facilitating labyrinth walks, but most of us need to provide for assistance. walks, building labyrinths, and our own musical background. Warren writing for the Journal. She is a past Lynn, a Certified Veriditas Labyrinth I have tried to give an indication of member of both the Veriditas Board Facilitator from Indiana, makes his own the labyrinth setting or music genre to and the Veriditas Council. Tina lives compilations. Warren has generously help facilitators discern new music for in California with her husband, Jim, offered to share a set of music for a their labyrinth work. Email addresses who is the wind beneath her wings. labyrinth walk. You can download it have been listed so you can contact the Little Miracles on the Path

by Linda Mikell good friend gave me a time. Everyone stopped what they were were certainly much more calmed and wonderful Christmas gift of doing and paid attention to the little centered by what they had witnessed and the CD entitled The Healing ones taking their journey. Not a word began their own labyrinth walk. Journey:A Music to Reflect, Relax and was spoken as we all watched. The five Rejuvenate which features Tami Briggs, preschoolers followed their teacher to I have used this CD for an adult walk as a therapeutic harpist. I planned to use the center. The last little girl in line well. I truly love its calming effect, and this CD for the first time with a group was inspired to walk on her tippy-toes I recommend it to other facilitators. of youth. with her hands in a well-trained ballet position, over her head. She twirled at Blessings, It was an inauspicious beginning for the the turns and was thoroughly in her own Linda Mikell walk. We had a VERY wide spread of lovely world. We were all entranced… ages: about five children under 5 years of Linda Mikell has been a Veriditas age, about five between 8 and 12 years I had placed a small treasure chest in the facilitator since 2003 and she serves on of age, and about eight teenagers who center with two word phrases printed the Veriditas Council. Linda leads a sat on a couch very much into their own on slips of paper. The little ones all weekly labyrinth walk every Thursday chatter and laughter. circled the chest and sat on the floor at 1:30pm in the sanctuary of her while their teacher distributed their Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in I made the decision to have the little little messages which were to be read Stony Brook, NY and also a monthly ones’ teacher lead them in while the and explained later. Then this serious evening walk the second Tuesday of others watched. I signaled my husband little crew walked their way out of the the month. Linda is very interested and helpmate, Ed, to turn on the CD. labyrinth with the tiny ballerina trailing in collecting and sharing stories for Immediately, the soft harp arpeggios behind them. As she left the labyrinth, Little Miracles on the Path. If you filled the room with vibrations and tones she executed one last twirl and took a have a story, please send it to her at that calmed and alerted at the same deep reverent bow. The older children [email protected].

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 3 www.veriditas.org Martin Gregory - Musical Visionary by Robin Bradley Hansel

ritish born artist, Martin labyrinth walking or a scene in a film, of inspiring visuals and responsive live Gregory is a California I endeavor to bring the same qualities music creates a rich ambience for deep based musician whose of appropriate enhancement of the journeying while walking the labyrinth. Boriginal compositions have been experience while “stepping aside” so that We’re formulating ideas now for the used for numerous meditation, film listeners have a choice of how much to next phase in the evolution of this work, and multimedia projects. Martin frequently performs live at art galleries, conferences, festive gatherings and labyrinth walks internationally. His wife, Cindy Pavlinac, is a well-known sacred sites photographer, artist and writer.

I had the opportunity to ask Martin how he envisions labyrinth walkers and facilitators enjoying his unique music. He replied, “It is as if the music is another walker on the path. Just as your relationship to other walkers affects your experience, so the music influences your walk. It interacts with walkers, setting a pace or inviting inward or outward attention.”

Martin explained further, “As a performer I respond to the tone of the group, adjusting the music to serve the moment. A walker may have a focused intention yet step politely aside, acknowledging others on the labyrinth, and I do the same with my music. I strive to produce a quality of sound that creates meaning in the consciousness of my listeners without demanding or be influenced by the music. My music is including creating an iPad version. Stay imposing a particular response. The role a companion on the path,” the composer tuned…” Martin concluded. of music for a labyrinth walk should be shared. neither bland, nebulous background, Oh, be assured, Martin and Cindy that nor flamboyant concert performance, This March, Martin and Cindy will we most certainly will keep listening and but an invitation, an opening to the be combining their creative talents for watching! limitless possibilities of contemplative another of their innovative multimedia states,” he concluded. labyrinth walk events in San Rafael, CA. Robin Bradley Hansel’s company, Martin explains, “I have composed and http://www.labyrinthwellness.com, is improvised music my whole life as a based in South Florida. She enjoys One of Martin’s best-known albums is response to inner or outer landscapes I uniting her professional training Labyrinth Walk. Another composition, have visited. Cindy assembles her images Bishop’s Palace: Music From Ancient as a Certified Veriditas Labyrinth of ancient sanctuaries, alignments in the Facilitator, a Licensed Physical Landscapes, was inspired by “sacred landscape and labyrinths into breathtak- Therapist and a Certified Pilates geometry echoing the mathematical ing visual presentations which I score. Instructor with her creative spiritual foundations of music itself.” Last It was a natural step for us to combine pathway as a writer. As editor, Robin February, Martin released the Dancing these productions with labyrinth walks. welcomes your exciting ideas for The With Gaia soundtrack. All albums are One of our favorite places to present our Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From the available on www.martingregorymusic. work is Grace Cathedral in San Francis- Labyrinth via email at com and on iTunes. co where Cindy projects images onto 30 [email protected] foot hanging silk veils while I play the “When I compose music for recording, grand piano during candlelit labyrinth whether intended to accompany walk events. The powerful combination

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 4 www.veriditas.org The Harmony Walk by Lauren Artress o you hear bells? I hope so hand bells around the labyrinth. Stone about touching the brass with their oily because one of the most labyrinths could damage brass bells, so fingers. Instruct them that by placing resonant ways to use the at Grace Cathedral we have small cork them against their clothes they can, if labyrinthD is The Harmony Walk. In 1994, pads to place them on for protection. they choose, silence the bells. Make sure I was in the majestic foothills of the Alps to tell people that there will be a “whiff” at the Bouldern Academy outside of or two—when no sound occurs—as Zurich, Switzerland on a labyrinth tour. they learn to use the bells. I could hear the continual ring—more like a clang—from a hundred or so I begin by ringing a bell as I walk the cows eating the grass. Add to this sound lunations because people are shy at first, hundreds of sheep with a smaller “ting, especially in large, intimidating spaces. ting, ting” of their tiny chiming bells, Others may wish to enter the labyrinth and we were treated to a symphony of with a bell they already are holding, or musical munching amid the luscious they can pick up a bell along their walk hills of grass. if and when they want to, depending upon the number of bells or chimes When I returned to the U.S., I you have. The Harmony Walk is totally wondered how to recapture that unscripted and spontaneous. I make experience and viola! The Harmony sure that participants know that I have Walk came into being. The Harmony no idea what will be created, but I am Walk is about creating together and always nourished by what unfolds. Every listening to what is created. You need time I have offered The Harmony Walk, six or more hand bells (or hand chimes, the sounds which resonated successfully which are less expensive and work well wove together a group of strangers into a with children) all in the pentatonic scale. community of friends. These are, in effect, temple bells—the It is important to introduce the bells black keys on a piano—so there are no before the walk. Show the participants sour or out of place notes. I place the how to ring them and caution them

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 5 www.veriditas.org "mYOUsic" Ideas to Jumpstart Your DIY Labyrinth Walk Accompaniment by Maia Scott There is something luxurious about A couple of years ago, the TLS Annual that’s always with you. Singing, walking the labyrinth to the swells of Gathering’s opening ceremony featured chanting, sounding, and reading live music. One can often feel the touch a labyrinth walk accompanied by passages give voice to the beauty within. of chords as sound waves gently ripple participants blowing into beer bottles. A Buddhist monk said in a teaching across shoulders and stroke the soul. Though it looked funny, the resulting that his group loves to sing. “We chant But when that favorite musical magic- soundscape was hauntingly beautiful. loud and from the heart. Sometimes it maker is not available, fret not. There sounds terrible and we don’t care.” are other options. The songs of Taize work splendidly Of course, there is Lauren Artress’ for labyrinth walks. While an legendary “Harmony Walk” featuring accompanist and strong cantor spark hand bells played at random by walkers that extra magical something, a on and around the labyrinth. When confident voice and a bell for tuning tones collide, they mesh beautifully. may work for the intimate setting. With a finely tuned octave of these Whether singing the Lord’s Prayer or beautiful instruments, it is impossible to ringing in the new you, the ambiance clash. However, a concert-ready set of will depend upon how willing people are hand bells costs just over a grand. to cut loose. Having walkers participate in creating the soundscape offers a If you can’t invest this much at the time, chance to play harder, pray deeper and consider a little East-West connection open further. Plus, it throws many and work with singing bowls. There people’s expectations to the wind and are companies that sell sets tuned to challenges them to think outside the the chakras which harmonize with one path. and other beautifully. But if you need to invest slowly, consider picking up a Maia Scott is a body worker, artist and bowl here and there on your excursions. recreation therapist from Northern Sometimes random singing and gonging CA. Maia currently embellishes creates disharmony. That, in its own her three jobs with presentation right, can parallel the spontaneous and engagements ranging from classroom dissonant partnerships in life. visits with her guide dog, Tessa, to conference workshops which include Chimes also create a beautiful sessions walking a tactile portable soundscape. You can’t go wrong with labyrinth under blind-fold. Koshi Chimes, the bamboo wrapped offspring of the Shanti chimes. Walk Why not open a black tie event with with these chimes and sparkling trills a walk accompanied by ringing wine follow in a fine-tuned flourish. While glasses? How about making rain sticks these chimes are a bit pricey, they don’t with a group then walk with them in have strings to untangle. Collect wind prayer for the rainforests on Earth Day? chimes from soft, woody pattering to And Mother Nature herself blesses our gentle tinkling to deep vibrant bongs, walks with the sounds of her majesty and people can create a soundscape during outdoor walks. representative of themselves. Throw in a couple rain sticks or cricket blocks for If you can’t lug another thing with you, good measure. make use of that wonderful instrument The Chantilly Codex, circa 1400

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The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 6 www.veriditas.org Bridge to Heaven: Music at the Chartres Cathedral School by Kayleen Asbo study music theory for an entire year Cathedral one evening, you might agree as preparation to perceive the sacred in with me that it really is the sound of form and space. angels, a true stairway to heaven.

Over the Scholars Door at the Royal Kayleen Asbo is a lecturer Portal of Chartres Cathedral, the figure on psychology and cultural history of Pythagoras hovers with the image at the San Francisco Conservatory of harmonic bells being played by the of Music, Sonoma State University figure of Musica. The proportions of the and Dominican University, the “perfect” intervals that he discovered in music director for St. John’s Episcopal the 6th century BC form the basis for all Church in Petaluma and the music Western music – and for the geometrical director for Taize services at the Santa proportions used to create sacred space. Sabina Center and Grace After Hours. The architecture of the gothic cathedral She leads retreats and workshops has often been described as itself being integrating the labyrinth with music, “frozen music”, and the remarkable art, poetry and spiritual practice, woodcuts of the English Hermetic and is the newest Master Teacher scholar Robert Fludd point to how the Apprentice for Veriditas. For more harmony of the proportions of sacred information on her upcoming classes geometry are related to the harmony of and workshops, see her website at musical intervals. The twists and turns www.kayleenasbo.com of the labyrinth itself bear a striking resemblance to the spiral musical forms of the Chantilly codex, a manuscript of French music circa 1400.

Amongst the many notable composers who studied and worked at the Chartres Cathedral, Bishop Fulbert (952-1028) stands out. He is one of the very first composers we know by name, and his hymns to the Virgin Mary are portals into another world, a sensory delight Pythagoras and Music evoking a lost time. (Check out his music on the album Musica Cathedralis: nlike our age, when music Chartres XIIe Siecle by La Maurache, is often thought to be available on iTunes). “entertainment”, background Usound or a mere accompaniment to The life of scholar-monks in the other activities, the Masters of Chartres Middle Ages was framed by sung Cathedral held music to be a singularly prayer- about four hours a day of chant important discipline, that when altogether. A hymn would have been properly studied would tune the soul the first sound uttered upon rising, and and open the seeker to the glories of an antiphon to the Virgin the very last the Divine. In the curriculum of the human sound heard before sleep. The Pythagoras' Lyre by Robert Fludd (1617) Cathedral school, the study of music tradition of singing the Salve Regina to shows the connection between music,, math, stood as the bridge between the trivium Our Lady of the Pillar at the close of day and astronomy in the Pythagorean tradition (the study of grammar, rhetoric and dating back to 500 BC, continued at Chartres or as a special plea of prayer is intimately Cathedral School, and preserved in the Hermetic logic) and the study of the left brain connected with pilgrimage to Chartres, writings throughout the Renaissance domains of arithmetic, geometry and and continues to this day. Should you astronomy. Students were required to be blessed to hear this at Chartres

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 7 www.veriditas.org Music on the Labyrinth by Dawn Grace Peters n October 10, 2010, in San project for the church and bringing Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, when a little Jose, California, 175 people it to completion. “It has been an three-year-old girl, Mia, dressed in a gathered for the opening amazing project,” said Rev. Peters. pink tutu and a black top with a glittery O peace sign, ran to the center of the labyrinth. She began to dance, joyfully, to the music. The cellist noticed the impromptu dancer, and began to play for her. It was a special moment for the entire gathering. The music swelled, the child danced, and the labyrinth was well and truly blessed.

This community labyrinth is located at First Congregational Church of San Jose, 1980 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, California. Walkers are welcome at any time--no need to call ahead.

Rev. Dawn Grace Peters is the Associate Minister for Congregational Life at the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in San Jose, California. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Ministry in Wisdom Studies and Spiritual Direction at Wisdom University. celebration and blessing of the first “The creativity, the camaraderie, full-sized Chartres-style stone labyrinth the community building--it was a in the South Bay area. The newly transformative experience for everyone built labyrinth’s home is the First who worked on the labyrinth. For three Congregational Church of San Jose, months, people would turn up, almost United Church of Christ. daily, to spend time laying the mosaic path. At the beginning of each day, we The labyrinth space was designed by would stop to bless the work, and bless Santa Cruz artist, Lance Brown. Brown, all those who would be walking it one who has a gift for creating sacred space day. It was very powerful.” with sculpture, was intrigued and excited about the possibilities inherent The energy was tangible the afternoon in the 10,000 foot space designated for of October 10th, as people gathered the labyrinth. His design incorporated for the celebration; to see the beautiful granite as the fields and flagstone to labyrinth, and walk it for the first time. create the mosaic path. The labyrinth The church’s chancel choir, along with was built over the span of three months beloved Bay Area cellist, Chi Chen by more than 60 volunteers, putting in provided music for the gathering. over 1200 volunteer-hours. The entire Cellist Chi Chen accompanied the project was orchestrated by Brown, walk with beautiful strains of Bach who says of the finished labyrinth, “It’s and Beethoven, as well as original a concrete, physical, three-dimensional compositions metaphor.” Just before the service began, the Rev. Dawn Grace Peters, associate labyrinth had an unexpected blessing. All photos were taken by Carl Cilker, minister at First Congregational and The open walk had finished, and walkers long-time member of First Congregational Veriditas-trained labyrinth facilitator, had cleared from the labyrinth. The Church of San Jose. took the lead in spearheading the cellist was playing the last few strains of

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 8 www.veriditas.org 2011 Global Healing Theme: Coming Together “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”—Henry Ford

January-February-March Focus: Connection

QUOTE: “When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities.” —Deepak Chopra

PICTURE/SYMBOL: Two deer seeing eye to eye.

COLOR: Yellow, like the spark between two fingers about to touch

PRAYER: Turning to one another is as simple as a heart-felt conversation to restore hope. It is not our differences that divide us. It is our judgment about each other. Connecting through conversation is the natural way we as humans think together. Conversation takes time. We need time to sit together, to listen, to worry and to dream together. As this age of turmoil tears us apart, we need to reclaim time to be together. When we begin listening to each other, and when we talk about things that matter to us, the world begins to change. Reality doesn’t change itself. We need to act. — Jo Ann Mast

IDEAS FOR BENEFITING ORGANIZATION: The Center for Nonviolent Communication

IDEAS FOR AMBIANCE AROUND THE LABYRINTH: Candles, pillows in groups, snacks and goodies, coffee to promote lingering and sharing

MUSIC: Ashana, “All is Forgiven”

(Special thanks to Ellen Bintz Meuch for creating the Global Healing Response 2011 Resources)

Shop Amazon.com from The Magic Portal the link on our home page. http://www.veriditas.org. A curious mouse points at Look at that, and that! Verditas.org above The mouse flits beneath your palm Veriditas receives 5% of Blinking with excitement Through all the things and every sale, whether or not it For adventures you will love. Offerings at Amazon.com has anything to do with the There you travel down to So, when you brave the Amazon labyrinth! Where a magic portal waits. Remember there’s a choice: A single click and off you go Seek the magic portal to To wonders oh so great. Fund Veriditas’ voice.

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 9 www.veriditas.org Deep Passages The New Music of an Old Soul An Interview of John Burke with Maia Scott

he mysterious swells of Canadian I attended the workshop with Lauren formula. For me, this is music that New Music composer John at Grace Cathedral to learn how music aspires to the condition of the shaman’s Burke’s piano passages tingled was being used with the labyrinth. What drum: one drum, many journeys. throughT the veins of many a labyrinth became clear was that the preferred walker during the TLS Gathering in music—Gregorian chant, world music, Do you have any advice or wisdom to New Harmony. In fact, the collection new age music, the devotional music of share with facilitators and labyrinth of works John Burke shared wasn’t other cultures—was modal. This simply enthusiasts regarding music / sound exactly composed to accompany the means that it has a non-architectonic, healing and work with the labyrinth? labyrinth; its structure was inspired by free-floating quality that tends to place the labyrinth. I am so grateful John us in the now. Whereas Beethoven’s non- For me the labyrinth has has agreed to share some proven to be a unique of his experience and laboratory in which to wisdom with our Veriditas research the effects of readers: sound on consciousness, and a way to drill down Would you tell us a little to some kind of empirical bit about yourself and truth about music that what drew you to focus couldn’t be accessed in your work within the any other way. I would New Music genre? invite and encourage others to take their own My musical background journey in this spirit. is somewhat unusual, at If we are indeed on the least for North America, threshold of a major shift in that from childhood in consciousness as many I attended a cathedral predict, I feel that music choir school. Along can help get us there. with academic subjects I studied Gregorian If you would like to learn chant, music theory and piano, and modal (i.e. tonal) music, for example, more about John Burke’s work, please was performing choral repertoire from with its highly-charged leveraging of visit www.labyrinthmusic.com Renaissance to modern. This gave me time, past and future, would not be so appropriate in a contemplative setting. It a broad experience of Western music, Photo: John Burke at piano. occurred to me that given what I know which was of significance later, and Photographer Unknown imprinted on me music’s place in a as a classically trained composer, I might be able to combine a quality of nowness sacred setting. I can see now that my Maia Scott is a body worker, artist and eventual immersion in avant-garde with a structured sense of evolution and transformation as a single expression-- recreation therapist from Northern music was part of a search to access what CA. Maia currently embellishes might be called an “esoteric” function to entrain aurally what happens when one physically walks a labyrinth. To this her three jobs with presentation for music—an energetic more than a engagements ranging from classroom conventionally aesthetic one. end my entire labyrinth repertoire is based on a circular, evolving sequence of visits with her guide dog, Tessa, to conference workshops which include We would love to hear about your twelve harmonies that models the Hero’s Journey in what I like to think of as a sessions walking a tactile portable creative process--the art, science and labyrinth under blind-fold. philosophy-- leading to the production homeopathic way. Thus each piece in the of your collection of labyrinth works. repertoire, while autonomous, displays the same underlying transformative

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The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 10 www.veriditas.org The Veriditas Council Corner by Tracy Friedl he Veriditas Council has met not included and would like to be, or early stages is something called “Circles twice since our last update - in if any of your contact information has of Grace,” which will be the creation of person at IONS in October, and changed, please use the link on the Re- small communities within regions. overT the phone in January. Much of the gional Discussion page so that we may Council’s work recently has centered on make those changes. Archiving informa- The Council will be meeting again April renewal and bringing people together. tive conversation threads is also ongoing. 8-10 in Tuscaloosa and , The Global Healing Response initiated The Winter Facilitator’s Letter has been Alabama. We are looking forward to by Ellen Bintz Meuch remains a vibrant sent. usher in two new firsts - our first visit way to bring us all together on both to the South, and our first Friday night a local and global level by providing There are also a few new projects that reception with local facilitators to meet themes and ideas which allow us to walk we are nurturing. We will shortly be face to face. Our meeting next fall will with common intentions unveiling the “Melissa Posnikoff Memo- be in Colorado. rial Scholarship” to provide financial We are continuing to make the Facilita- aid to someone wishing to attend a Blessings in the New Year, tor’s Portal a more dynamic and useful facilitator training and also a Resource place to visit and connect. The lists of Specialist program to identify facilitators The Veriditas Council facilitators by region are up and are with special expertise in certain areas. continually being updated. If you are Finally, another new project in the very Veriditas Regional Network Spotlight by Kay Mutert he Southeastern Region surrounding area. The 60-foot Chartres- stigma that surrounds mental illness.” includes: Alabama, Arkansas, tradition labyrinth is open daily and Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, free of charge to the general public and *Sara Dochterman of south Florida Mississippi,T North Carolina, South is used as a therapeutic tool for clients writes of her work: Carolina, and Tennessee. Kay Mutert serves as the SE Regional “A year ago, I participated in the Representative. labyrinth facilitator training at the Duncan Center in Delray Beach, In the last two years, qualifying Florida. Now, I am transitioning workshops and facilitator trainings from my full time job to a part have been held in the three ends time job at another treatment of the triangular SE region: North center, as well as building a private Carolina, South Florida, and psychotherapy practice. My plans Alabama. Close to fifty persons include bringing the labyrinth to attend the trainings. These newly a larger audience through retreats, trained facilitators are helping as well as continuing to introduce expand the presence of labyrinth the labyrinth to people in 12-step work in this region. Here are two recovery. The journey of labyrinth stories: facilitation is quite the pilgrimage, filled with experiences of deep *Marilyn Lands of Huntsville, Alabama in individual therapy, group therapy healing and joy!” saw The Community Labyrinth at the and day treatment programs. Brian Mental Health Center of Madison Davis, Executive Director of the Mental Photo of labyrinth at Huntsville. AL County built by volunteers in the Health Center, stated, “Having the Mental Health Center. Photo credit K. Spring of 2007 thanks to a $20, labyrinth accessible to the public creates Mutert 230.00 grant from the Jane K. Lowe a positive vehicle for people to come to Charitable Foundation which helped our campus and, hopefully, demystify Kay Mutert is a Veriditas Master to construct the labyrinth, install a preconceptions about community Teacher and Council Member in sprinkler system and landscape the mental health and dispel some of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 11 www.veriditas.org Books, by Lauren Artress

Walking the Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice was the first book written to offer the Medieval Eleven-Circuit Labyrinth as a spiritual practice. It is now in its second edition with a new preface and epilogue to capture all that has happened with the labyrinth since this book was first published in 1995. The book was instrumental in launching what the New York Times in May of 1998 named The Labyrinth Movement.

The second book, The Sacred Path Companion: A Guide to Walking the Labyrinth to Heal and Transform places all Lauren’s teachings since 1995 about the labyrinth in one place. In Four Guidelines to Gauge Your Spiritual Growth she outlines how we can measure our increasing spiritual maturity. In Lessons of the Labyrinth Lauren articulates what the practice of labyrinth walking can nurture within us. First time labyrinth walkers will find a useful introduction to the practice in The Art of Labyrinth Walking. Thoses knowledgeable about labyrinthwalking will be interested in the Applications and the many suggestions around forgiveness, grieving, engaging our shadow, and strengthening in Part 2: Specific Uses for Healing and Transformation.

The Companion Guide offers short journaling exercises in the chapter Start Where You Are for those who want to take stock of their lives. Others may want to dip into the sections on Healing, Shadow Work, Soul Assignment or Initiatory Rituals, depending upon what life’s challenges are for them at that time.

The Sand Labyrinth is both a meditation tool and a lovely accent to home or office. Keep it in plain view on your coffee table, desktop or nightstand. Use it frequently to calm yourself before a stressful meeting, to focus your thinking, to find solutions to problems, to open yourself to your own inner wisdom.

Looking for a quick, easy way to support Veriditas? Shop Amazon.com from the link on our home page. http://www.veriditas.org. Veriditas receives 5% of every sale, whether or not it has anything to do with the labyrinth! Shop today!

The Spirit of Veriditas, Winter 2011 Contributing Writers Veriditas Vision Voices From the Labyrinth and Photographers & Mission Journal Team IS A Lauren Artress, Dawn Matheny, Lauren Artress The Vision of VERIDITAS PUBLICATION Tina Margason, Maia Scott Kayleen Asbo Veriditas is to activate Carl Cilker and facilitate the Tracy Friedl transformation of the Veriditas Robin Bradley Hansel human spirit. The Editor 101 San Antonio Road Dawn Matheny work of Veriditas Robin Bradley Hansel Petaluma, California 94952 Tina Margason centers on the 707-283-0370 (tel) Ellen Bintz Meuch Labyrinth Experience 707-283-0372 (fax) Linda Mikell http://www.veriditas.org as a personal practice Graphic Designer Kay Mutert Cindy A. Pavlinac for healing and Marjorie Connelly Dawn Grace Peters growth, a tool for World Wide Labyrinth Locator Maia Scott community building, http://labyrinthlocator.com/ an agent for global peace and a metaphor for life.

The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From The Labyrinth - Winter 2011 12 www.veriditas.org