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What's Blooming - January 2007

Indeed, what is blooming?

[Note! Click image for a larger view.]

It’s not very easy to find anything blooming at this time of year, though the clematis still has fluffy heads decorating the vines. After a snowfall each head carries a little cap of new snow, which, as it melts on these sunny days, carries away a few threads of fluff with each drip, the heads grow smaller - drip by drip.

However, though blossoms are now no more than dry seed heads, and we see no evidence of the life that lies quiet beneath the snow, growth is here – though of different kind: in the field beyond my garden fence, I have – with the help of friends – made an eleven circuit labyrinth in the snow. (If you are curious, it’s just under a third of a mile of shoveling!) The labyrinth has been for centuries a tool for spiritual growth, and when walking it I feel I am entering into a quiet and powerful process. Just as I feel confident that the winter-hidden plant growth will change into stems, and leaves, and flowers, and seeds, I am confident that simply putting one foot in front of the other in the labyrinth changes who I am.

The most famous labyrinth is in Chartres, but possibly the most visited labyrinths are at Grace Cathedral (www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth) in San Francisco. These follow the medieval design built into the floor of Chartres Cathedral – as mine does, though mine does not have the significant geometric precision of theirs! Grace cathedral offers workshops through Veriditas “The Voice of the Labyrinth Movement”. It’s website is (www.Veriditas.net) There are also the websites of The Labyrinth Society (www.labyrinthsociety.org) and Awakenings (www.lessons4living.com ). A search will find you many more.

If there is sufficient interest, I would like to organize a labyrinth workshop in 2008. You will find the 2007 workshops at Additional Events & Adventures, and can sign up for updates to that information just as you signed up for this.

All the best, and Happy New Year
Edie Jane

PS. Thanks to Lisa Woolnough – Feldenkrais Practitioner and Photographer - for the photo!