ABOUT THE ORIGINAL EARTH-WISDOM LABYRINTH
The Earth-Wisdom Labyrinth was constructed of approximately 25 tons of rocks, (most between 20-40 pounds each,which were purchased from a nearby quarry in Illinois) and patterned after the famous labyrinth that was inlaid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France around the 13th century. The "Labyrinth Seed Kit" from Veriditas, assisted the building process. The location of the "center" and the direction for the "mouth" to open (West) were dowsed by Dr. Louis Harris. With the assistance of 24 volunteers (some children), the labyrinth took approximately two months to complete. In the center of the labyrinth was a hollow copper pyramid that stood 70 inches tall, with an 8-foot base. Flanking the Pyramid, and where each "petal" of the rosette joined its neighbor, were individual red rocks, handpicked from several of the sacred vortex points in Sedona, Arizona. Amidst these red rocks, were two other handpicked rocks from the Arizona desert; one was from the site where the world-famous "Gentle" & "Power" Labyrinths are located. (Kay Torrez' property.)
LABYRINTH ACTIVATION CEREMONY-Autumnal Equinox Eve
September 21, 1996, 4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Approximate;y forty people attended the Earth-Wisdom Labyrinth Activation Ceremony. A table was set up outside with printed programs and the Register that Ruth Oberg brought. Torches and candles were lit, as Marta Thomas placed her Amethyst Crystal Skull "Pauly" inside the center of the labyrinth. The ceremony began with the group forming a large circle near the entrance to the labyrinth, and each person being 'smudged" with Sage to cleanse heart and mind, (to prepare the group for the ceremony to come.) Next the seven directions were honored by the group with offerings of maize and tobacco, while Chuck Selsor, Linda Maratea & Joy and Tim Caffrey, in turn, read the qualities that each direction embodies. A Tibetan Singing Bell was then rung by Denise Peters (after each of these readings) to further honor each direction by ringing the bell the number of times associated with each direction (numerologically).
Next, David Duke, from the Association For Research & Enlightenment (A.R.E) led the group in a visualization to welcome in the Goddess Energy. Then Phyllis Kluge read a moving poem she wrote called "Winding Journey Home". This was followed by Neal Harris leading the group in a visualization to bring the healing and transformative energies of all the labyrinths from around the world, to this labyrinth, in order to energize and "activate" it. Then this new, more powerful energy, was sent back to the labyrinths from across the globe, to energize them more fully, completing the cycle of giving and receiving.
The last part of the ceremony involved the walking of the labyrinth. Prior to the walk, people were invited to choose a small plastic bag, filled with either red rock soil (gathered from the sacred site called Cathedral Mound in Sedona, Arizona) or pine needles gathered from the property. Then people lined up at the entrance and were told that there was a glass bowl in the center of the labyrinth containing polished rocks, and that each person was entitled to take one as a souvenir of the ceremony.
The walk began with people entering the labyrinth about 10 seconds apart; a few people picked up drums and chose to drum a beat for those walking it. Nightfall came as the last walker finished and joined the rest of the celebrants in the bring-a-dish buffet, out on the deck overlooking the labyrinth. To onlookers, the torches and candles still lit, cast a peaceful glow to the outline of the labyrinth and the copper pyramid nestled within it.