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The Heart's Longing

MAY 22, 2007

We've just returned
from Ashland and the beautiful Rogue Valley, Oregon...

where I had the honor to be the keynote speaker
for the 2nd annual North West Labyrinth Gathering,
entitled "The Heart's Longing:
In Beauty and Nature the Labyrinth Restores Us"...
Here, Milt and I gather with some of the gathering's
amazing committee members
in front of Lani and Stan Rossetta's
beautiful goddess labyrinth,
based on a Baltic-wheel labyrinth...

For our stay, we rented five nights
in Lynnette and Paul Scolari's
[Thimbleberry Cabin](http://www.thimbleberrycabin.com/), 29 miles east of Ashland...

Words and pictures do not begin to describe
the beauty and bone quiet of this forested area...

I built the Scolari's a small three-circuit labyrinth
from displaced rocks from the surrounding construction
for them and their future cabin guests
to add to and enjoy...

On Friday afternoon before my talk,
we visited with dear family friends who have now lived
in Gold Hill Oregon for the past thirteen years...
Oh how I've missed Carol's baking and Kenneth's coffee!!!
But most of all,
I've missed their sweet and wise spirits
and the way they hug me!

Their home and garden were a delight,
and their clematis loved posing for a picture...

I was warmly welcomed that evening to the NWLGathering,
along with Jean Houston who made a special guest appearance.
Here I am with Rose Tandon and the beautiful posters
that she made for Jean and me...

After the evening talks,the magnificent slide show by Margaret Valvo,and opening ceremony by Alena Marie and Tom Smith on flutes...Milt and I had a late night meal with Dale and Rita of iSpiritual,the finger-labyrinth ladies of the world!

On Saturday, my rope classical labyrinth
joined many canvas labyrinths of all shapes and sizes...

I did two workshops on what I've come to realize
is my favorite topic and life's work...
Beauty and the Beast/Minotaur...

I met many wonderful people and had the joyful opportunity to meet in person with a long-time internet connection, Marney Armitage from Canada. Like many others, Marney has been doing some incredible labyrinth work over the years with patients with life threatening illness. She is as delightful in person as she is on-line!

The workshop and speaking festivities closed on the Asante Rogue Valley Medical Center's Chartres design labyrinth...

Led by Alena Marie to the haunting flute music of Tom Smith, the flag dancers spread their wings and graced us with beauty...

And participants joined in the closing ceremony walk...

Twenty-Seven Turns Around the Sun

By Lea Goode-Harris • 15 Mar, 2024

twenty-seven turns around and around the sun the moon smiles as well

The Retiring of a Labyrinth

By Lea Goode-Harris • 05 Aug, 2023

Labyrinths provide us with a path to practice change. Some labyrinths have withstood the passage of time for thousands of years. Others are here for just an afternoon, drawn in the sand at the edge of the ocean. Many modern labyrinths were meant to last for years, but because of unforeseen circumstances their time is shorter than intended. And they once again help us to practice letting go and giving thanks for the time they are with us. The Labyrinth of Life at the Sebastopol, California Teen Center reached such place of letting go and is at the end of one chapter and the beginning of another chapter that is yet unknown.

Making A Three Circuit Labyrinth

By Lea Goode-Harris • 05 Aug, 2023

Sometimes... a labyrinth can take years to become a physical reality. In 2018 I met with my friend Deb, to discuss her desire to have a labyrinth on the beautiful land she lives on. Despite our plans and several meetings, listening to the land and finding the right spot, the labyrinth did not come to fruition. Fast-forward five years and in the blink of an eye... it happened!