One of the key ingredients at Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens / Peace Theological Seminary is the sense of welcome. Anyone driving through the gates and onto the well-manicured grounds, or walking up the marble front steps into the elegant foyer, will find a friendly smile. Greeters, registrars, facilitators, and volunteers of all stripes demonstrate genuine hospitality in their attitude of service.
Carol Jones, Director of Programs for Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens, opened the event, said a few words about the Seminary, the classes available, and the approximate schedule for the evening. The theme for the evening was Attuning to Spirit through Light and Sound. She introduced Angel Gibson, a member of the MSIA Travel Staff, who developed the curriculum for this particular spa evening.
Angel introduced Claire Smith-Roose, a professional musician, who would provide musical interludes for the evening’s exercises. Angel went on to describe a few potential experiences, and added that we would be practicing attuning to Spirit inwardly, through Spiritual Exercises, tuning to the Sound of God. She described the chanting of Ani-Hu (an ancient name for God, coupled with a word for empathy) as much like the tuning of an orchestra. Then she spoke an invocation, calling on the Light of God and the Sound of God to work with us.
Angel also talked about the Light and Sound by referencing Psalm 23 and some experiences of her travels. Then we were treated to a few quotes from John-Roger, founder of MSIA and Peace Theological Seminary, from his book, The Way Out, interspersed with Claire Smith-Roose playing flute.
We listened to J-R’s Light Attunement Meditation, and followed that by chanting an “E-e-e-” sound, to bring us back into physical awareness. Angel discussed in detail the colors and sounds of the various realms of Spirit, while sound technician, Richard Price, did his best to reproduce those sounds for us.
Carol Jones came back to the podium to explain the process and schedule for dinner. And oh, such a dinner! Full-time chefs, Guillaume and Claudie Botte, and assistant chef Valerie Simons, had created an Indian feast fit for royalty. It not only tasted wonderful, but someone had decorated the dining area with Indian silk saris and scarves, so that our eyes were fed as well as our noses and bellies.
After supper, we gathered back in the Large Seminar Room, where the cooking team was properly thanked. Then Angel began an explanation of how the labyrinth walk would take place, and introduced Toby Raetze, who had added a touch of lighting to the back courtyard for the evening and displayed some of his light reflecting sculptures. She gave a short history of labyrinths in general, then described the one we would walk. We were encouraged to relax, to go with our inner experiences, bring issues to be resolved, or simply to breathe, chant or pray as we walked. And then we were invited to walk.
The night was brisk, the stars were out, and the lighting was low and approximated the realms of Spirit. Walking this particular labyrinth, which is forty feet in diameter, can take twenty minutes or two hours, depending upon the individual’s process. Richard Price had secreted speakers along the route and around the circle of the labyrinth, and Claire played various wind instruments for us as we traversed our own consciousnesses.
Back in the Seminar room, people had the opportunity to describe the essence of their experience, and I heard the words “self-love,” “joy,” “gratitude,” and “clarity” from the participants. Angel placed a blessing with all of us and each of us, drawing a peaceful evening to a tender close. And a peaceful drizzle was falling when we emerged, cleansed, into the so-called “real” world. Peace to all.
Join us for the next Spiritual Spa Day, “Laughter, the Best Meditation,” facilitated by genuinely funny people, Laren Bright and your NDH writer, Penelope Bright, Saturday, April 22.
To register, visit www.peacelabyrinth.org or email to registrar@peacelabyrinth.org or call Zoe at (323) 737-4055 x127.
In the meantime, visit www.peacelabyrinth.org for a schedule of events at Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens.
