New Year's Eve 2010

Today is New Year's Eve and for the first time in a long time I am excited. Usually NYE is depressing for me...I think about the year that just slipped away and all that I did NOT accomplish. But today the horizon looks hopeful and I am excited to ring in 2011. I know I have dear friends who inspire and challenge me to be all that I can be...one of those friends is Jose' Avila (http://www.simplegiftspottery.com/). Today he sent me a photo of a labyrinth his sons created in their yard. I love nature art, creating 'stumbled upon' art and experiential education and this encompasses all three...THANKS JOSE'!!

Labyrinth created by Christopher and Andrew!

I wish everyone a joyous, safe, healthy and creative filled new year...Happy 2011 and blessings to all!

Traveling towards winter...

The winter solstice is but a week away. This year we celebrate the winter solstice, a full moon and a blue moon - all at the same time! I bid the Fall season a fond farewell with this haiku and photo's of a recent 'stumbled upon art' installation in my front yard...

Spiraling inward,

Raked around the cherry tree.

Temporary path.

Fall 2010



Lazy days on the swing are numbered...the chill has set in!



Firebird Festival

Last night we went to the 7^th annual Firebird Festival (http://www.firebirdfestival.org/) in Phoenixville, PA. It was a fantastic evening of fun, food and fire. Shopping on Bridge Street and watching street performers (a personal favorite), eating vegan soup from Kimberton Whole Foods, standing by a roaring fire in an old steel trash can (reminiscent of old black & white films and hobo's!), then heading to the hill with thousands of others to watch the parade and torch bears head to the pit to light the phoenix sculpture.

parade down Bridge St. - a flurry of activity!

     

Towers burning...

anticipation...

prayers to heaven...

Drummers, dancers and chanters filled the air with fun, joy and a spirit of togetherness and community.

I look forward to retuning next year...how about joining me...the more the merrier!

A Dedicated Walk on a New Labyrinth

Hosting a labyrinth walk has become more about listening then speaking. Yes, I do talk about the labyrinth, it's history, the story of the creation of the labyrinth at The Delaware Art Museum and the special people involved...but more important is listening to the walkers. I love to hear their stories, what drew them to the labyrinth, what happened to them as they walked, metaphors, and awareness of the creation new labyrinths (especially when they are local).

Such an awareness recently occurred . A woman and her 3 children were visiting the museum and ventured down to the labyrinth. In conversation she mentioned that her church (located in Kennett Square, PA) had just built an labyrinth but she had not walked it. Kennett Square (aka the “Mushroom Capital of the World”) is located about 5 miles away from my home so a trip across state lines was inevitable.

On a crisp, chilly, damp morning I head to Kennett to find the Church of the Advent Episcopal Church and it's new addition. Finding the church was a breeze and I quickly found the labyrinth tucked between the church and it's offices. The entrance to the stone 7circuit medieval inspired/modified labyrinth was flanked by 2 large planters offering a burst of red (a welcome change in color to the dull rainy days we were experiencing) in whimsical bee painted pots. As I stood at the entrance, gathering my thoughts and becoming aware of each breath I glanced beyond the labyrinth and notice the cemetery.

Last month we buried my father (Cy Rollins) at the family graveyard in Maryland. I have always been fond of cemeteries, loving to read the names, dates and epitaphs, and seeing the artistry of the head and foot stones. History that I could touch and stories of lives to be told in the smallest of detail. I decided to dedicate my walk to my father.

(marker for my mother's family on the Eastern Shore of Maryland)

                         

Each turn seemed to bring me back to a story of my life alongside him. I will miss his stories (well, most of them, that is!) and his silent support. Laughter and tears were shed on the labyrinth that day and I am blessed from the lesson learned and the stories remembered. Find a labyrinth, trail or path and walk in remembrance of someone you love.

(Kennett Square, PA)

To find a labyrinth near you go to http://www.labyrinthsociety.org/ and click on the labyrinth locator (upper right hand corner).

Welcome!

Welcome to The Backyard Pilgrim blog.

I have had the opportunity to travel the world, meet exciting people and go to fantastic places but now I set upon a journey of local adventures and magical settings. You see...I keep thinking about more travels, more adventures and seeing amazing spiritual, historical and magical places throughout the world but I realize that all I have to do is explore my backyard. Well...not my physical backyard because I live in a townhouse and my 15 X 15 postage stamp backyard would offer a short blog, well maybe not, I'm sure magical experiences can occur many times over in my bath tub but my definition of 'my backyard' will be those experiences, places and things within a days journey.

Occasionally I may travel further than a days drive especially when I go to The Labyrinth Society Gatherings and board meetings (www.labyrinthsociety.org) or if I get lucky to venture outside my East Coast circle and so these meanderings may also be posted.

('stumbled upon art' I created at Kirkridge Retreat Center & ASWM Conference)

My goal is to open myself up to the mystical and magical in everyday life and not save it for a planned or booked adventure so I urge you to join me, share your experiences with me and by all means feel free to suggest special places, people, trees, labyrinths, trails, rock formations, events or ideas for me to explore.

Blessings,

Carol M.