Walk as One for Peace on World Labyrinth Day

NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release

March 1, 2023

Contact: Ellen Bintz Meuch
World Labyrinth Day Coord. 630-235-2150
wld@labyrinthsociety.org
Walk as One for Peace on World Labyrinth Day

Trumansburg, N.Y. — On Saturday, May 6, 2023, thousands of people will participate in the fifteenth annual World Labyrinth Day as a moving meditation for peace and celebration of the labyrinth experience. Whether you are familiar with labyrinths or new to the idea of non-maze labyrinth paths, all are welcome to learn more and take part.

World Labyrinth Day is an international event held on the first Saturday each May, sponsored by The Labyrinth Society in collaboration with partner organizations including the Australian Labyrinth Network, Legacy Labyrinth Project, and Veriditas. Together these organizations are preparing resources and offering a series of pre-World Labyrinth Day workshops to empower individuals and groups to plan their own local World Labyrinth Day events.

Many participants will “Walk as One at 1” by walking a labyrinth at 1:00 p.m. local time to create a rolling wave of peaceful energy passing from one time zone to the next around the globe. There will be individual walks, local community celebrations (with all applicable health precautions) and worldwide connections through online events and social media. Existing labyrinths will be visited, and new temporary or permanent labyrinths will be built.

Labyrinths are found throughout the world with the oldest dating back thousands of years. In contemporary use, labyrinths provide an opportunity for personal reflection, spiritual practice, or the reduction of stress in many different public and private settings. Over 6,000 labyrinths are listed on the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator website: labyrinthlocator.com.

Labyrinth walkers may also choose to participate in the third annual Big Connection research project, the first global humanity research experiment utilizing the labyrinth and asking the question, “What is the impact of walking labyrinths collectively with heart centered intention and the impact that it has for ourselves and our planet?” Labyrinth Activism is a term that has emerged from the prior studies in 2021 and 2022. This year the researchers are further exploring the process of labyrinth activism, how to initiate it, and asking participants to record their experiences. More information can be found at worldlabyrinthday.org or legacylabyrinthproject.org, beginning March 7th.

The first World Labyrinth Day was celebrated in 2009 and included events in New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United States, and many other locations. The Labyrinth Society Global Group on Facebook, created in tandem with World Labyrinth Day, has since grown to over 15,000 members from 100 different countries, with steady use throughout the year and a peak in activity every year around World Labyrinth Day. Visit worldlabyrinthday.org for more information, resources, and ways to participate.

The Labyrinth Society is a U.S.-based international nonprofit organization founded in 1998 whose mission is to support all those who create, maintain, and use labyrinths, and to serve the global community by providing education, networking, and opportunities to experience transformation.

labyrinthsociety.org

June 2022 Updates from The Lilies Project

Summer is Here!

It’s the Last Day of School! A newsletter update is my main goal for this week. Then I am dreaming of painting during the lazy days of summer.

After a busy summer last year with installations, everything was pretty dormant until this Spring. Then movement really picked up. For the last two weeks, I have been trying to finish the web site update with a whole bunch of information that I missed sharing before now. I was really hoping to complete more of the coal ash art to install in Walnut Cove, but creative goals have been pushed back to summertime.

Web Site Refresh

I have worked on refreshing the web site and making it a little easier to parse through everything that has taken place since 2018. I simplified the front page and created a page that outlines our main focus areas: Coal Ash Art & Parks | History & Community | Advocacy. You can also keep up to date with our current projects here. I am still working away on the Walking Tour.

H2O Exhibit at Greenhill (First Friday Tonight; Exhibit Through June 25th)

Checkout the H2O Exhibit at Greenhill Gallery of North Carolina Art in Greensboro through June 25th. There is a closing on the 25th that is open to the public. It is also open tonight for Greensboro’s First Friday. This is a powerful exhibit of seven different North Carolina artists focused on preserving our water. Will Warasila and I both share stories from the Belews Creek community centered around our advocacy for cleaning up coal ash. If you have been part of this movement, you will likely see your face or hear a familiar voice. It is a must see. I am happy to meet you at the gallery to give you a personal tour.

“Under The Skin” Book Release and Tour (June 15th in CH & 16th in GSO)

During our Climate Reality Training in Atlanta in March 2019, Danielle Bailey-Lash and I met with NYT Magazine Writer Linda Villarosa for an interview. When I contacted Linda to share the news of Danielle’s passing, she told me that she wanted to share Danielle’s story in her upcoming book, “Under the Skin.” It is a powerful collection of studies on how racism directly impacts the health of Black Americans. Linda’s first stop on her book tour is in North Carolina: in Chapel Hill at Flyleaf Books on June 15th and in Greensboro at Scuppernong Books on June 16th. Please come pack these stores!

Local History to Share for Juneteenth (June 19th)

It’s hard to believe that we are on the heels of the anniversary of last year’s Juneteenth Celebration in Walnut Cove. When Dr. Dana Dalton began organizing the event and the documentary on the Walnut Cove Colored School, no one knew Juneteenth was set to become a national holiday. This year celebrate by watching and sharing this remarkable film created by Filmcove. Organizers from Walnut Cove led the nation in refurbishing local Rosenwald Schools. Like the Walnut Cove Colored School, this film is a gift to the community. We also have a collection of long interviews from the film.

Walking Tour in Walnut Cove

Last summer two major installations happened in Walnut Cove! The basketball mural at London Park was installed, along side the completion of the Labyrinth at Cove Square. The labyrinth and basketball court are gorgeous and serve as major anchors to the walking tour in Walnut Cove. Special thank you to Angie Bailey and the Cove Group for being the caretakers of the labyrinth. The Cove Group brings Cove Square to life each week with music in the park.

I am working on pulling all of the information for each site on the web site. It’s still not complete, but I am trying my best to finish by the end of June. If you have stories or information you want to share about each site, please send them to me. The walking tour serves to be a growing collection for the special places around Walnut Cove.

Once we have the art in place and the walking tour complete, we will host a celebration to wrap up The Lilies Project! Plus we plan to host a special event at the basketball courts at London Park in collaboration with Mayor Nellie Brown.

Walnut Cove Greenway Proposal

Watch for a draft of the Walnut Cove Greenway Proposal coming in the next week or two. Alta Design spent three days in Walnut Cove talking to people, visiting locations and coming up with a great plan to connect communities into downtown Walnut Cove. Specifically East Walnut Cove/Walnut Tree and Stokesburg. Both will be impacted by the new DOT Roadway projects. We need your feedback to make this a great asset for the town. Walnut Cove is a jewel and having a greenway will really bring everyone together for a great space to walk and bike.

Explore Our Labyrinths

In April, our labyrinth committee shared about labyrinths at the Germanton Elementary Cultural Fair. We had a hand out and information for the participants. Although not enough for everyone with such a huge turn out. Many of the kids recognized the labyrinth from Cove Square and were curious about learning more. We also have a labyrinth at Christ Church, which will be dedicated later this summer and early fall. Vivian Fulk recently completed her training on labyrinths and is working on a study with NIH about using labyrinths as a tool for climate resiliency. We are planning to host a community training in the future as Nathan Wiles catches up on all of his backlog of installations from COVID. Let us know if you are wanting to be more engaged around the labyrinths.

Sponsors at Sid Lee Mental Health Association

In 2021, The Lilies Project sponsored the training of eight peer-to-peer mentors. Sid Lee is offering a program on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:30. Please join the gatherings with this group. Please read more here.

Caroline’s Blogging Again

A long time ago, I used to blog a lot. But once I started The Lilies Project, I shifted away from blogging with everything else that I was trying to manage. Keep your eyes out for more posts every once in a while. I am trying to keep up with announcements from The Lilies Project here and some personal stories on this blog.

Enjoy your summer!

Best, Caroline

The Labyrinth at Cove Square

World Labyrinth Day May 7, 2022 

Walnut Cove, NC—April 28, 2022, 2022 — The Labyrinth at Cove Square with The Cove Group announces public access, enabling individuals to visit and enjoy the labyrinth free anytime but especially on World Labyrinth Day May 7, 2022, and during Walnut Cove SpringFest by The Cove Group on May 21, 2022, from 10 AM to 3 PM.  

World Labyrinth Day is celebrated each year on the first Saturday of May.

What is a labyrinth?

Labyrinths are in the form of a circle with a meandering but purposeful path, from the edge to the center and back out again. The path becomes a metaphor for our journey through life. The labyrinth sparks the human imagination. It enlivens the intuitive part of our nature and stirs within the human heart the longing for connectedness and the remembrance of our purpose for living. It is a calming meditation or a lively dance, just as is life.

Labyrinth Availability

The Labyrinth at Cove Square is always open to the public located at 455 N. Main Street, Walnut Cove, NC.

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For more information, press only:
Angela Bailey 
336-414-1122
CoveGroupInfo@gmail.com

For more information on Springfest and The Labyrinth at Cove Square

For more information on the three Labyrinths sponsored by The Lilies Project

May 2021 Updates

1. Community Garden Days

There are two chances this week where you can dig in on some community gardens (or stand around and watch, if you have a bad back!). I can’t make either, but I hope that you all will take and share pictures! Bring Your Own Tools!

For more information

Sid’s House - Thursday, May 6th at 11 am

Sid Lee is seeking NC native plants if you would like to bring from your garden or donate. If you have any of these in your garden and would like to donate a cutting for Sid's House garden that'd wonderful. Donations of garden tools and monetary donations for the garden projects are also accepted.

Erica’s Garden (Rev. Alfred Warren’s Farm) - Saturday, May 8th at 10 am

We are donating some vegetable plants from Tuttle’s for Erica’s Garden. Rev. Warren is also seeking lumber donations to create the planting boxes. Let’s all come together to help Rev. Warren’s dream of creating a community garden in memory of his daughter, Erica.

We are eventually planning to have a coal ash sculpture art at both locations.

If there are other gardens (and I know that there are), I am happy to include them on this page and help promote your activities on Facebook.

Reality Check from this Week: I am not a gardener. In efforts to scale back and complete this project, I am just focusing on art in multiple locations. Eventually we will have events to celebrate and include supporting materials for the walking tour.

2. Watch "Life in the Sacrifice Zone" May 13-14

The long-awaited "Life in the Sacrifice Zone” is available for viewing next weekend. We are hoping to schedule a screening in Stokes County at some point, as well.

Don't miss the River Run Film Festival's world premiere screening of a new documentary on coal ash in North Carolina!

In his first feature film, Winston-Salem filmmaker Chad Nance highlights an African American community in rural North Carolina who battled systematic racism and one of the world's largest energy companies. A series of environmental disasters, racist actions by local officials and mysterious medical issues spurred the community into action. Tired of sacrificing their land and lives to the pollution created by the largest coal fired electric plant in North Carolina, they join their efforts and voices to force the biggest coal ash clean up in the history of the US.

Watch it on May 13, 8:30 pm ET or at your convenience for 48 hours starting May 14.

3. Juneteenth Celebration - Saturday, June 19th, 2021

If you haven’t heard by now, the Walnut Cove Colored School is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year. Ephraim has been working with Dana on a short film since last fall. We are excited to see it along with great music from the Allen Boys from Mt. Airy. (Thank you, Eddy McGee and the SCAC for sponsoring the music.) It should be a fun day for the family. Bring your own chair and mask for the celebration. A piece of coal ash art will be unveiled that day!

For more information on the event

4. The Lilies Project Art Installations

We continue to progress with the public art.

The Labyrinth at Cove Square

The concrete has been poured and will be engraved in late May. It will be closed until sometime in June to keep it clean for engraving. We are excited for when it will be open and available to the public. It will be used for a farmer’s market, among many other things, likely after Memorial Day.

Cove Square looks incredible after all of the hard work from the Cove Group over the last three years. I believe they are planning a work day TOMORROW at 6:30! Again bring your tools, as the Cove Group prepares for Spring Fest.

London Park Basketball Courts

I have signed the contract to redo the basketball court at London, so that should be scheduled soon. I hope in June.

Coal Ash Posts

Nathan has cut a number of posts and taken seven with him back to Vermont to cut even more. I am hoping the installations will move quickly. Until then I am planning to focus on painting what I already have on hand.

June 18th Walk-Through Canceled

My original goal was to install most of the art by Juneteenth Celebration and have a walk through the night before. However, I just signed a promise to our church camp that we would be in quarantine during that week before 6/20. So hopefully some of the pieces will be complete on Juneteenth, but we will not be meeting on June 18th. I will just stay far away from everyone on Juneteenth! I am calling it Essential since we have been planning it since early Fall!

I am hoping a new gathering time will become clear in the coming works as I start the art.

5. Marie’s having a baby!
Best wishes to Marie Garlock, who is ten days away from her due date! We can’t wait to meet this new little one!

Visiting the Labyrinth at Medley Meadows

In October 2019, we met at Medley Meadows for a lunch and visit of Vivian’s labyrinth. Vivian had been instrumental in helping us find an artist to construct the labyrinths in Walnut Cove for us. It was a delightful lunch together among friends and discussing what having a labyrinth means for us individually.

Labyrinths evolved out of our community planning discernment process and were very important to two of most consistent members - Tammy Hill and Danielle Bailey-Lash.

Our First Labyrinth

Our first labyrinth was installed last week at Christ Episcopal Church almost historic flooding. Thank you to Neill Caldwell with The Stokes News for covering the story. The labyrinth will be completed in mid-March when Nathan Wiles, the artist, returns to score the concrete labyrinth at the library. More images of the progress to come soon. Also, we are seeking community members to join a labyrinth committee.