Historic Opening of Sydney’s Centennial Park Labyrinth

I was privileged to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Centennial Park Labyrinth today, Monday 15th September. It was a welcome diversion from the emotional challenge mentioned in my previous post.

The Labyrinth was officially opened by the NSW Governor, Dame Marie Bashir and blessed by wisdom keepers from many different faith traditions. Dame Marie spoke of visits to Centennial Park in her youth from her country home and a fitting site for this significant addition to the parks facilities.

The project's founding benefactor, Emily Simpson , spoke of how a chance meeting in an airport lounge in the USA had created the seed of an idea, that’s completion was celebrated today with the Labyrinth’s official opening.

Emily, worked tirelessly and actively, in cooperation with the Centennial Parklands Foundation, to raise the significant funds required to create this unique structure over A$5000,00 was raised from individuals, organisations and community groups.

I had met Emily at a Christmas function in 2012 and asked if I could assist her and Bob Hughes with promoting the fund raising activities utilising social media. In the process doing this I learned a significant amount about Labyrinths both ancient and modern.

A labyrinth comes from ancient traditions, physically used as a contemplative tool for reflection or meditation in many cultures throughout history. Unlike a maze, which has several different pathways, a labyrinth has only a single path and there are no dead ends."

It was an inclusive experience to watch as the representatives of various faiths and no specific faith were invited to journey into the Labyrinth.

And as then the donors and then all guests were invited to participate it was interesting to observe the variety of ways people walked the Labyrinth.

How do you walk a labyrinth?

There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. Some people come with questions, others just to slow down and take time out from a busy life. Some come to find strength to take the next step. Many use it during times of grief and loss, and others use it just for fun.

It is said that a labyrinth involves three stages:

• the 'inward' journey: conventionally been associated with letting go or releasing things which hinder the self
• the centre: represents a space of centring and illumination
• the 'outward' journey: symbolises a return back into the world"

As I walked in and followed the path I realised that I had not explored the paths pattern from a distance. The path did not follow the way I had assumed it would. I mentioned this to Ric, who I had invited to the opening, as I passed him and then it occurred to me “this is just like life itself in may ways.”

Also as I progressed, someone you passed going the opposite way on the next path, sometimes were farther away and sometimes closer. Just like our relationships with others, can ebb and flow at different times in our lives.

Sydney’s Centennial Park Labyrinth is a credit to the craftsmen who designed and built it in its low-tech complex simplicity. (I know, I know – that is an oxymoron)

If you are a Sydneysider or visiting Sydney from Interstate or overseas, I recommend a visit to Sydney’s Centennial Park Labyrinth. (It is Free)

Centennial Parklands is approximately 5 km south-east of Sydney’s central business district and is one of the world's leading public parklands. The Parklands are also some of the most historically and socially significant urban spaces in Australia.

For more general information go to:

https://www.centennialparklands.com.au/things_to_do/centennial_park_labyrinth

https://www.sydneylabyrinth.org

Labyrinth Health Benefits

https://www.centennialparklands.com.au/things_to_do/centennial_park_labyrinth/health_benefits

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