Pocket Labyrinth

She wants several things for her 16th birthday. My daughter, that is. The new MP3 player is a wish we’ve known about for some time... the portable DVD player is one I’m still pulling the veto card on... I’m going along with the Barbie video game, although I couldn’t help remind her that she’s ‘turning 16, not 6.’

And then there’s the Pocket Pewter Labyrinth- a birthday wish as quirky and eccentric as the girl herself. “What the heck is a Pocket Pewter Labyrinth?” I said to myself, whereupon the catalog description answered....

“This meditation tool will help soothe your soul as you trace a simple path to its center. Labyrinths are viewed as metaphors for life's journey. The labyrinth assists us to address challenges, meditate, pray and find peace and serenity."

Prayer, peace & serenity are good.

Click, click, click, and it’s ordered.

On Monday I finally got the chance to look at Thursday’s Bridgton News. Sometime during the cursory process of scanning the articles of local snooze- oh, I mean news, of course- one caption caught my eye. “The Labyrinth: A Workshop with Patrick MacManaway” it said. I read on...

“During this one-day workshop, we focus on an exploration of the myths and metaphors surrounding the labyrinth, various techniques and uses for walking it in groups and solitude, and an exploration of the energetic and metaphysical aspects of the human experience of spiritual discovery and evolution. Participants will learn how to design and create their own labyrinth at home.”

“Hey Amber!” I said, “Wanna go to a workshop on labyrinths? It’s this Saturday, and I’ve got the day off...”

A good mother/daughter expedition. No question about it.

I summoned the website of retreat house- a place called Fifth House Lodge located in South Bridgton- where it was to be held...

“Price, price...” I said to myself as I navigated the site, looking for more info on the Labyrinth thing, “It’s gotta cost something...”

$90 apiece. “Well,” I said to myself by way of rationalization, “It’ll be part of my birthday present, too. It‘s something different. I get stuck in such a rut.... Looks like owner of the retreat specializes in writing workshops...” I read on, my interest sparked.
A lady named Joan...

“I have developed my own ways of working with writers“ she reveals in her ‘about me‘ blurb, “My teaching style reflects my deep interest in nature, imagination and dream – the transpersonal realms of creative experience..."

Hmm... maybe a personalized writing retreat will be on my wish list...
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