As you know, this project was fully a grant-funded school and community based project started with a powerful vision filled with hope, peace and promise for future generations to provide an oasis in the heart of the urban jungle of Los Angeles.

I am writing today to share the reality that this beautiful garden in which many hands, hearts and minds collaborated upon from 2008-2010, is now no longer in existence.

The reasons are many and simply going into the “story” and the details at this point is senseless.  The fact is the vision was born, was fully funded, implemented with complete dedication, and was not sustainable due to the bottom line- the water was turned off of our carefully installed drip irrigation system.  After persistent efforts seeking support from school administration and community partners to turn the water back on, we were not backed up.  Student volunteers provided months and months of watering with a garden hose, however after some time, the garden simply could not withstand the hot, dry and relentless heat of southern California.

The lessons learned are many, however, at the end of the day, circumstances beyond our control, i.e. “budget cuts”, leadership turn-over and other changing priorities,  were not factored into the equation in terms of sustainability.  Perhaps this vision was “ahead of its own time”? The “silver lining” is that the students, educators and other stakeholders who believed in this project were inspired and passionate and accomplished an amazing visionary urban garden labyrinth project from start to finish.  We educated and enlightened thousands of high school students and adults about the power of the labyrinth for self-reflection and personal transformation.

The inspired documentation of this project in words, images, video and personal testimony is “evergreen” and we are eternally grateful for this opportunity to pay homage to an ancient rites of passage in the 21st century if for only “a blink of an eye”.  I welcome any comments or questions here.

Much love…

Lórien Eck

HANDOUTS:

Labyrinth Basic Info

Cretan Labyrinth Handout-How to Draw

WEBSITES:

http://labyrinthlocator.com/home

http://www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm

http://labyrinthsociety.org/home

http://www.search.com/reference/Labyrinth

These students are:

Members:

Priscilla Ramos

Lizeth Ordoñez

Their charge is:

To help and inform our school community by teaching others a new way to solve their problems and finding peace in themselves.

“This experience was very fun and I am proud to have been a part of it. It was a project that was both spiritually inspiring and enjoyable. I hope people will enjoy it for many years to come.”

-Wesley A. Lane

Graduate

“I had doubts in the beginning, maybe people were not going to appreciate it, then I started to realize how important it was for everyone to go through with the plans. During the digging I felt as if our work and efforts were pointless but along the way something happened, the sweat and muscle put into the labyrinth began to make sense. It wasn’t about the gratification nor fame it was for the inner peace.”

-Pamela Velasquez

Graduate

“At first it was a burden, because our entire class lost hope. The “man” tried to keep us down by requiring to have many permits signed. Once we got the green light, it all started to flow again. We started to work on the labyrinth and then I shot footage doucmenting the process. At this point, I had a regained sense of faith. Overall, I am so happy about the way that it turned out.”

-Aidan Galindo

Grade 12

]]> http://westadamspreplabyrinth.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/labyrinth-creators-the-students-speak-out/feed/ 0 lefineart http://westadamspreplabyrinth.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/wa-labyrinth-ribbon-cutting-ceremony/ http://westadamspreplabyrinth.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/wa-labyrinth-ribbon-cutting-ceremony/#comments Sat, 30 May 2009 03:31:58 +0000 lefineart http://westadamspreplabyrinth.wordpress.com/?p=123 ]]> Our slideshow-

labyrinth_Preso_May09

An Amazing micro doc of our ribbon cutting ceremony celebration…

and

Aidan Galdino’s video-

our gorgeous creation...

fabulous celebration!

West Adams Prep students- most are the Labyrinth creators

Our beautiful cake from Lupita's bakery

Wesley sharing the story of our labyrinth

friends and family showing support

our event in the student café

Josh and Stephen from Inner Gardens, Inc - recognized for all their contributions

the "ribbon"

contrast and harmony=beauty

family, students, faculty, and friends dancing in the labyrinth 

cake cutting...

Lucinda and the girls....

amongst the rosemary...

wonderful...

Playing in the labyrinth

Lucinda (www.blissfulmusic.com) and Phillip, both from the UK-perform in the labyrinth for the design and choral students.

The student leaders give up to three tours a day, reaching approximately 100 students per day!

Sharing the project with their peers

Wesley pointing out the details of digging trenches.

Rosmarinus officinalis
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Rosmarinus
Species: Rosmarinus officinalis
From: Facts On File, Inc.

An evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region. Rosemary grows to six feet (1.8 m) tall and bears one-inch (2.5-cm) leaves, gray-green above and white below. Clusters of tiny blue flowers grow from between the leaves and stem. Rosemary has long been cultivated for its aromatic leaves, used to season soups, sausages, and other foods. An oil distilled from the leaves is used to make perfumes.

Rosemary is Rosmarinus officinalis of the mint family, Lamiaceae.

Citation InformationspacerCitation Information
Record Citation: “Rosemary.” Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin= NS140476&SingleRecord=True

Rosemeary-(Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves. It is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which also includes many other herbs.

The name rosemary has nothing to do with the rose or the name Mary, but derives from the Latin name rosmarinus, which is from “dew” (ros) and “sea” (marinus), or “dew of the sea” — apparently because it is frequently found growing near the sea.

Kenia spreading out the pathway

Sebastian making it beautiful

Manuel patting down the earth

done- few finishing touches...but done

the "dg"

Working away....

Wolfie in the rosemary...

the sacred path

The Labyrinth Path

Entering the Labyrinth

When you enter the labyrinth you can trust yourself to the simple path ahead and begin to slow down. As you walk to the centre let it be a time to release the thoughts and feelings preoccupying you. Allow your mind to quieten.

The Centre

When you reach the centre be still. It is a place of openness and receiving.

Returning along the path

As you return along the same path reflect on any insights and connections that may have come to you and begin to integrate new insights and possibilities into your life.

Why you might use the Labyrinth

• Start the day off well
• Gain a renewed sense of well-being and inner peace
• Focus on a particular question or issue
• A path of meditation or prayer
• As a creative, experiential learning context
• To celebrate a life event, for example birthday, graduation
• To remember someone
• For simple outdoor exercise
• Walk with a group as a shared experience

There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. Use it in whatever way is helpful for you.