Post by andie on Jan 2, 2018 1:33:10 GMT
www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180101/first-universalist-in-franklin-welcomes-new-year-with-labyrinth-walk
First Universalist in Franklin welcomes new year with labyrinth walk
"FRANKLIN - For many, welcoming the new year involves noise, parties and lots of revelry.
The First Universalist Society in Franklin, though, offered a more tranquil way to contemplate 2018 on Sunday evening: a labyrinth walk.
The event, said organizer Judy Swaim, is a tradition at the church - it has been held there every New Year’s Eve for the past 11 years or so.
“It was part of our services this morning, so that was new and kind of fun,” she said. “We get calls about it from all over Massachusetts. People read about it in the paper and want to participate.”
Labyrinths, she said, date back thousands of years and can be found all around the world, having seemingly developed independently in multiple civilizations.
“It’s a ceremonial thing - today, we use it more as a personal, spiritual practice,” she said. “It’s a meditative walk - you follow the path in, and there are turns and bends - it puts your brain in a certain mindset.”
Swaim said people may approach the labyrinth as a source of prayer, a healing tool or a way to find answers to questions they’d been considering.
“In our crazy and busy lives, it can be a way to slow down and be mindful and peaceful,” she said.
The labyrinth in Franklin, Swaim said, is modeled after the one in France’s Chartres cathedral. In its center were four petals where people could stand and contemplate - and also a place where people could write a resolution, prayer or message to the universe on a slip of paper, which would be burned ceremonially after the event.".
Read rest at link.
First Universalist in Franklin welcomes new year with labyrinth walk
"FRANKLIN - For many, welcoming the new year involves noise, parties and lots of revelry.
The First Universalist Society in Franklin, though, offered a more tranquil way to contemplate 2018 on Sunday evening: a labyrinth walk.
The event, said organizer Judy Swaim, is a tradition at the church - it has been held there every New Year’s Eve for the past 11 years or so.
“It was part of our services this morning, so that was new and kind of fun,” she said. “We get calls about it from all over Massachusetts. People read about it in the paper and want to participate.”
Labyrinths, she said, date back thousands of years and can be found all around the world, having seemingly developed independently in multiple civilizations.
“It’s a ceremonial thing - today, we use it more as a personal, spiritual practice,” she said. “It’s a meditative walk - you follow the path in, and there are turns and bends - it puts your brain in a certain mindset.”
Swaim said people may approach the labyrinth as a source of prayer, a healing tool or a way to find answers to questions they’d been considering.
“In our crazy and busy lives, it can be a way to slow down and be mindful and peaceful,” she said.
The labyrinth in Franklin, Swaim said, is modeled after the one in France’s Chartres cathedral. In its center were four petals where people could stand and contemplate - and also a place where people could write a resolution, prayer or message to the universe on a slip of paper, which would be burned ceremonially after the event.".
Read rest at link.
