2011 Retrospective by Lisa Gidlow Moriarty

Reflections on the Annual Gathering 2011: Taos, New Mexico

In October 2011, we traveled to the Southwestern area of the USA for the 13th Annual Gathering of The Labyrinth Society.  Held in Taos, New Mexico, the Gathering was coordinated by co-chairs Sandra Wasko-Flood and John Ackers, both of Living Labyrinths for Peace, and a great planning team.

As seems to be a signature for our Gatherings, the weather was superb.  The host location was the Kachina Lodge and optional pre- and post-gathering tours took participants to visit labyrinths and other sacred locations including the Rio Grande Gorge to the Ojo Calienta hot springs spa, and Stardreaming to south of Santa Fe.

Following the opening ceremony led by Mayan Grandmother Flordemayo, Virginia Lonesky opened the featured presentations with "Exploring the Cosmology of Labyrinths" on Friday evening.  On Saturday, Lucy Pringle of England presented "Crop Circles - Windows of Perception," and on Sunday morning, we heard James Jereb tell his personal story of discovery, "Alchemy of Stone".  The Gathering included a vendor marketplace, Silent Auction, and nightly Navajo Dance performances.  There was plenty of time to network and visit the art and history-filled Taos area. Those in attendance also had the opportunity to experience several temporary labyrinths built on the grounds.  Saturday was filled with workshops supporting the theme, Return from the Center: Open the Heart of Peace, and the day closed with spectacular experiential presentations, a world peace candle-lit labyrinth ceremony by Mayan Messenger Ac Tah, and a musical Dance of Peace with Wagogo Banda.

Our Annual TLS business meeting included elections for board members and a by-laws revision. On Sunday, near the closing of the Gathering, the installation of the 2012 Board included the announcement of our new TLS President.  I stepped down from the president position, having fulfilled my term, and am very excited to hand the leadership over to Dr. John Rhodes, who will steer the organization for the next three years.  Please join me in congratulating John on his new role! 

Whether you joined us in Taos, or missed that opportunity, please mark your new 2012 calendars and watch the TLS website Gathering pages for information about the 2012 Gathering to be held in the Midwest Region, on the river boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin, October 12-14, 2012.