The Rosseau Labyrinth as a Place of Peace, Light, and Community
On Thursday, June 19 at 8 p.m., community members are invited to Church of the Redeemer, Rosseau, for Singing for the Soul: A Sunset Singing Meditation in the Labyrinth, an evening of music, reflection, and quiet contemplation in one of Muskoka’s unique sacred spaces.
For co-organizers Pam Heighway Moorhouse and Owen Ash, the labyrinth offers something increasingly rare in a busy and distracted world: “Peace, stillness, beauty, joy, sacred, contemplation, connection, awe.”
Church of the Redeemer’s beautiful Chartres-style labyrinth has become a treasured resource for both the parish and the wider community. In 2002, longtime parish member Enid MacLaughlin donated the materials needed to create the labyrinth, and her son Alan oversaw its installation with community support.
Although many people associate labyrinths with contemporary spirituality, they have deep Christian roots. Moorhouse and Ash explain that labyrinths “are not a new Christian practice” but rather “an ancient tool that’s found all over the world.” During the Middle Ages, cathedral labyrinths were often associated with pilgrimage and the spiritual journey of faith. For some Christians, walking a labyrinth became a symbolic way of journeying toward Jerusalem when travel was not possible.
As more people seek moments of quiet and reflection, labyrinths have experienced a resurgence, appearing in churches, hospitals, schools, parks, and other public spaces. The Rosseau labyrinth has become part of that movement, offering opportunities for contemplation and community throughout the year.
For the past two years, the labyrinth has hosted gatherings ranging from All Souls’ observances to Taizé-inspired services. Most recently, it served as the focal point for a World Labyrinth Day celebration that included a Worldwide Walk for Peace, mindful movement, a sunset gathering, community fellowship, and time for solitary walking and reflection.
The upcoming June gathering centres on the theme of light. As the longest days of the year approach, participants are invited to reflect not only on the abundance of summer sunlight but also on the unique gifts each person brings to the world. “Like a prism transforming a single beam into a spectrum of colour,” says Moorhouse and Ash, “the gathering celebrates the many ways light is reflected through human lives and communities.”
For Further Reading
· World Labyrinth Day – Learn about the annual worldwide movement for peace through labyrinth walking: World Labyrinth Day
· The Labyrinth Society – Resources on the history, design, and practice of labyrinth walking: The Labyrinth Society
· Veriditas – An international organization dedicated to labyrinth education and contemplative practice: Veriditas