Sometime during the night of June 1st into June 2nd, I had an epiphany. I am going to build a labyrinth on the ranch. I actually remembered this when I awoke on June 2nd, so it must be important. I mentioned this to Number One, and he simply said, "Okay." No questions, just "okay." It must be important.
I believe it all started back in 1994. I was working at, and equally exhausted and enamored by, The Grand Hotel, a magnificent, sparkling gem of a property on Mackinac Island in Michigan. A romantic place, accessible only by ferry boat or airplane, where there are no automobiles, only bicycles and horses, Mackinac is a spectacular experience. I was enamored also by the Musser family, who has owned the hotel for many years, and are dedicated stewards of this historic place. I admired Amelia Musser, a posh and elegant woman, of whom I caught glimpses during the season, but I don't remember specifically meeting her in person.
In my memory of that summer, a woman (who was quite possibly Lauren Artress) was either a guest of Mrs. Musser, or was doing a presentation at the hotel, or both. Regardless, this woman was into labyrinths. I had no idea what that meant at the time.
I don't have any particular memories of the woman, or any talks or exposure to anything labyrinthine. I do, however, still have a sticker. It is silver, with a purple labyrinth imprinted on it. I believe it is from Grace Cathedral in San Fransisco. And it intrigues me to this day. I still don't really know what it means.
But it is this image, purple on silver, and the name of the cathedral with which I awoke on June the 2nd. Some internet research has put it all together. It seems that now, there is a labyrinth at the Grand Hotel, and I'm certain it was Mrs. Musser's influence that brought it into being.
I want to go to there.
image from the Petoskey library website
and The Sacred Path Companion: A Guide to Walking the Labyrinth to Heal and Transform
. The books arrived in two days. Reading Part One in The Sacred Path Companion, the very first sentence drew me in: "In modern culture, we need to be able to quiet our minds." Indeed we do. I will let you know more after I do more reading, but I do feel that a labyrinth is something I need in my life.
I have learned that both the Grand Hotel and the Grace Cathedral labyrinths are modeled after a labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France, which was constructed in the year 1200. I want to go to there as well.
For reasons unknown to me, building a labyrinth on the ranch is my current mission. I don't know where I will build it, or even how or when, but I will build it. It will take a lot of planning, and honestly I am not anticipating it being started until after construction on our house has ended. But it will come into being. Of that, I am certain.
