Mystery

mystery unfolds

as sand is raked in circles

we gather to walk

~

trial run on paper

the reward is perfect

a Chartres labyrinth

Our Photo Challenge prompt this week is MYSTERY

Ronovan’s Haiku Challenge Prompts are REWARD and TRIAL.

Once again I combine the two in a ‘PHAIKU’ Challenge (my own made-up word), Jen, Denis, Cathy, and when she can, Melissa (it was Melissa who started me doing this) also often/sometimes combine these two challenges in a fun challenge each week – it is not as tricky as it seems – come join us! Leave a link in the Comments below.

Or

Join in the Photo Challenge by leaving a link in the comments here or at Nanacathy‘s, for me to include you in the weekly round-up, which usually appears on Sunday.

Also

Joining in with Cee’s ‘Which Way’ Photo Challenge.

Mystery: Have you ever wondered how to draw a labyrinth? Have you ever wondered how Marc Treanor creates his magical sand designs? Have you ever wondered about the mystery of the power of labyrinths?

I learned to draw labyrinths many years ago but the sand designs remained a MYSTERY until 22.Sept this year when I was lucky enough to be able to join Marc on Mwnt Beach in Ceredigion, Wales for a supremely magical evening to celebrate the Autumn Equinox.

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Marc Posted this beautiful short video on You Tube and Facebook

I felt extremely blessed to have been able to be one of those long moving shadows making our way around the path to the centre and out again, whilst a flute and ukulele played and children sat around the fire in the middle.

You can see me carrying a magpie feather on the left, in this photo by Dimlo Sighs, which he has kindly given permission for me to include.

Profound, mysterious, magical, unforgettable.

Photo Challenge Round Up: PATH

Another sort of path

I walked the Seaton Labyrinth in Devon with a couple of friends last year. It sits atop a hill overlooking the sea – glorious views on a sunny day.

Jane at Rainbow Junkie……. ……………..dappled light

Cathy at Nanacathy…….. ……. …………….to church

💜 me at Wild Daffodil……… ………stepping stones

💜 Cathy at Rambling in the Garden …… …changes

💜 Denis at Haiku Hound…….. ……….. ….     steep!

💜 Roz at Umpteen Things…………………..brrrrrrrr

💜 Becky at BeckyG ………… …….. ……somewhere

Christina A Look at the Little Things …….Icelandic

Dorris at Dig with Dorris ………… ….hyacinthoides

Ali at Thimberlina.………… …………….. ….short-cut

Del from Curls and Skirls……….. …………to Morris

Srivi at Piscean Me……………. …………….colourful

Jen at Let the Sewing Begin ………..long and short

The Purple Heart denotes a post that is also joining in with Ronovan’s Haiku Challenge – it’s fun to combine the two.

Please let me know if I have forgotten anyone

Thank you everyone for such a wonderful selection of Paths.

And a late entry – my sister sent me a picture of her dog on a path through the bluebells

 

Next

REFLECTION

Beach Labyrinth

 

We have had such a glorious weekend here in Dorset, dry, sunny and with little or no wind – after the wash out that was August, the county was a real holiday mood. After a walk on the heath we headed for the beach.

The tiny gritty pebbles of Burton Bradstock beach are no good for building castles or dragons, but a labyrinth can be created almost anywhere

After a few walks round, the boys ran it – children nearly always do. Then it was my sister’s turn whilst the boys went back to enjoy the waveslittle bro wonders which way to go next, looking a bit Christopher Robin-ish

whilst Great Aunt Sue soaked up the sun and sight of the sea to remember once she gets back to the city

What a tonic!

If you want to see some truly amazing sand art go to Marc Treanor’s Facebook page. Here is just one example of the beautiful designs he creates on Welsh beaches.He is bringing out a calendar for 2016 shortly.

Welsh Wednesday Walk-Along

The drive from St.David’s to Aberaeron is spectacular! On my way I took a little detour to find Mwnt. (this was a few weeks ago) My cousin had recommended this beach (thank you H!) otherwise I would never have ventured the 3 miles off the main road. It was well worth it.

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it does take a bit of finding down narrow high-banked roads

I did not see any dolphins but did see a Red Kite being chased by what looked to me like crows. Blissful to be able to sit, looking out to sea, and crochet, whilst sipping a hot cuppa from the excellent little kiosk, and munching on homemade Welsh cakes. 

The sand is just asking to be drawn on ….

…. a cool waterfall for washing the sand from between your toes as you leave the beach

And thank you so much to Linda for letting me know about this spectacular Sand Artist – watch this!

Where have you been walking? I’d love to see your part of the world, please leave a link to one of your favourite walks so that we can walk along with you.

Labyrinths and sand dragons

Back to the beach, rock pools, caves and gentle waves

 

the baby spuddled amongst the masses of black seaweed, E and my daughter went for a swim and R and I  made a labyrinth

When looking for a link to a ‘how to draw a labyrinth’ site for those of you who would like to have a go I came across this site of ‘Peaceful Endeavours’ for children.

I love the way children always run around labyrinths, and R then spent ages making more paths and trails with his spade……

Since about 1989 I have been drawing or creating labyrinths, mandalas and spirals all over the place and walking other labyrinths whenever I can

this is one made out of carob pods in the garden of La Serrania, a retreat centre I went to in Majorca some years ago. I went on a walking holiday, but after half a day walking up a mountain and the second half walking down, my right knee gave way, so for the rest of the week whilst the others went walking, I had a delicious time drawing, sewing, chatting to the gardener and creating carob pod labyrinths

which smelt of chocolate as you walked them

 

and stone spirals

the gardener had placed this stone on the tree stump and painted a face on it, I did the spirals of stones so that one could walk in to greet your own inner smile!

and then a mandala of carob and olives on the terrace just outside my room.

Back on Solva beach another sand dragon was made,

but the tide was coming in so we had to leave her and walked back along the beach creating stories about the sand dragon swimming off to America when the tide came in and all the adventures she would have along the way……..