Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 2)

Knowing I wanted a labyrinth in my garden, I Googled “Costa Rica Labyrinths” to see if I might get some help in creating one at my home in Atenas, Costa Rica.  I was surprised when the search generated a lot of information.   The very first link was totally fascinating.  “Costa Rica is home to the World’s Largest Labyrinth.” It’s called La Senda and it is located about a four- to five-hour drive from where I live. There is a website all about it and several articles online about how it was created.  (https://lasendacostarica.com/en/). If you are interested in knowing more about it, please check out the website, and do a Google search for additional articles.  Among the names associated with this labyrinth is Ronald Esquivel, who was contacted to design the labyrinth related to two energy vortexes.  Ronald is a Costa Rican architect who specializes in sacred geometry and labyrinth design.

So, of course, my next Google search was “Ronald Esquivel” and again I was rewarded with lots of information both about him and about the different labyrinths that he has designed.  Instead of the usual circular ones that I was familiar with, his designs were totally different, and each one unique. He has built labyrinths for public parks, universities, a prison, a children’s hospital, a yoga center and private homes.  There was also a lot of information on YouTube where his channel has over 69 videos, many of them examples of the different labyrinths he has created.  I was totally fascinated.  He was a keynote speaker at the 2009 Labyrinth Society Gathering in Portland, Oregon as well as a speaker for the Society again in 2020 when he was interviewed in a program called “Creating Balance in Unbalanced Times.”  I listened to the interview and read his kindle book Labyrinth Design and The Energy of its Geometry.  When I found an email address for him online, I decided to send him an email and see if he helped private homeowners like myself create labyrinths for their gardens.

I was delighted when I got a response the next day, and a few emails followed.  We set up a time for him to come and visit the garden and to make some suggestions.  After reading his book, and in particular an article that he and Jan Hurwitch wrote in 2013, I knew that he creates different designs unique to the environment he is working in. For example, at the time of this article he had created 14 labyrinths including a Wisdom Labyrinth, a Growth Labyrinth, and a 4 Element Series. For more information I suggest reading the article. http://gaiacr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Labyrinths-of-Costa-Rica.pdf

In my mind I was beginning to think about a labyrinth here as part of the Artist Retreats I was thinking of offering on my property in Costa Rica!  When Ronald arrived, I felt an immediate connection to him as we walked the garden.  He asked questions and I shared how I envisioned using the labyrinth for both myself and for guests at the Artist Retreats.  Soon we were talking about the creative process and how the labyrinth might represent different stages of the creative journey.  I also talked about how important the diagonal line was to me as a choreographer and in my paintings!   Over the next few weeks, we continued emailing and discussing the different stages of creating something, whether it is a dance, a painting or a musical composition.

Another visit followed, during which Ronald took careful measurements of the garden, and I finalized my decision that he would design the labyrinth and we would use his team to chalk it and create it! We also determined that the borders of the path would be red brick, and when the work would begin.

The next step involved Ronald submitting the design for my approval and asking if I wanted any changes.  I loved it and we had fun following the design and envisioning how it would be on the property.

Ronald also showed me where each of the physical places of the creative journey we had agreed on would be located.

The stages we had determined were:

1. First you must show up!!  – that’s the beginning point, from which the two diagonal lines go out, and where you walk to enter the labyrinth.
2. Then one tends to go inward to see what it is one wants to create. That’s a place in a corner which is very private and somewhat hidden.
3. Next step is gathering all the tools and research one needs to make the vision happen. That is represented by the curves and twists in the labyrinth as one moves from one side of the garden to the other.
4. There is a point where one looks outward… and begins to share, and this is represented by a corner where one can view the mountains in the distance.
5. And of course, there is the center which the path reaches. I view that as the first draft!
6. The return journey is all the editing that one does to complete a project.

Ronald’s friend and co-author of the 2013 article, Jan Hurwitch,  joined him as we reviewed the draft and she brought with her 5 crystals that would be buried on the path, representing different relevant emotions.  They are:

1. A black Onyx to repel negativity
2. Aquamarine for courage
3. An Orange Agate to reduce stress
4. Crystal Quartz for healing and spirituality
5. Rose Quartz for love and compassion, particularly starting with oneself.

The crystals will be buried once the labyrinth is completed, at the inaugural ceremony.

Coming next will be Part 3 – Building the Labyrinth!!