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

JoAnne Tucker / April 26, 2022May 2, 2022 / Art, Arts in Education, Costa Rica, Personal Life

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.

Design of the Labyrinth: “Camino del Artista” by Ronald Esquivel

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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
And of course, there is the center which the path reaches. I view that as the first draft!
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:

A black Onyx to repel negativity
Aquamarine for courage
An Orange Agate to reduce stress
Crystal Quartz for healing and spirituality
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!!

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Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 3)

JoAnne Tucker / May 2, 2022 / Costa Rica, Personal Life

With the design created for the Labyrinth, it was now time to focus on the building process. The first step was to trace the pattern on the ground. We had already decided that the path would be outlined with red bricks, so the same day that the tracing happened, the red bricks were delivered! A team of three men came to help with the tracing and moving of the bricks. Ronald Esquivel, the designer, was here for the tracing and supervised work for the next two days. The rest of the week the men were here on their own working a full day to place each brick where it needed to be and to regularly check the measurements. Slowly I could see the path developing. I regularly took pictures of the process.

Part of the completed Labyrinth as it winds its way through the garden.

In the next blog I’ll share the opening celebration and thoughts on regularly walking the labyrinth.

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Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 4)

JoAnne Tucker / May 23, 2022May 31, 2022 / Costa Rica, Music

The Labyrinth was completed on a Saturday afternoon and of course I was excited to take my first walk that very afternoon. As I walked it this first time, I saw the garden and the surrounding property in a new way. For the next few mornings, I followed a pattern of walking the labyrinth first thing in the morning. Again, I was surprised at how I saw things differently. A new flower that had opened or a bird sitting on a nearby tree stump delighted me. When our garden crew came on Monday, the “head” of the team walked it himself and shared that it wasn’t so easy. Yes, it was filled with turns and curves. I found it challenging and helpful in working on my balance.

A flower that just opened and only lasts for a day. Picture taken on one of my morning walks!

My thoughts soon turned to what kind of ceremony to have to honor the designer, Ronald Esquivel, and Jan Hurwitch, who had selected crystals to be buried in the labyrinth. My good friend and very talented musician Newman Taylor Baker was coming with his daughter to spend some time, and I thought, “How perfect. Let’s do the ceremony when he is here and maybe he will be willing to play his washboard.” While Newman has toured around the world as a jazz percussionist, he now has been working on solo programs and small ensembles with the washboard. He mentioned he would be bringing it.

A date was set, and then it was frustrating that I wanted to invite lots of people but knew with COVID and the limited parking at the house it was important to keep it to a very small number. In the end we did two celebrations, one that was in English and included eight of my ex-pat friends in the community… that ended up being fourteen people in all when you counted Ronald, Jan, myself, Newman and his daughter, and Manrique the house manager. The second one was for Manrique’s family who speaks very limited English.

When Ronald and Jan arrived, we discussed how to proceed. I thought that Newman would play while we walked the labyrinth for the first time, but Ronald said no, we should just focus on walking first and then later Newman could play. Our focus would not be divided, and Newman would have the option of walking with us! Before we walked, Jan led us in a beautiful ceremony of planting each of the crystals. As you remember from an earlier blog, she had selected five different crystals.

I must admit that I was a bit nervous about this part. While I liked the idea of planting the crystals, I didn’t want this part to get too touchy-feely. Jan led it perfectly. She guided us starting with the black onyx which was planted at the point where we “show up.” We haven’t entered the actual labyrinth yet, and the onyx is symbolic of releasing negative energy. Its purpose is both to help the walker let go of any negative energy, and to protect the labyrinth from negative energy. When Jan asked for a volunteer to plant it, Katy quickly responded, and we handed her the large spoon to use. The black onyx was planted with the purpose of repelling negativity.

Newman volunteered to plant the next crystal, the aquamarine, which represents courage. It was planted at the most private place, giving an individual the opportunity to go inward and think about what they might want to create or to just be still for a few minutes with their personal thoughts! The next crystal was planted at the opposite end. It’s a point where one can look outward beyond the property. The orange agate was planted here by Raquel for the purpose of reducing stress!

Next the whole group moved to the entrance of the labyrinth. Paul planted the crystal quartz, which promotes healing and spirituality. We didn’t follow the actual path at this point but rather just went to the places where the crystals would be planted.

Jan asked me to plant the last agate, the rose quartz, in the center of the labyrinth to represent love and compassion. She reminded us that love and compassion must always start with oneself!

JoAnne finishing planting the rose quartz. After each crystal was planted, the person who planted it blessed the ground. Other individuals joined in by placing their hands on the person’s back to be part of the blessing. Photo by Stefani Baker

Now that all the crystals were planted, we regathered at the “showing up” place. A few people had taken off their shoes to walk barefoot which is the most beneficial way. Some places were ready for us to walk barefoot with lush grass. Others lacked grass and had stones, so I did mention that and some of us kept our shoes on.

Ronald led us and we followed the path into the center. Ronald gave us the option of following the path back out, which is the traditional way and how I do it as much as possible. A few took that option.

Ronald guiding us as we walked the labyrinth as a group for the first time. Photo by Stefani Baker.

We made a circle in the center when we completed the walk in. Photo by Stefani Baker.

We celebrated with some refreshments and then enjoyed a wonderful intimate concert with Newman playing the washboard. Everyone was totally mesmerized by his playing and the variety of sound that he could made from just one instrument.

Newman playing. Photo by Stefani Baker
Link to a short excerpt from Newman’s playing. https://vimeo.com/712620130

Our smaller celebration with Manrique’s family challenged Newman’s daughter Stefani and I to describe the labyrinth in Spanish. We both worked with our teacher Raquel to be able to do this. It was another wonderful experience that ended with each of the four women spending a minute or two playing the washboard.

I am amazed at how each day my walk on Camino del Artista is different. Sometimes I am filled with a new idea and at other times I am seeing new things in the garden or far off landscape. If I am off balance I know it and as I slowly follow the path, I regain my balance. A deep bow of gratitude to Ronald Esquivel for creating this special labyrinth and to Jan for selecting the crystals. I look forward to sharing it with others.

Thank you, Stefani, for documenting the event, and I had to close with this fun selfie you took with your “Daddy” in the background!

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