Labyrinth Lineage

Sunday, July 21st, 2024

LABYRINTH circa 9:00pm—The horizon beams a vivid salmon over the neighboring ridge. Crickets pulsate alongside the ocean-like whir of distant passing cars. Though quite dry, the grass still produces a faint, soothing smell. Massive oaks create a semicircle around the field where lives Camp’s Labyrinth. The field opens to the west where the pinpoint houselights of Hogville (see: Hog Farm Commune) nestle in the low hillside, just beyond the main easement. The Labyrinth itself is a circular monument composed of a single winding path defined by rocks and river sand. It is lavishly decorated with all manner of trinkets, flowers, and even a few young trees.

Last night during our evening fire circle, just about 24 hours ago, tipi groups were brought out one-at-a-time to walk the Labyrinth in the cool of sunset. Presiding over the ceremony were Camp’s founders Wavy Gravy and Jahanara Romney. Today I met with several Labyrinth-goers to document their encounters with Camp’s mainstay of mystical amusement.

“We were there at sunset, just after the sun went down,” said Zuri, 11, of the Maroon Tipi. “The sky was all orange and peach and pink—it was beautiful. Having my bare feet on the ground gave me this feeling—I’m not sure how to describe it—like ‘Wow. I’m part of this. I’m here.’ It was moving. I’m really surprised how calming it was. I even got a little teary. It was great to have that experience with our whole tipi walking the trail together.”

“It gave me calming feelings that I’ve never felt before,” said Cory, 11, also from Maroon. “Wavy and Jahanara said, ‘Welcome to the Labyrinth,’ and waved sage around us. I could feel the footsteps of many campers before me. I just had memories of my family and friends. It was one of the most calm things I’ve done in a while. The lines are made out of many objects such as crystals and antiques. The sand felt good and my friends were there. I’m definitely going back.”

“My first two years I thought the Labyrinth was cool, but this year it was more moving,” said Django, 11, also from Maroon. “The sunset, the candles, everything. Wavy and Jahanara were sitting there and Wavy told us how the Labyrinth was made by counselors and campers years ago. In the center scene there’s gems, dolls, and porcelain statues. I think one of them was Buddha.”

“It was relaxing and the sunset was pretty,” said Nori, 10, of the Green Tipi. “There were all different rocks: rose quartz, geodes, and regular rocks. Jahanara said to let your prayers go into the Labyrinth, like good things you want your family to have. It was amazing.”

“It made me feel strong, but also kind of miss my parents,” said Julianna, 9, also from Green. “I also had this feeling of feeling so lucky that I got to be here. Jahanara led us in a prayer, something that was from one religion but gets used in lots of religions that just goes to show that we can all be a good person.”

“All year I’ve been doodling the Labyrinth design on all my notebooks,” said Teen Staff AnnaLee. “I had this moment like, ‘Wow. I’m actually here.’ My campers liked it. It was a metaphysical reset. They’ve been running around crazy all session so it was good to have a calming activity for a change.”

“I love the Lab; the poem I read at the Fire Circle was about it,” said Bean, 14, of the Ultraviolet Tipi. “I wrote it a couple days ago at a poetry class in the creek. It’s appropriate because geographically the creek connects the Labyrinth to Camp. Jahanara gave us not a prayer, but a spiritual blessing.”

“I don’t know I guess it was calm,” said Ash, 13, also from Ultraviolet. “We could see a lot of stars. Wavy and Jahanara told us stuff. It was like spiritual, I guess. The point of the Labyrinth is to reconnect maybe.”

“Wavy says to think of each step as a prayer for peace,” explained Clowning Instructor Riley Soloner who helped facilitate the evening. “When you think about it, with the Lab being 36 years old, and all those thousands of children each taking dozens of steps, it is charged with potentially millions of prayers for world peace. I think the children understand that on some level.”

“I consider it a high honor to be included in facilitating this ceremony,” continued Riley. “It’s a tricky balance to convey what I believe to be the spirit of Camp Winnarainbow distilled into a single ritual. Wavy talks about the figurines in the center: there’s spiritual totems alongside cartoon characters. It’s a statement about spiritual liberation and the sacredness of laughter. That dichotomy manifests itself constantly during the ceremony. Sage smoke wafts as Wavy cracks random jokes and kids scoot along in the half-dark, bumping into rocks or each other. A hippy ceremony is the perfect backdrop for a comedy of errors.”

“And for my next trick, a blackberry!” he bursted, leaping into the air and snatching a blackberry from a vine crawling up one of the Labyrinth’s trees. He consumed it instantly, savoring the taste with eyes closed. “When I think about performing at my best, I think of performing here at Camp. When I think about connecting with my friends, I think of my friends that I made here at Camp. And When I think about centering myself spiritually, I think about this Labyrinth.”

“Last night was a mixture of this and that, with a wisp of glory on the edge,” said Camp Founder Wavy Gravy. “People need to know that there is a box near the Labyrinth full of tree flesh (see: books) on the Labyrinth’s inception and history. If you take an afternoon stroll to this box, your knowledge will be ten-fold.”

“You need to say, ‘Go with your counselor,'” interjected Camp Founder Jahanara Romney.

“Yes, you must be with an adult if you want to go out there,” corrected Wavy. “Last night the weather was fine and the mood marvelous. The sunset was subtle and sweet. Upon our evacuation, the full moon lit the way back to our lair.”

“One of the things about the Labyrinth is that our dear friend Robert Greyrgass planted trees here to honor the four directions,” remembered Jahanara. “I think of him every time I go there.”

“Being at the Labyrinth changes how I feel inside, a hallmark of a sacred place,” she explained. “I feel a change in atmosphere and I become peaceful and loving. I appreciate the funny things—funny is not unimportant. I like when we can mix fun frivolousness with the serious and sacred. I always feel like some kids are just being polite, and some are actually receiving something from the ceremony. Last night there seemed to be many receivers.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

Photo credit: Zappo Diddio

BACK TO ARCHIVE

Labyrinth Poem
by Bean

I plant my feet in the ground trying to center myself,
But my mind wanders the universe,
Tiptoeing through questions and bathing in worried thoughts.
I push my feet into the sand,
Trying to make a lasting mark.
I want a symbol—a memento to make this moment last longer than I will.
I wonder if the first person ever who put their hand on a cave wall knew that their impact would change the world permanently?
Did they know I’m thinking about them right now?
Maybe in some aspect they did.
The wanted a mark showing that they were something, they were someone
As I make the trek back to camp I leave footsteps in the sand,
All the people behind me walk in them