nine round garden rooms honour Mother Earth from around the world |
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Follow the flags! A flag in each garden room introduces you to the Great Mother. Ancient cultures honoured Earth as Mother. The Great Mother is still honoured by many cultures around the world in recognition that all beings are born of a mother and that cultural continuity depends on the health and well-being of mothers. | |
1. Near veranda
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Pachamamais the primordial mother of indigenous peoples of the Andes. Her titles include Earth Mother, Cosmic Mother and Mother of Time. She presides over planting and harvesting – an ever present and independent deity who uses her own self-sufficient and creative power to sustain life on this earth. She regenerates new life from death, and thus represents the cycle of life. She sometimes takes the form of a fierce dragon that causes earthquakes. Pachamama’s partner is Pacha Kamaq, the god of the mountain; her children are Inti, the Sun God, and Killa, the Moon Goddess. Pachamama represents the principle of Ayni (reciprocity) and those who nurture mountains, streams and plants are themselves nurtured. This inter-relatedness is called the ayllu – the biocultural community. Reflect: I am Nature. I am related to all living things in nature. |
2. Snake Petroform
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A petroform composed of 16 large rocks laid out in S form surrounds a fissure in the rock where garter snakes hibernate in winter. Petroforms are ancient teaching places of the Medewiwin or healing elders. The snake is a universal symbol of healing, transformation and wisdom.
Rainbow SerpentShe is the Australian aborigines’ mother and creator of all life on earth. From her body the earth and heavens were created. The Jawoyn people of northern Australia tell how the Rainbow Serpent slept under the ground until she awoke in the Dreaming and pushed her way to the surface. She then traveled the land, sleeping when she tired, and left behind her winding tracks and the imprint of her sleeping body. When she had travelled the earth, she returned and called to the frogs to come out, but they were very slow because their bellies were full of water. The Rainbow Serpent tickled their stomachs and when the frogs laughed, the water flowed out of their mouths and filled the tracks and hollows left by the Rainbow Serpent, creating the rivers and lakes. This woke all of the animals and plants, who then followed the Rainbow Serpent across the land. Reflect: How has healing transformed your life? |
3. Great Mother rock
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Mother EarthStand on a rock outcrop and experience The Great Earth Mother who reclines here, her round womb pregnant. See her legs protruding as she rests from her labour.
the heart of the Ancient Mother? Notice that both mothers have a sequined sash of purple quartz crystals. Reflect: The Earth is our Mother |
4. Herb Garden in the circle of oaks
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IsisIsis is an Egyptian Mother deity whose titles include Queen of Heaven and Mother of the Gods. She presides from a lion throne and her icons often show her flanked by a pair of lions. The worship of Isis spread to Rome and competed with the new religion of Christianity.
Reflect on this hymn to Isis
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5. Brick Circle
Sedna by Antony Galbraith ©2014. With permission.
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SednaThe Sedna myth emphasizes right relationship with nature and the consequence of causing imbalance to the relationship. Sedna’s father was caught in a storm and chose to save his own life by throwing his daughter overboard into the icy Arctic water. When she clung to the side of the kayak, he cut off her fingers. As Sedna’s fingers fell into the sea, they were transformed to sea-animals: whales, walruses, seals, and all types of fish – food for her people. Sedna remained at the bottom of the sea but she avenged her father’s unethical behaviour. If hunters break hunting taboos, Sedna’s hair becomes dirty with the souls of animals who will no longer be released to hunters. Starvation is a potential result if Sedna withholds too many animals. When Sedna’s hair becomes tangled, she becomes irritable because, without fingers, she cannot comb her own hair. She unleashes her anger through storms. A shaman skilled in diplomacy journeys to the underworld on behalf of the comm Reflect: How do you maintain a reciprocal relationship with Nature? |
6. Medicine Wheel
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The Medicine Wheelrepresents traditional indigenous wisdom.
Walk clockwise around the wheel. Receive wisdom gifts from the 12 Teachers. |
7. Mint Garden – enter via the Zen gate and turn the prayer wheel
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TaraTara is a female Buddha, an enlightened one was has attained the highest wisdom, capability and compassion. Out of compassion, she continues to take human form and remains in oneness with every living thing. Tara’s titles include She Who Brings Forth Life, The Great Compassionate Mother, The Embodiment of Wisdom, and the Great Protector. The Tara mantra is Om Tare Tuttare Soha Kuan Yin is a Chinese bodhisattva who is considered the personification of compassion and kindness, a mother goddess and patron of mothers. Reflect: how can I offer compassion to Mother Earth as she suffers due to climate change? |
8. Enter the Moroccan Gate
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Tanit
Reflect: The birth of every being changes the world. How are you changing the world?
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9. Walk the path to the back of the empty lot, next to the gray cedar fence
1 Lisgar Place, Pinawa Guided tours by appointment wolfston(at)mts.net Gardener Irene Wolfstone |
The Labyrinthis a universal tool for contemplation. Walk slowly in silence. If you pass other walkers, acknowledge their journey with a nod and eye contact. Reflect while walking the labyrinth:
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