Thursday, January 1, 2015

2015: Here I Come!


Labyrinth at St. Paul's Anglican Church

Went for a meditative walk, more like at the pace of a leisurely stroll, sauntering and at times swaying ever so slightly to the music, though more often than not losing my balance as in losing my balance with pain, the major symptom of plantar fasciitis nipping me at the heel, rather my arch on my left foot - ouch! - to beautiful background music at the labyrinth inside Saint Paul's Anglican Church in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. (I have to clarify that as there is also a Vancouver in Washington state in the United States!)

The New Year's Eve schedule is on the lower left of the church's web page: http://stpaulsanglican.bc.ca/worship/the-labyrinth-what-is-it/.

The music program started at 6 pm and I arrived approximately one hour later. A man by the name of David Yates played various instruments including a flute (Native?) or two, a Swiss instrument called a hang (also known as a hang drum that looks more like a UFO, unidentified flying object also known as a flying saucer), a didj (short for didjeridu or didgeridoo), a water-sounding instrument and other wind instruments, followed by Clare Morgan on Celtic harp.

Listen to the beautiful etheric sounds of a hang played by a friend of mine, Zamir Dhanji along with a didgeridoo player at https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=R3WjzYc5tp8

Or here is another sample of a solo hang player:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hang_%28instrument%29

Walking the labyrinth on New Year’s Eve (at this particular church) has been and probably will always will be (until things change) be a ritual that I have come to depend on and enjoy for some time now, not sure how many years. I let go of the old year and focus on the new year, setting my focus, anchoring my word or theme for the new year; see my post yesterday about this.

It's been a common practice for myself and countless others who all have their agenda for the evening. For some, it might be to set and anchor in their intention(s) of 2015 just around the corner. For others, it may be a way to reconnect with folk who may be absent from various community and social events, like myself as I usually attend ones in North Vancouver. And for others, it may be one of a few nonalcoholic events or a precursor to a party sans alcohol or not.

Whatever the reason, it is a soft and gentle way to end the old year and beckon in the new. It is a quieter, more reflective type evening and especially great for introverts. Even though most people who walk the labyrinth look downwards, I make a point at making eye contact when passing by others, and smiling. Sometimes, it seems a more somber affair with downcast faces towards the floor.

As I am averse to kissing strangers and the like on New Year's Eve and prefer a more subdued atmosphere, I am happy to return home to read and/or write (i.e., blog). ;)

How do or did you celebrate New Year's? And how do you usher in the new year: do you have a New Year's ritual?

14 comments:

  1. A very Happy new Year Elly :) Great way to welcome new year :) I welcomed new year by cutting cake with my brother :D

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    1. Same likewise Swathi: a wonderfully and happy new year to you too! :) Cutting cake is a sweet celebration. ;) <3

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  2. Happy new year Elly! New Year's has been spent at home with the family :)

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    1. Happy New Year to you too 'A'! ;) It's wonderful to celebrate with loved ones...hope you had a good one! :) <3

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  3. A very happy 2015 to you, Elly! We celebrated new year eve with family and friends at home! :)

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    1. A very happy new year to you too Shilpa! Great to celebrate with loved ones, whether family and/or friends. :) <3

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  4. Sorry to hear about your plantar fascitis, Elly... Hope you find a lasting healing soon, and hope this year turns out to be as peaceful and loving as you and your annual new year ritual are :) by the way, the name Zamir Dhamji sounds familiar... Have you mentioned him earlier? Or is he anyhow connected to any popular media?

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    1. Yes, if you know anything about it, it can be quite painful, if not excruciating at times. I am working on healing it with help from practitioners such as physiotherapy and homeopathy for example. Thanks for your well wishes for the year. :) I may have mentioned Zamir's name prior, not sure. <3

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  5. I think it's a beautiful and quite peaceful way to end the year. I hope your foot is healing now. Wish you a very happy new year :)

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    1. It is indeed a beautiful and peaceful way to usher in the new year! :) My foot, I think and I hope, is on the mend, albeit a lot slower than I'd like it to be! ;) Happy New Year to you too Raj! :) <3

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  6. Wish you a very Happy and Healthy New Year, Elly.

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  7. The labyrinth sounds like an interesting place. I'm glad you smile and acknowledge people. I spent my new year with friends. Hope this year brings you good health and lots of happiness <3

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    1. It is interesting and if you get a chance, I highly recommend you check one out: it's fun! :) I think it is okay to go inward and keep to oneself; however, I prefer to acknowledge people...whether they do likewise is up to them. ;) Glad you spent it with your friends...good to do so. Thanks for your well wishes. :) <3

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