Winter Solstice Gathering
December 21, 2024
It’s happening! Join us at 6 pm on 12/21/2024 at Sisters Community Labyrinth.
Embrace the new year and bid adieu to the old one with a gathering and silent meditation/silent labyrinth walk. A small fire will light the night. Cocoa and tea to follow.
Location details: scroll down to our “Visit” section or ask your friend Google Maps.
WINTER SOLSTICE
With celebrations such as Alban Arthan (Welsh), Yule/Jal (Norse), Christmas (Christian), Saturnalia (Roman), and often Hanukkah (Jewish), it’s a sacred, special time in the Northern Hemisphere.
The sun slows to a near stop, and we experience the darkest, shortest day of the year. Beginning with Winter Solstice, the sun slowly begins to shine longer and longer each day. At the labyrinth, we will welcome the sun’s rebirth, as the wheel of the year turns.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Walk the labyrinth with folks in your Central Oregon community. We'll have a short, non-religious welcome ceremony, then a silent walking meditation as we wend our way through the labyrinth.
Meet at the fire in the labyrinth’s center, halfway through. We’ll gather briefly to place stones and share a few words or song, then follow the labyrinth path back to the beginning. (Symbolic, eh?)
Afterward, enjoy a hot cup of cocoa or tea to mark the darkest day of the year.
STONES FOR THE NEW YEAR
You can bring a special, natural object to welcome the rebirth of the sun and leave the old year behind. We'll meet halfway through the labyrinth walk, and place our special objects at the center boulder. Natural objects are best, such as stones.
WHAT TO BRING
Dress warmly, bring a flashlight, maybe a candle to carry during our silent meditation walk. A cup for tea/cocoa (optional). And maybe a stone. Donations accepted but not necessary.
WHERE TO PARK
The labyrinth site, East Portal park, is under construction. Please park on roadways and in parking lots nearby.
NOPE.
No bathrooms will be available at the park on this night, alas. Please do not bring pets or play music for the silent labyrinth walk. In June, we’ll have a louder celebration for Summer Solstice.
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A special place to walk & reflect.
Sisters Community Labyrinth is a gathering place for relaxation, meditation, and reflection. Walking the labyrinth, which uses the design of the Cathedral at Chartres, promotes health and wellness.
Our Solstice gatherings are non-religious and non-denominational; everybody is welcome. A metal "finger labyrinth" sculpture provides an accessible experience on-site instead of walking.
Visit Sisters Community Labyrinth at East Portal
At the triangle of land where Old McKenzie Pass Highway 242 meets Highway 20/Cascade Avenue in Sisters, Oregon. Entrance and driveway are located on W. Hood Avenue. Restrooms open during summer only.
DECEMBER 2024 UPDATE: The labyrinth site, East Portal park, is under construction. Please park on roadways and in parking lots nearby for our Winter Solstice gathering.
The land & our sponsor
SPRD & THE COMMITTEE
Sisters Community Labyrinth was born in 2012 — learn more about our history below. The labyrinth is maintained by volunteers and the Sisters Community Labyrinth Committee.
The labyrinth is transitioning from a fiscally sponsored group into a program designation of SPRD, Sisters Parks & Recreation District.
FRIENDS OF THE LABYRINTH
A loose assemblage of volunteers, donors and participants helps keep the labyrinth going—known as Friends of Sisters Community Labyrinth. Email sisterscommunitylabyrinth (at) gmail.com if you’d like to help out!
THE LAND
The land on which the physical labyrinth sits was formerly owned by the US Forest Service and is now owned by the City of Sisters.
The area, known as East Portal, is currently being converted into a transportation hub and park. The labyrinth will be retained as the site undergoes changes.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The current committee consists of Jan McGowan and Sharlene Weed—who were among the labyrinth’s initial founders and builders—along with Pat Leiser and Tiffany Lee Brown (T). The youth ambassador is Gusty Berger-Brown.
Photo of spring equinox, from left: Pat Leiser and T. Lee Brown, with nature educator and ceremony leader Susan Prince.
We’ve been here a while.
OUR HISTORY
Sisters Community Labyrinth was founded in 2012 by Sisters Cohort 3 of the Ford Family Foundation's Community Leadership course and is currently run by Sisters Community Labyrinth Committee of SPRD, Sisters Parks & Recreation District.
The leadership course was part of a series of training classes designed to create skilled, knowledgeable, and motivated leaders to contribute to the development of a thriving rural community through collaboration with a diverse collective of organizations. As part of the training, each cohort completed a project to present to the community.
The Sisters Community Labyrinth was one such project and was presented on December 1, 2012. More than $12,000 was raised for the project including a matching grant of $5,000 from the Ford Family Foundation.
DONORS & CONTRIBUTORS
Other major contributors included Bank of the Cascades, Campbell Foundation, Green Ridge Physical Therapy & Wellness, High Desert Aggregate, Jan and Jack McGowan, Rays Food Place, Sisters Parks and Recreation District, and the City of Sisters, in addition to the Ford Family Foundation.
ORIGINAL COHORT OF FOUNDERS
The Cohort 3 Class consisted of Sandy Alfonso, Annie Andreson, Cindy Barnes, LIsa Bergren-Fetrow, Wendy Birnbaum, Mary Pat Clasen, Jordyn Clymens, Beth Hanson, Beth Knowles, KIristin Kovalik, jan McGowan, Corrie Ortner, Candy Park, Jeremiah Perry-Weed, Helen Schmidling, Taylor Sickau, Leanne Smith, Sharon Thorkildson, Daniel Vitelle, Angie Ward, and Sharlene Weed.
THE LAND
The land on which the physical labyrinth sits was formerly owned by the US Forest Service and is now owned by the City of Sisters.
The area, known as East Portal, is currently being converted into a transportation hub and park. The labyrinth will be retained as the park site undergoes changes.
Visit the labyrinth at East Portal
At the triangle of land where Old McKenzie Pass Highway 242 meets Highway 20/Cascade Avenue in Sisters, Oregon.
Usually, the entrance and driveway are located on W. Hood Avenue. Driveway may be closed during park construction of the new park.
Restrooms open during summer only, until initial phase construction is completed (summer 2025 projected).
© 2022 Sisters Community Labyrinth Committee
