Labyrinth

"Some hang on to, 'used to be'
Live their lives looking behind
All we have is here and now
All our life out there to find"

Up Where We Belong : Will Jennings, Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sant-Marie

Final day of the Alister Hardy Society Retreat at Llantarnam Abbey, and it's been over all too soon it seems.

Thought I'd give Mass a go, first time I've ever attended and it seems like an opportunity while I'm here.

Following this the group comes together for the morning session, which begins with walking the Labyrinth, followed by an "Arts" session. I delay my entry to grab a few photos of the group as they make their way along the circuitous path to the centre, so my "Arts" session comes before the Labyrinth walk. I'm reminded of Greek Mythology and Theseus entering the Labyrinth to kill the Minotaur, then finding his way back out of the Labyrinth with the aid of Ariadnes thread.

As the rest of the group returned to the main building I made my entry into the Labyrinth. The song "Up where we belong" played in my head as I made my way around. I've since found out the song was sung by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes . The weather has been ideal for this, and the soft springy turf under bare feet heightens the sensation of walking on the earth, pilgrimage back to the Self.

Lunch is another delightful feast and there's plenty for even my healthy appetite. The closing session comes and it's quite a sad farewell to the Abbey, the end of my first visit. The community of Nuns have been so welcoming and the whole weekend such a pleasurable experience.