This pilgrimage was crucial to my understanding of, and appreciation for, walking. I began at nine am and walked to my first home where I poured myself and my host a glass of wine from my backpack. The pack was filled with four large bottles, and with each house my load became lighter as I became increasingly intoxicated. I visited every home I had ever entered by people who I was aquainted with. The conversation was never directed, but rather every different home I visited provided for unique conversation based on my relationship with that person. Some of these visits were incredibely awkward, as I saw people who I hadn't seen in years, and visited some people I didn't particularly like. Every visit contributed to an emotional instability that was mimicked by the wine's effect on my walking.
I did not return home until two thirty am, and I am estimating that I walked at least twenty kilometers throughout the course of the day-evening.One of the most hilarious events that ocurred throughout this walk was my attempt to purchase pizza.. I legit stood infront of the till for ten minutes trying to find my money in my coat before the manager kindly asked my drunken ass to leave. As I became increasingly intoxicated I also began to start jumping fences instead of taking the paved path in order to save time. These incidents lead to some pretty painful cuts and bruises.
In my final presentation I decided to exclude the audio takes that I had made in between visits as they didn't really seem to fit in.. Apparently I like to rap when I walk and drink, and try to find "a coexistance between my energy patterns and the energy of the trees". Even with the exclusion my brilliant audio, I am ultimately happy with how my video turned out. I put in almost the same amount of time walking the project as I did editing it!
After taking on this walk, every other walk seems achievable. Places that seemed far before seem far no longer. I want to walk! I also had a much better sense of direction on foot then when I was in a vehicle because I was able to pay more attention to everything around me, even under the influence of alcohol. People also SEEMED more open for conversation once they noticed that I was in a position of drunken stupor. I literally had aforty minute conversation with a man at the corner store who infromed me about his muslim religion and the misconceptions that Western culture has of it.
The walk is ultimately something I would consider doing again, even without artistic purposes. It was challenging, but it was enlightening in its' own strange way.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Response-Labyrinths
Labyrinths and Cadillacs: Walking into the Realm of the Symbolic
When I continued my research I discovered that there were quite a few different types of labyrinths.
The reading begins with the authors description of a blue cadillac in Chimayo that has been painted with religious imagery, or more specifically the crucifixion of Jesus. She discusses that the Plaza in Chimayo that used to be full of men and women who would use the space as a courting ritual by lining up adjacent from each other and preforming a dance. She discusses the nature of walks and how they change throughout the years, as instead of lovers walking the plaza, the space has been filled with vehicles preforming a similar type of motion. The same thing can be said for the crucifixion imagery of Jesus, these images line the walls of almost every church where the walk can be visually retaken by followers. The most significant part of the reading to my study on labyrinths beings when she discusses the pilgrimage, and how the act of walking a pilgrimage is an attempt to access the same space or ritual as a saint who made the same walk years before. Walking therefore does not become just a physical act, but can imply spiritual intentions. "To walk the same way is to reiterate something deep; to move through the same space the same way is a means of becoming the same person, thinking the same thoughts:"(68). The author then discusses her first encounter with a labyrinth at the Chartres Cathedral where she became aware of the connection between the labyrinth and life's journey in general. "...sometimes you have to turn your back on your goal to get there, sometimes you're farthest away when you're closest, sometimes the only way is the long one(69)." Walking does not just have to be a mode of transportation, but can be a way of accesseing a different space which connects to life's journey in general. She discusses the possible origins of the labyrinth but concludes that both its purpose and its creation remain ambiguous.
When I continued my research I discovered that there were quite a few different types of labyrinths.
The Reims Labyrinth The Cretan Labyrinth The Chartreuse Labyrinth
Each labyrinths name corrosponds to the places they are most likely to be seen, but the most common rendition of the labyrinth is done in the Chartreuse form. The potential for spiritual understanding is often the reason why these labyrinths are created, and with the help of the labyrinth society labyrinths are becoming more common in the Western world. The lady from this clip for example, created her very own labyrinth in her backyard, and discusses the healing that comes along with walking it.
I also came across a clip that shows you how to draw a labyrinth.
In drawing the labyrinth you almost experience a similar meditative calm as you would walking it.
Overall, labyrinths are pretty cool! Everyone should walk one once!
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