WHAT WE WANT TO DO
A labyrinth is a gathering place, for people to come and walk while they gather their thoughts, gather their energy, gather their family and friends. At present we only have a temporary design painted on the grass, which needs repainting every 2-4 weeks
We have approval from Council to build a brick and turf labyrinth in Civic Park, but due to environmental requirements, we need to build up rather than dig down into the soil. The foundations will cost more money than we had anticipated, hence this fund-raising campaign. 
.  The foundations will be laid by a professional brick layer.
.  The bricks will be laid by a team of volunteers, and soil and turf laid between the bricks.
.  Once the funds are raised (by Sat 1 November), it will take about 3-6 months to complete.
.  Once complete, Council will be able to mow across the site to keep the grass down.
This is a picture of the brick-and-turf labyrinth that first inspired me to think it would be possible (Deephaven, Minnesota, USA)

WHO WE ARE
We are a group of Armidale citizens who are passionate about personal development, spiritual growth and sustainable living. We come from backgrounds of life-coaching, psychology, agricultural law, public health, special education, public relations, medicine and publishing. We come from Quaker, Uniting, Catholic, Buddhist and Anglican traditions, and most of us have lived in Armidale for many years. We love our town, and we love our people. This is a group of people walking the canvas labyrinth in the Mall onNew Year's Eve 2011.

WHY DO WE NEED A LABYRINTH?
Many people these days have had a negative experience of organised religion. The labyrinth provides an opportunity for self-directed spirituality - just you, your pace, your intention - no preaching, dogma or credo. Labyrinths are being used around the world for personal reflection, family celebrations (weddings, memorial services, birthdays, graduations), as tools for prayer and meditation, and as a way for community groups to walk in solidarity for a cause, e.g. walking for peace, walking for justice, walking for reconciliation. A 20 meter-wide labyrinth in Civic Park in the centre of Armidale will provide these opportunities and also will complement the existing sculptures, memorial garden and fountain in the park. The photo below was taken on 21 September 2014, the day of the launch of the Pozible campaign, with supporters walking the labyrinth in solidarity.


Here is a video of the opening of the Centennial Park labyrinth in Sydney that I attended on Monday 15 September.

Click here to listen to Blue Silence written by Elena Kats-Chernin as you imagine the following:

IMAGINE...
 You're walking across the park and suddenly you discover yourself at the entrance to the labyrinth. You hesitate, sun warm on your face, grass cool between your toes, and find yourself wondering WHERE AM I ON LIFE'S PATH?  You take a deep breath, and then you step across the threshold. You take the next step, then the next, moving forwards, following the path. As you walk, you notice the twists and turns in the path, and observe your thoughts flitting over the people in your life, the tasks you have to do, the questions that unsettle you in the middle of the night. And just as you thought you were never going to make it, you arrive in the centre. You pause for a moment, drinking in the realisations that came to you on your journey inwards, and then wait in stillness until you feel it is time to make your return to the world. As you walk out, you realise that other people have joined you in the labyrinth, and you make choices as to how you've greet them as you meet them on your way. IT'S JUST LIKE LIFE.
 Click to go to the  Labyrinth Armidale website

EVENTS
To help increase public awareness of the labyrinth during the Pozible campaign, we will be holding several events over the next 6 weeks. These will be included in the updates section as well as on our website. Keep checking in!

We already have $2,200 in the bank from community donations, but we need an additional $12,575
STAGE ONE
Foundations $11,045
Bricks $2,230
Turf / grass seed $1,500
TOTAL (%208% fees and charges) $16,000

STAGE TWO
Signage $1,060
Garden bed and benches $7,000
TOTAL (%20 8% fees and charges) $8,705

GRAND TOTAL $24,705

If we raise more than $25,000, we will donate the excess money to charity.

If we don't make our target through this campaign, we will fund-raise by other methods, but it will delay construction until we get the funds.
We will engage a professional brick layer to lay the foundations and train the volunteers in how to lay the bricks to ensure the finished product is as beautiful as possible.