Well, the Whistler reading drew about a dozen diehards on a gorgeous Friday evening in May, in the spacious new Whistler Library, but to my surprise the Spirit of Place event last Sunday at the Interfaith Chapel at UVic, sponsored by the Victoria Multifaith Society, drew 45 people on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I was amazed and pleased!
At one point we went around to let people identify their own sacred places, if they chose, and these included a frog pond on the way home from school (childhood memory), the Ganges River, and the memorial garden area in Finnerty Gardens, just outside the chapel, where a beloved family member is interred. It was quite moving to hear the personal choices.
Henri Lock, a chaplain at the Chapel, graciously introduced me, and talked about the chapel and grounds as his sacred places, which helped him get through cancer treatment many years ago, and where he was introduced to meditation, which he continues with a group there to this day. I was really thrilled to be the guest of the Multifaith Society in that Interfaith Chapel...it reflects where I believe and hope we're moving as a society, and was a wonderful, warm group event.
Next Wednesday night, June 24, at 7 p.m., I'll be speaking in the Metchosin Community House, at 4430 Happy Valley Road, and my topic is ""Spirit of Place: How the spiritual geography of the BC Coast may help us save the planet!"...first reading in my own backyard, and I'm really looking forward to it. See you there!
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