The Cosmic Walk
The Cosmic Walk is a ritual created by Sr. Miriam MacGillis of Genesis Farm. It has subsequently been modified and facilitated by many people around the world. The Cosmic Walk is a way of bringing our knowledge of the 14 billion-year Universe process from our heads to our hearts. It is a simple ritual that can be performed in a large room or outdoors. A spiral representing the entire 14 billion years of the cosmic and evolutionary journey is laid out on the floor or ground. At Genesis Farm this spiral is painted on the floor of the library, but one can also lay out a rope in the spiral form. The spiral should be at least 100 feet long, 140 feet is better, with each instance of emergence in time marked at a proportionate distance along the length of the spiral. Each such station is marked at a proportionate distance along the length of the spiral. Each such station is marked by an unlit votive candle and, optionally, by a card describing the emergence.
The first station located at the very center of the spiral, represents the Flaring Forth of the Universe itself. This primary emergence is represented by a lit candle by itself or sometimes within a large, faceted glass bowl. One person, the walker, lights a candle from the primary candle and walks the spiral, starting with the Flaring Forth and lighting each candle in turn. The walk is synchronized with the reading of the text below by a second person, the reader. The ritual is accompanied by music, traditionally “The Fairy Ring” by Mike Rowland. An option is Kojiki produced by Kitaro, based on the ancient chronicle of the creation of Japan.
This ritual works for any size group, the limitation being the audience’s ability to see the candles well. For fewer than about 15 people, it is feasible to have each person walk the spiral, in turn, reading the cards to themselves in silence. Since the Cosmic Walk was born, many variation in text, process, and music have emerged. This is the script I developed. It was developed from the versions found below. Feel free to create your own.
http://www.threeeyesofuniverse.org
Larry & Jean Edwards, Santa Cruz, CA
Paulita Bernuy in Seattle, WA
Claudia McNeil & Paulita Bernuy at the Still Point Retreat Center in Seattle, WA
Presentation by Sr. Miriam Therese MacGillis at a workshop at Loyola July, 1998.
By Ruth Rosenhek with an introduction by Mary Coelho
A brief description of Cosmic Walk created by Sisters of St. Joseph
Nita Penfold
For science behind the great unfolding: http://universe.nasa.gov/science/bigbang.html
For more information and Cosmic Walk art packets, write or call Mary Ellen Curtin, CSJ, Still Point House of Prayer, Rt. 423, Box 53, Stillwater, NY 12170, Telephone (518) 587-4967.