THE COMPASS INVITING THE BEST OF IMAGINATION
THE COMPASS CENTER
If you can envision the potential of The Compass — its framework, trails, and Compass Points — imagine establishing The Compass Center ... perhaps at the 1 October memorial. Breath deep and picture the following:
1) 58 Compass Point Stones — These 58 flat natural stones — one for each person lost to our country's most deadly mass shooting — etched with core value words such as hope, compassion, gratitude, peace, forgiveness, and unity repeated in various languages. The stones will provide people from around the world a place to mindfully remember the lost and injured, pay tribute to courage and compassion exhibited by our community, and be present to what they are being called to in a hurting world.
2) A Healing/Demonstration Garden and Labyrinth — Featuring native plants and roses, the garden would become part of the Compass Center, aka Compass Rose. The gardens would be beautiful to gaze at and would reflect the story of our resilient desert home. The Compass Point stones might encircle the labyrinth or become part of the labyrinth(s) path.
3) An Observation Tower — (Additional 1 October Memorial idea) A 40-50 story observation tower shaped like a microphone that encourages "Listening with the ear of your heart." The microphone would be tribute to the Route 91 Harvest Festival concert, listening to one another for understanding and healing, and listening to nature for its healing and ours. Consider the following:
... Microphone Cord — If the microphone's winding cord became the path/outline for the labyrinth. Perhaps the opening of the labyrinth and its center are designed to look a key to the heart
... Compass Center — If lower floors of the microphone (or attached facility) housed a potential museum, gallery, artists in residency space, recording studio, and meeting/classroom/retreat space along with a dining/concession option and a merchandize store all dedicated to the core values represented through the 1 October Memorial and The Compass
... If a portion of the microphone's shaft housed a winding aeroponics garden that delivers sustainable, healthy foods for a visitor's dining/concession option or produces food for the homeless of our community
They were part of a grand conversation, a relationship of reciprocity and respect, connecting them with all other beings and elements of life. - Victoria Loorz
Healthy Humans
Studies have found that urban residents who visit natural environments have lower levels of stress hormones immediately afterward than people who have not recently been outside.
Expanding The Compass framework to include urban, suburban and rural locations can promote getting outdoors as a soul nourishing, stress relieving opportunity.
Healthy Habitats
Habitat protection, preservation, and restoration is essential in protecting biodiversity. It ensures that the protected species have places to live that can support them. Importantly, saving one habitat or species can create a cascading impact.
By establishing The Compass for humans, we can encourage compassionate decisions to remain on designated trails to allow hurting habitats needed restoration time.
Healthy Economy
Commitments to trails and outdoor amenities make communities more attractive places to live. Investing in trails is beneficial for big cities seeking workforce to rural town ripe for revitalization.
Trails boost economic activity ranging from trail development to creating business opportunities and traffic for outdoor stores, restaurants, and potentially hotels, bed and breakfasts, and the like.
MAKING MEANING OF OUR DESERT STORIES.
MY WAY. MY WHY.
On October 1, 2017, my eldest son and his good buddy (accompanied by their younger brothers) celebrated their 16th birthdays at one of the Golden Knight's* inaugural season games. Then they walked The Strip (a rite of passage for my sheltered sons). Later, I picked them up at The MGM with plans to then take photographs of them at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. We shifted plans as the boys had unfinished homework.
In the days following the 1 October tragedy, I hiked my way from rumination to contemplation. During those hikes, I felt grief and empathy for all those affected. I experienced pride for my community and for all who responded with courage and compassion. I also expressed gratitude that we changed our plans ... that my sons and their buddies were not on Las Vegas Boulevard South when the shooting began.
Tragedies bring such a mix of emotions, e.g., grief, anger, anxiety, and guilt. The Compass provides places for grounding and availing oneself to what nature knows about the circle of life and longs to share.
*A special thanks to the role the Golden Knights for their role in helping heal our community and continually recognize its servant leaders.