8-13-2024 2:02am

Samuel Pollack to Perform at Trinity Turtle Labyrinth August 24th, 7 pm

Chris Edwards Editor

In April of 2024 Alamogordo Town News spotlighted the Trinity Turtle Healing Labyrinth and Samuel Pollack. A concert was planned but was cut short due to heavy winds and extreme cold conditions that evening.

Now a concert is again planned for again this time August 24th, 7 pm to 9:30 pm at the Turtle Labyrinth which is operated by CAPPED.

As a part of our Alamogordo Proud series we spotlight those businesses and organizations that are working in the spirit of positivity to bring success to our community and make us a proud and unique community.

Teresa VanWinkle and her organization Capped.org is that such organization and on August 24th she is again hosting a very meaningful event of flute music and meditation at the Trinity Turtle Labyrinth at 7 pm with the musical delights of Samuel Pallack.

Before we get into specifics of the event let’s review a bit about Capped.org and more importantly the Trinity Turtle Labyrinth.

What is the site? Why is it important?

VanWinkle is the executive director and founder of CAPPED, (Cancer Awareness Prevalence Prevention and Early Detection Inc.) CAPPED is a non-profit corporation founded in 2000 in Alamogordo by a group of cancer survivors and their friends and family.

As an registered nurse for 30 years, VanWinkle watched the suffering in her patients caused by chronic but largely preventable diseases. In the late 90s, frustrated with often fruitless treatment protocols for her patients but inspired by her sister’s battle with breast cancer and a family with a history of chronic diseases, VanWinkle shifted her sights from treatment as a practicing nurse to prevention through education and wellness.

In 2003, the CAPPED building opened on New York Avenue and has delivered services to the community such as providing access to cancer prevention and general health information.

At the core of the CAPPED service model is the belief that prevention is the key to life-long health. The CAPPED vision statement is “A world without cancer and other preventable disease because we don’t have to fight it if we prevent it!”

VanWinkle and her board have two goals for the support and sustainability of the CAPPED mission. The first is a built environment for the primary prevention of chronic diseases in the form of Trinity Turtle Healing Labyrinth Park.

The park is designed to be the largest permanent labyrinth in the United States at 300 feet by 300 feet.

The second goal is a lasting way to deliver integrative wellness and support services for cancer and other chronic diseases. This would be in the form of Trinity Turtle Village, a 14,400 square foot CAPPED building and 80 tiny house rental sites to be used for retreats and recovery and to generate funds for supporting the entire park. Those are two very large goals and are in process.

Phase 1, the turtle’s head, is a completed concrete labyrinth located about four miles south of Tularosa on Highway 54/70.

Phase 2 the body of the turtle and other amenities is in progress with a lift this year of a grant which is supporting the new concrete being poured and the work in progress. More donations are needed and always welcome.

The Trinity Turtle Labyrinth, the design of the labyrinth path on the body of the turtle is inspired by the Labyrinth of the Reims Cathedral and the path on the head of the turtle is fashioned after the Labyrinth of Chartres in the nave of the Chartres Cathedral. Both cathedrals are in France.

VanWinkle has previously described for us that each component of the turtle as serving a slightly different purpose. The head of Trinity Turtle is the children’s labyrinth and it reminds us that we need to spend quality time with our children and teach them our values so they can become wise adults.

The body is about adults. The simple act of walking the labyrinth reduces stress by 80 percent (John W. Rhodes PhD, Research Chairman, The Labyrinth Society.)

Along those thoughts of reflection and healing is what leads up to another sunset evening event at 7 p.m with Samuel Pollack.

The event is about healings, positivity, peace and is complemented by a beautifully planned sunset and a flute musical concert by Samuel Pallack.

The August 24th event is about healings, positivity, peace and is complemented by a beautifully planned sunset and a flute musical concert by Samuel Pallack.

Who is Samuel Pallack and what makes this planned free (donations are appreciated) evening musical experience so special?

Samuel Pallack is from Alamogordo but is a traveling professional flute player specializing in multicultural flutes. His journey with wind instruments started 15 years ago with a calling to collect and learn many rare and unique sounds of wind instruments across the planet. We spent a few minutes with Samuel Pallack and asked a few questions about his art and his passions. In a prior interview with is he responded to a series of questions from us as per below...

He says that journey, “led me to also become a sound journey facilitator which for the past 3 years have I have created this truly unique experience titled The Temple of the wind where I play melodies and meditations with my many flutes in a relaxing and harmonious way traveling across the earth with flutes that relate to many regions and cultures. With the addition of ambient nature sounds and dreamy transcending reverbs and delays to connect us more to earth and spirit.”

We asked Mr Pallack about performing at Trinity Turtle Labyrinth and why it was important to him?

“I am doing this event to provide my hometown with a musical and peaceful experience that is truly unique variation of what is known as sound healing. This new age profession is something I have been doing for years now and that is the joy of playing music for others with the full commitment of my heart to improvise music that will be beneficial to everyone. Sharing My love for the flute and wind instruments is also one of my highest joys. To share sounds that most people don't or won't ever hear in person.”

AlamogordoTownNews.com. Tell us about your musical inspirations?

Samuel Pallack Response: “My inspiration for my style of playing comes from many genres that are not so mainstream. From the countless variety of ambient music, to the many different magical soundtracks of video game and movie music such as the lord of the rings and legend of Zelda these genres have really shaped what I am today. But, my music interests are vast and it is a-lot to answer. These days my selection of music would be anything that brings me relaxation, peace, contemplation and mystery.”

AlamogordoTownNews.com. Tell us what had influenced your musical journey to this point?

Samuel Pallack Response: ”What has influenced my musical journey is the many other sound healing professionals that have gone on and made a difference in the world with their own unique expression. And all the support from all walks of life urging me to continue this path of meditative music. Also to mention the countless musicians that I have crossed paths with and jammed alongside for the 17 years I have been traveling.”

We strongly encourage you to step out Saturday night to the Trinity Turtle Labyrinth at 7 pm and take in the beauty of the location, soak into the sunset and be inspired by the musical talents of Mr. Pallack paired with the peace and serenity of the location.

A video of Sam Pallack Egyptian Flute Tracks can be found at:
https://youtu.be/s7p6hSNWJao?si=4SikPSJ0PGD2KdnM

A video explaining a little more on the Trinity Turtle Labyrinth can be found at https://youtu.be/-LQLwuZxeoY?feature=shared

To learn more about the planned event see the poster below...