Labyrinth at Kearns Spirituality Center in the North Hills. photo/Michelle Crown/Voice

Easing the mind in a labyrinth

By: Michelle Crown

Posted: 11/9/09

When responsibilities, the stress of a job and impending deadlines of various natures take a toll, a walk through a labyrinth can quiet and relax the mind.

A labyrinth is an ancient pattern resembling a maze and dates back to the Middle Ages. They are found within many cultures around the world. The intricate patterns have no dead ends, misleading turns or choices for those who walk them to make.

A single, circuitous path twisting and curving its way into the center also acts as the way out. The paths of many labyrinths move in quadrants, creating non-sequential movements that generate a sense of timelessness.

"There are many reasons to walk a labyrinth," Beth Langley, executive coordinator at the Institute for Guided Studies in Camden, S.C., told the Voice.

"In celebration or sorrow, to simply experience balance and peace, to look inward for guidance, for fun, relaxation or prayer-nearly anything can be an excuse for walking a labyrinth."

The walk is a personal journey affected by what the person brings to the labyrinth. While there is no wrong way to walk the path, according to Langley, a general guideline is to walk with intent, not expectation.

"Pause at the entrance, pay attention to your breath and follow the path listening, especially at the center, for a message from inside yourself or from God or Mother Earth," said Langley.

"The way into the center is a walk toward the center of yourself and connection to your spirit. The return walk is returning to the outside world once again, remembering what was learned."

Labyrinths can be found in parks, churches, retreat centers, schools and spas. They can be indoors or outdoors, permanent or temporary and range in size from inches to hundreds of feet.

The Kearns Spirituality Center nestled between LaRoche College and the Sisters of Divine Providence in the North Hills invites those looking for a quiet escape to experience their outdoor labyrinth.

Constructed in 2003, the Kearns labyrinth was designed based on the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in Paris, France, which dates back to the twelfth century.

The path to the center was created using white stones, with multicolored stones creating the border around the path. In the center, a stump of petrified wood offers walkers a place to sit and reflect.

The labyrinth at the Kearns Spirituality Center can be accessed by walking past the front of the Center's building then walking toward the right. The labyrinth is available 24-hours a day all year round.