LABYRINTH

WALKING THE LABYRINTH

The Sacred Labyrinth Walk, Illuminating the Inner Path, is the ancient practice of "Circling to the Center" by walking the labyrinth. The rediscovery of this self alignment tool to put our lives in perspective is one of the most important spiritual movements of our day. Labyrinths have been in use for over 4000 years. Their basic design is fundamental to nature and many cultures and religious traditions. Whatever one's religion...walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives insight. It calms people in the throes of life's transitions.

We extend an invitation to people from all faiths, especially those who are in transition and/or are struggling to find a means of prayer or meditation.  Join us as you learn about this ancient meditation tool of prayer, as we become "spiritual beings on a human path, not simply human beings on a spiritual path."

People, formal cultures, and traditions have used the spiral and labyrinth designs as a symbol of their search for meaning and guidance. The labyrinth is a "unicursal" or one path design - there are no tricks or decisions to be made - much as the surrender to walking a sacred spiritual path in life - our only decision is to choose God and surrender to divine guidance. The labyrinth is non -denominational. People of all faiths and people longing to re-connect to faith come to walk labyrinths.

Some of the earliest forms of labyrinths are found in Greece, dating back to 2500-2000 B.C.E. This labyrinth is called the Cretan labyrinth or classical seven-circuit labyrinth. So much a part of the fabric of this early society was the labyrinth, that it was embossed on coins and pottery. Early Christian labyrinths date back to the 4th century, a basilica in Algeria. The Chartres design labyrinth is a replica of the labyrinth laid into the cathedral floor at Chartres, France in the 13th century. The Chartres design is a classical eleven-circuit labyrinth (eleven concentric circles) with the twelfth being in the center of the labyrinth.

One walks a labyrinth by stepping into the entrance and putting one foot in front of the other. After traveling through all the paths and windings, the walker comes into the center and, after a time there, the walker returns out to cover the same path out as in.

There is no "right" or "wrong" way to walk a labyrinth.  However, at NEAR HAVEN, our four unique labyrinths provide opportunities for special meditative walk experiences.

ENJOY MEDITATIVE WALKS AT NEAR HAVEN

The Fruit Orchard – located in the sloping western front of the NEAR HAVEN campus, consists of over three dozen fruit trees planted in a rectangular pattern.  The “door” to this meditative walk way is a white metal decorative gazebo roped with an “entrance” and an “exit” that takes the walker in and out of the orchard.  This path has no definite plan.  Rather, it allows the walker to meander through the orchard and select a unique path with each walk – reminding the walker of the “constancy of choice” in life’s journey.

The Prayer Garden – located on the northern side of the main complex, is a serene spot on the NEAR HAVEN campus that is shaded by towering blue spruce pine trees, and appointed with decorative flowering shrubs and bushes.  Inspired by the MOBIUS symbol (a single path with no end), the path of this walkway is laid with concrete slabs that have been arranged in an infinity pattern, encouraging “prayer without ceasing.”  The “entrance/exit point” of this labyrinth is represented by a circular concrete slab placed at the crossing point of the infinity pattern.

The Vegetable Garden – located on the eastern perimeter of the NEAR HAVEN campus, boasts seventeen 4’ x 8’ above-ground organic gardening boxes arranged in a rectangular pattern.  The boxes have been roped off and accentuated with small flags in a manner that creates a 360 feet four direction journey with a single entrance/exit point.  Walkers are offered the option to carry small baskets for picking herbs and vegetables during their meditative walk.  The entire garden is walled by cinder block planted with flowers;  and includes a sitting area and a composting area.

The Classical Seven Circuit Labyrinth – located in the far rear, at the eastern end of the NEAR HAVEN campus, is a massive replica measuring seventy feet in diameter.  This labyrinth was painted on the lawn, upon which red bricks were laid end-to-end demarcating the five-foot-wide path, making the labyrinth handicapped accessible.  In fact, all four or the labyrinths at NEAR HAVEN are handicapped accessible, and allow the walker to walk on the earth where the paths are either grass or natural wood chips.  This labyrinth has an enlarged center for small group meditation.