It’s a step in the right direction, or is it the left? That depends upon which way your labyrinth is constructed. No matter which way you enter this circular path, you can engage in mindful walking: “Walk the labyrinth to quiet your mind.”
You are not entering a maze with choices to make on how to get to the center. A maze has an end but no center. You have to make choices to walk a maze without hitting closed off parts along the way – like playing chess or solving a brain twister. The labyrinth has a center and presents no such obstacle course. The boundaries, the path and the center make up the simplicity of a freely walkable course from entrance to center and back again along one path. This is called a unicursal (one course) design. It’s not a brain twister but can unwind your brain in a manner of speaking. Walking this kind of path tends to occupy the so-called beta brain waves and free up the so-called alpha brain waves for other levels of awareness – just as any meditative activity can do.
 Labyrinths are ancient, dating back 3000 - 4000 years, and have occurred in myriad cultures. Today the rebirth of the labyrinth provides diverse populations with a method to engage in meditation, stress reduction, prayer, solitude, levels of awareness. It can also be used for a community experience such as dedicating it, using it for a ritual, celebrating its birthday, or assigning symbolism to the walk as we did for the Harvest Festival of Farmington Historic Homes in October, 2006, with themes of freedom and equality.
The concept and practice of labyrinth became a project for the Sullivan University Wellness Center because of the SUWC’s mission to help manage stress (personal and interpersonal) and to provide a non-denominational chaplaincy outreach to the Sullivan community in the interests of spiritual wellness. After training, evaluation, and application over the course of more than a year, the Wellness Director Dr. Rust-Yarmuth was validated by the Veriditas organization as a Certified Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator (April 2007).
You find the Sullivan Labyrinth at the Farmington Historic Home campus adjacent to Sullivan-Louisville campus. For 2 ˝ years the FHH grounds have hosted 100 square feet constructed by Mr. Charles Brown and the Sullivan grounds staff according to the Chartres model. It leads the walker to the center of a labyrinth and back over its 13 circuits. This outdoor labyrinth depends upon upkeep and sufficiently favorable weather.
Other outdoor labyrinths in Metro Louisville are all associated with churches. The Sullivan laby is the only outdoor one not associated with any religious institution.
The Sullivan crew maintains this “laby”, as it is affectionately called, during three seasons of the year. Although the FHH has not endorsed it as a permanent feature because the grounds are subject to developments of a master plan, it is large and visible from a GSP view. Though rugged (do not walk it if you have knee trouble), it is settling as the successive walkers have warmed the path since October 2005. The outdoor laby is open to the general public as part of the FHH historic site 24 hours a day.
Another, portable labyrinth measuring 22’x 24’ offers year ‘round usage and is level when laid out on the surface of a floor or smooth pavement. This Classical (or Cretan) design, made of seven circuits, resembles the human brain. Its vinyl material unfolds nicely in room 121 at the Administration Building, the room for which the Wellness Director had it made by PaxWorks of Indianapolis. This laby can go elsewhere however – indoors, outdoors – at a rental fee. When it is laid out as part of a school program, however, it is open free to students, faculty and staff from all of the Sullivan University System and, of course, to the alumni of the university. In the week before finals, the SUWC introduced the Classical (aka Cretan) labyrinth for relaxed walking. Since there’s no single way to relax while walking, some people tread quickly, some slowly, one or other hops or skips – all these styles can work for a walker.
The essential dynamics to walk the laby comprise these three: Release (what you don’t want to take into it); Receive (what the laby has to offer along the way and at the center), and Return (what you have received can stay with you on your way back and out). Another way to summarize this threefold movement is Walking Inward- Centering- Walking Outward. In the recent layout during Week Ten, some stayed in the room to extend their relaxation, reflection or restful attitude.
Pillows and cushions, quietude, low lights and music, an aromatic scent and an array of other labyrinths set the atmosphere. Examples of other labyrinths included the 19th century Ely hand-held model, the Intuipath© (from Relax4Life) to stretch across the lap(s) of one person or two. Drawings of the French Amiens, the Southwest, and the Roman versions were spread around the room for the curious. A three-page list of web resources listed web sites and links.
Did you know you can find labyrinths on the web for an electronic walk? To find out more, consult:
You’ll find out that labyrinths are now located in hospices, churches, parks, urban and rural settings, as well as at libraries, prisons, temples and mosques – to name a few. Studies are starting to explore if the labyrinth can be used to ease problems like autism, addiction, ADD, conflict resolution, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. No research is definitive as yet. Not only is a labyrinth unicursal, it is universal across cultures, for the well and the ill, for children and adults.
The next labyrinth layout indoors at Sullivan-LOU is scheduled for April 21-22 during Week Five, mid-term exam week, in room 121. Come and experience the laby for yourself.
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