What is a Labyrinth?
The Labyrinth is a silent walking meditation. Unlike a maze, which challenges the mind with choices and dead ends, labyrinths have only one clear, winding path leading the walker from the edge to the center. Labyrinths have been found on nearly every continent and in every major culture and system of religion for over 4,000 years.
Since the early 1990s, the Labyrinth has enjoyed a worldwide renaissance. They have been created for public and private gardens, hospitals, schools, places of worship and many other settings.
Suggestions for Walking the Labyrinth
Before you start your walk you may want to pause and take a few moments to quiet your mind and release the thoughts and feelings that are distractions of everyday life, so that you can focus and be present in the moment. Some people walk the labyrinth with a particular question or intention. If you encounter other walkers, pass them or let them pass you. The large boulders are a place to sit and reflect before and after your walk.
As you begin your walk find you own pace, pause for reflection whenever you wish. Be open to any insight or feeling you may have. When you reach the center, be still and aware of what thoughts or feelings you may have. Stay as long as you wish. Using the same path, the journey
out from the center can be seen as a return to one's life. Reflect on any insights with a sense of empowerment and a refreshed spirit.
The Labyrinth at Brookside Gardens
The design of the labyrinth at Brookside Gardens is called the Santa Rosa Labyrinth. It uses eight concentric rings to create a seven-circuit path. Granite cobblestone and Delaware River rocks line the path.
The Santa Rosa Labyrinth is an original design by Lee Goode-Harris, PhD, who is the founder of the Santa Rosa Foundation.
The design and installation of the labyrinth was donated by Serenity Space of Kensington, MD.
More information about labyrinths is available in the Visitor Center Library.
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