Marian Thomas arrived at Kendal at Oberlin a year ago and quickly found fertile ground to create a labyrinth - something she cherishes and wanted to share with Kendal residents.
A labyrinth is a meditative walking path that leads to a center, and the enclosed Greenleaf Whittier Garden Courtyard in the Stephens Care Center was an ideal space. Other residents, especially Elizabeth Hole and Judi Bachrach, were equally enthusiastic. The Kendal at Oberlin Residents Association (KORA) was also supportive and provided financial backing.
“This was meant to happen, I just organized the energy,” says Marian, who is a certified labyrinth facilitator.
This month Marian began offering “labyrinth 101” talks at The Greenleaf Labyrinth. (A dedication ceremony is being planned for later this year.)
Here are some pointers from a brochure Marian compiled for labyrinth walkers.
First off, a labyrinth is not a maze, you cannot get lost. You will arrive at the center if you stay on the path.
As you enter the space, let go of concerns, quiet your mind, maybe ask a question.
You walk at your own pace and if you meet someone you can pass them or let them pass.
You spend as much time as you want in the center and retrace your path back to the entrance.
“As you walk the labyrinth again and again, you will experience different feelings and thoughts. They are all part of the journey to health and well-being,” Marian wrote in the brochure.
A labyrinth is an ancient pattern symbol found in many cultures around the world. In the last 25 years labyrinths have become increasingly popular in the United States thanks to the efforts of Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress, Canon Emerita of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and founder of the Veriditas, the World-Wide Labyrinth Project.
“The labyrinth is a tool for transformation, a path to healing and wholeness,” Rev. Lauren Artress writes.
Labyrinths are found inside places of worship, hospitals, retreat centers and other community spaces, outdoors in parks, gardens and other natural settings and a myriad of other spaces.
The World-Wide Labyrinth Locator lists more than 5,000 labyrinths, with many details, such as what the labyrinth is made of, whether it’s wheelchair accessible and hours of operation.
Here is a list of 5 of the more famous labyrinths:
Ohio is home to about 150 labyrinths, the majority which are located outdoors and about a dozen are private.
Kendal’s labyrinth (pictured below) will also be private and not open to the public because of its location in the Care Center. Residents can bring guests from outside Kendal to enjoy using the labyrinth.
Marian, who moved to Kendal from Kansas, hasn’t had time to visit nearby labyrinths because she’s been busy getting the Greenleaf Labyrinth off the ground – or rather on the ground.
Resident Jim Cassidy, an architect, adapted Marian’s design, which has three circuits and is 38 inches wide, to fit within the limits of the courtyard. The path is wide enough for a wheelchair and two people walking side by side and the center big enough for a wheelchair to rotate.
“Handicap accessible is very important to me. My husband was a polio survivor and I was aware of the impediments he faced for 58 years,” Marian says.
She also got help from resident Lori Taylor’s two sons who are painters. The labyrinth is painted “kale” green, which also seems fitting for the health-conscious community.