THE LABYRINTH
at ST. JOHN'S
“Solvitur ambulando.”
It is solved by walking.
— Attributed to St. Augustine
What Is a Labyrinth?
Labyrinths, in many forms and materials, have existed across cultures for thousands of years. A labyrinth offers a single path that meanders from the outer edge to the center and back again.
Unlike a maze, which is a puzzle intended to confuse, a labyrinth is designed to help you find your way.
The path becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. The rhythm of walking — placing one foot in front of the other — quiets the mind, relaxes the body, and opens the heart.
There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth.
The St. John’s Labyrinth
The large concrete paver, hand-carved St. John’s labyrinth exists thanks to contributions from family and friends in honor of pilgrimage enthusiast and longtime St. John’s member Win Robinson (1947–2015).
It was completed in November 2023 by labyrinth designer and builder Nathan Wiles.
The St. John’s labyrinth is a smaller version of the labyrinth built in the early 1200s in the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Chartres in France. As such, it follows an archetypal pattern.
No one knows the original Chartres designer or builder, yet for more than 800 years, this sacred pattern has invited people into a space where the visible meets the invisible.
Throughout their long history, labyrinths have often flourished whenever and wherever society is going through rapid change.
Tips for Your Walk
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We invite you to breathe and settle before you begin.
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Walk at a pace that is comfortable for you.
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If others are walking, you may pass them or step aside as you would on a sidewalk.
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Please refrain from photography in this sacred space.
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Know that it often takes several walks to become at ease with any particular labyrinth.
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Set no expectations. Every walk is different.
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The more often you walk, the more likely you may experience some kind of transformation.
Three Stages of Your Walk
Releasing
As you walk from the outside toward the center:
Let go of distractions, worries, or tension.
Focus on your breath or your steps.
Allow your mind to quiet.
Receiving
When you reach the center:
Pause as long as you like.
Pray, reflect, or simply be still.
Open your heart and mind to insight, clarity, peace — or simply notice what arises.
Returning
As you return to the beginning of the path:
Carry your experience with you.
Reawaken gently to your surroundings.
You may wish to close your walk by taking a deep breath, noticing how you feel — physically, mentally, and emotionally — and spending a few moments journaling or sitting quietly afterward.
Closing Reflection
The labyrinth is not a path to a destination.
It is a tool that offers space for the mind to meet the soul.
Learn More
For more information about labyrinths, visit:
Veriditas
www.veriditas.org
Discover Labyrinths
www.discoverlabyrinths.com
The Labyrinth Society
www.labyrinthsociety.org