The Attraction of the Labyrinth

Often an enthusiastic donor approaches an institution with the promise of giving them a labyrinth. In many cases, the institution agrees without fully understanding what they are receiving. Once they have the labyrinth, however, they soon realize its value. Here are brief accounts of some of our installations that fell into that category.

Kanuga Conference and Retreat Center in Hendersonville, NC
The recipient of our first all-concrete labyrinth technology, the administration acquiesced in getting the labyrinth, providing a lovely site and building a heroic concrete pad. However, only after it was built did they appreciate its full impact. I have heard that so many people were visiting from town that they had to restrict non-retreatants to coming only on Sundays. See Kanuga.

Silver Bay Association, Lake George, NY
Even though this center already had a canvas labyrinth and a labyrinth facilitator, they were still surprised at the response to the permanent labyrinth. Groups come specifically because there is a labyrinth. Many programs are now structured around the use and availability of the labyrinth. See Silver Bay

First Presbyterian Church, Livermore, CA
We built this installation in a courtyard, shared by the church and a preschool. The kids enjoyed watching the building process. Recently I received an email from a church member saying how wonderfully the community has responded to the availability of a labyrinth. Some of the mothers have to arrive 15 to 20 minutes earlier when bringing their children to school, because the youngsters want to walk the labyrinth first. Later, after having dropped off their children, many of the mothers and fathers then walk the labyrinth themselves. See Livermore.

I'm sure there must be some neglected labyrinths out there, somewhere, but in my experience, the labyrinths that we build far exceed the predictions and expectations of the clients, both in the quality of the construction and in the popularity of the labyrinth once it is completed.

Most importantly, I find that making the commitment to build a labyrinth helps to attract its own financing. Some people take years "saving up" to get enough money to someday have a labyrinth. I suggest making the commitment first. Make plans, get the design, have pictures, mark the site. Let it be known that you ARE going to get a labyrinth. The funds follow. For example, labyrinths make excellent memorials and gifts. In many cases labyrinths we have built were financed by a single person who became inspired, stepped forward, and wrote out the check.