The labyrinth is a walking meditation and a path of prayer. It has only one path that leads from the outer edge in a circuitous way to the center. There are no tricks to it and no dead ends. Unlike a maze where you lose your way, the labyrinth is a spiritual tool that can help you find your way. The center of the labyrinth is a simple, open rose, an ancient symbol for Mary which invites people from all backgrounds to create their own meaning.
In 1997, RCWMS created a canvas labyrinth modeled on the thirteenth-century stone labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral. We have been offering labyrinth programming and rentals ever since. Over the years RCWMS has led dozens of labyrinth walks, workshops, and programs, including installation at Binkley Baptist during Holy Week each year.
Renting the Labyrinth
RCWMS has four portable labyrinths that can be rented for indoor workshops and retreats. Two of them are 40’x40’ canvas. The third canvas labyrinth is smaller, 24’x24’, yet retains all the elements of the 11-circuit Chartres canvas labyrinth. The fourth is a smaller rainbow 15’x15’ labyrinth, made from heavy ripstop nylon. Contact info@rcwms.org for more information.
Workshops & Retreats
A 3-hour workshop allows time for a group of 20–30 to learn about the history of the labyrinth, walk the path, meditate, and reflect on the experience. A longer workshop can include several times for walking, guided meditation, simple art projects, and journaling. Charges for labyrinth workshops depend on the number of participants and the budget of the sponsoring organization.Please contact us at info@rcwms.org to discuss fees, travel expenses, and the availability of our staff to lead programs with the labyrinth.
Hosting the Labyrinth
Walking the labyrinth is different for each person, but there are some general guidelines. Walking towards the center can be a time of letting go, quieting the mind, and releasing the details and worries of your life. As people reach the center, they often sit or stand for a while—resting, meditating, or praying. Walking out from the center can be a time for integration, for absorbing the experience.
If you are hosting a labyrinth walk or a labyrinth workshop with one of our 40’x40’ labyrinths, here are some details which will aid you in your planning:
- Room size. The labyrinth needs a room that has 40’x40’ of unobstructed floor space.
- Floor. A wooden or carpeted floor is best for walking the labyrinth. A concrete floor can be used. The floor needs to be very clean. Please sweep or vacuum the floor right before we lay out the labyrinth.
- Journals. Ask people to bring a pen and something to write on, a journal or some paper. Please provide extra paper and pens for people who forget them.
- Socks. We ask people to walk the labyrinth with socks and without shoes. Heavy socks make the walking more comfortable. Please ask people to bring socks. Please provide extra socks for people who forget theirs.
- Scarves. People often enjoy walking with a scarf in their hands or over their heads. You may want to provide scarves or ask people to bring scarves with them.
- Candles. Candles help create a calm atmosphere. They can be placed on a table or around the edges of the room.
In April 2019 the Raleigh News & Observer filmed a wonderful feature on Jeanette Stokes and the RCWMS labyrinth while it was set up in Duke Chapel. Click on the image to view the video.
More Resources
Lauren Artress, who created the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral and has been teaching people how to use it for years now, has written a book that has become a classic, Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Sacred Tool. You can find it and many other books and resources in your local bookstore or online.
Labyrinths can be found in many locations, such as churches, hospitals, conference centers, public gardens, and backyards all over this country and elsewhere. To find out more about labyrinths or to discover where they are located, check this website: www.labyrinthlocator.com.
For more on the history of labyrinths, locations of labyrinths, organizations, and products, visit Veriditas (the worldwide labyrinth project) at www.veriditas.org or The Labyrinth Society at www.labyrinthsociety.org.