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SARAH HIRSH -- The Flat Hat
Sophomore Amy Elliott makes her way through the canvas labyrinth in Tidewater A of the University Center Tuesday.
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Tidewater A-Maze-Ing
Yorktown church sponsors labyrinth model visit at College
By Omar Yunus
Flat Hat Staff Writer
The University Center's Tidewater A facility was converted into a circular labyrinth Tuesday and Wednesday.
Modeled on a 13th century design carved into the stone floor of France's Chartres Cathedral, the traveling version featured in the University Center is made of canvas and was put together by members of the Grace Episcopal Church of Yorktown, Va. The canvas labyrinth is smaller, spanning 31 meters in diameter, as compared to the 42-meter version in Chartres.
Both, however, share the intent to aid a spiritual journey.
"Some people think we're humans on a spiritual path or spiritual beings on a human path; take your pick," Janet Stephens of Grace Church said. "The labyrinth is a metaphor for life's path."
While the Chartres labyrinth was created by Catholics, Stephens, who is Episcopalian, said that a labyrinth is "just a tool" for spirituality. She also noted that labyrinths are found across many cultures.
"I would call it an archetype," she said.
A kit provided by Dr. Lauren Artress of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Calif., helped bring the labyrinth to Yorktown. Working for several months, Stephens and other members of her church assembled the labyrinth.
Grace Church's labyrinth has traveled around Virginia and made it as far out to Cleveland on one occasion. This is its second trip to the College. The church also holds special hours for its use. As Stephens pointed out, the labyrinth has been made available to many different types of people.
"We've taken it to a regional jail and [the prisoners] seemed appreciative," she said.
Stephens also noted the variety of approaches to the labyrinth, saying that some walk, some dance and some even crawl through the twisting paths.
"There are no rules, but we do ask for quiet," she said. "There's no right or wrong way to do this."
Dr. David Hindman, director of the Wesley Foundation and the United Methodist campus minister at the College, noted an added significance of the labyrinth in troubled times.
"Especially with the war, I can't imagine a better resource for introspection," he said.
Several students also commented on their experiences.
"Although I didn't have a life-changing experience while I walked the labyrinth, I did leave a different person than when I entered," senior Gabriella Mirabilio said. "I found more clarity at a time when life is pulling me in different directions."
Stephens estimated the total number of students at 30 per day, in addition to faculty and Williamsburg community members.
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