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The Labyrinth

The Labyrinth at Kanuga

The labyrinth is a walking meditation, a tool that enables us, in the midst of the business of life, to be still, to focus our thoughts and feelings. Labyrinths can be found in cathedrals all over Europe and have been used by Christians for hundreds of years as a means of meditation and experience of the Divine Presence. The Kanuga Labyrinth is an exact replica of the one set in the floor of Chartres Cathedral.

To enter a labyrinth is like entering a cathedral. You sense the presence of The Holy.

It should be noted that there is a difference between a maze and a labyrinth. A maze has many entrances and many exits. It is a puzzle to be solved. The labyrinth has only one path that takes you to the center and back. It is a spiritual path.

There are now over 1,000 labyrinths across the United States, mainly in churches, but also prisons, hospitals, parks and retreat centers.

History of the Labyrinth

The Labyrinth is situated in a quiet corner of Kanuga's property.

The Kanuga Labyrinth is modeled after the stone Labyrinth imbedded in the floor of Chartres Cathedral, France, in 1220 AD. Christian pilgrims would walk 20 or 30 miles from their home ending up on the three-part prayer path in the cathedral. As they walked the long winding way in, they would shed everything on their mind: all of their worries, fears and concerns. In the rose shaped (Holy Spirit) center they would be still and wait for illumination or healing or a sense of God's presence. As they walked the winding way out, they felt at one with God, self, others, nature. This is the three parts of spirituality throughout the ages, known theologically as purgation, illumination and union.

Labyrinths go back almost 5,000 years, long before Christianity. As with many pre-Christian symbols, the labyrinth was converted for Christian use. As a result, church labyrinths have developed a specifically Christian tradition that dates from the early Middle Ages. The process began in the fourth century, eleven years after Constantine made Christianity legal. At that time a Roman Mosaic Labyrinth was placed in a church in North Africa and Christianized by adding the words "sancta ecclesia" (holy church) in the center. The Chartres Labyrinth represents the culmination of the Christian design incorporating the cruciform image, rosette center and small circles around the perimeter for a lunar calendar to calculate the date of Easter.

Why do people walk Labyrinths?

to relax and feel at peace
to let go of their worries and concerns
to cope with grief and loss
for insight on special problems
for healing of relationships
to open the flow of creativity for vocational discernment
for forgiveness
to express thanksgiving to God for the birth of a new child, recovery from illness, a new beginning, friends or the beauty of the earth
before an operation, marriage, ordination, dealing with a difficult situation or at the time of the death of a close friend
As a means for regular daily prayer:
1. letting go of worries as you walk in
2. experiencing God's presence in the center
3. giving thanks for people, events and all the blessings of life as you walk out.

Location

The Kanuga Labyrinth is integrated into the natural setting between the St. Paul's-Colhoun Gymnasium and the lake.

Hours

The Kanuga Labyrinth is available 24 hours a day. Please observe the rule of silence when in the vicinity of the labyrinth.

In Memory Of John Joseph Miller

Joe was a member of the Kanuga Board of Visitors, a Junior Warden of St. John's Church in Charlotte, and a lover of God's natural world.

Labyrinth Consultant & Master Builder

The Rev. Bob Haden, director of The Haden Institute, Charlotte, N.C., was the consultant for the Kanuga Labyrinth researching possible styles, materials, builders and sites on the Kanuga property. Having traveled throughout the United States giving labyrinth workshops, he was familiar with the manifold possibilities.

Kanuga was fortunate to have acquired the services of one of the world's best master labyrinth builders, Robert Ferre, to design and build the Kanuga labyrinth. His company, Labyrinth Enterprises, has built over 300 labyrinths and specializes in the Chartres Cathedral Church Labyrinth design.

Take a look at Kanuga's outstanding recreation facilities!