The Peace Labyrinth, designed by Beatrice Barnett, was chosen for the garden along the sulphur brook, outside The Springs of Clifton, Integrative Medicine Center at Clifton Springs Hospital, www.cliftonspringshospital.org, in this peaceful upstate New York Village. This seven circuit labyrinth holds all of the special significance of the number “7″: seven colors in the rainbow, 7 musical tones, 7 directions, and the 7 energy centers of the body called the chakras in Sanskrit healing philosophy.
Labyrinths have been found to be part of human cultures for nearly 6000 years! Robert Ferre, Master Labyrinth Maker, member of The Labyrinth Society, www.labyrinthsociety.org, explains: “The labyrinth is a pattern with a purpose, an ancient tool that speaks to a long forgotten part of us. Lying dormant for centuries, labyrinths are undergoing a revival of use and interest. They offer a chance to take “time out” from our busy lives, to leave schedules and stress behind. Walking a labyrinth is a gift we give to ourselves that leads us past our intellect to a deeper place within. Among the results some people have reported from walking labyrinths are insight and creative ideas, relaxation and stress release, happiness (and sometimes tears), connectedness, balance and well-being.”
John W. Rhodes, PhD., Chair, Research Committee, The Labyrinth Society, reports, “Research studies conducted in a variety of settings has consistently shown that walking a labyrinth reduces stress. In fact, over the past few years, this has been the most commonly researched topic related to the so-called ‘labyrinth effect’.
Used for something as simple as stress relief or as profound as contemplative prayer, at the heart of the labyrinth people reconnect to what they need most.
The labyrinth, walking in circles….alternative healing or ancient spiritual practice? The Peace Labyrinth pattern was chosen to offer this peaceful walk for patients, for families of the ill, for community members and our tourism guests, primarily because it, unlike traditional labyrinths, allows for an exit directly from the center. This design seemed to be less over-whelming a path for people who might be ill. Of course, returning on the entry path is the usual way a labyrinth is walked and provides more contemplative time after finding the “center” of the labyrinth and ourselves.
In addition, the planner respectfully chose a different symbol for the center of the Peace Labyrinth, at the request of a deeply respected member of the community, who asked that the Chinese symbol for “courage” rather than the symbol for “peace” be at the center, because it takes so much courage to come to the hospital…..and, indeed, Beatrice Barnett saw “courage” as the symbol for the outermost circuit of her labyrinth.
Come to this peaceful village and walk the Peace Labyrinth to find your inner peace.
Tags: Alternative healing, inner peace, Integrative Medicine, Peace labyrinth, Stress, stress reduction, The Labyrinth Society
