Discovering one's deepest inner core, balancing left and right sides of the brain, meeting divine guidance, traveling the soul's journey—these are some of the ways people describe their experiences of walking a labyrinth. A labyrinth is a pattern, usually circular in shape, whose lines, curves, and angles offer a path from an entry point at the outer perimeter that winds gracefully inwards toward the center, a place of sacred inspiration and connection with the divine, then back out. Unlike a maze, which also has multiple lines and turns but is a puzzle with dead ends, a labyrinth has no wrong turns. One need only enter and follow its course to find the right road, both literally and metaphorically.

"It's an archetype, a symbol of wholeness and unity that brings back healing energy," explains Gillian Corcoran, creator and caretaker of the public labyrinth on a serene patch of field and garden at the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) in Barrytown. "Being in the labyrinth heightens awareness of your whole inner world. It meets you where you are, and allows you to see more clearly, and with kind and gentle eyes. A lot of why I do it is because I'm getting to know my authentic self, to work out issues, and listen to that voice of guidance."

The UTS labyrinth is patterned, as are many present-day versions, after the 11-circuit, 40-foot diameter labyrinth inlaid within the stone floor of Chartres Cathedral in France, built during the Middle Ages. Its center is the shape of six-petal flower, or rosette. Corcoran knows scores of stories of remarkable changes or connections people have noted in their lives after praying or meditating there. "The petals represent the different realms of creation: mineral, plant, animal, human, spiritual/angelic, and the mysterious divine," she says. "You can go into each of the petals and connect with the healing energy of each one." She also has arranged items in the very center honoring diverse religions and spiritual paths, plus stones from her own peace pilgrimages to the Middle East. At the four compass points surrounding the circumference Corcoran has planted flowers honoring Native American traditions.

Corcoran's passion for labyrinths comes in part from discovering Lauren Artress's book, Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice. Artress explains that labyrinthine patterns are found around the world (in depiction, if not in walkable form) and among virtually all religious or cultural traditions. Many patterns exemplified in ancient, medieval, and modern labyrinths are based on sacred geometry (mathematical relationships that occur in nature), though some are not. Artress assigns a key role in the resurgence of interest in labyrinths to psychologist and scholar Jean Houston, while Robert Ferré, a renowned labyrinth builder residing in St. Louis, has literally built awareness of them by constructing some 900 labyrinths over 40 years. Two international organizations, The Labyrinth Society and Veriditas (founded by Artress), support a vibrant membership of labyrinth enthusiasts spreading the experience to help create a global community of peace and tolerance.

The Hudson Valley is home to several public labyrinths, besides the one at UTS, for individual or group walks, workshops, or special events and ceremonies, and some local creators have portable, painted canvas labyrinths to bring to schools, churches, social gatherings, conferences, peace vigils, and other events.

The labyrinth at Roots & Wings in New Paltz was created by community effort and as a birthday present for Puja Thomson, a counselor and healing facilitator and a minister of the Healing Light Center Church. "The labyrinth here is an earth-energy labyrinth, with the passage marked by brick brought by friends from old buildings and farms nearby," says Thomson. "It's a beautiful, powerfully energizing area, above a large underground water-dome. It is based on the ancient Cretan form and helps to reestablish a long-lost rapport with nature, earth's energy, and the feminine. It has a wonderful view over pastureland to the Shawangunk cliffs." Roots & Wings labyrinth is open to the public in daylight hours. A summer solstice evening walk, to be held there on June 20, will be cohosted by the Oncology Support Program of Benedictine Hospital.

The labyrinth at Unification Theological Seminary in Barrytown.

Thomson explains that there are diverse ways to experience a labyrinth. "Energetically it's a sacred pattern that can take you beyond ego and balance the hemispheres of the brain. But if you want to focus your walk consciously, you can walk with an intention. You can use it as a personal pilgrimage—walking toward the center of your being, releasing the past on the way in, or releasing any judgments or fears. In the center, you invite a deepening of your connection to the Divine, or blessings, or insight—whatever it is you are personally asking for. On the way out, you are walking in awareness of whatever you have been awakened to. You leave with renewed consciousness and clarity."

One can also walk for others or for a larger intention. "In the center you pray for those who have been hurt or traumatized to be comforted," says Thomson. "Or pray for peace and justice, not retaliation, and for expanded love. As you walk out you can pray for wise decision-making and that your own action be for the highest good for everyone and peace." Thomson has even conducted wedding ceremonies using the labyrinth, with the commitment vows spoken at its center.

At High Valley in Clinton Corners, a labyrinth was created by a group of people associated with the Earth-based spiritual gatherings that take place at the retreat center. "We met several times to share ideas and teach each other about labyrinths," says cocreator David Budd. "We even went on a field trip to Connecticut to visit and walk a labyrinth. The word was spread among the wider community to come, gather stones, and together create what is now a garden sanctuary." A labyrinth journal is available for anyone who wishes to make an entry.

The labyrinth at Boughton Place in Highland is a "living labyrinth," says cocreator Clare Danielsson. "It is a sacred ecological site where the history of the earth can be experienced through its designs, its flora, and its earth-artworks. It is not just a path but also a garden and a timeline of the Earth's history, inspired by the work of Thomas Berry." Bob Moritz of Highland did the calculations for the design of its 840-foot path to represent the history of our planet, going back 4.5 billion years. "You can do a classic, three-circuit walk," says Danielsson, "or you can learn the history from what is placed along the walk. The plants and trees that emerged during each time period are arranged in the garden according to their place in the biological evolutionary history." Noting that Boughton Place's labyrinth is a work-in-progress, Danielsson invites people with "work, wisdom, and wealth" to form a Living Labyrinth Club, and to visit on June 3 for celebration, time-line walk, corn-planting ceremony, and an honoring of food and the region before European settlement.

Metaphorically, labyrinths are an encouraging reminder of trust in life's journey. Thomson summarizes: "There may be times when you think you are almost at the center when you are not, or when you feel the path is taking you further away, when it is not! You will reach the center."