By Mary Lou Santovec
Labyrinths have long been used by mystics and the clergy as a tool for meditation and prayer. Today, more and more people of all denominations are drawn to these contemplative coils.
Labyrinths as a spiritual device are nothing new. Between 3,500 to 5,000 years ago, it was thought that evil spirits could only travel in straight lines. A labyrinth, with its winding circuits, provided protection in a safe, sacred space.
Although the words “labyrinth” and “maze” are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. With its intentional twists and turns, false starts and multiple choices, a maze is a puzzle to be solved. Getting lost in a maze is part of the fun, finding your way out means you’ve solved the puzzle.
With a labyrinth, there’s generally only one path to the center. There are no dead ends, unexpected turns or blind alleys. Physically, you leave the same way you entered. Spiritually and emotionally, change can be significant. For many, walking the labyrinth’s rings or circuits quiets the mind; others seek a healing power or a connection to the divine.
There’s no right way to walk a labyrinth, but most people follow the three R’s: release, receive and review. Upon entering the labyrinth, walkers are encouraged to let go of – or release – their worries and problems. At the center, they wait to receive inspiration. Finally, walkers follow the return path to the starting point, reviewing what they received in the center.
Most labyrinths are of simple construction. For indoor use, most labyrinths are painted on a large canvas and many outdoor labyrinths are cut into a patch of grass with a lawn mower.
The earliest known labyrinth design is the Classical or Cretan style, known for its seven circuits of paths framed with eight barrier rings. The most well known labyrinth is found on the stone floor of Chartres Cathedral in France. Created in the early 13th century, this 11-circuit labyrinth is divided into four quadrants and features a six-petal rosette at its center. Many of today’s labyrinths replicate the Chartres pattern, which is also known as Medieval style.
Labyrinths can be found all across Wisconsin; here are 16 of our favorites.
Calvary Presbyterian Church
935 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee; 414.271.8782; bigredchurch.com
Type: Chartres replica, 11 circuit
Construction: Gray paint, white carpeted center
Why it makes the list: A rare permanent indoor labyrinth.
Interesting trivia: The labyrinth was created when a pastor made it his mission to revitalize the dying church in the mid ’90s. Parishoners ripped up the room’s old orange carpeting and laid the wood floors onto which the labyrinth would be painted.
Find it: Located in the main sanctuary.
East Immanuel Lutheran Church
207 10th St., Amery; 715.268.2143; eastimmanuel-lutheran.org
Type: Chartres replica, 11 circuit
Construction: Gravel paths, boulder walls
Why it makes the list: Red brick pavers lead into the labyrinth that’s situated in the center of a square. The square is being planted with plants and statuary.
Interesting trivia: The labyrinth is used as a tool for yoga and Feng Shui classes, and as the site for the church’s tea party, women’s retreats and other groups.
Find it: Located behind the church in the northwest corner.
Faith Lutheran Church
120 Faith Drive, Columbus; 920.623.3610; faithcolumbuswi.org
Type: Chartres replica, 11 circuit
Construction: Granite gravel, white brick walls
Why it makes the list: The labyrinth features 10 planters filled with perennials. A resting bench and arbor are found in the center.
Interesting trivia: A few days after Rev. Susan Quigley arrived as the church’s new associate pastor, she walked the grounds, stopped and announced that a labyrinth needed to be built on a particular spot. Quigley was later killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Find it: Located on the north side of the church.
First Presbyterian Church
200 S. Lincoln, Marshfield; 715.389.2484; fpcmarshfield.org
Type: Chartres replica, 11 circuit
Construction: Stone pavers
Why it makes the list: Located in the middle of a field, the labyrinth is accessible via a small bridge built over a dry stream bed.
Interesting trivia: Built in honor of a church member who earlier made the pages of Newsweek speaking out against the weapons of mass destruction being installed in the Seattle area where she once lived.
Find it: Located on the west side of the church.
Franciscan Skemp Hospital
La Crosse Campus, 700 West Ave. South, La Crosse; 608.785.0940
Type: Chartres replica, 11 circuit
Construction: Red and blue brick pavers
Why it makes the list: The sunken labyrinth is surrounded by high walls covered with foliage and plants.
Interesting trivia: The labyrinth is used as a tool in the integrated therapies care of the hospital’s cancer center.
Find it: Located on the east side of the hospital, lower level.
Holy Family Memorial Hospital
2300 Western Ave., Manitowoc; 920.320.8680; hfmhealth.org
Type: Classical, 7 circuit
Construction: Brick pavers
Why it makes the list: The site’s aesthetics include teak benches around the labyrinth, which itself encircles a bed of flowers. A red cedar pergola frames the entire section.
Interesting trivia: The labyrinth represents the second section of the hospital’s three-part Heritage Garden project, which includes the St. Francis Passage and the Jerry and Jeanne Censky Haven of Hope garden.
Find it: Accessible from the inside of the medical center or via a walkway from the sidewalk along Western Avenue.
Jayne Bachman Linger Longer Labyrinth
Hudson Hospital & Clinics, 405 Stageline Road, Hudson; 715.531.6000; hudsonhospital.org
Type: Circle of Peace design, 7 circuit
Construction: Decomposed granite gravel paths, fieldstone boulders
Why it makes the list: Diminutive flower beds are installed at various stops along the path. Many of the flowers came from the garden of the late Jayne Bachman, after whom the labyrinth is named.
Interesting trivia: The labyrinth is one component of the hospital’s Healing Arts program, which includes public art and environment-friendly architecture and design.
Find it: Located on the hospital’s east side.
Labyrinth Garden Earth Sculpture
800 N. Main St., West Bend; 262.338.6903; westbendlabyrinth.com
Type: Cretan, 7 circuit
Construction: Turf paths, flower bed walls with spring bulbs, annuals, ornamental grasses, perennials and herbs; exterior framed with balls of boxwood
Why it makes the list: The only labyrinth in the state where the barrier walls are made solely of flower beds.
Interesting trivia: The labyrinth was the brainchild of local resident Barbara Robertson, whose daughter-in-law was involved in creating a similar one in Montana.
Find it: Located behind David Genszler’s 1993 “Tableau in Steel” sculpture in Regner Park on Main Street.
LeRoyer Memorial Walkway
Langlade Hospital, 112 E. Fifth Ave., Antigo; 715.623.2331
Type: Chartres replica, 11 circuit
Construction: Gravel paths and river rock walls
Why it makes the list: A 4,300-foot red brick walkway edged with flower beds culminates in the labyrinth.
Interesting trivia: Developed by Sister Dolores Demulling, the walkway honors former hospice patients. Annual Memorial Day services are also held here.
Find it: Located on the north side of the Langlade Memorial Hospital campus, between the shores of Antigo Lake and the hospital parking lot.
Madison Christian Community
7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison; 608.836.1455; madisonchristiancommunity.org
Type: Chartres replica, 11 circuit
Construction: Turf paths and grass walls for the outdoor labyrinth; painted canvas for the indoor labyrinth
Why it makes the list: Features both indoor and outdoor labyrinths, both used for special walks for the spring and fall equinox, summer and winter solstice and New Year’s Day.
Interesting trivia: The Community, an ecumenical partnership between Advent Lutheran Church and the United Church of Christ parish of Community of Hope, offers an annual labyrinth worship service.
Find it: In back of the church.
Phoenix Park
Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire; 715.839.4738
Type: Contemporary design based on a spiral, 7 circuit
Construction: Concrete pavers in two colors
Why it makes the list: A representative of contemporary labyrinth design.
Interesting trivia: The large boulders found scattered near the labyrinth were gathered and arranged in a Yahtzee dice configuration.
Find it: Located at Riverfront Terrace, Madison and Barstow streets in downtown Eau Claire.
St. Clare Healing Garden and Labyrinth
707 14th St., Baraboo; 608.356.1449; stclare.com/foundation
Type: Classical, 7 circuit
Construction: Sage green concrete etched with the Tree of Life design
Why it makes the list: This labyrinth is fully integrated into the hospital’s healing garden.
Interesting trivia: Some of the plants surrounding the labyrinth came from the Aldo Leopold Foundation, and the National Wildlife Federation has accredited the space as a backyard habitat.
Find it: Located on the east lawn of the hospital, immediately to the right of the main entrance on 14th Street.
St. John Neumann Church
2400 W. State Highway 59, Waukesha; 262.549.0223; sjnwauk.org
Type: Chartres replica, 11 circuit
Construction: Turf paths and walls
Why it makes the list: Butterfly-attracting plants are interspersed at strategic points along the labyrinth’s walls.
Interesting trivia: The original labyrinth was a college freshman’s way of earning community service hours. The butterfly-attracting plants were added later as an Eagle Scout project honoring a retired nun. Church staff members have seen deer and Sandhill cranes searching the labyrinth for food.
Find it: Located on the northeast side of the church.
Servite Center for Life
1000 College Ave. W., Ladysmith; 715.532.9611; servitecenter.org
Type: Chartres replica, 11 circuit
Construction: Turf paths, grass walls
Why it makes the list: The labyrinth is one of the tools used for healing at this retreat center.
Interesting trivia: Near the labyrinth are both a healing garden filled with medicinal herbs and a Peace Pole.
Find it: Located on the south side of College Avenue east of the former Mount Senario College.
Siena Center
5635 Erie St., Racine; 262.639.4100; racinedominicans.org/pages/lab.cfm
Type: Cretan style outdoor labyrinth, 7 circuit; Chartres style indoor labyrinth, 11 circuit
Construction: Turf paths; grass walls for the outdoor labyrinth; printed canvas for the indoor labyrinth
Why it makes the list: The outdoor labyrinth overlooks Lake Michigan.
Interesting trivia: The Siena Center, named for St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century Dominican nun, is part of the headquarters of the Racine Dominican nuns.
Find it: Next to the retreat center. Call ahead for availability of either labyrinth.
Sinsinawa Mound Center
585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa; 608.748.4411; sinsinawa.org/moundcenter/Labyrinth.html
Type: Chartres replica (both indoor and outdoor), 11 circuit
Construction: Gravel paths, limestone brick walls (outdoor); painted canvas (indoor)
Why it makes the list: The outdoor labyrinth is in a secluded setting surrounded by trees.
Interesting trivia: The Fox and Sauk Indians considered Sinsinawa Mound a sacred dwelling place.
Find it: Located off of County Road Z and Green Road, near the sisters’ cemetery and a tree farm. Call ahead for availability of either labyrinth.
Mary Lou Santovec is a freelance writer and author living in Jefferson. Her most recent book is Wisconsin Gardens and Landscapes.
