Labyrinth

Current Walk

2007-08 Schedule

Our Labyrinth

The Labyrinth, an ancient symbol, is being walked today by those seeking solace, comfort, meditative peace, and connection to the Divine. Here at Anchorage, our Labyrinth is the child of Ruth Greenwood, its mother, (in the photo to the left) and Donald Naff, its father (in the photo below). Don likes to say that labor (of “birthing” or creating the Labyrinth) lasted 56 hours and this was the first time in human history that labor was just as intense for the father as the mother. Don and Ruth, from different directions, both became interested in Labyrinths, and decided the AUUF should have one. They planned a workshop for the Saturday before Easter, 2000. In preparation, they laid out the design on eight 30’ x 4’ rolls of canvas using electrical tape. They chose the Classical, or Cretan style, both because of it’s ancient

origins, and because it was simpler to do. They were up very late on the Friday before, and, when the first attempt caused the path to run off the canvas onto the carpet, they decided to come in early the next morning to finish it. They redid the layout from start to finish, and got it right this time.

In spite of advertising in both Anchorage papers and by posters around town, no one came to the workshop. So Ruth and Don finished the layout and painted the path.

Not wanting to create the usual solid-line path, they had chosen three colors; a green, a gold, and a brown, to make the path look more natural. Using natural sponges of different shapes and sizes, they painted the lines which create the path. During the painting, six other people came to help, including two children. If you look closely while walking, you can see the different painting styles of each individual. Velcro was glued on to hold the panels together, and glue was also used to hem the ends of each panel.

Since it’s creation, the Labyrinth has been open for

monthly walks at theFellowship, except for the summer months. As shown in the pictures, the sanctuary chairs are all removed, tables are set up, and candles lit around the room. Quiet music and recorded nature sounds play in the background. The walks are advertised in both papers, by poster, and by word of mouth. Each month, the number of walkers differs, but there have been as few as four and as many as thirty-three. Most of those who walk are from outside of the Fellowship. Even when

there are few, those few have been touched in a profound way, so numbers can’t be used as the sole measure of success.

In addition to the walks at the AUUF, walks have been held for the Alaska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers at their conference at the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage and for the Unitarian Universalists of Seward in their meetingplace at the Masonic Hall in

Seward. The best-attended walk to date, 87 people, was held at Providence Hospital on December 20, 2000. Advertised for the staff and employees of the hospital, some staff brought patients as well. Since then two other walks at Providence, have been held, and one for the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association. All told, a total of nearly 600 people have walked our Labyrinth.

It is especially fitting for UUs to be involved in the modern resurgence of Labyrinth-walking. Regardless of faith tradition or theological view, the Labyrinth can touch anyone who opens themselves enough to come walk its simple path, one step at a time. If you would like more information about the Labyrinth, to get on a list to be notified about future Labyrinth Walks, or to bring the Labyrinth to your location for a special event, contact Don Naff at 562-9496.

This page was last revised on Monday, October 27, 2008 at 11:01 PM by the Web Guy.
Copyright 2004 - Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.