photo: Linda Wallace
She walked methodically through the circle, contemplating everything that happened in the past year since her mother’s death. The sun was setting and the light glinted off of the small glass stones and sea shells that were left in remembrance of loved ones who have passed.
She fumbled through her purse for a small trinket to leave behind in memory of her mother and found a small, heart shaped pendant on her keychain. Strategically, she nestled it between two rocks that faced north to the Catalina Mountains that her mother adored.
Terri James, my mother, was first introduced to this peaceful place by a bereavement counselor with Peppi’s House, Tucson Medical Center’s hospice facility located at 2715 N. Wyatt Dr., several months after the death of her mother. On the anniversary of her mother’s death, she felt the need to return to that place.
Tucked away in an unexpected place between parking lots and buildings, lies a peaceful and spiritual labyrinth that allows people coping with difficult situations in their lives, to escape and meditate even if only for a few minutes.
The idea to build the labyrinth came from Rev. Amy Barron-Gafford, who has worked with Peppi’s House for nine years as a chaplain.
Labyrinths have been used for many different purposes and date back to ancient times. According to LabyrinthSociety.org, they have been walked for religious reasons such as at the one at Chartres Cathedral near Paris, France and also for meditation with no religious association at all.
Labyrinths can be found all over the Tucson area and offer a unique spiritual or meditative experience for anyone who chooses to visit.
Local artist and yoga instructor Linda Wallace has several labyrinths on her property and finds that they mellow her high energy personality.
She first created labyrinths without really knowing their history or meanings. That quickly changed as Wallace created seven labyrinths and three mazes on her property in east Tucson.
Some of the designs include the historic Classical 7th circuit labyrinth as well as a custom Yin Yang labyrinth to provide balance to walkers.
Like Wallace, Barron-Gafford, chose to create a labyrinth because it did not reflect any particular religion and could be used for any intentions by the walker.
“It could be used for centering oneself, reducing anxiety, clearing their head, prayer, meditation, and a lot of different purposes,” said Barron-Gafford.
Barron-Gafford ultimately decided on the altered “Man in the Maze” design derived from the Tohono O’odham nation, representing the journey of life and death.
These representations of journeys are an important metaphor behind labyrinths, according to Wallace.
“Basically, if you continue to walk your path through life, you will eventually get to the center,” said Wallace in reference to the parallels between life’s journey and a walk through the labyrinth.
Marcia Grau, volunteer with Imannuel Presbyterian Church located at 9252 E. 22nd St., says that their labyrinth offers different individual experiences for each person who chooses to walk it. The labyrinth at this church was created by a Boy Scouts of America project in 2007 and is composed of crushed stone.
“It is a personal thing and each time you use (the labyrinth), you get a different experience,” said Grau, “It gives you an opportunity to reach inside yourself and find some peace.”
Peppi’s House Hospice Medical Director Mary Steele has witnessed many families celebrate the lives of their loved ones at the labyrinth.
“People need ceremony in their lives and the labyrinth offers ceremony,” she said.
For Terri James, it was a place to feel comfort in knowing she was not the only person coping with death.
“I realized that I wasn’t alone and that there were so many people who were grieving like I was,” said James.
“I had a feeling of calmness looking at all the little stones. It gives people a place to calm their thoughts and put things into
Other Local Labyrinths:
St. Michael and All Angels Church, 602 N. Wilmot Rd., 886-7292
Grace
Unity of Tucson, 3617 N. Camino Blanco, 577-3300
Sunstone Cancer Support Centers, 2545 N. Woodland Rd., 749-1928
Raven Art Studio & Labyrinth walk, 9491 E. Summer Trail, 749-2407
For more information about labyrinths and their locations, visit LabyrinthSociety.org.
