On Saturday at 1 p.m., residents of Greenfield will come together to navigate the labyrinth on the side lawn of the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew, in recognition of World Labyrinth Day. The “Walk as One” event is being organized by the Friends of the Community Labyrinth, an international group that supports those who use and create labyrinths.
The popularity of labyrinths has been on the rise in recent years, thanks in part to efforts by organizations like The Labyrinth Society. According to The Labyrinth Society, labyrinths have been found throughout history, with the oldest dating back more than 4,000 years. There are currently over 6,000 labyrinths worldwide, listed on the website labyrinthlocator.com.
Elise Schlaikjer, a co-founder of the Friends of the Community Labyrinth who helped build the labyrinth at Saints James and Andrew in 2019, believes that their work contributes to a “rolling wave of peace” that can help address social division. She says that walking through a labyrinth can be a meditative and spiritual experience for many people.
“Do you ever get that feeling that something just feels right? That’s how I felt when I walked my first labyrinth,” said Schlaikjer. “It felt like coming home for me.” To her, a labyrinth is a symbol not to be afraid but rather one to embrace and explore with an open mind and heart.
