
After several years of letting the idea of building a labyrinth in our back yard grow in our minds and hearts, it happened this summer: our community peace labyrinth became a reality.
The Journey began with walking the great labyrinth at the Bethany Retreat Center many years ago and eventually attending a labyrinth-walking weekend there. Walking the labyrinth, a form of body prayer, resonated deeply with me in both its simplicity and profoundness: everyone could do this, regardless of religious background, and find the spiritual in walking a spiraling path to the center and out again into the world*. The seed was planted to perhaps build a labyrinth in our back yard one day.
Now and then a gentle nudging would come: wouldn't it be wonderful if we could build a labyrinth? Where in the back yard would we build it? My husband Don and I had an idea for a possible location, but was it right? One evening several years ago we walked in the garden with a spiritually very sensitive friend, and asked her where would be a good spot to build one. After walking down the hill to a flat area largely surrounded by trees she remarked, "Do you notice it being a little warmer here? This would be a good spot." The question of where to build a labyrinth was answered; our friend's answer had affirmed what Don and I had thought. Now the questions of
what kind of labyrinth, which building materials, and especially who could help us build it, could be addressed.
It wasn't until after completing my studies at Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development three years later (where, among many things having to do with Spiritual Direction, I had also learned more about labyrinths), and beginning my ministry of offering Spiritual Direction, that the nudging came that it was time to continue the project. Don and I had talked about a simple labyrinth which would be easy to maintain. One day we came upon a picture of a labyrinth with the lines made out of bricks, which were dug into the ground flush with the grass, while the paths were made out of grass, so the labyrinth could simply be mowed for easy maintenance. We didn't know labyrinths could be built this way, and it exactly met our needs! We also loved the kind of labyrinth that was in the picture - a classical, 7-circuit Cretan labyrinth, a very ancient design.
Who could help us build the labyrinth? We wanted this to be a community building project where everyone who wanted to could participate in building the labyrinth in their own way - some by praying, others by digging lines and/or placing bricks. But we knew we also needed an expert to supervise and guide the project.
Tom**, a very kind and gentle fellow parent we met when the children were in elementary school, is a contractor. He had recently lost his wife Jane**, and was searching for ways to help him in healing his loss. We described the project to him and asked if he could be our expert supervisor, and he said yes.

Announcements about "Labyrinth Building Evenings" were made, and the project was under way! Don had designed a labyrinth layout with exact measurements on the computer, Tom had spray painted the design on the grass, and then people came to help us - people of very different ages, backgrounds, and all over the political and religious spectrum, all working together harmoniously on building the labyrinth. We never knew who would appear on a given evening; people would just come, build, drink some lemonade, and enjoy each other's company. It was such a blessing and a wonderful practice of healing for many of us, a practice of peacemaking. Friend Justine** offered advice on how to build a labyrinth (she had built labyrinths before, as we found out later), and mentioned there had to be water close to the surface in the center of the labyrinth (something we were unaware of when laying out the labyrinth- it just "felt right" where it was, to us). After dowsing, she discovered there indeed was water close to the surface - yet another confirmation that it was the right spot.
As we were starting to build the labyrinth, friend Mary**, a gifted spiritual director and healer, informed me that her church in the Carlisle, PA area had been looking into building a labyrinth there. She asked if they could please use the information /knowledge we had gathered so far in how to build. A sister labyrinth is now in the process of being built there.
One evening it started raining, which felt very refreshing after the heat of the previous days, and then it started pouring! All builders that evening were soaked to the skin, and rediscovered the joy of playing in the rain, like little children enjoy doing.

The labyrinth holds all, a paradox of both joy and sorrow. One evening while working on a flower bed near the partly-dug-out labyrinth (the trenches were about 8 inches deep to accommodate a layer of gravel with a brick on top), I accidentally stepped into a trench and dislocated my elbow while trying to catch myself. Literally falling into the labyrinth (as our oldest son pointed out), I realized there were lessons to be learned. It helped me to become much more aware of the suffering around me, in all the fellow builders, and also in the world.
As the hot summer days continued into the dog days of August, building in the evening was becoming more and more difficult for Tom (who helped us with the labyrinth after working his outside day job where he was exposed to the relentless heat), and for the volunteers alike. Don and I had just started to privately wonder if the labyrinth would be completed before the ground would freeze, when our gardener brought over his friend Henry** to look at our garden to possibly trim some of our tall bushes.
Henry was very excited about the labyrinth as a way of prayer, and then mentioned quietly that he was a contractor and would be happy to help Tom by coming over with a small crew and finish the work for us in the course of a few days. After thinking about it, talking it over with Tom, noticing that people weren't able to
help as much anymore because of the heat, and hearing from friend Mary** that
my injured arm really needed rest, I decided to give Henry a call. He and his crew Mark** and John** finished the labyrinth for us - a new experience for all of them. They did a beautiful job, and we're extremely grateful to Tom, Henry, Mark, John, and all the volunteer builders for all the hard work they put in to build the labyrinth.

The day the labyrinth was finished, we noticed beautiful, purple butterflies flying over the labyrinth - an instant reminder of Tom's wife Jane's outdoor memorial service two years before, where purple butterflies appeared out of nowhere, flying among the rows of people gathered. Purple was Jane's favorite color, and seeing the butterflies flying over the labyrinth that Tom helped build (and that contains a little of Jane's ashes) was a wonderful affirmation that All is One, and we are all connected to the same Source (whatever we may name it) beyond our physical boundaries, time and place. As the Native Americans say: "As Above, So Below," or in Christian tradition "On earth, as it is in heaven..." The labyrinth serves as a poignant reminder of this.
We had never before seen purple butterflies in our garden, and yet here they were, flying only above the labyrinth, and nowhere else. The next day when Henry was adding grass seed to the labyrinth, a purple butterfly flew between him and his rake. We waited 3 weeks before walking the labyrinth to allow the grass to grow. The day I started walking the labyrinth, I noticed another purple butterfly.
Now the labyrinth is completed. We are planning to have a dedication ceremony on Saturday, September 22 at 10 am - a date chosen for its proximity to the International Day of World Peace (Friday September 21st) and the Autumn Equinox. All are welcome (please let us know if you are intending to attend).
After September 22, Don and I intend to have the labyrinth be available for whomever wants to walk it - all we ask is a phone call the day you intend to come and walk.
We are deeply grateful for all the guidance, help and blessings we received in unexpected places along the way in bringing this project to fruition. Blessings abound....may all who walk the labyrinth be blessed, and may the labyrinth help them to be open to nurturing Peace in themselves and thus in the world.
In gratitude,
Jet Schneider
Contact information for the labyrinth:
Don & Jet Schneider
814-238-0010
*For people who are suffering from an ailment that prevents them from
walking, there are finger labyrinths on the market based on the same principle,
while some labyrinths are wheelchair accessible, as well.
** Names changed to protect privacy.
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