2008 Woodie Awards
Labyrinth Peace Walk offers time for relflection and meditation
Soni Kumar
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: A&E
Lectures, homework and teachers can sometimes create stress for students, but the Labyrinth Peace Walk is one resource students have to relieve that stress.
According to the business administrator at the Religious Center, Juli Jacobson, the labyrinth walk is a large canvas mat set up in the middle of the Religious Center's Dome for anyone's use.
The labyrinth walk is sponsored by SIUE's United Campus Ministry and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday starting Sept. 9 in the Religious Center Dome.
According to the Rev. Paul Burden, director of the Campus Student Ministry, the labyrinth is an ancient device used for prayer dating back to the medieval European church.
Jacobsen said walking the labyrinth is a popular activity for anyone looking to meditate.
"It is a reflective, meditated walk," Jacobson said.
SIUE's United Campus Ministry introduced the labyrinth walk eight years ago. The director of the United Campus Ministry at the time, Cherry Hamilton, brought the idea to SIUE when she found out SIU Carbondale had a permanent labyrinth, Burden said. The walk has been going on every year since then.
The labyrinth is a circle-shaped structure that has an outlined path leading to the center. Walking and following the path is meant to help people enjoy some quiet time, relaxation, prayer and meditation.
"It's not like a maze. A maze is a puzzle where you have to figure out where to go. A labyrinth is much different. It has only one path," Burden said. "… People can focus on issues, concerns and joys following the path."
Junior political science major Marianne Murchison is looking forward to the relaxation walking the labyrinth has to offer.
"I think the benefit of walking (is that) it helps you calm down between classes (and) reflect on life without having to think about homework," Murchison said.
Burden said the circular shape of the labyrinth suggests a symbol of eternity, and the labyrinth is a reminder of the cyclical nature of life.
According to the business administrator at the Religious Center, Juli Jacobson, the labyrinth walk is a large canvas mat set up in the middle of the Religious Center's Dome for anyone's use.
The labyrinth walk is sponsored by SIUE's United Campus Ministry and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday starting Sept. 9 in the Religious Center Dome.
According to the Rev. Paul Burden, director of the Campus Student Ministry, the labyrinth is an ancient device used for prayer dating back to the medieval European church.
Jacobsen said walking the labyrinth is a popular activity for anyone looking to meditate.
"It is a reflective, meditated walk," Jacobson said.
SIUE's United Campus Ministry introduced the labyrinth walk eight years ago. The director of the United Campus Ministry at the time, Cherry Hamilton, brought the idea to SIUE when she found out SIU Carbondale had a permanent labyrinth, Burden said. The walk has been going on every year since then.
The labyrinth is a circle-shaped structure that has an outlined path leading to the center. Walking and following the path is meant to help people enjoy some quiet time, relaxation, prayer and meditation.
"It's not like a maze. A maze is a puzzle where you have to figure out where to go. A labyrinth is much different. It has only one path," Burden said. "… People can focus on issues, concerns and joys following the path."
Junior political science major Marianne Murchison is looking forward to the relaxation walking the labyrinth has to offer.
"I think the benefit of walking (is that) it helps you calm down between classes (and) reflect on life without having to think about homework," Murchison said.
Burden said the circular shape of the labyrinth suggests a symbol of eternity, and the labyrinth is a reminder of the cyclical nature of life.
Be the first to comment on this story