Community Labyrinth Walks
Community Labyrinth walks are held on the Equinoxes, Solstices, World Labyrinth Day, and Unity World Day of Prayer. Please stop by closer to the date for additional information.
Our last Community Walk for 2024 is the Winter Solstice on Saturday, December 21, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
On this longest night of the year take time to honor the past and to look ahead to “New Beginnings.” Weather permitting, we will gather around the fire pit for hot chocolate and treats including marshmallows to roast. Bring a chair and join in the fun. An indoor labyrinth will also be available.
No registration is necessary. Guests and the public are always welcome. There is no charge for these events, but love offerings will be gratefully accepted.
Please be advised that photographs and video footage may be taken during labyrinth events. These images may be used by Unity Spiritual Center Westlake for promotional purposes in various media, including social media, websites, and printed materials. By attending this event, you consent to being photographed and filmed and to the use of your image in these media. Thank you for your cooperation.
On September 22, 2024, we had a special dual-celebration event commemorating the 20th anniversary of our labyrinth and the 2024 Autumn Equinox. Please click here to read how Divine Timing played a part in creating the labyrinth!
Our Labyrinth
Our Labyrinth is always open and open to all! Even the neighborhood deer love our labyrinth!
At 90 feet in diameter, Unity Spiritual Center's outdoor labyrinth is the largest in Ohio.
Unity's labyrinth is based on the design of the world-famous labyrinth at the Chartres Cathedral in France.
The outdoor labyrinth is behind Unity Hall on the campus of Unity Spiritual Center. Unity welcomes people of all faiths to perform this walking meditation at their convenience.
The labyrinth is not a maze. There are no tricks or dead ends. Instead, it has a single circuitous path that winds into the center. You use the same path to return; the entrance becomes the exit. The path is in full view, which allows you to be quiet and focused internally.
Generally, there are three stages to the walk: releasing on the way in, receiving in the center, and returning or taking back out to the world you received.
The labyrinth is an ancient pattern found in many cultures around the world. Designs dating back 4,000 years have been found on pottery, tablets, and tiles.
The labyrinth is a tool to guide healing, deepen self-knowledge, and empower creativity. Walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives insight into the spiritual journey. It urges action. It calms people in the throes of life transitions. It helps them see their lives in the context of a path, a pilgrimage. It helps to stir the creative fires within. To those in deep sorrow, the walk gives solace and peace.
Each of us has a different experience as we bring our unique hopes, dreams, history, and the longings of the soul. It is truly a sacred place, an active prayer.
Guidelines to Walking a Labyrinth
1. At the entrance, pause a moment to clear your mind.
2. Become aware of your breath.
3. Walk in silence at a pace that feels natural, following the outlined path.
4. You may pass people or let others step around you.
5. At the center, stay as long as you like. Reflect on God, pray, or meditate.
6. As you leave the center, follow the same path in reverse.
7. Upon exiting the labyrinth, turn and offer a nod or bow to honor your experience.
Ways to Use the Labyrinth
Consider the labyrinth a walking prayer or meditation. Feel free to do what is comfortable and to experiment. Here are some suggestions:
In silent reflection, open to receiving peace or guidance.
Walking with your spirit guides, angels, Jesus, Mother Mary, etc.
Contemplating a problem, joy, dream, or question in your life.
Meditating on a particular verse of scripture, prayer, or affirmation.
Repeating a meaningful phrase or word.
Calling others to mind in forgiveness, healing, or love.
As a joyful act of Thanksgiving and praise.
Our Painted Labyrinth and Indoor Labyrinth
Our first labyrinth was a painted version on the patio outside of the Spirit Room, years before the 90-foot labyrinth was built in 2004. That was followed by an indoor version painted on canvas.
Photos by Jan Casey-Liber, David Schwartz, and Matthew Wilson.