It’s relaxing and, at times, transformative, she says, adding that if you do become distracted or turned around on the path, that’s a valuable lesson, too. Slowly, the busyness of the day retreats, and Hopkins becomes more aware of her surroundings: the breeze, the birds, even her own breathing. When I can be outdoors, simply walking the path, I find myself becoming present,” Hopkins says. “I practice sitting meditation, but that’s kind of a struggle. Chris Hopkins, pastoral director of The Center, walks the 39-foot-diameter labyrinth almost every day as a way of becoming more grounded. One such Chartres-style labyrinth is located in Palos Park, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago, at The Center, a nondenominational community focused on wellness and healing. Its classic design, consisting of 11 concentric circles meant to mimic the sacred journey of a pilgrimage, has inspired many other similar structures. The most famous example is a labyrinth inside the Chartres Cathedral in France. “It’s a terrific tool for leaders, because it gives them a framework to unplug,” says Nicholas Pearce, PhD, clinical professor of management and organizations at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Often found on college campuses, churches, or parks, their looping paths are a chance for anyone to spend a few meditative moments. And, at least in the Greek versions, there was a minotaur-a part man, part bull monster-inside, ready to eat anyone that crossed its path.Īctual labyrinths, however, are surprisingly serene. On the surface, labyrinths seemed easy to navigate, with only one way in and out, but they were often dark, and their continuous twists and turns made it easy to get turned around and confused. In mythology, the last place anyone would want to be was in a labyrinth. See the new issue of Briefings magazine, available at newsstands and online.