Get to Know Local Labyrinths

First: A labyrinth is not a maze, though we tend to use the terms interchangeably. A maze is full of wrong turns and dead ends. A true labyrinth is a single folding, curving path, arranged in a large circle, that leads to its center. The point is not to find the single correct way.

Then what is the point? Contemplation, mostly. Mindfulness. It’s like a focused walk: You have to pay enough attention to remain on the path, so you’re present in the moment — but your mind is free to wander. The circular construction seems to encourage reflection. During the pandemic, not surprisingly, companies that build labyrinths saw a spike in business.

Are there different kinds? Mostly there are different depths. The largest tend to be 11 layers deep, modeled after the famous labyrinth in France’s Chartres Cathedral, which dates back to the 1200s. Many are shorter.

Are there any in Las Vegas? Yes, a fair number, of various sizes. There’s a small one snuggled on the UNLV campus. Several local parkshave them: Charlie Frias Park in Spring Valley, and Reunion Trails Park in Henderson, for example. Some churches, too — one of my favorites is the 11-course example at St. Andrew Catholic Community Church, in Boulder City (you needn’t be a congregant to walk it). St. Rose Dominican Hospital’s San Martín campus also has a big one.

Where can I learn more? From this Vegas labyrinths website, and from this global labyrinth locator.