During a recent escape to a retreat in the hippy-filled hills behind Byron Bay, I found a small stone labyrinth wedged between the outdoor bathtub and a hotchpotch collection of hemp-crafted hammocks.
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Labyrinths aren't new. They date back over thousands of years to the Palaeolithic times and are often associated with ancient pilgrimage routes and rituals of self-discovery. According to my cheery host at the retreat, after a long hiatus they are enjoying a resurgence.
"Our guests just love to 'walk' our labyrinth," boasted my psychedelic sarong-wearing host, explaining that "unlike a maze, which contains dead-ends and can confuse, the labyrinth gently leads one unambiguously along a path of spiritual renewal, inner peace and harmony".
While some of the mumbo jumbo associated with labyrinths may seem a bit new-age to some, my host was certainly spot-on regarding their popularity – it proved so popular that on some days you had to book a time to walk it. And what's more, almost every surrounding resort and farm stay also had one, some even offering labyrinth-building workshops!
Intrigued by the proliferation of labyrinths around Byron Bay, on my return home, I set out on a quest to discover how many we had in the Canberra region.
Just like those elsewhere, all the labyrinths I unearthed in our neck of the woods were also built to induce spiritual or emotional calm or inner healing. Furthermore, we actually have more labyrinths than you might expect. Here are my top five.
1. Rural retreat
Hidden among a grove of trees at an historic monastery just an hour's drive to Canberra's north-west is arguably the region's most impressive labyrinth. Designed in 2001 and first walked three years later, the 13-metre (labyrinths are measured in diameter) pathway is based on the 11-circuit design inlaid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France.
"Labyrinths formed in medieval cathedrals provided pilgrims who were unable to travel with a spiritual way of journeying to holy places … for them, the centre could represent Jerusalem or some other holy site," explains Rev. William Goldman of Galong's St Clement's Retreat and Conference Centre.
The base of the labyrinth is constructed from red granite quarried in Canberra and a local blue stone has been used to mark out this ancient pathway.
St Clement's has several other quiet spaces for those seeking prayer and reflection, including several chapels, outdoor prayer spaces and a grand grotto overlooking the 320-hectare country retreat.
Access: St Clement's Retreat and Conference Centre is near Galong, on Kalangan Road, just off Burley Griffin Way between Yass and Harden. Ph: 02 6380 5222 or web: stclement.com.au
Can you walk it? The labyrinth is open only to guests of St Clement's attending a retreat or a conference.
2. Forest find
Hidden on the northern slopes of Mt Ainslie and meticulously constructed using branches, sticks and small stones is Canberra's most mysterious labyrinth. The 12-metre bush labyrinth, which its creator, local artist Julie Rickwood, named Five Senses took more than 18 months to construct and was first walked on June 21, (the winter solstice) 2006.
Over the past nine years, a merry band of community-minded bushwalkers regularly maintains it by moving sticks blown off the path or dislodged by kangaroos and other animals.
Located in the middle or "goal", is a wooden treasure chest containing a scroll describing the origins of the labyrinth, along with a mix of shells, stones and other "offerings".
Access: Located in Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve. The easiest way to find the labyrinth is to drive to the summit of Mt Ainslie and then start the descent back down the hill. As you descend, around 500 metres from the summit on the left is a dirt pull-out area and a locked gate. Park in this area (making sure not to block access through the gate) and walk down the reasonably steep fire trail that starts at the locked gate. Follow this trail for around 600 metres until you reach a sweeping right-hand bend (look out for a large number of casuarinas). Just before the bend, walk off the fire trail to the left. The labyrinth is in a clearing around 50 metres ahead.
Can you walk it? Yes, this labyrinth is popular with family groups.
3. Suburban sanctuary
This classical-style labyrinth made of Australian native plants and rocks, and located just metres away from the busy Kings Avenue was a gift of The Pilgrimage Project which linked Chernobyl survivors with uranium miners and aboriginal traditional owners. At the "goal" of the labyrinth is a 2.7 billion-year-old rock from the Hamersley Range in Western Australia which, according to the interpretative sign on display, connects you "to the dawn of creation".
Access: The labyrinth is at the Centre for Christianity and Culture (15 Blackall Street), just across the road from the Edmund Barton Building, in Barton. Ph: 6272 6201 or web: acc-c.org.au.
Can you walk it? Yes, although if you are seeking quiet reflection, avoid the middle of the day mid-week, as the labyrinth is well used by nearby workers in need of a lunchtime de-stress.
4. Hospice haven
This contemporary painted concrete labyrinth was designed to encourage residents of Clare Holland House (the ACT Hospice) to seek inner calm, balance and perspective by taking a journey along its winding path.
When the labyrinth was unveiled three years ago, Professor Elizabeth McKinley from the School of Theology at Charles Sturt University in the ACT explained "the labyrinth has no dead-ends and no false starts in order for residents to reflect and find meaning … it also provides peace, safety and a place to process".
Standing next to the labyrinth is a plinth bearing the words from a palliative care patient: "For the few moments at the centre, it was as if I was in the centre of myself. I felt my own pain, but also tranquillity and comfort."
The labyrinth is named after renowned journalist Robin Wallace Brown, a respected member of the Federal Parliamentary press gallery for more than 30 years. His death in 2006 from motor neurone disease made his family aware of the need for places of calm and reflection in times of stress.
Access: Located on the foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin at Clare Holland House, 5 Menindee Drive, Barton. Ph 6264 7300 or see clarehollandhouse.com.au.
Can you walk it? Although the 'Wallace Labyrinth' is designed for all people receiving palliative care and especially for use by patients, family, friends, staff and volunteers at Clare Holland House, the community is also welcome and encouraged to walk the labyrinth.
5. Turf treat
Taking pride of place among picture-postcard miniature English village scenes at Canberra's landmark Cockington Green Gardens is a 300-metre-long (if you were to walk it), classical 15-circuit continuous turf labyrinth.
Access: Yes, after you have paid the entry fee ($19.50 for adults, discounts for concessions) to the gardens. 11 Gold Creek Road, Nicholls, 1800 627 273 or see cockingtongreen.com.au.
Can you walk it? No, it wouldn't remain in its delightfully manicured state if everyone who visited traipsed all over it, however, you can admire it from a raised platform.
Backyard beauties
Labyrinths aren't only found in places of worship and reflection, but are also starting to pop up in backyards all over Canberra and surrounds. A quick scan of internet labyrinth locators (such as labyrinthlocator.com) reveal all manner of local home-made labyrinths, from a Chartres style design featuring gum tree branches in a Gifford Street, Queanbeyan, backyard to Alison Meretini's medieval-style labyrinth, lovingly crafted from bricks and pavers on her property near Gundaroo.
Have you built a labyrinth in your backyard? If so, let me know.
Where in the region?
Clue: Graffiti blues.
Degree of difficulty: Hard
Last week: Congratulations to Kathryn Spiers of Higgins who was first to correctly identify last week's photo, sent in by Chris Blunt of Macarthur, as a piece of moon rock the Apollo 11 team collected, which is on display at the Canberra Space Centre at Tidbinbilla. Kathryn just beat a number of readers to the prize including 11-year-old Samuel Worsnop of Harrison, a self-confessed space buff, and Matt Nagaiya of Chisholm – a perennial bridesmaid in this quiz who laments that he "took the kids out there a couple of years ago but ended up at Corin Forest instead".
How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to timtheyowieman@bigpond.com. The first email sent after 10am, Saturday, August 8, with the correct answer wins a double pass to Dendy cinemas.
