The Reed Labyrinth Walk has returned to the front lawn for the days surrounding Earth Day. You’ll find Labyrinth near the flagpole on the Front Lawn (the lawn between Eliot Hall and Woodstock). There are several yard signs directing your attention to the Labyrinth. My favorite sign so far (I haven’t seen them all) is the one that describes the Labyrinth as the world’s “first search engine”.

Is there a certain way to walk the Labyrinth? I can’t tell you. Perhaps I’m searching. Or, perhaps I’m just “being”. Can I be both? However I approach it, I simply love having the opportunity to slowly wind my way back and forth, to turn around each curve, seemingly going nowhere, and yet simultaneously going everywhere. A voyage of discovery.

Many thanks to Gary Granger for initiating this annual tradition and keeping it alive.

As if we needed one, here’s another reason to explore our beautiful campus!

Gary Granger will be restoring the labyrinth to the Great Lawn on Thursday, April 18. The winding path will stay in place at least 10 days, making it available for all of Earth Day, April 22, and Renn Fayre weekend, April 26-28.

If you are unfamiliar with the Reed labyrinth, check out this announcement from 2023.

For those who are unfamiliar with labyrinths, they offer a quick introduction to the key features of walking meditation: walking slowly (otherwise you’ll get lost), paying attention (otherwise you’ll get lost for sure), and practicing letting go of distractions and notions (the labyrinth ends where it begins – there is no “destination” – when your goals arise, notice them, and let them go).

Please try it out!

Thank you, Gary <3

Six weeks ago a walking labyrinth magically appeared in time for Earth Week and Renn Fayre on the South Lawn. Scores of Reedies – students, staff, faculty, and campus guests – intrigued by the labyrinth’s curious shape, braved the cold and wet to slowly saunter back and forth through the labyrinth’s twists and turns. For me, it was an exercise in personal exploration, not unlike walking meditation, an opening to whatever might appear. And it also became the beginning of a wonderful, ongoing conversation with the driving energy behind the Reed labyrinth, Gary Granger. Although I had worked alongside Gary for many years, I had not realized that Gary wore two hats at Reed: Director of Community Safety and the teacher of Mindful Walking at Reed (available to students as a physical education class).

Recently, Gary, the Keeper of the Reed Labyrinth, informed me that the labyrinth will be reappearing this week in time for the Reed Reunion. Here are some useful details:

Show someone 5 photos of people in different situations and ask them, “Which of these people is meditating?” and they will invariably choose the person seated in a lotus position with eyes closed. This image of “meditation = seated lotus” is etched into our cultural consciousness, not to mention the Buddha sculptures you see in Portland yards. So what I am about to say may come as quite a shock. You can meditate in any position that supports your intention for your meditation.

Suppose your intention is to practice mindful awareness. In that case, any position that allows you to pay attention to whatever is taking place in this moment is acceptable. Lotus? Good. Sit in a chair? Also good. Lie on the grass or stand in line at the airport terminal? Both good. You can even practice mindful awareness of body sensations, of thoughts (the ‘inner talk’ in the title), of emotions and feelings, and more, while walking.

I am calling attention to walking because Reed College now has a special place on the front lawn to practice mindful awareness while walking. It is a labyrinth. A colored design that has been added to the Front Lawn between the flag pole and the central door of Eliot Hall. There are plenty of lawn signs calling attention to it so you can’t miss it. The labyrinth opened yesterday (4/19) at noon, and, with the plausible cooperation of the weather and the geese, it will remain in place until Sunday, 4/30 (note: this date is part of Renn Fayre and the campus will be closed to visitors that final weekend in April).

You can learn more about the Reed Labyrinth here. And, if the idea of walking meditation interests you, check out one of my previous posts on this topic (see below).

Full disclosure: You don’t need to do walking meditation while walking the labyrinth. Likewise, you don’t need a labyrinth to do walking meditation. But, as I discovered yesterday, they go together very nicely. So try one or the other, or even both!

• Summer Evenings are for Walking
• From Here to There – Suggestions for Walking Meditation