Metropolitan State University Library’s Labyrinth Garden

Carla Pfahl and Beth Staats At ARLD Day, we attended the session, “Meeting at the Intersection: A Library Labyrinth.”  From Metropolitan State University, Faculty Librarians Jennifer DeJonghe and Michelle Filkins were joined by Nursing Professor Emeritus Ellen Schultz to discuss the process of establishing the David Barton Community Labyrinth and Reflective Garden and what has happened since it opened in June 2013. The labyrinth and garden were named after David Barton, Dean of the Metropolitan State University Library from 2002 until his death in 2012. The labyrinth was designed by a local artist from Stillwater, MN, Lisa Moriarty, with funds from a University fundraising campaign, donations, and a library endowment. The process to create the labyrinth and space came together in a relatively short amount of time, and the librarians and Schultz noted that having a labyrinth has become an invaluable tool for students, faculty, staff, and the community. The project aligns with the mission of Metropolitan State University by its commitment to community partnerships. The labyrinth has been very well received and is used frequently and has facilitated community engagement and partnerships. There have been many positive responses from individuals saying that walking the labyrinth and having the space has helped with stress, allowed for a place to meditate, and even helped with working through issues. There are many ways to describe a labyrinth.  It can be a pattern, an archetypal symbol, a unicoursal path, a walking meditation, and a spiritual tool.  It is a patterned geometrical figure with an exterior boundary.  It is a symbol of wholeness, sacredness, and can help us discover the depth of our soul.  Some may think it is a maze but it is not.  There are two types of labyrinth patterns, the Chartres or Medieval pattern and the Classical pattern.  There are a few local contemporary patterns including the labyrinth at Como Park.  Metro State’s labyrinth has parts of both patterns in it. The origins of the labyrinth are still a mystery.  There are a lot of theories including that it came from the stars or nature.  Labyrinths emerged in cultures all over the world.  Some ways to use a labyrinth include healing aspects like integrating mind, body, and spirit; creating a centering within oneself; and relieving the effects of a stressor.  There is a small but growing body of research on the labyrinth; The Labyrinth Society offers a survey on how you feel before and after walking a labyrinth.  They are also sometimes used for conflict resolution.  A labyrinth at a university can be applied to several teaching fields including Human Services, Psychology, History, Creative Writing, Nursing, Art, and Information Studies. The pattern of the labyrinth and intention of the walker can direct the walk.  There is no right way to walk a labyrinth.  If you’re interested in walking a labyrinth use the Labyrinth Locator to discover one near you.