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Everyone has a path in life. There are twists and turns along the journey, but oncestarted, forward is the only direction to go.A Labyrinth, an ancient symbol dating back more than 3000 years, is symbolic of this journey. It relates to the wholeness and combines the image of a circle and a spiral intowhat looks like a wandering path. This path represents a journey to a personal center of who we are and a subsequent return to the world.In a place where lifelong learning and self-realization is emphasized, it is no surprisethat Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY, has a Labyrinth.Created by Lisa Moriarty in a “circle of peace” design, it is located near Turner Community Center on Rt. 394, and is easily accessible and available to the communityand public. The labyrinth can be used year-round, unless covered and hidden with snowin the winter.The current labyrinth was constructed in 2005 through the combined efforts of severalsupporters. Special Studies classes, Chautauquans and the general public use it as a wayto relax, to renew one’s spirit, as a walking path, or as a place to pray.Debra Dinnocenzo, the labyrinth coordinator, offered orientation of the labyrinth at 7 p.m. every Tuesday during the 9 week summer season.A labyrinth is not a maze, she said. There are no dead-ends or tricks to it. It is one paththat leads to a center, and people use that same path to return, making it unicursal - the path in is also the path out.It is a “walking meditation” that affects each person differently, she said.Dinnocenzo presents a history of labyrinths at the orientation. She explains the threestages of the walk: releasing on the way in, receiving in the center and returning or taking back out what you received from the experience.“There is no wrong way to use the labyrinth,” Dinnocenzo said.Dinnocenzo said participating in the labyrinth in a group is a very differentexperience. You are walking the path and experiencing your own thoughts but see other  people in various stages of the walk.“You are all walking toward one point, but, because of the way the path is laid out,you often look like you are heading in opposite directions. This is much like life; we walk the same path, but each person’s experiences are totally unique, she said.Dinnocenzo helped chose the location for labyrinth near Turner Community Center when it was moved from Miller Park. Planners wanted it under the trees for shade, but thelocation of the trees didn’t seem to quite work. They started working on finding thecenter of the labyrinth and as they worked out from the center, a tree had fallen exactlywhere they felt the altar should be. The altar is a term used for the open area just insidethe entrance.The entrance and altar where emphasized by the tree she said, explaining that it became a unique part of the Chautauqua labyrinth.Dinnocenzo became interested in labyrinths when she took a special studies class sixyears ago called “Sacred Circles” from Harriette Royer. She has since walked labyrinthsall over the United States.Denise Grant is a published author, photographer and artist. She owns her own art business and specializes in nature photography. Further articles can be found athttp://thegardenersrake.com
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