The Lauren Cunningham ‘09 Labyrinth
While attending Davidson College, I spearheaded a campaign to construct a labyrinth on campus. My hope was to create a place for students to relax and reflect. I approached the school with the idea in August 2007, and soon thereafter, a committee was formed to plan and fundraise for the labyrinth’s construction. With the guidance of college chaplain Rob Spach and the Labyrinth Committee, as well as the help and support of many others, the labyrinth was completed in January 2009 and dedicated the following month. In 2022, it was named the Lauren Cunningham ‘09 Labyrinth.
-
The labyrinth is a replica of the 13th-century labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France, one of the most walked labyrinths in the world. The Chartres labyrinth has 11 circuits and is 42 feet in diameter. By comparison, the Lauren Cunningham ‘09 Labyrinth has 8 circuits and is 30 feet in diameter.
The labyrinth takes approximately 40 minutes to walk. The amount of walking time was considered during the design phase. The goal was to provide enough time for a meaningful meditative experience without being a deterrent or barrier to busy students.
The labyrinth is constructed of red and grey concrete pavers that came in the Vision Quest à la Chartres kit made by The Labyrinth Company. This design was selected to match the aesthetic of the Davidson campus, which has many red-brick buildings and walkways. The labyrinth’s hard surface makes it handicap accessible.
-
The labyrinth resides in Davidson College’s Hobart Park, a shady greenspace located between Faculty Drive and Baker Drive. Click here to download a map (PDF) showing its location on campus.
When walking a labyrinth, solitude is key. Hobart Park is a quiet, private location that is conducive to meditation, making it an ideal home for the labyrinth. The site is also central to campus without being a high-traffic area. Lighting and a Blue Light Call Box help ensure that walkers can safely utilize the labyrinth 24/7.
Since the labyrinth’s completion in 2009, several features have been added to the site. James W. Cannon Professor of Religion Karl Plank donated funding from his 2009 Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award, which allowed for the addition of a fountain and lighting. Also, gardener Paul Pergiel and groundskeeper Frank “Sarge” Laforgia added a bell.
-
Alum Behind Davidson’s Labyrinth Gets Fitting Tribute (October 3, 2022)
New Labyrinth Designed to Enhance Tranquility in Hobart Park (February 20, 2009)
Labyrinth Proposal Geared to Relieve Stress (October 1, 2008)
Sign the digital guestbook
If you have walked the labyrinth, please sign its digital guestbook using the form below. Feel free to include a message about how the labyrinth has been meaningful to you.
“I remember my time at Davidson brimming with activities and engagements and friendships. The campus always seemed to be coursing with energy and filled with people like myself trying to find the energy to seize all the opportunities at hand. It took me longer than I wish it had to learn that if I was going to immerse myself in all that was going on around me then I’d have to be intentional centering myself and finding ways to reenergize. A lot of mornings, I’d go for a run, and usually I’d come back to campus via Baker Drive. When the labyrinth opened, one morning I decided to stop and walk it en route back to my dorm. I remember it as a defining moment of quiet for me, a chance to reset and reenergize. So I went again the next day. And the next. The labyrinth became a vital part of my morning routine and significant in my own self-development. After graduation, I went on to graduate school and though there wasn’t a labyrinth, I did and still do continue to practice the habits I developed at Davidson’s labyrinth – reflection, intention, quiet, and solitude, among them. To me, the labyrinth is a symbol of growth, compassion, self-discovery, journeys into the world, and healing. So, thank you for offering that gift to me and others who have walked the labyrinth over the years.”
“I first learned about the labyrinth when I was invited to a folk music jam there during my freshman year. I remember thinking it was a wonderful and warm little spot. I was delighted when my Tia Chi class practiced at the labyrinth for many weeks that spring. My sophomore year I would walk the labyrinth often, a few times a week. I would walk it when I felt stressed, indecisive, or just needed to clear my head. For a while, one of my friends would walk it with me, wandering in concentric circles around each other, barefoot and smiling. It was a fun little spot to duck off to and be peaceful (I would usually meditate for a while). Before going abroad, I came and honored the space, meditating in the center prepared for the transition, that time was just what I needed. I am a spiritual, artistic and nature-loving person. This space on campus always [felt] like a much-needed breath of fresh air. ”