labyrinths

St. Aidan's labyrinths in Alexandria

The labyrinth is under some old pines and other trees and thus gets lots of shade. Something planted nearby made the approach smell really pleasant.  

The labyrinth is under some old pines and other trees and thus gets lots of shade. Something planted nearby made the approach smell really pleasant.

  

St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, VA, has both a large outdoor labyrinth and a small indoor labyrinth painted on the floor at the back of the sanctuary.   The 40-foot outdoor labyrinth paths are rubber mulch (like playgrounds use) over ground cloth, with white stones outlining the path. As I walked, I felt the energy of many hands and much care that went into building it. The Worldwide Labyrinth Locator says it was completed September 2012.

I like the fact that benches are nearby, but not facing the labyrinth itself.

I like the fact that benches are nearby, but not facing the labyrinth itself.

The natural site is echoed inside the sanctuary where the walls are rough hewn wood. I almost missed the small labyrinth painted on the floor at the back, because it was covered with chairs. The St. Aidan's web site, though, has a wonderful photograph of a confirmation class meeting in the middle of this sacred space. 

 

Location:  

St. Aidan's Episcopal Church
8531 Riverside Road
Alexandria,  
VA 22308

http://www.staidansepiscopal.com

St. Thomas Parish (Episcopal) labyrinth

[UPDATE BELOW] The outdoor labyrinth in the St. Thomas Parish (Episcopal) garden is barely visible from the street at 18th and Church NW, because it's elevated. (Thevideo below shows you how to find it.) It's a surprisingly peaceful place, given the vast amount of foot and car traffic passing by. The entrance is on 18th Street. 

This is the only labyrinth in Washington, DC, that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Enjoy it while you can. The parish hopes to build a new sanctuary to replace the one that was destroyed by arson in 1970, an act of violence to which the congregation responded by building the peaceful garden that today houses the labyrinth and a fragment of the original sanctuary. 

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Georgetown Waterfront Park labyrinth

There's a labyrinth in Georgetown? Overlooking the river? With fabulous views? Yes! Yes! Yes! Few people seem to know that the section of Georgetown Waterfront Park at the foot of 33rd Street has a beautiful labyrinth, funded in part by the TKF Foundation. This labyrinth is open sunrise to sunset. Its wide paths invite strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers (as well as skateboards and bicycles).

Some have called the spirit of this labyrinth exuberant, in contrast to the meditative mood of most other labyrinths. 

 


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