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The original grass
labyrinth at the Cheyenne
Botanic Gardens circa 1999 |
WHAT IS A LABYRINTH ?
A labyrinth is a winding path that leads to a central point, having no
walls, no dead ends, & requiring no decisions to be made.
Walking the path is often used as a means of quiet contemplation. The same
path that leads to the center is also followed to exit the labyrinth.
The Labyrinth at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens
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The new Garden Labyrinth
at the Botanic Gardens
The first Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Labyrinth was created thanks
to a local citizen effort in the mid 1990s. It was a small labyrinth formed
in the turf grass. Because of its immense popularity a similar citizen's
effort began to build a larger and more permanent labyrinth. After two years
of fundraising and construction the new labyrinth was dedicated. This
project would not have been possible if it were not for substantial support
provided by the Hathaway family in memory of the late Wyoming First Lady,
Mrs. Bobbi Hathaway.
We are still in need of more funds to help
maintain and support this project. In addition, there are still
opportunities where you can have a brick inscribed or a larger
"inspirational quote stone."
For more information on
tribute bricks,
quote stone pavers and other ways you can participate
in the labyrinth, please
click on this PDF document: The New
Botanic Gardens Labyrinth.
When and where were the first labyrinths created?
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The New Garden Labyrinth
on Dedication Day
Many people are surprised to learn that the oldest known
labyrinth was created over 4,000 years ago. There is evidence that
labyrinths were part of the culture in many regions of the world, from the
ancient Roman Empire to Medieval Europe to prehistoric Scandinavia.
Labyrinths have been found in the Baltic nations as well as prehistoric
South and North America, including labyrinths built by the Incas, the Hopi
communities in New Mexico, and many other Native American tribes.
How do I walk the labyrinth at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens?
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| Mayor Jack Spiker and Labyrinth Chairman,
Vanda Edington cut the ribbon on the moon arch entrance to the
Garden Labyrinth. |
Whatever meaning you choose to give the labyrinth, walking it is easy. You
may walk slowly or quickly, with your shoes on or off. Once you begin
walking, there are no choices to make; the labyrinth will lead you to the
middle, where you may stop for a while, then turn and walk out.
Many people consider the labyrinth a meditative experience, so please do not
speak to people who are walking the labyrinth. You may pass people or let
others step around you.
Please consider supporting the Labyrinth Project by giving to the Botanic
Gardens. If you wish, you may designate that your gift be used for labyrinth
development Donate now:
Click Here.
Special Features of the
Cheyenne Garden Labyrinth
There is more than one labyrinth at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. First
there is the main labyrinth that you walk upon. There are also four other
labyrinths inscribed into the stone on four different benches. These are
designed to allow those who are blind, people unable to walk and people
interested in a new challenge to have a different but very similar labyrinth
experience. Each bench has two small labyrinths engraved. When you sit upon
the bench a labyrinth is on either side just under your hands. The two
labyrinths in each bench are identical - but are mirror images of each
other. The bench labyrinth are placed so that when your are sitting, you can
have your fingers find your way to the center of the labyrinth and then out
again. The reason that they are mirror images is to require more focus on
the task and get more from the experience. These are commonly known as
"finger
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Finger/Bench Labyrinths |
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labyrinths." Each of the four benches are placed towards the four
compass directions of the earth (north west, south and east). Each bench has
a different set of labyrinths. One bench has the exact same design labyrinth
as the main large garden labyrinth. The other three bench finger/labyrinths
were designed by local architect, Glen Garrett. One of the three
finger/bench labyrinths has a joke in it . . . a circle where if you
accidentally get off the main path, your fingers just go around and around.
This is a metaphor relating to getting off your life's path, which sometimes
causes some to just go around and around.
The main Cheyenne Garden Labyrinth is an original design by Architect Rachel
Preston who is a specialist in spiritual architectural. (The Garden
Labyrinth design has a copyright held by the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens - all
rights are reserved).
Websites with more labyrinth information:
www.labyrinthsociety.org
World Wide Labyrinth Locator:
wwll.veriditas.labyrinthsociety.org/
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