Labyrinthian Ways

Bayview's labyrinth brings comfort to those who walk in its circular paths.

When in search of guidance and reflection, employees, patients and their families and surrounding neighbors of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center need go no farther than Mason Lord Drive. Just down the hill from the Francis Scott Key Pavilion, surrounded by low shrubbery and lined with benches, is a series of pavers arranged in a pattern of concentric circuits. This simple design is a labyrinth, a meditative tool dating back to the Bronze Age and found by many cultures to be a soothing, contemplative space.

The labyrinth has no tricks and bears no rules. Each person approaches the unicursal journey with his or her own pace and purpose. Some walk in search of solutions to problems; others may clear their heads and let their minds wander. And, although guidelines are posted to assist the inexperienced walker, there is no wrong way to approach the path. "The experience of using the labyrinth is different for everyone," says Anita Langford, Bayview's vice president of continuing care, who has been involved with the labyrinth since its inception.

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the labyrinth is available to everyone. Wider circuits allow access to those in wheelchairs. The labyrinth has become a popular campus retreat, especially during the warmer months, and it has captured media attention as one of the few in the region associated with a medical facility.

The labyrinth was the inspiration of professional dancer Nancy Romita. At work on her graduate thesis in fine arts, Romita approached Bayview with the concept of incorporating the contemplative space of a labyrinth with the elements of a health care setting. The hospital accepted the proposal, the Annapolis-based TKF Foundation agreed to fund the project, and construction began in 2000.

"The idea was that it would be a setting for performances, dance, as well as for the use of the broader community, all in a health care atmosphere," says Langford. Romita has held workshops and dance performances at the labyrinth with her dance troupe. At the hospital, Andrew Angelino, medical director of inpatient psychiatry, has prescribed its use to several patients. "The labyrinth is structured to promote contemplation," he says. "One can use meditation to resolve conflicts, explore options in thought processes, or calm worries."

While there is no reliable data to confirm or deny the healing powers of the labyrinth, many who walk it can attest to its spiritual effects. A small yellow journal secured under one of the benches contains the thoughts and prayers of those who walk the labyrinth. One passage reads: "Thank you, God, for the valleys, for without them, how would we know the mountaintops." Other entries include messages of hope following September 11, or prayers for deceased family members and newborn babies.

For Romita, the labyrinth is a meta-phor for personal journey. The walk inward represents shedding daily strains, the center is a place for reflection, and the way out is a path of empowerment. Romita says you don't have to be experienced in meditation or in movement to enjoy the benefits of the labyrinth. "If you have 20 minutes, it's really a wonderful place to pause and recuperate from your day."

- Meghan Fox