The651.com

When I was once looking for a time and place to escape my daily routine and sort through my thoughts, a friend told me about a labyrinth on the campus of Concordia University. For some unknown reason I did not visit the labyrinth then, but I finally sought out the labyrinth on a recent sunny Saturday.

Tucked between buildings on campus, this gem of a labyrinth would be easy to miss. There isn’t an updated Web site for the labyrinth and it’s not on the campus map, so finding it took a bit of detective work. (See below for info on how to get there.) When I finally found it, I was the only person around and the row of buildings behind me blocked traffic noise from Hamline Avenue, creating what felt like my own private sanctuary.

The entrance of the labyrinth at Concordia University.

The labyrinth didn’t look like much at first and needed a bit of upkeep. I expected a large, dramatic-looking maze and instead found something about the size of my house’s small guest room. Still, I appreciated its simplicity and discovered its beauty during my walk. At the entrance was a sign explaining the labyrinth’s purpose and history:

“Labyrinth: An age-old ceremonial path of relaxation, inspiration and wisdom. It is a meditative walk of peace that is both simple and complex. The design of this 7-pathed Minoan labyrinth is based upon 3,000-year-old paintings from the Mediterranean island of Crete. The path leads to the center and returns here.”

As I began walking the path, which changed back and forth between dirt, straw, and stone, providing a variety of visual texture, I noticed the various grasses and flowers planted to shape the labyrinth. Chives sprouted bright green with lavender flower balls on top. Surprisingly, such a modest labyrinth still took me about 20 minutes to navigate. (It can take as short or as long as you want, depending on how quickly or slowly you want to walk—and think.) My usually fast walking pace slowed with my breath as I realized that all I needed to do was be right here, right now.

Afterward, I headed to the Tea Garden (1692 Grand Ave.) for a glass of jasmine bubble tea and time with a good book – a relaxing and restorative afternoon in the heart of St. Paul.

Getting there: Coming from 94, exit Snelling and go south. Turn left (east) on Marshall Ave., then left again on Syndicate St. N, one block past Hamline Ave. The parking on Syndicate is free, but there isn’t a lot of it, so go when class is typically out of session, like on a weekend. Facing Luther Hall, walk slightly to the south until you see an opening in the grass before the Student Union building. Make your way through campus, walking west, until you start getting close to another set of buildings lining Hamline Ave. Look to your right as you approach the music center and tucked between buildings, look closely and you’ll see the labyrinth.