​All Saints' Labyrinth illuminated for Holy Week

Last year during Lent, Bob Vlach, who designs and crafts labyrinths in Hawai'i and Oregon, painted a labyrinth on the All Saints' lawn. Throughout the year, members of the wider Kapa'a community have maintained the labyrinth's design--most notably the Rev. Caroline Miura, chaplain at Kaua'i Hospice and the Rev. Barry Mick, pastor at UCC Kapa'a First Hawaiian.

This year, members of the All Saints' 'Ohana have expanded the labyrinth ministry: The entire lines of the labyrinth are now illumined with LED, solar-power, light strings. The labyrinth can be utilized at day or night--and during the night the experience is extremely peaceful and profoundly spiritual. 

What is a labyrinth? It is an archetype, a divine imprint, found in all religious traditions in various forms around the world. Walking the labyrinth is an invitation into forgotten mystical tradition.

A labyrinth is not maze. Labyrinths have only one path, no dead ends, and are not designed to confuse or trick their users. The winding path of a labyrinth becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. The experience is intended to touch our sorrows and releases our joys.

Users are invited to walk the labyrinth with an open mind and an open heart.

Three stages of walking the labyrinth:

1. Purgation (Releasing): A releasing, a letting go of the details of your life. This is the act of shedding thoughts and distractions. A time to open the heart and quiet the mind.

2. Illumination (Receiving): When you reach the center, stay there as long as you like. It is a place of meditation and prayer. Receive what is there for you to receive.

3. Union (Returning): As you leave, following the same path out of the center as you came in, you enter the third stage, which is joining God, your Higher Power, or the healing forces at work in the world. Each time you walk the labyrinth you become more empowered to find and do the work for which you feel your soul is reaching.

Suggested Practices for walking the labyrinth
Quiet your mind and become aware of your breath. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. The path is two ways. Those going in will meet those coming out. You may "pass" people or let others step around you. Do what feels natural.