First Church West Hartford, at 12 South Main St. in The Center, will not hold its annual Labyrinth Walk on Saturday, May 6, due to the forecasted rain, but the labyrinth is always open to the public.

By Joy Taylor

There are two outdoor, unique, public labyrinths in West Hartford.

When the weather cooperates, the festive annual Community Labyrinth Walk on the front lawn of First Church West Hartford takes place on the first Saturday in May, in celebration of World Labyrinth Day, but it has been canceled this year due to the forecasted rain.

Labyrinths have an ancient history and are found all over the world and in all cultures. Walking labyrinths are thought to enhance right brain activity, and uses include problem solving, conflict resolution, meditation, and stress management. The community is welcome to experience the labyrinth on any nice day, and not only on World Labyrinth Day. “Solvitur Ambulando: It is solved by walking.”

Another public labyrinth in West Hartford is located on the grounds of the Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center at 303 Tunxis Rd., and is part of the Copper Beech Institute which is located on the campus. Their labyrinth is open daily to the public and is wheelchair accessible.

From the Copper Beech Institute Facebook page: “The human desire for meaning, connection and contentment is ancient. For millennia, people from diverse cultures have used labyrinths as tools to achieve these goal. Join us on the evening of May 13th for a candlelit walk in our labyrinth and see why this practice is still widely use throughout the world today. We hope to see you there!”

Walkers on the public labyrinth at First Church West Hartford at 12 South Main Street. Photo courtesy of Amy Melvin

Public labyrinth at Copper Beech Institute on Tunxis Road. Facebook photo