A MOWN grass labyrinth is the classroom for the final stage of a group of year 12 students’ Christian education programme.
Throughout the course, students at Saint Kentigern College in Pakuranga debated some of “the ultimate gifts in life” including problems which can extend and help people to grow. They thought about ways of finding joy and bringing joy to others.
The debate led Susan Mudford, head of Christian education, to think about a labyrinth which she describes as a “sacred space used to walk a journey of reflection”.
Unlike a maze which has different paths and openings, a labyrinth follows a single pathway.
They have existed for thousands of years, originating in Egypt and Greece and are used by many different cultures.
“Life is like a labyrinth, a path you cannot get lost in,” Ms Mudford says.
“It can lead one way and you think that you are getting to the end but you’re not.”
Ron Whitmore, head of art, suggested creating a labyrinth out of grass while Graeme Martin, head of the school’s grounds department, rose to the challenge and converted the school chapel’s front lawn into a classical labyrinth.
The design follows a 400m route in and 400m out, and takes about 10 minutes to walk.
“It is essentially a way of ‘walking a journey of reflection, thought, meditation’,” Ms Mudford says. “To build a labyrinth is to create a sacred space. To walk a labyrinth is to imbue it with meaning.”
And walking the labyrinth is what the students are now doing. At the conclusion of their classes which end this week, the students are being offered the opportunity to take a 10-minute meditative walk through the labyrinth pausing at various points to reflect on aspects of their course and their time at the school in year 12.
Paving stones, placed every 30m, pose a question about 12 gifts for the students to consider: The gift of work, money, friends, learning, problems, family, joy, a dream, giving, gratitude, time and love.
After their classes finish on Thursday, the grass will be mown as usual.
“That’s the really cool thing,” Ms Mudford says, “having a living art installation.”
