Spirituality and Labyrinths at Grailville

Grailville’s peaceful surroundings, labyrinths, and Oratory worship space provide a powerful setting for spiritual deepening through retreats, liturgical celebrations, and meditation.

Along with the heaviness of current events around the world and the faltering health of our planet’s environment, it is important to maintain balance by cultivating joy, happiness, and positive change. At Grailville we believe that rebalancing is strengthened by many forms of prayer, contemplation, reflection, and meditation. Grailville opens its doors to kindred spirits to join us in our various forms of rebalancing practices.

The following opportunities are free and open to the public, and we welcome you to join us, either in person or from a distance. Please check the Events & Programs page for precise times and location.

• Eastside Sangha

Sitting and walking mindfulness meditations followed by tea and dharma discussion. Weekly. Tuesday evening.

• Monthly Sitting and Walking Meditations

Sitting and walking meditations followed by the option to gather for tea. Afternoon of first Sunday following full moon.

• Monthly Prayer at the Ark

Come and join with fellow seekers. Thursday morning; once a month.

Labyrinth Walking

Grailville has two outdoors labyrinths which are free and open to the public. The smaller labyrinth, in the Chartres design, is made of bricks inlaid in the ground and can be found behind the pine grove.

The larger labyrinth, 200 feet in diameter and mowed in the grass behind the conference buildings, is one of the largest in the Midwest. Described as a Cretan labyrinth, the most universally used labyrinth pattern, its name refers to the Greek island of Crete and the labyrinth there, in the palace of Knossos. This pattern was chosen for Grailville’s first labyrinth because it has traditionally symbolized feminine spirituality and the universality of all religions.

Unlike a maze, a labyrinth contains a single continuous path that leads to the center of a spiraling or regularly circling pattern. At its most basic level, the labyrinth is a metaphor for a journey to the center of one’s deepest self and back. A journey to the center and back can provide both opportunity and inspiration for quiet meditation, reflection, prayer, and self-awareness.

Found in almost all religious traditions around the world, labyrinths have re-emerged from the ages as a spiritual tool for creating sacred space, for journeying inward, and for reconnecting with the Earth/Cosmos. Ancient labyrinth patterns, which date back to 4500 B.C., are found in Northern Europe, India, Peru, Greece, and the American Southwest.