Earlier this year, a privately-funded labyrinth opened up in Wellington Park, 565 Wellington Way.
This isn’t the kind of labyrinth you might recall from Greek mythology, no manicured hedges to get lost in or menacing minotaurs.
The only thing here to get lost in, is your thoughts.
The project
We spoke with Sherry Rostosky, Ph.D. — a Professor of Counseling Psychology at UK + project manager for the Wellington Park Labyrinth — to learn about how this unique project came to fruition.
“I stumbled upon the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco about 15 years ago. I tried it and was captivated by it — a walking meditation that helps you center yourself,” said Sherry.
After that experience, Sherry continued traveling to new cities — always on the hunt for a new labyrinth. Finally, in the fall of 2018, she decided that Lexington deserved one of its own.
She approached members of Lexington’s Division of Parks and Recreation, who told her that they “could give her the space to build it, but they couldn’t give her any money.”
Working with a handful of other interested citizens, and the Blue Grass Community Foundation, Sherry began her fundraising efforts — telling anyone that would listen why Lexington needed a public labyrinth.
The labyrinth
The labyrinth is now open + free for every citizen to use. Here’s how it works:
- Start at the entrance.
- Follow the winding path until you reach the center.
- Enter the center of the labyrinth + stay as long as you want.
- Exit the same way you entered, following the winding path.
“The labyrinth is a metaphor for our life’s journey and how we find our own unique meaning,” says Sherry. “Our job in life is to find our center, and then return to the world — bringing back our own unique gifts to our family and to our community.”