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40 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, December 9, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 1, 2003 The Rev. Anne Bartlett of Ashland�s Trinity Episcopal Church demonstrates a finger labyrinth next to the lot where the church is building a full-scale walkable labyrinth in the heart of downtown Ashland. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli A spiral of spirituality Ashland’s Trinity Episcopal plans a large labyrinth with an accompanying garden By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Calling it a "gift to the community," Trinity Episcopal Church is building a large labyrinth, flanked by a garden, benches and columbarium next to its downtown Ashland complex. The "Trinity Garden," bordered by busy Second Street and Lithia Way, will be unfenced and open to the public to come and sit, rest, breathe, eat lunch, reflect and walk the labyrinth, which is "an ancient tradition of walking meditation that takes you closer to God," said the Rev. Anne Bartlett. The $135,000 layout will be "sacred ground," to be used by the congregation and the public for memorials, ceremonies and classes on how to enhance inner peace and the spiritual life through labyrinth walking. Laid in concrete with the design to be painted by labyrinth master Robert Ferr� of St. Louis, Mo., the structure replicates the famed labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral in France. It is aligned to the four directions and the four elements — earth, fire, air and water, said the architect, Greg Covey of Ashland. Echoing the trinity of Christianity, it will be flanked by three centers — a columbarium to house cremated remains, a pond with water trickling from a rock (honoring the story of Moses bringing forth water from a rock in the desert) and a shaded bench and trellis area. Advertisement "The labyrinth and garden have been my passion ever since I got here (almost four years ago)," said Bartlett. "They are very much in the Anglican tradition of generosity, openness and inclusivity to the community, as well as using this tool (labyrinth), as Christians and most other religions have used it — a sacred path to spiritual realization." The garden committee behind the project had much concern that it would end up as a "hangout space," said member Marianne Wunsch, and discussed fencing and locking it. "We chose to make it public, a place for community respite and we hope it’s populated by folks using it for its true purpose and that will discourage the other." Trinity, the only church in the downtown core, has a heritage and identity around generous public use of its facilities, said Bartlett, including Alcoholics Anonymous meetings there four times a week and Uncle Food’s Diner for the needy weekly. "We will ask that people using the Trinity Gardens respect the quiet of the space," she said. "We hope people will regard it as a place they come to find rest for their souls." "It’s a little daring to put on a busy corner, but we think it will make a wonderful urban space," said Wunsch, "For me, labyrinths have always been very grounding and focusing places, where I can open to spiritual possibility." Parishioner Sara Hopkins-Powell will lead public classes on the use of the labyrinth. She is also involved in the creation of a labyrinth in front of the music building at Southern Oregon University, where she is provost. A labyrinth appears simple on the surface — a series of concentric circles, threaded with serpentine pathways forming the longest possible distance between two points: the entrance and the center. It differs from a maze in that there is only one way to go — no forks or choices. It’s intended to model life itself: You can see the goal but must go through many ups and downs to get there. Covey, the architect, said he designed the space with plenty of trees and shrubs to soften traffic noise. It has steps leading in from the street and a wrought-iron fence separating the columbarium, which Bartlett called "our parish cemetery." The columbarium has slots for 126 "cremains," each covered with a bronze plaque, imprinted with names and dates of the deceased. More can be added later, if need be. Four gingko trees will dominate the plaza, accompanied by red oak, juniper, maple and Japanese snowbell. Shrubs include lavender, rock rose and English laurel. Also part of the construction project are the combining of two annex rooms into a library, a complete remodel of the kitchen and an expansion of the parish hall by 800 square feet. The church is raising funds to add transepts adjacent to the main altar within a few years. The garden and labyrinth are being built by Downey Construction of Ashland and was funded by a large gift from the late parishioner Marcia VanDyke and donations from the congregation. Funds are still being sought to complete the water feature and may be sent to Trinity at 44 N. Second St., Ashland OR 97520. The phone number is 482-2656. John Darling is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected] Labyrinth talk, walk set Labyrinth facilitator Anne Gordon will speak on the history of labyrinths at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Unity in Ashland, Historic Ashland Armory, 208 Oak St., Ashland. The public is invited to attend and walk the labyrinth at noon, with brunch available. Made up of meandering pathways, labyrinths have been used for centuries as a meditative tool for people seeking spiritual insight, clarity and healing. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times