A labyrinth is a single circular path that always leads to a center.
People often confuse a labyrinth with a maze that has numerous paths, many of which lead nowhere.
Walking the labyrinth as a form of walking meditation or prayer has been part of spiritual traditions around the world since ancient times. Northwestern's labyrinth, which is painted on canvas, is a replica of the Chartres Labyrinth laid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France around 1220. The labyrinth in Parkes Hall was first brought to campus in 1999 during Christian Unity Week by The Campus Ministry Group for Prayer. The Ministry was looking for a form of prayer or meditation that would appeal to all religious faiths on campus. More than 100 people walked the labyrinth the first time.