Feeling a little dazed and confused, not to mention spiritually downtrodden? For all those needing to ease the mind with meditation, Brent House will build a labyrinth on the Classics Quad on Wednesday, May 18.

Brent House, the Episcopal (Anglican) Student Center at the University, intends to use their maze for spiritual exercise, calming, and focusing the mind. The Reverend Stacy Allan, chaplain of Brent House, cited the increasingly chaotic tempo of University life at the end of the quarter as the rationale for the timing of the event.

“We wanted to offer something to the University community that would provide an opportunity for quiet and reflection during a stressful time,” Allan said. “We believe this is something that transcends religious affiliation and be available even to those who profess no specific creed.”

The use of labyrinths as spiritual tools has been documented in many countries worldwide, with some dating back more than 2,000 years ago. The notable labyrinth of the Chartres Cathedral in France served as an alternative to a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for centuries. The experience of walking the labyrinth has been represented as a metaphor for life.

Brent House explained in an official statement, “Labyrinths, unlike mazes, have only one path to the center, a path that twists and turns on itself, providing an apt metaphor for the twists and turns of one’s own life and allowing one to enter into a reflective state—mentally, physically, and spiritually.”

Brent House’s labyrinth will be traced out of cornmeal, since it is both biodegradable and cost-efficient. In the middle of this labyrinth, which will be open between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., refreshments will be served to revive participants.