What is the Labyrinth?

The labyrinth offers an opportunity for walking meditation representing the journey to enlightenment. Just as we think we are closest to the center, we are actually the farthest away. We are all on the same path, but we all travel at a different pace, and we all must navigate unexpected twists and turns. There is only one path to the center, and unlike a maze, there are no dead ends. As we get closer to the center of the labyrinth, we get closer to our own center and our own truth.

The labyrinth takes several minutes to walk in its entirety. Enter the path holding a question in your mind. By the time you reach the center the answer may rise up from your subconscious as if by magic. Is it magic, or is it Ojai? By the time you wind your way out on the path, feel centered, calm, and at peace with the natural beauty that surrounds you every step of the way.

The stone path was constructed circa 1990. The design is based on an ancient pattern and is the same as the labyrinth of the Chartres Cathedral, in Paris, France. The Chartres labyrinth may have been built as early as the 13th century, though the actual date is unknown. This pattern has been duplicated at churches, monasteries, hospitals, and other locations throughout the world.