about our labyrinth Labyrinth Etiquette • If others are on the labyrinth, please be respectful of their presence • Begin at the entry point. • Time your start so that others do not feel rushed or crowded. • Set your own pace. • Allow others to pass you; pass others Labyrinth – A Sacred Space as necessary.

Labyrinths have been in use for over 4000 years. To Beloit To Milwaukee/Madison Our eleven-circuit design is modeled after the Riverside Blvd.

labyrinth in medieval Chartres Cathedral in France . and features an echoing energy vortex at the d Rd. N Applewood Ln. center. The basic design is fundamental toWE nature Mulfor Alpine Rd. N. Second St. 90 S Maria Linden Dr as well as many cultures and religious traditions. 251 ook Rd. Spring Br Perryville Rd. ollway Auburn St. Springcreek Rd. Our labyrinth is a sacred place; a place built Guilford Rd. Connecting, empowering, creating andNorthwest T with love, a place where we feel connected to Rock River transforming our world–one woman at a time. State St. each other and to the earth, a place of beauty Situated on a seven-acre campus between Alpine and in every season and in every kind of weather, Mulford Roads in Rockford, Illinois, Womanspace has a place of peace and harmony, a place of love art studios, galleries, 20Gallery2Go gift shop, beautiful To Freeport/Dubuque, IA gardens and a labyrinth, and operates as a not-for- and healing, a place of understanding and To Chicago profit 501(c)(3) organization. knowing. This walking meditation path can be both therapeutic and energizing. It is our gift to the community – available to anyone seeking quiet and reflection.

3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford, IL 61114 815-877-0118 • womanspace-rockford.org Womanspace Labyrinth History The Labyrinth Today As a labor of love, the Labyrinth Committee, Richard Estabrook, son of Mark and Elsie, Except for times when special events are consisting of a team of 12 Womanspace helped us with the revised dimensions. First scheduled, the Womanspace Labyrinth is open members, began to plan a Chartres-style aglime was spread, and then the rocks which to visitors seven days a week during daylight labyrinth on July 10, 2002. Mark Estabrook were placed one by one to define the walls on hours. To reach it, follow the ribbon hoops at developed the original dimensions – 100 ft. the pathway – all by a team of volunteers. Pea the entrance to the woods on the right side of diameter. Member Susan Lee, gravel was later added to help the circle drive. serving as a dowser, located the Factoids prevent erosion on the paths. center of the sacred space from • 72 feet diameter It is not a maze, so which energy seemed to emanate, • 80 tons of aglime & pea gravel As work progressed, workers heard once you reach the and a circle developed naturally. • 20 tons of limestone rocks an echo in the area around the center, you will have Volunteers worked tirelessly that • Rocks laid end to end equal center rock, an echo of timeless walked on every part summer to clear the area of 2200 feet (7 football fields) patterns, powerful energies, and of the path. There invasive shrubs. It was then left • 2000 feet of string the ancient feel of the new space. are no rules, but dormant for the winter. • 3000 nails The whole process provided a most prefer to walk to the rosette at the heart of wonderful connection with each the design, contemplate the experience, leave In the spring of 2003, the committee continued other, the land, the earth, and ancient creatures a symbol of their walk intention on the large to clear the area, and downsized the in the fossilized limestone. limestone rock, and then retrace each step as dimensions to a 72 ft. diameter to fit the space the path unwinds. Both inward and outward and require less maintenance. The circle was When the Womanspace labyrinth was dedicated trips offer powerful life metaphors and insights. then covered with landscape fabric to help limit in 2003, it was the only 11-circuit Chartres-style invasive weeds. Member Sue Hoople directed labyrinth in Rockford. It is open to the community Groups interested in renting/reserving the the layout of the circle and paths using nails most days of the year from dawn to dusk. The labyrinth for special events or ceremonies and string. Practical math and geometry were history of this labyrinth can be viewed in a picture should contact us at 815-877-0118. applied, resulting in the seamless paths. album in the William Reif Gallery at Womanspace.