Coastal Carolina University students have created a labyrinth on campus to promote mindfulness practices. Developed as a class project in GEOG 352: Sacred Spaces, Sacred Paths, the labyrinth has been installed between the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts building and Eldred E. Prince building. A public grand opening and ribbon cutting, hosted by CCU’s LiveWell Office, will be held on Wednesday, April 27, at noon. A variety of mindfulness activities, including a meditation mantra bracelet craft, will be offered. The University’s labyrinth will be used as a meditative and reflective space for individual introspection.

A labyrinth is a geometric pattern that meanders to a center and contains only one path in. Labyrinths have been found worldwide, with the earliest known labyrinth dating back to 4,000 years ago.

According to Amanda Todd, Ph.D., lecturer of human geography in the Department of Anthropology and Geography, students in the class have explored the aspects of space at various scales for geographical sites and analyzed the physical terrain and structures built within spaces that serve a sacred purpose for society.

“The labyrinth will be available until next spring for individuals, groups, organizations, campus offices and classes to use,” Todd said. “The labyrinth space may also be used for contemplative pedagogy practices within the Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences.”