Traverse City: The gratitude well

A natural spring popped up near the labyrinth entrance.

What a blessing! A natural spring popped up the day we arrived at the site for the labyrinth in the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park. We couldn’t have been given a warmer welcome by Mother Nature as we began our first day creating the Chartres-inspired labyrinth, which will be the central feature of the Judith Groleau Healing Garden. With a little digging, Marty turned the spring into a well, and we consecrated it as a sacred well with reverence for the holy waters. We have added a couple of Marty’s hand-carved statuettes, crystals, and some flowers from the surrounding gardens. We keep adding more elements each day, as do the many visitors who stop by to watch us work.
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It’s not the first time a spring has popped up at or near the entrance of one of our labyrinths. When we put in the spiral-pattern labyrinth in the driveway at our house, a spring bubbled up in the empty lot across the street and started running over the curb into the storm drain. When we were finishing up an installation in Gallipolis, Ohio, a spring emerged at the entrance of the labyrinth with a flow so strong that we had to put a couple of four-inch PVC pipes 18 inches underground to channel the water. All of these natural springs seem to have some kind of healing properties, yet the spring that appeared here in the Healing Garden seems to be extra special, especially since we consecrated it as a sacred well. 

The natural spring bubbles up from deep underground, 
blessing the site with holy water.

We have had a fascination with sacred wells for many years, probably because we work so closely with Nature and marvel at little miracles like natural springs. Since ancient times, people have made pilgrimages to natural springs and holy wells for healing, where they would drink or sometimes bathe in the water to seek relief for a variety of ailments from rheumatism to scurvy, broken bones to leprosy, impotence to infertility. Scientists have since discovered that the water of some holy wells contains curative properties, mostly because of the presence of certain minerals. However, the healing properties of springs and wells go far beyond their medicinal qualities. ​​

​​Sacred wells were also places of divination, and shrines were built around them dedicated to the miraculous emergence of the numinous water, which was believed by pagans and Christians alike as possessing a spiritual force and the presence of divinity. The holy wells of the British Isles were such popular places of worship in pagan times that the early Roman Catholic Church went to great lengths to wipe them out. Then as Christianity gained power, these pagan temples were transformed into Christian churches. In fact, many of the magnificent Gothic cathedrals were built on the sites of sacred wells, including Chartres Cathedral, home of the Chartres-pattern labyrinth, which is the inspiration for the Chartres-style labyrinth that we are creating here in the Healing Garden at the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park.​​

​​Traditionally, pilgrims would bring an offering to the well so that the healing power of the well could act upon it by proxy. This ancient practice continues to this day. Every morning before we begin the workday, we leave a token, such as a stone or a flower blossom, with our prayers and expressions of gratitude. During the day, many tour groups stop by to watch us work. From day one, we have invited visitors to float flowers and place stones or other sacred objects in and around the edge of the sacred well. Like the pilgrims from centuries ago, they offer these sacred objects with their silent prayers to wash away whatever might be ailing them and express gratitude for all of the good in their lives.​​

Visitors add sacred objects, such as stones and flowers, 
to the gratitude well.

One day, we noticed a boy among the crowd who looked pretty heavy-hearted. Turns out that he lost his grandma recently and he was sad as could be and really downtrodden. Debi led the boy over to the spring, where he sat quietly and gazed into the rippling water. After awhile, he came over and thanked us. He looked like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. We couldn’t believe the transformation in him! Obviously, the sacred well and the energy of the labyrinth were already having a very healing influence. In fact, we have heard that visitors love the sacred well so much that the Botanic Garden administrators are now talking about making it a permanent part of the Healing Garden!​​ ​​

Dr. Munson, the founder of Traverse City State Hospital, believed in Beauty and Nature as powerful medicine for healing. Munson was a firm believer in the "beauty is therapy" philosophy, treating patients through kindness, comfort, pleasure, and the satisfaction of meaningful work. Flowers provided a source of year-round beauty, tended by patients in the asylum's own greenhouses and expansive gardens on the grounds. A hundred years later, his vision is still here, being rebirthed and coming to life in ways that he probably could never have imagined.  We are honored and so very grateful to be on this journey!​​

Debi introduces the gratitude well to one of the many 
visitors who stop by on garden tours.

Labyrinths support military readiness

Soldier walking labyrinth in Angel Garden at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Since we began working with labyrinths more than 20 years ago, they have grown in popularity and importance, emerging from relative obscurity in the 1990s into a full-blown worldwide labyrinth revival in the 21st Century. No longer a fringe element, labyrinths have finally become mainstream once again. Even our armed forces acknowledge the value of labyrinths in maximizing personal readiness and building resiliency among our combat forces. In fact, the labyrinth is now recognized as an important tool to support spiritual and physical health and wellness objectives of the Navy’s 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative. 

For us, labyrinths officially entered the mainstream of American consciousness when we received a call in 2011 from Cmdr. Kim Donahue to build a labyrinth at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. We were so honored to have the opportunity to support our troops and veterans with a labyrinth specially designed for their needs—our way of saying “thanks for your service.”

Cmdr. Donahue, chaplain and head of Pastoral Care, told us that when she first checked into the command, she walked by the Angel Garden between Walter Reed Bethesda's Building 8 and 9 and noticed a large empty circle. Her first thought was to put a labyrinth there. She envisioned the labyrinth becoming a spiritual tool that all staff, patients, and family members could use to find peace, pray, or meditate as they walked along its path toward the center. We were ecstatic that her committee chose Labyrinths in Stone to make her vision a reality.

The 42-foot Chartres-pattern labyrinth was completed on November 16, 2011. National Naval Medical Center held an official dedication ceremony the following spring on March 14, 2012, during Pastoral Care Week when the department annually recognizes its staff and promotes its services.

Labyrinth in Angel Garden at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

"This is a community garden, and I want everyone to look at it like that," said Cmdr. Donahue. "This labyrinth is dedicated today, an enduring work of love, to bring healing, compassion, hope and peace, in memory and in honor of all those who have given themselves to free others." She also explained how research has indicated that labyrinths, which have been used in health care facilities for years, can positively change an individual's energy after walking through its path.

After walking through the labyrinth during the ceremony, Dr. Joan Gordon, a transition coordinator at Walter Reed Bethesda, said it reminded her of how life has its twists and turns. "Things always turn out better than you anticipate, and there's surprises along the way," she said.

Along with many other staff members, Gordon walked through the labyrinth toward its center where ceremony attendees could pick up a small stone paver, remaining from the labyrinth's construction, as a keepsake. Attendees could also write a message on the pavers, with permanent marker, noting their feelings about their experience while walking the path. Gordon wrote, "Faith, Hope and Love." "There's so much love here--the love of our patients, the love from family members that motivates us to give our best,” she said. “It's very appropriate to have it here."

Detail of labyrinth in Angel Garden at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Alton L. Stocks, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center commander, noted the labyrinth's value and its healing capabilities. "What a special event this is for us. It's really a unique tool we have in our tool box to provide healing. I'm very excited that we have this here," Stocks said.

At long last, the labyrinth is now acknowledged once again as an important tool for healing for people of all paths of faith and all walks of life, including our combat forces and veterans. We feel so honored that the labyrinth at Walter Reed has served our armed forces so well, especially those who have given their all. We also feel validated that labyrinths are recognized as an important element of the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative to maximize personal readiness, build resiliency, and support the spiritual and physical health and wellness of our armed forces. We couldn’t be more proud to do our part to support our troops and veterans!