Did you know that Illinois is home to over 100 labyrinths ? I have selected 7 of the best that are accessible to the public, focusing on large population areas. If you are near one, stop by and take a meditative walk. If you want a full list of labyrinths in the state check out the Worldwide Labyrinth Finder.
Why visit a Labyrinth ?
Labyrinths are ancient and mysterious symbols that have been used for centuries for meditation, contemplation, and spiritual renewal. They are also a lot of fun to explore! If you're looking for a unique and challenging experience, walk a labyrinth with intention - it often leads to self-discovery. Personally, I like to walk labyrinths between dawn and sunrise or at sunset until dusk. You may not realize it, but there is probably a labyrinth near where you live. Today we explore…
7 Labyrinths to Visit in ILLINOIS
1. St. James Cathedral Labyrinth
I choose this 7 circuit Chartres style labyrinth because of it’s location in downtown Chicago. Located off of Huron St if you are in town for sightseeing you will be near this location at some point !
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Address:
65 E Huron St
Chicago, Illinois 60611
2. Garfield Park Conservatory Labyrinth
Garfield Park Labyrinth - J E Koonce - flickr
This outdoor 7 circuit grass labyrinth is open from 9AM-5PM. Plan your visit on their website, including this helpful map of the grounds so you know where the labyrinth is located.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Address:
300 North Central Park Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60624
3. Aurora University Labyrinth
Made of brown and red concrete pavers, this 7 circuit labyrinth is 40 feet in diameter and was a gift from the class of 1967. You can learn more about the labyrinth here.
Location: Aurora, Illinois
Address:
347 S. Gladstone Ave.
Aurora, Illinois 60506-4892
4. Naperville Riverwalk Labyrinth
This Chartres style labyrinth has been entertaining locals since it was built in 1998. It was built by the company Labyrinths in Stone which has some great designs if you are looking to install your own labyrinth.
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Address:
Eagle and Jackson Streets, on the Riverwalk
Naperville, Illinois 60563
5. Womanspace Labyrinth
This 72 ft diameter Chartres-style labyrinth is made from limestone rock & aglime, and is open from dusk til dawn. The labyrinth was built in 2002 and they often have events for the labyrinth: here is an example from their website with a great picture of the labyrinth.
Location: Rockford, Illinois
Address:
3333 Maria Linden Drive
Rockford, Illinois 61114
6. Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin Earth Wisdom Labyrinth
This 11 circuit Chartres style labyrinth was first built in 1997. It is open during daylight hours. From the website: “It is the largest permanent outdoor labyrinth in Illinois, spanning more than 94 feet in diameter, and winding inward for 1/3 a mile, and then outward again for 1/3 a mile. It is made up of more than 165 tons of stone and crushed limestone, and was moved by hand by the congregation from its original location. The labyrinth was dedicated in a ceremony during the Summer Solstice of 1997.”
Location: Elgin, Illinois
Address:
39W830 Highland Avenue
Elgin, Illinois 60123
7. Friends of Lakeview Prairie Labyrinth
This is one or the largest labyrinths you will find at 210 feet in diameter. It has it’s own website where you can see the labyrinth in different seasons and obviously you can watch it be made/cut into the grass in the video above.
Location: Macomb, Illinois
Address:
Lakeview Nature Center
Macomb, Illinois 61455
5 TIPS FOR VISITING A LABYRINTH
Set an intention for your walk so you can walk with purpose. It could be prayer, reflection, meditation, contemplation, or openness.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking.
Bring water with you, especially if you are visiting on a hot day.
Take your time and enjoy the experience. There is no need to rush through a labyrinth.
Be respectful of other visitors. This includes not making noise and being respectful if walking with other people.
5 BOOKS TO READ ABOUT LABYRINTH WALKING
I wrote a blog post reviewing the following 5 books, each that deals with walking labyrinths. You can check them out yourself at the Amazon links below or read this blog post: 5 Books about the Spiritual Aspect of Labyrinths to learn a little about what each book teaches.
Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool by Dr. Lauren Artress 201 pages. AMZN
Labyrinth : Your Path to Self-Discovery by Tony Christie 312 pages. AMZN
Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide For Healing and Spiritual Growth by Melissa Gayle West 209 pages AMZN
Walking the Labyrinth: A Place to Pray and Seek God by Travis Scholl 240 pages AMZN
Labyrinths from the Outside In: Walking to Spiritual Insight by Rev Dr Donna Schaper and Rev Dr Carole Ann Camp 187 pages AMZN
If you are interested in more spiritual labyrinth aspects I suggest the following websites:
Lauren Artress website - For coaching, workshops and classes.
Veriditas - The nonprofit labyrinth group founded by Lauren Artress
Worldwide Labyrinth Finder - Find a labyrinth to walk near you, or while on vacation
I am a maze artist and have made a few mazes of places in Illinois:
Wrigley Field Sign Maze - Chicago
Chicago Theatre Sign Maze - Chicago
Spillway Lanes Sign Maze - Springfield
Don Carter Lanes Sign Maze - Rockford
Emo’s Dairy Mart Sign Maze - Peoria