Labyrinth on the Hill

The Labyrinth on the Hill is located in Wildflower Preserve, at the southeast corner of the Gasparilla Pines Boulevard and Placida Road (Hwy 775) intersection. The parking lot address is 3120 Gasparilla Pines Boulevard, Englewood, FL 34224.

The ancient archetypal path is hundreds of years old and has been walked by millions of people of all cultures. Walking the labyrinth can be a personal practice that quiets the mind, opens the heart and grounds the body. The custom made, seven concentric circuits of the labyrinth have variously been suggested to correspond with the seven days of the week, visible planets, chakras and colors of the rainbow. Unlike a maze, there are no trick or dead ends. Used as a guide for centering, healing, and spiritual growth, the labyrinth can be a powerful tool for community building, an agent for peace, or an ideal place for a quiet reflective walk.

Overlooking the Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve with 360 degree views to the North, South, East, and West, the  newly dedicated “Labyrinth on the Hill” is a remarkable place set aside for you to reflect, look within, pray, and negotiate new behavior. Constructed using rocks and other natural elements collected from the property, Tonya Bramlage and Lary Stuhlmiller, collaborated with intentions to inspire liberation, creativity, peace and a deep sense of well being. The “Labyrinth on the Hill” offers the necessary components for  both enhancing environmental awareness, while simultaneously enabling a labyrinth walking practice. In 2021, Tonya was trained as a labyrinth facilitator by Anne Bonney who is a member of the faculty and Board of Directors at Veriditas, which is the International Organization of the Labyrinth.

The “classical”design is the most time honored of labyrinth designs, and has been found worldwide on every single continent. The classical design is famous for its ancient circular pattern, that is thought to derive from nature, with a single winding path that provides a meditative walk to the center and back out again. Inspired, Anne and her close colleagues, joined their shared intentions and built by hand, a replica of the classically designed labyrinth from Anne’s northern residence at The Center For The Spiritual Journey in Cape Cod, Massachusetts; csjcapecod.org. Using only cockle shells discovered while beach combing, the team individually placed each shell in its correct position to help create the labyrinth on Gasparilla Island. “Being ever mindful that each labyrinth walk experience is unique, helps to make the practice therapeutic and deeply personal,” shares Anne.

Every year, in early May, labyrinth walkers from across the globe join together in a  collective research study called, “Big Connection.” People from around the world walk the labyrinth in solidarity with specific intentions as they participate in World Labyrinth Day. The Legacy Labyrinth Project, in partnership with Dr. Jocelyn McGee from Baylor University; Garland School of Social Work, come together in a longitudinal study to explore the power of heart centered energy and focused intentions in order to create change. Using the labyrinth as a tool, contemplative labyrinth practice is a measurable and effective way of developing awareness using the heart brain connection. 

Tonya shares,”Each time that I walked the labyrinth during my sea turtle nesting patrols with Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association. I experienced and mindfully observed that the energy of the World moves in a circle. The sky is round and I have heard that the earth too is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same world as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they once began. The life of a human is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where I witness power move in a circle of infinity.” 

The “Big Connection 3.0”  records and reports the data of this global humanity study for serving the Planet by labyrinth walking. On May 6, 2023 at 9:00 am everyone is welcome and invited to participate in World Wide Labyrinth day by walking the “Labyrinth on the Hill” 3120 Gasparilla Pines Boulevard Englewood, FL 34224. Participants must register in advance at LegacyLabyrinthProject.org. Everyone who registers will receive a 4 minute video outline, a copy of the heart/brain meditation, a written copy of instructions, and a direct link to the Baylor study questionnaire. The World Wide Labyrinth Locator provides exact coordinates for the “Labyrinth on the Hill” as well as other legacy labyrinth partners around the globe in case you will be traveling. 

No matter what the labyrinth design, walking the labyrinth is simple and enjoyable. Unless of course, hurricane Ian comes along and manages to destroy it. The “Labyrinth on the Hill” at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve was still under construction and fortunately sustained minimal damage, however that was not the case for the labyrinth on Gasparilla Island. These are the times when we really begin to understand that there are no accidents and no detours, but on the contrary; every life experience is very much a part of our intrinsic path even if the experiences are painful, uncomfortable, or disturbing  at the time. 

Interdisciplinary psychologist, professor, and author Ram Dass stated, “We are all just walking each other home.” The labyrinth helps us to find our way back to our heart, our authentic selves, to live life the way we are created to live it. Labyrinth walking demonstrates an infinite pathway that represents the cyclic journey of death and rebirth. It is not only a reflection of the journey of all life moving through the various material forms, but it also mirrors the journey of the soul.Whether it is through the contrast of reflecting back to us who we are not, or do not desire to become, the labyrinth vividly demonstrates these precepts.

Anne Bonney is currently leading guided labyrinth walks at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve “Labyrinth on the Hill”. https://lemonbayconservancy.org/calendar/

Each walk includes simple guidelines for how to walk the labyrinth, a time for sharing refections, and a question/answer session. Anne will have you begin your walk at the designated labyrinth entrance. The starting point of the labyrinth path is found within the lane between the rocks. Next, you will need to take a moment or two to find a pace for your walk that seems natural and relaxed. Make sure that your body moves with ease. Intentionally release any expectations or preconceived ideas that you might have about walking the labyrinth. 

Freely move and make your way around others and let others freely move or pass around you as you walk. Be mindful that you are always welcome to pause, remain standing, or sitting at the center space of the labyrinth for as long as you wish.When you feel ready, begin to walk out of the labyrinth by taking the same path you followed in. Natural integration of the labyrinth experience begins to take place as you finish your walk; be sure to take your time to become fully present, attuning and allowing yourself some space to process your experience  while in the moment.You can be a force for for change, just walk the labyrinth and see for yourself. No human being with whom we cross paths is ever “wrong” for us, even if we should encounter hardship while being with them. After all, by virtue of the nature of walking with us for a time, they help us gain clarity about who we are and what we want.