The Barefoot Bellarmine Labyrinth

First of all, this wasn’t my idea.

I mean my retreat at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House was not my idea. I am here because my current course of study required that I participate in a five day guided Ignatian retreat. Bellarmine was one of the closest and most cost effective options, so here I am, in my fourth day.

One of the Beautiful Bellarmine Gardens

I showed up on this beautiful secluded campus and the first thing I find out is that it is a ‘silent’ retreat. I must have missed that detail somewhere. So at our evening meal as we are chatting away, I’m told that after 8pm that Friday evening we are to go silent if at all possible until our last lunch together on Wednesday.

Well aaaalllrighty then! 

Five days where the only words I utter are the responses during morning prayers and Mass or chatting with my Spiritual Director during our daily 45 minute sessions. Hmmmm… I’ve never done this before.

It isn’t a vow of silence or anything that drastic. One can speak quietly if one must. The idea is simply to give each other (there are around 50 or 60 of us here) the gift of quiet to build an atmosphere in which introspection, reflection and maybe even listening to God can flourish.

Then, during our brief dinner conversation that Friday evening, someone mentions that there is a labyrinth on site. 

The labyrinth inlaid in the floor of
Chartres Cathedral in France

What?! Really! I LOVE labyrinths! Ever since I discovered that Chartres Cathedral in France had one inlaid in their sanctuary floor and did some research on them, I’ve always walked them whenever possible.

I’m told that unlike the one in Chartres, this one is outdoors and designed to be walked barefoot because the path between the inlaid stones is grass. 

GENIUS!

The Barefoot Bellarmine Labyrinth

I didn’t find it until my second day here, hidden in plain sight as it was. But at every sunset since then I’ve walked it. Barefoot. With my travel sax set to ‘pan flute’ playing some of my favorite haunting melodies and whatever else came to mind. (Quietly played music away from others is not frowned upon at a silent retreat.)

My trusty travel sax helped me set the mood

Which haunting songs?

My very favorite is from an obscure Irish alternative Celtic rock band called Iona. The opening theme to their 1992 album “The Book of Kells” is absolutely stunning. The album was made to draw attention to the 1200+ year old Irish Illuminated Gospel manuscript which is now safely housed at Trinity College in Dublin.

Five years ago I put together some hi-res images of this beautiful document with Iona’s opening theme and this is the result (best viewed on the largest screen possible with a subwoofer in the mix):

Another of my most favorite haunting melodies is from an award winning animation called “The Secret of Kells”. Hear and see the beautiful scene here:

On my little travel sax, the simple pan flute voice helped pretty much anything I played while walking the labyrinth feel mysterious and haunting.

I am feeling extremely blessed and grateful to be here. 

Maybe I will get to return someday.