The story of the beautiful new Rietjiesvlei Labyrinth in Bloemfontein is the result of a collaboration and serendipitous discovery between ZET Retreats & Workshops and Hospice Bloemfontein.
As part of her Certification as a Veriditas-trained labyrinth facilitator, Zarine Roodt started with a process of setting up a series of facilitated labyrinth walking events. The first took place in Zarine’s hometown of Bloemfontein on 11 November and took the form of a Dedication Ceremony for Hospice Bloemfontein, a holistic and compassion-focused palliative care service in the city.
Her next event will be at the Chartres-style Schoongezicht Labyrinth on the Rustenberg Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. To create the Rietjiesvlei Labyrinth, Zarine and Hospice Bloemfontein General Manager, Hanneke Maschke-Lubbe, worked closely with local architect Jan Ras, who was also responsible for devising a temporary labyrinth to accommodate 70 guests for Zarine’s 50th birthday 10 years ago, when labyrinths initially piqued her interest.
The result of the collaboration is a truly sacred space in the heart of Bloemfontein.
The classic seven-circuit Rietjiesvlei Labyrinth will remain as a permanent feature in the city and will be open to Hospice volunteers, patients and their families.
The ceremony was attended by volunteer workers who all brought along a symbolic token representing their personal inspiration for signing up as Hospice volunteers. Although they walked the labyrinth as a group, each person expressed afterwards that it was a meaningful yet extremely personal experience for them. Labyrinths are a feature at many hospices and specialised care facilities across the world.
The therapeutic benefits of walking a labyrinth in this specific care sector are many.
For hospice patients and their loved ones, walking a labyrinth can help to bring body, mind and spirit in harmony; have a calming influence and help people to release their fear, stress or grief; create a sense of stillness to help people find clarity about decisions that may impact themselves or their loved ones; and it creates an opportunity for introspection and acceptance in dealing with the reality of loss or death.
For hospice volunteers and companions, the meditative effect of walking labyrinth pens a space for reflection and for centring amidst the emotional impact that can be experienced with the work they do. But it also offers a sense of renewed resilience and vigour to continue withholding space for palliative care patients and their families.
