The first time visitors descend the steps of the St. Anthony's Parish Center to walk the labyrinth, many aren't sure what to expect.

In the evenings, the room is dark except for a wide ring of flickering candles surrounding the 11-circuit, circular pattern printed on a large section of canvas that stretches from wall to wall.

One after another, walkers enter the labyrinth, taking small, careful steps. The path quickly turns left, then abruptly spins the walker around in the opposite direction. The path approaches the center, only to whisk walkers out to the edge. A hidden sound system plays Gregorian chants, voices softly rising and falling in a seemingly endless prayer.

"The labyrinth allows us to take a time out, slow down and clear our minds," said Joan Anderson, labyrinth organizer and keeper of the canvas. "You have to focus or you will lose your way. One time I saw a woman who kept going around and around for more than an hour and couldn't get to the middle. She was switching paths on the corners and got pretty frustrated."

The labyrinth is an individual, introspective voyage, a meditative odyssey of the mind. Casper's labyrinth, made in the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, is modeled after the stone labyrinth on the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France.

Casper resident Barbara Chapman's daughter took her to visit Chartres a few years ago. They walked the labyrinth together and were overwhelmed and inspired by the ancient structure with its royal blue windows.

"The whole feeling is heavenly," Chapman said. "Millions of people have walked the labyrinth and continue to walk it. Some walk it every day."

Chapman said she has been a regular walker of Casper's labyrinth for the past three years. She said she wishes she could walk it every day because of the way it helps her meditate and expand her thinking.

"Walking it has really enlarged my concept of God and strengthened my relationship with God," Chapman said. "It's a more intimate, different way of communicating with God."

Anderson said everyone's experience walking the labyrinth is different and personal. Some find peace, some find illumination and others find that they haven't spent nearly enough time thinking about the important things.

When walkers reach the center, their reactions differ.

"Some people stand and pray, while others lie down," Anderson said. "I've seen a lot of people sit in the middle and cry and cry. It's a real release for some people. I get a wonderful sense of peace when I stand up from the center and retrace my steps. It's like I'm coming back into the world, and I'm ready to do it."

Chapman said she loses track of time when she's walking the labyrinth. Sometimes she'll stay in the center for 15-20 minutes, while other times she'll pass through quickly.

Chapman said walking the labyrinth is so personal that once she enters, she is oblivious to the world around her. She could be the only one walking or there could be 500 other people and she wouldn't notice, she said.

"Last year, there was a horrible blizzard during one of the weekends," she said. "I was the only one who came, besides (Anderson). It was so cold, the wind was howling and the candles were flickering. It was a very ethereal, awesome experience. Once I started walking, it was other-worldly."

Casper's labyrinth is available every weekend during Lent and during Advent preceding Christmas. It is located at the St. Anthony's Parish Center at 7th and Wolcott streets. Walkers of all religious faiths are welcome Fridays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Reporter John Morgan can be reached at (307) 266-0614 or john.morgan@casperstartribune.net.