Nancy Romita and Anita Langford

In 1999 Nancy Romita of The Moving Company had a vision of integrating the arts and healing within a traditional health care setting. That vision, which she termed the Pathways Project, was of a peaceful, meditative, healing space on Hopkins Bayview Medical Center’s campus for use by patients, families, staff and members of the community.

The partnership among The Moving Company, Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, and TKF led to the creation of a sacred space within a grass dell near the center of the campus, with landscaping that creates a cloistered, welcoming, contemplative atmosphere.  The focal point of the space is a labyrinth, a single path design intended to teach the Hopkins Bayview community and surrounding community the relationship between traveling the circular path and achieving physical, emotional and mental health. The Pathways project was dedicated in June 2000 with The Moving Company’s culminating performances at the dedication ceremony, and since then, the space has seen much use and several enhancements.

In 2003 Hopkins Bayview established a Labyrinth Committee, led by firesoul Anita Langford, that coordinates enhancements to the labyrinth space and which organizes events and activities designed to increase the visibility and use of the wonderful space.

In addition to enhancing the space with two portals at the entrance of the labyrinth, Hopkins Bayview has placed 4 banners in the space, each with an inspiring word: Hope, Healing, Faith and Courage. Each month a labyrinth walk is held to meditate and to reflect on the meaning of one of the four words.

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