Lenny Friedman
World Labyrinth Day, the first Saturday in May as declared by The Labyrinth Society, was celebrated by Quail Creek residents and many others at the Man in the Maze Labyrinth in Man in the Maze Park, 16300 La Villita Rd, Sahuarita, Ariz., on May 2.
The Man in the Maze design is a spiritual symbol of the Tohono O’odham Nation. The symbol represents the journey of life with “twists, turns, and lessons one encounters, leading to wisdom, and balance”. The design is often seen on traditional baskets and as petroglyphs.
The Man in the Maze Labyrinth in Sahuarita was designed and built, with the sanction of Austin Nunez, chairman of the Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation, by Lenny Friedman. Daniel Preston, Legislative Councilman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was spokesman for the Tohono O’odham Nation at the dedication of the Labyrinth and described the meaning of the Man in the Maze symbol and the statue of I’itoi, creator deity for the Tohono O’odham people. Preston gave a thoughtful and heartfelt Tohono O’odham prayer and blessing. His words set a tone of reverence, unity, and peace that resonated throughout the ceremony. Rowena Carlyle, a Tohono O’odham artist, shared her childhood vision, now beautifully realized in the painting at the labyrinth’s center. Approximately seventy individuals gathered in respectful celebration of both the labyrinth’s opening and World Labyrinth Day.
Friedman first became interested in labyrinths after his eighth grade students walked a labyrinth and shared their personal experiences. He built a labyrinth at his home in Rogue River, Ore. and has been building them ever since. Lenny Friedman described the 5000-year-old history of labyrinths and how labyrinths are used in today’s society for mourning, prayer, meditating, and relaxing. On a personal level, Friedman walked labyrinths with hope to help cure cancer when he was diagnosed in December, 2025, He is cancer free since April, 2026.
Many Quail Creek residents enjoyed their first labyrinth experience and look forward to walking many more.