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RELAXATION, REFLECTION,
RENEWAL, AND CONNECTION
Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1
HISTORY OF THE LABYRINTH ........................................................................................................ 2
FIVE STAGES OF THE LABYRINTH WALK ...................................................................................... 3
READY Preparation .............................................................................................................. 3
RELEASE Path to the Centre .............................................................................................. 3
RECEIVE Being in the Centre ............................................................................................. 3
RESPOND Path from the Centre ......................................................................................... 3
REFLECT Making your Experience Concrete................................................................... 4
SUGGESTIONS FOR WALKING THE LABYRINTH ............................................................................ 4
PERMISSION ........................................................................................................................... 4
PURPOSE .................................................................................................................................. 4
PATH ......................................................................................................................................... 4
PACE .......................................................................................................................................... 4
PASS ........................................................................................................................................... 4
PAUSE ....................................................................................................................................... 4
FINGER-WALKING A PERSONAL LABYRINTH ............................................................................. 5
EXAMPLES OF LABYRINTHS ........................................................................................................... 6
3-Circuit Classical Labyrinth .................................................................................................. 6
7-Circuit Modern Round Labyrinth ....................................................................................... 7
11-Circuit Chartres Medieval Labyrinth ............................................................................... 8
INTRODUCTION
The labyrinth, a spiral circle pattern, can be traced back more than 4,000 years. Through its
long history of sacred and secular use, it has crossed cultural and spiritual traditions around the
world. (See History of the Labyrinth.)
There are two basic families of labyrinth designs: the oldest and simplest is the Classical Family
which is drawn from a seed pattern; the Medieval Family is a more complicated design based on
sacred geometry and many layers of symbolic meaning, with the most famous being the 11circuit labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France. There are many modern adaptations of the
Classical and Medieval styles. (See the Classical pattern, the Modern, round 7-circuit pattern
based on the Classical, and the 11-circuit Chartres pattern; these can be used as finger labyrinths)
Labyrinths today can be found in many contexts and environments, including healthcare
facilities, religious worship spaces, schools, retreat centres, community centres and parks. They
can be permanent or portable, indoors or outdoors, ground/floor or finger labyrinths.
Walking the labyrinth has been reclaimed in our time as a way to move into relaxation, reflection,
and renewal. It can connect us to our creative energies and inner wisdom, to our deeper selves
and to one another.
Amazing but not a Maze
Labyrinths are not the same as mazes. Mazes have dead ends, cul-de-sacs, intersections, high
walls and other features that are meant to confuse and get the walker lost. A maze is a left-brain
game. Walking the labyrinth is a heart-led, right-brain, intuitive experience. The labyrinth helps
you find your way, literally and metaphorically: it is a single path to the center and you change
direction and walk back out the same path. The whole labyrinth is visible at one time.
The Benefits of Labyrinth Walking
The labyrinth appeals to people from different cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds,
including those who are disadvantaged or have high needs. Walking the labyrinth is an inclusive
practice that is as easy as simply walking or moving in some way; as comforting and calming as
the circle of a hug; as flowing as water with ideas and solutions that are creative and inspiring. It
can help users to find balance in body, mind, emotions, and spirit. It appeals to all the senses. It
is a place of silence, tears, laughter, singing, chanting; a place of slow or fast walking, dancing
and other expressions of movement.
Walking a labyrinth, following its curves and turns, can promote a calm, focused attention span
and mentally, physically, and emotionally refresh adults and children, alike. It can shift one's
mind from left-brain, linear thinking to right-brain creative, intuitive, non-verbal thinking. The
labyrinth is a safe space for recognizing and exploring feelings. Using the labyrinth is a way to
develop and practice Healthy Life Skills: slowing down and quieting busy minds; letting go of
worries and doubts; becoming grounded and centered; opening to the flow of intuition and
creative energy that supports goal-setting, problem solving, decision-making, and artistic
expression; moving forward, on the labyrinth and in everyday life, choosing wise action based on
core values. It helps to deepen respect for one another; you walk the path together yet you each
are on your own unique journey. There is no failure, you can't do it wrong; it is more about the
journey than the destination, being more than doing. (See 5 Stages of the Labyrinth Walk and
Suggestions for Walking the Labyrinth.)
Pylos, Greece (circa 1200 BCE) and also found on Cretan Coins of four to five hundred BCE.
The Classical labyrinths are easily constructed using a seed pattern. The Classical 7-Circuit
labyrinth is the most common and is sometimes called the Cretan Labyrinth. The labyrinth
symbol was widely used and adapted by the Romans.
The Medieval Family of labyrinths is based on sacred geometry and is usually divided into four
quadrants. The oldest examples are found on the floors of European churches and cathedrals,
particularly in Italy, France and Germany, and as turf labyrinths in England and Germany. The
best known is the 13th century, 11-Circuit labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral, France. While
Christians used labyrinths found on pre-Christian sites and modeled their own after those earliest
labyrinth forms, the development of the high medieval Christian labyrinth was a breakthrough in
design. The Medieval labyrinth has many layers of meaning and Christian symbolism. The
medieval Christians walked the labyrinths as a way of symbolically participating in the great
pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Walking the labyrinth has re-emerged today as a powerful tool for personal and spiritual healing
and growth, professional development, and community building. The labyrinth, both in its
permanent and portable forms, is now found in many contexts and environments including
churches; schools; hospitals, birthing centres, hospices and other healthcare facilities; senior
residences and centres; retreat centres; prisons; community centres; parks and public and private
gardens; and the workplace.
PURPOSE
It is helpful to set an intention for your walk.
Experience the labyrinth; Enjoy the movement of your body; Ask a question; Seek
guidance; Open to connection.
The combination of attention and intention helps to make the labyrinth space and experience
become sacred and powerful.
Let go of expectations.
Whatever happens during the exercise of the labyrinth can be used as a metaphor, a mirror,
for where you are in your life or on your spiritual journey.
PATH
You may be drawn to walk around the labyrinth before entering or after exiting.
There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth.
You cant get lost; you will either return to the center to stay there awhile longer or return to the
entrance/exit point and you can start again.
PACE
Find and honor your own pace which may change as you move through the stages of the
labyrinth.
Practice mindful walking, becoming aware of thoughts, sensations, feelings.
Pause wherever and whenever you may feel the need.
Allow your breath to flow and help quiet mind.
Take whatever time you need in the centre; leave when you feel ready. Accommodate others
in the space.
PASS
The labyrinth is a two-way street. Pass each other as feels respectful.
PAUSE
At the exit, pause, give thanks; maintain a non-verbal state for a while after your walk, resting,
journaling or drawing.
4
EXAMPLES OF LABYRINTHS
3-Circuit Classical Labyrinth