The Ancient Tradition of Labyrinths Touches Modern Hearts

BY ARLENE HARDER, MA, MFT

Discover the pleasure of labyrinths in seeking peace and spiritual awareness.

If you've walked through a labyrinth laid out on the floor or ground in a church, park, hospital, school, or retreat center, you've joined millions of people who've discovered this wonderful tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. Even if you've only traced your finger through a small labyrinth made from cloth, wood, or paper, you are likely aware that labyrinths can help you disconnect your brain's neurons from all the constant "chatter" and "stuff" around which they are tightly wound—and in their place create a more peaceful, calming connection with your heart and spirit.

What exactly are labyrinths?

According to Relax4Life, a retreat center in Illinois that provides a number of labyrinth products, workshops and services that assist in personal growth and healing:

A labyrinth is a design with a single path leading to and from its center. Unlike a maze (which is designed to trick the mind), its purpose is not to confuse or bewilder as there are no blind alleys or dead ends within. Rather, it is an 'Intuitive Playground,' where we invite a deeper, more knowing part of ourselves to come out and play.

Labyrinths function to further those who are on the path to more balanced spiritual, emotional, physical and psychological well being. Many people think the labyrinth is a metaphor for the 'path' we walk in life (lot's of turns but no dead ends) and believe the labyrinth experience can bring each person or group a special experience and focus. They are often referred to as 'Sacred Space' in that they are a relaxing respite away from our daily, busy lives; an opportunity to slow the mind and body down in order to communicate with our unseen helpers.

If you are interested in learning more about these tools for transformation that have recently been discovered by people all over the world, but which have actually been around for more than 3,000 years, the links below are good places to begin.

The Earth-Wisdom Labyrinth

http://www.uuce.org/labyrinth.html

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin, Illinois, has created a labyrinth fashioned after the famous eleven-circuit design laid into the floor of the medieval cathedral at Chartres, France. Theirs is made up of over 25 tons of stone, spans more than 93 feet in diameter, is composed of mulch spread between rows of local field stone, winds in for 1/3 mile and out for 1/3 mile, and is one of the largest labyrinths of its kind in the world. Who is their labyrinth for? They list the following groups of people, a list that aptly applies to any labyrinth large or small:

Anyone seeking the wisdom of the earth, the sky and the human heart.

People who draw energy from the elements of the earth — may it be an opening to life.

Those who dance with the Goddess — may Her presence be felt.

People who love to meditate in natural surroundings — may it provide quiet in this busy world.

Those who seek to experience Christ more closely — may they walk in his footsteps.

Children who anticipate the adventure of a path winding inward — may they rejoice as they explore.

Those who are fascinated by the physics of an echo which has been heard at the center — may it increase a sense of wonder.

People who follow Eastern traditions — may it lead to wisdom, compassion and peace.

Those who would have nothing to do with a labyrinth — may it remind everyone that there are numerous spiritual paths.

The Labyrinth Society

http://www.labyrinthsociety.org/

The International Labyrinth Society (TLS) is made up of labyrinth enthusiasts from all over the world who walk, build, write about and study labyrinths. Some work to place labyrinths in schools and promote labyrinths for use in mainstream healthcare. Others write music to use while walking a labyrinth while others are fascinated by the mathematical challenges labyrinths have to offer.

While their beautiful website gives a lot of information on these tools for transformation, I enter a word of caution concerning their virtual labyrinth. There may be some who like it, but I don't believe it can really represent the effect you would get from using a real labyrinth. So if you choose to visit that part of their site, don't judge labyrinths on that example. However, for a very simple way to experiment with finger labyrinths, you can print the PDF files of two labyrinths and experiment by coloring them or simply relaxing and tracing your finger into and out of the paths.

Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoffrion

http://www.jillkhg.com/

"A beautiful spiritual tool—a pattern, an emblem, a walkway—has captured my attention and my heart. The labyrinth is its name." This begins Praying the Labyrinth, one of her popular books. On this website you will discover wonderful resources to help you walk any labyrinth you have the pleasure of using.

Awakenings

http://www.lessons4living.com/

Created by Dan Johnston, this website not only has good information on labyrinths, it also has labyrinth cards you can send and stereograms—two-dimensional, computer-generated, graphic images that have a 3-D image hidden in them. (I find I can see the images quickest if I slightly cross my eyes when I'm looking at them.)

Labyrinths in Stone

http://www.artpaver.com/

This site is worth visiting if for no other reason than to view the wonderful works of art created by Marty Kermeen and his wife, Debi. Be sure to click on Galleries and see the marvelous designs this talented couple produces.

Labyrinth Enterprises

http://www.labyrinth-enterprises.com/

Labyrinth Enterprises, founded by Robert Ferré, is the country's best known producer of labyrinths and specializes in both portable fabric labyrinths and permanent on-site labyrinths. Robert has long been prominent in the labyrinth community and has developed a number of proprietary methods for building durable, attractive labyrinths out of concrete, as well as ones from colored nylon and canvas. His web site offers many associated products for sale such as books, instructions for constructing your own labyrinth, video and audio tapes, and photo posters of the Chartres labyrinth.

Relax4Life

http://www.relax4life.com/

This is the website that provided the definition of labyrinths I mentioned earlier in the article. Neal Harris produces beautiful wooden finger labyrinths and notes that slowly tracing the path with your fingers while keeping your eyes closed is an effective way to pray, meditate, or simply relax. Before I saw his labyrinths at a conference this past spring, I had never seen a finger labyrinth, but I was immediately attracted to their beauty and the quality of workmanship.

Surrender to the Heart

http://www.surrendertotheheart.com/

At that same conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Rebecca Rodriguez, who has made pilgrimages to several sacred sites around the world and has co-created The Labyrinth of the Lake in Canyon Lake, Texas, which you can see on her home page. In addition, she's created Labyrinth Inspiration Cards that include a cloth labyrinth and guide stone. She writes that, "Walking the labyrinth provides us a bridge to the sacred within. Navigating through her curves and deep pools, we find initiation, reflection, and stillness. As it washes away the mental obstacles we begin to feel and hear her divine guidance which we are so thirsty for at this place in history.

iSpiritual

http://www.ispiritual.com/

When I found this website, I was impressed with the beautiful multi-colored wooden labyrinths, but I especially liked the children's rainbow labyrinth kit and the idea of using them to have a "time in" rather than a "time out" when children "are showing signs of frustration, hurt or anger." It apparently works, according to Dr. Betty Ciuchta. She notes, "When they are showing signs of frustration, hurt or anger ask them to fully feel their feelings and begin 'their walk.' When they arrive at their center you will have noticed a calming effect. They can then choose a feeling that they like, one that will help them to achieve what they want. Fully feeling their 'new way' they can follow it out from their center to being this 'new way' in their world."

© 2003 Arlene Harder, MA, MFT