“I have many passions along the route of Sacred Space but Labyrinths, their use and design, occupy quite a bit of my time”.
I am often asked to explain the difference between a Labyrinth and a Maze and the answer is “with a Maze you have a choice of which path to take, (a left brain decision process.)
Walking a Labyrinth one follows a Unicursal Path, from the ‘Mouth’ (entrance) to the ‘Goal’ (the centre) using your Intuative side, (a right brain decision process.)
So, what are they and where do we find them. Big questions!
Labyrinths have been around for around 3,000 years and perhaps even longer. Used throughout the world by different cultures they are used for a variety of different reasons; Meditation walking, trying to solve a worry you may have, just for a quiet contemplation, or a walk just for the hell of it. Walking any labyrinth is a very personal experience. It is about you. Before you enter any labyrinth give some thought to your life, either on the physical plain or your intuitive side.
Labyrinths are constructed using a variety of materials; stone, hedging, grass cutting, turf cutting, sand, snow, hazard tapes of various kinds and many more. the chosen material acts as the walls of the labyrinth within the Unicursal shape. There are large ones, designed for group walking and small ones for family use. Many different styles exist throughout the world, like the famous Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in France.
These enlightening shapes can be used in any way you please, walking, a group of people holding hands and walking at a brisk rate, running, crawling, walking backward in fact whatever way you may choose.
