Walking and Making Labyrinths

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The Labyrinth: Ancient, Medieval and Modern

Lauren Artress, of Grace Cathedral, San Fransico, is credited for bringing the Medieval Labyrinth to America and reviving the ancient spiritual tradition in the United States and Europe.

The Cathedral at Charte had a centuries old Labyrinth which was usually covered by chairs. Anyone interested in walking had to ask a bemused priest let them remove the chairs so they could walk. However, Dr. Artress saw the potential for spiritual discovery and brought the pattern back to San Fransico where she is a priest at Grace Cathedral.

She wrote her first book about it and people started coming to San Francisco to walk and many others to make their own.

The Medieval Labyrinth began in France, most famously the Cathedral at Chartre. It was designed for people who could not go on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was meant to symbolically represent the Holy City.

Of course, the Classic Labyrinth has existed for as long a people can remember. Pliny, talked about several in his Natural History. The Classic Labyrinth is also popular in the US.

I will talk about my experiences with the Labyrinth and give you information about getting one for your church or even your home.

The Chartres Labyrinth: The Model for Grace Cathedral, San Fransico and Around the USA

My First Labyrinth Walk 

I saw the advertisement in my Baptist Church for a Labyrinth Seminar at a Lutheran Church given by an Episcopalian Priest. I had no idea what it was, but I liked the Ecumenical sense of the thing.

I listened at the Seminar and learned that there is a three step process. Walking in one sheds one's cares and ego, in the center one communes with God and walking out one prepares to reenter the world.

It is suggested that one go in with some intention and draw or journal at the center or after leaving.

The Labyrinth itself was a massive piece of canvas with a Medieval representation. I admit to wondering what the big deal was. I couldn't imagine how one could lose anything following a path that was preordained.

Then I walked. I was taken in very quickly, noticing that at first I came very close to the center, but then was taken away by the path, forces I had no control over. My God, that was something. I walked near the outside, the inside, I came across people going faster or slower than I or people leaving as I was coming in. And I was getting lost and shedding.

By the time I got to the middle I was in an emotional state. I sat down and felt a powerful energy. I stayed and prayed, meditated or just sat. There were tears and a calmness. People came and went, I acknowledged them, but was still in my own world.

At some point I got up to repeat the process, backward, and did feel a building. However, suddenly I was standing a few feet away from the exit. I felt a sudden rebellion and didn't want to continue, but there I was. I stood for a while and then left.

I couldn't have told you how long it took. It could have been a half hour, it could have been three. But I did know more 'what it was all about'.

The picture above is a slice of the Labyrinth at Chartre that I took in 2005. I remember marveling at how old it was. I knew it was ancient, but it was quite striking to be there.

People Building Medieval Labyrinths 

These are the most precise Labyrinths to build. If you want own one, for personal use, to run seminars or for your religious or spiritual organization, you can purchase them from several companies.

However, people are also making their own. A youth in my church did a portable canvas one for his Eagle Scout project. He mapped it out and several of us helped paint it. A friend of mine used bricks to make one on her property in the country.

Here we have three videos of people making these Labyrinths.

Labyrinth Building in Murray Utah

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Creating Masking Tape Labyrinth

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Labyrinth Building in Lafayette, CA

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curated content from YouTube

Walking, and Making, the Classical Labyrinth. 

I have walked fewer of these, mostly because there just aren't as many of them. However, if you want to put one on your property, and you want to do it yourself, this is probably the easiest way. It is also the most organic. It is the same must follow path, with the same in and out, and the same sacred geometry, but it does not have the same precision.

The first one I walked was out side of Asheville, NC. Two women had set one up on their country property using large rocks that they found. They say that the experience was that they were guided as to which stones to use at which places. They have it open for anyone who wants to walk. As one goes through it one notices trinkets and small pieces of jewelry that people have felt moved to leave behind.

The second one was on St Columba Bay on Iona to the Northwest of Scotland, where St. Columba first landed to start his Christian ministry and the Iona Abby. It is also made out of stone by members of the Iona Community. I was told that each year the residents make a new one. The energy of that area, one of the 'thin places' is very powerful. Of course, walking it on the Summer Solstice, which I did, added to the experience.

Labyrinth at Columba Bay on Iona, Scotland

Make Your Own Labyrinth 

How To Make a Labyrinth

Follow the Seed Patterns to make your ouwn Labyrinth at home.

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curated content from YouTube

Walking With Your Fingers 

There are many ways to walk a Labyrinth and your fingers can also do the job.

I own a finger Labyrinth like the one pictured. You can use it with eyes closed or open focusing on the movement. It is a great meditation vehicle.

There are many companies that sell these and other finger Labyrinths.

Great Lens on Other Types of Labyrinth Work and Symbolism 

Labyrinth Links 

Evolution to Medieval Labyrinth
This is a great link, basically about the Medieval Labyrinth but shows how the Classical evolved into the Medieval.
Lauren Artress
Lauren Artress talks about the Labyrinth.
The Labyrinth Society
Great information about the evolution of the labyrinth.
Walking Your Spiritual Journey
About the sacred journey of your life.

Building a Backyard Labyrinth 

Building a Backyard Labyrinth

A time-lapse movie of building a small labyrinth in our backyard from old brick. The labyrinth is very small (about 10 feet in diameter) so actually walking the path requires narrow feet and fine balance. But even the paddle-footed among us can straddle the path and walk on the bricks, and have a satisfying journey that way.

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curated content from YouTube

More on Spiritual Practice And Other Things From Margo 

More on the Labyrinth 

The labyrinth idea book: Making labyrinths from many materials

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Exploring the Labyrinth: Making Sense of the New Spirituality

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

The Sacred Path Companion: A Guide to Walking the Labyrinth to Heal and Transform

Amazon Price: $10.08 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

A Labyrinth Year: Walking The Seasons Of The Church

Amazon Price: $11.90 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Labyrinths from the Outside in: Walking to Spiritual Insight, a Beginner's Guide

Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

The Light

Any Purchase Here Will Contribute to Heifer International: The Pay It Forward Entrepreneurial Charity

Lauren Artress 

The Sacred Path Companion: A Guide to Walking the Labyrinth to Heal and Transform

Amazon Price: $10.08 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice

Amazon Price: $10.08 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

The Sand Labyrinth Kit: Meditation at Your Fingertips

Amazon Price: $29.67 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Walking A Sacred Path - Rediscovering The Labyrinth As A Spiritual Tool

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Have You Walked? Would You Like to Share It? 

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Lensmaster Margo_Arrowsmith has been a member since June 21 2008, has rated 2,018 lenses, favorited 121, and has created 129 lenses from scratch. Margo Arrowsmith donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "Heifer International: The Pay It Foward Entrepreneurial Charity". See all my lenses

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I was born into a small business, I believe that small business and entrepreneurs are the backbone of America and what has made us great. They are what made us great and will save us in these unsure times. I have never wanted to have a great job. Well, better a great one, than a boring dead end one, and I have had both. But I have never really wanted a job at all.

Don't get me wrong, I am a hard worker. I have worked a full-time job, a part time job and a private practice all at the same time for a lot of years in my past. It isn't the work, its the working for someone else. Never wanted to do that, and I don't understand those who want to do that.

When I was six months old my parents bought their first small town weekly newspaper in Iowa. This was back in the day, back when small town newspapers were not just advertising sheets. Perhaps there are still some of them that are real, I hope so.

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My mission here is to provide a forum for people who want to work independently through one person businesses or through employing others and for whom the betterment of human kind is an important value. My lenses are about offering good products, teaching people about betting their lives, and using the money they make for their pleasure and the benefit of others.

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Margo Arrowsmith

Raleigh, North Carolina

Mother and Grandmother

Clinincal Social Worker, Coach and Internet Marketer

Interfaith Contemplative Minister

Student of life, business, the human spirit that motivates us to be our best in all circumstances.

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