The Labyrinth: Reemergence of a Path to Unity and Wholeness

by Laura Strong, PhD

Back in the mid 1990’s, when I first met my husband in the San Francisco Bay Area, he took me on a walk in the East Bay hills to see the labyrinths at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. While I had previously lost myself within many of the hedge mazes that can be found throughout England, France, and Germany, I had never experienced the singular circuitous pathway of an actual labyrinth. As we wandered our way around the small heart-shaped labyrinth that was tucked into the hillside, and peered over the edge of the cliff at the much larger seven-circuit labyrinth, these contemporary creations gave me a strong sense of connection to something as timeless and solid as the ancient stones with which they were built.

No one knows exactly who created the Sibley labyrinths, which mysteriously began appearing in the early 1990s, yet since that time numerous other labyrinths have sprung up all across the country. The “World-Wide Labyrinth Locator” gives the location of over 1,700 labyrinths that are large enough to walk in the United States alone. This is a large number, especially when one considers the fact that these ancient designs were relatively rare in the North America until the end of the twentieth century.

Labyrinths have existed in various locations around the globe for over four thousand years. Yet, their popularity in western European society started to wane around the mid 1700’s with the coming of the Age of Reason. In his introduction to The Labyrinth in Culture and Society, Jacques Attali points out that “from here on, the labyrinth became an enemy, an example of obscurity to be clarified and banished. Efficiency requires going quickly and straightforwardly, so as to save time and to maintain visibility and predictability.” For the next 250 years, the labyrinth was relegated to the categories of garden ornaments and children’s games. However, at the end of the twentieth century, the labyrinth suddenly reemerged to claim its previous position as a powerful healing tool.

Part of the credit for the renewed interest in labyrinths must go to two diverse groups of people. The first being Reverend Dr. Lauren Artress, Canon for Special Ministries at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and the founder of Veriditas, a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing people to the healing, meditative powers of the labyrinth. Artress first became interested in labyrinths in the early 1990s after she attended a Mystery School seminar with Dr. Jean Houston. She then went on to discover the nearly-forgotten twelve-circuit labyrinth on the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France. This became the model for a portable canvas version that she used to reintroduce labyrinths to churches across North America. Independent of this church-based revival, a parallel labyrinth movement was also developing in the 1980s amongst American dowsers. This began when Sig Lonegren, the author of Labyrinths: Ancient Myths and Modern Uses, and geomancer Richard Feather Anderson began to install walkable labyrinths at regional and national conventions of the American Society of Dowsers.

Since that time, there has been a huge increase of interest in creating modern labyrinths. In the United States and locations around the globe, it is now possible to walk a labyrinth in such diverse locations as: churches, schools, spiritual retreat centers, pagan shrines, new age bookstores, public parks, private homes, hospitals, hospices, and even airports. Located both indoors and out, they are made from a variety of materials including: stone, turf, grass, plants, flowers, sand, light, paint, fabric, carpet, string, tape, and chalk. While many of them are fashioned after their ancestral stone, turf and hedge labyrinths of Europe, portable versions are now also part of the labyrinth legacy.

What is really behind this modern labyrinth phenomenon. Are so many people finding personal enlightenment just by winding their way to the center of this circular symbol, or is something else also going on here?

Throughout history, the labyrinth has been seen as a symbol of wholeness and unity, related to the cycles of the seasons, life, and the cosmos. Its transformative powers are also attributed to its unique pattern whose unicursal, or single-path, nature always leads to the center and back out again. This allows the participant to focus upon the meandering journey towards their goal, without the fear of getting lost along the way. This has a very calming effect on the mind, which is why labyrinths are often used for meditation.

Since there is no continuous history of their use as spiritual tools, the original purpose for creating labyrinths has been left wide open to interpretation. Some people prefer to focus on the labyrinth’s use as a metaphor for death and rebirth, initiation, fertility and the spiritual journey, while others prefer to focus on the labyrinth’s more subtle, calming, and meditative qualities. Either way, one thing is certain, their associated uses and rituals are as diverse as the individuals and groups that use them.

For example, many Christians who often use the twelve-circuit Chartres-style labyrinth, see the walking of the labyrinth as a ritual reenactment of the “Threefold Mystical Plan,” amongst other things. According to Lauren Artress, “the three stages that define the sequence, the process we experience as an ever-deepening sense of union with the Divine, are Purgation (the walk from the entrance of the labyrinth to its center), Illumination (often found upon reaching the center), and Union (which is achieved while walking back out from the center).” Testimonials abound as to the life changing experiences that people have had while using this labyrinth-walking method.

Others prefer the classic seven-circuit labyrinth, which is often related to the chakras or planets. In addition to being used for meditation, these labyrinths are believed to balance the chakras and to function as a problem-solving tool. Sig Lonegren claims to have found the answer to many of life’s difficulties by focusing on an issue while walking through the mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, god/dess rings before turning to enter the vision and manifestation rings, which lead to the central goal. Here, one is given a moment of respite to take a breath before repeating the whole process in reverse, which offers an important aspect of evaluation. Sig also points out that it is fine to walk a labyrinth without such an elaborate process in mind. The act of simply entering such a sacred space has a profound effect on many.

One modern theme that has emerged in connection with the labyrinth is its ability to offer a much-needed refuge from a society that seems to be drifting out of control. According to Peter Corbett, author of the article “Pathfinders: Walking Medieval Labyrinths in a Modern World,” the “emphasis on the superiority of the Mind over spiritual and physical matter” began at the same time as the disappearance of the labyrinth. This “has helped breed a spiritual crisis, in our homes, in our schools, in our social and political institutions,” whose symptoms can be seen as “a lack of centeredness, a lack of awareness of the spiritual nature of our true selves.” The simple act of walking a labyrinth seems to have a unique ability to bring people back to their center in a very calm, but powerful way.

It is also important to remember that the mindful walking of a labyrinth is not a speedy process. Jumping over the boundaries to quickly get to the center defeats the entire purpose. And while children may have fun running back and forth along the pathway, it is difficult for most adults to navigate the route at such a pace. The fundamental design of the labyrinth forces most people to slow down, which is a rare gift in today’s increasingly fast-paced and driven world.

Another key aspect of walking a labyrinth is the fact that while it is a mental, emotional, and even spiritual experience, it is also a physical one. According to labyrinth designer Marty Cain, who has created over 95 permanent labyrinths in the United States and Canada, “In order to remain transformative, a labyrinth must be walked.” While there are some interactive labyrinths on the internet, which provide an alternative for the homebound or those without access to a local labyrinth, this is not generally an activity to be experienced while lounging in front of the television or sitting in an office chair. Labyrinths draw people out of their homes and workplaces, often to beautiful locations, where they can commune with spirit and nature as they make their journey towards the center.

While those who walk a labyrinth are generally encouraged to focus on their own inward journey, they often do so in the company of others. Walking a labyrinth is often a communal experience that requires a delicate dance around the rings, as some people travel inwards while others travel out. This fosters patience as one must often wait at the turns for another to pass before proceeding on their way. A similar experience greets each person at the center, when they finally reach their interior objective only to discover that they must pause and wait their turn before having a private moment of reflection.

Furthermore, labyrinths promote the harmonious interaction of diverse groups of people. It is not uncommon to find modern-day pagans making pilgrimages to churches and cathedrals in order to walk a labyrinth, and I have seen Christians in my own hometown walking the path of the turf labyrinth created by a local group of new-age types. The universal appeal of this meditative tool means they have also sprung up in such diverse locations as Buddhist monasteries, Hindu ashrams, and eco retreat centers. Labyrinths have also been successful at crossing the boundaries between the spiritual and secular portions of society, with installations in such public spaces as parks, school, and hospitals, where they can be shared with people from a wide variety of age groups and backgrounds.

A look at the daily news could lead anyone to believe we are living in times of chaos and confusion. Hate, violence, and greed all seem to be on the rise and are tearing many communities apart. Yet, at the same time we have the reemergence of this ancient symbol of harmony and healing, and the growing awareness that we are all part of a much larger global community. So, whether it is used as a tool for personal reflection, as a means of practicing patience and cooperation, or simply as a respite from the world, the labyrinth serves as a reminder that there are still paths that can be traveled that lead to unity and wholeness.

References

Artress, Lauren. Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool. New York: Riverhead Books, 1995.

Attali, Jacques. The Labyrinth in Culture and Society: Pathways to Wisdom. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1998.

Cain, Marty. Marty Cain: Artist/Dowser/Labyrinth Designer/Geomancer. http://www.martycain.com.

Corbett, Peter. “Pathfinders: Walking medieval labyrinths in a modern world.” 20 March 2002. http://www.gracecathedral.org/enrichment/features/fea_19981120_txt.shtml.

Kern, Hermann. Through the Labyrinth: Designs and Meanings over 5,000 Years. Munich: New York: Prestel, 2000.

Lonegren, Sig. Labyrinths: Ancient Myths & Modern Uses. Rev. ed. New York: Sterling Pub. Co., 2001.

Veriditas and the Labyrinth Society.“World-Wide Labyrinth Locator.” 4 November, 2006. http://wwll.veriditas.labyrinthsociety.org/locate-a-labyrinth.