About Labyrinths

A labyrinth is a closed curved pattern consisting of one pathway that winds inward towards, and then outward from its center. Unlike a maze, there are no tricks or dead ends.

Walking a labyrinth provides a way to quiet the mind and become conscious of your breath and your body’s movement as you move along the path. Often described as a metaphor for life’s journey, one can experience moments of great clarity while walking. The labyrinth is a walking meditative tool, akin to a full-body prayer, it helps walkers reduce stress, be mindful, and connect more deeply with their inner selves and their spirituality.

Look closely at certain sea shells, plants, and even our fingertips and you will discover meandering labyrinth-like patterns. The organic origins of this ancient archetype can be found throughout the natural world.

History

Humans have been creating the labyrinth pattern in some form for thousands of years. It appears on Cretan silver coins from Knossos created in 400 BCE, and as a doodle on the back of clay tablet by a worker in King Nestor’s palace in 1,200 BCE. It has appeared carved into rocks as petroglyphs throughout Europe and the Americas.

The most popular ancient labyrinth is the one described in the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Theseus, with sword and string provided by Ariadne, entered a complex labyrinth to slay the half-man, half-bull offspring of Queen Pasiphae known as the Minotaur.

For more than 500 years, Romans decorated their homes with mosaic renderings of labyrinths, many depicting a Minotaur in the center. They were placed near entrances, some think to ward off bad omens.

From the 13 century onward, Nordic labyrinths were seen in multitudes across Scandinavia. The design of the Nordic labyrinth mirrors other countries in Europe, but the “Baltic” variety with double spirals from the center outward relates to traditional Nordic folk customs. Learn more about this region by visiting the Nordic Museum which is the source of the information shared in this section.

Trojaborgs were formed with small-to-large rocks of the area. They are often found near shorelines of fishing settlements, as fishermen would run the labyrinths before going to sea to befuddle the smägubbar (meddling trolls) from bothering them on their trip and ensuring favorable winds and bountiful catches. Another use for stone labyrinths was for rituals involving virgins. In both Finland and Sweden during the spring, a young virgin maiden stood in the middle of the labyrinth, while young men sought to win her hand by reaching the center of the labyrinth first. This was known as the "Jungfrudans" (virgin dance) game. Source- https://nordicmuseum.org/news/a-brief-history-of-nordic-labyrinths. Hundreds of classical labyrinths can still be found throughout the Baltic countries. Many are now used as a source of play.

The preceding history has been culled from several sources and is included to allow the curious to start their walk of discovery. If you are interested in taking a deeper look at the history of labyrinths, I suggest you visit Labyrinthos an organization created by one of the top labyrinth experts of our time, Jeff Saward.

Types Of Labyrinths

There are a multitude of different labyrinths. The most ancient design is called the classic design. This design has appeared in petroglyphs dating over 4,000 years old, silver coins from Crete, and etched in rocks in Northern Europe. Examples of early labyrinths can be found on the Labyrinthos website which has been developed by Jeff and Kimberly Saward who are world-renowned for their expertise regarding all types of labyrinths.

The eleven-circuit medieval labyrinth design such as the one that exists in Chartres Cathedral in France has become more recognizable in the U.S. as the symbol of the modern labyrinth movement due to the work of Revd. Dr. Lauren Artress. Walking a labyrinth in a cathedral setting is likened to an encapsulated pilgrimage journey. Similar to the stained glass, the sculpture, and the organ music, a labyrinth is a powerful tool that brings the faithful into a closer presence with the Divine. Learn more about Revd. Dr. Lauren Artress and her organization Veriditas.