Labyrinth Walking May Calm Stress and Promote Tranquility

A recent article in our local paper described the ancient practice of walking labyrinths; something I had never heard about. We have a new hospital in our area and the article went on to say that a labyrinth facilitator of the medical center would bring a labyrinth to the hospital once a month and conducts labyrinth walks for interested patrons.

The labyrinth walks are for hospital patients, staff members, families, and other visitors who are interested in participating in this centuries-old method for achieving a feeling of serenity and tranquility. People who regularly walk labyrinths are vocal in proclaiming the practice a great stress reliever. As word spreads about the monthly walks, more and more people show up to enter the labyrinth each time the labyrinth cloth is spread out to cover the chapel floor.

The particular labyrinth pattern used in our hospital is a replica of the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in France, described below. Having it on cloth makes it quite portable so it can be moved from place to place quickly.

Labyrinths have been found on every continent, and have been constructed using a lot of different materials and designs, although the basic design is usually an opening at one end to a path that meanders back and forth and around and around, always working toward a center-which many believe is God. Keeping your mind focused on the path is said to bring balance and tranquility into your life.

Some Labyrinths are etched into stone floors; others are cut into grass covered fields; rocks laid out as markers for the paths are frequently used for outdoor labyrinths; and, some are painted onto a cloth or floor covering that can be moved from one place to another such as the one at our local hospital.

Labyrinths differ from mazes in that a maze is meant to be a puzzle, posing difficulties in finding the correct path. Labyrinths are simple to follow, the point being that once you enter the path, your attention is meant to stay focused on reaching the center which each person may designate with his or her own value; the end of a journey, the reaching of a goal, satisfaction, balance, tranquility, or God, Himself.

Below are several popular types of labyrinths.

1. The Classical Labyrinth

This labyrinth dates back for about 4000 years. It had 7 circuits to reach the center and a cross pattern that makes historians believe it was associated with Christianity, even though it has also often been connected with Cretan myths and its image was found on Cretan coins.

2. Chartres Labyrinth

This wonderful example of a more complicated labyrinth was laid into floor at the Chartres Cathedral near Paris, France somewhere around 1200 AD. People walked it, believing it brought them closer to God, and some pilgrims referred to it as the Road of Jerusalem, walking it as a symbol of actually making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Others walked the labyrinth on their knees to show sorrow and repentance for their sins. Like most other labyrinths, this one also has a prominent cross design.

3. Finger Labyrinths

Finger labyrinths were small, desktop sized labyrinths that could be traced with a finger to relax and "balance" oneself. If you would like to try one for yourself, click on the first link provided below to find a pattern to print off for your own use. Notice that the Christian cross is also occupies a dominant area at the bottom center of the pattern. If you are right-handed, try tracing the pattern with your left hand, and vice versa, to increase the challenge, and repeat the pattern several times in a row before stopping.

4. Outdoor Labyrinths

The photo accompanying this article shows an elaborate mowed labyrinth. If you have a large lawn area, you might want to consider mowing your own labyrinth pattern into it. Another way to quickly construct an outdoor labyrinth is to use small rocks to delineate the paths of your labyrinth. Drawing a pattern before you start will help you make sure that your paths are actually going to lead to your "center" after you and others you invite to join you have wandered the labyrinth for a while. See the second link below for a finished labyrinth using rocks in this manner.

5. Rental Labyrinths

I'm pretty sure most of us wouldn't be interested in putting out several hundred dollars to rent a labyrinth for just a short time, but perhaps a church or other organization might want to do that or a special occasion. Companies who rent labyrinths can usually make a custom one for you to buy, so if you find that walking one is doing something worthwhile for you, by all means, check into one of these companies to see whether or not they have a labyrinth that you would like to own for yourself. One such dealer can be accessed on the 3^rd link accompanying this article.

Are you intrigued by the idea of walking a labyrinth yet? I am, and I'm marking the date of the next labyrinth session at our local hospital on my calendar. Who knows? If I keep myself balanced and tranquil enough, maybe I won't be so likely to need the other services of that hospital.

Resources:

Wonham, Linc; "Take A Walk On The Calm Side," The Eugene Register Guard, 2/12/09
Veriditas; The Labyrinth Society, http://labyrinthlocator.com/