Labyrinth Walking - The Power of Movement

The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016

Labyrinth Walking
The Power of Movement

ORIGINS

A labyrinth, also known as a maze, is an intricate structure of interconnected passageways through which it’s difficult to find your way. Labyrinths have had many purposes throughout history, from deterring or trapping an enemy to enhancing prayer or devotion. Today, many people enjoy the New Age practice of labyrinth walking, which consists of walking through the passages of a labyrinth as part of spiritual exploration, contemplation, or prayer. The experience simulates the path of life, which is full of twists and turns and where the future is always just out of view.

HISTORY/LORE

In Greek mythology, King Minos of Crete commanded the architect and artist Daedalus to design and build a labyrinth to hold the Minotaur, a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man. The Minotaur was eventually killed by the hero Theseus. As the story goes, the labyrinth was so complex that even its creator had trouble escaping from it.

Labyrinths also appear in the Christian tradition. An example is the labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral in France, which was constructed in the early thirteenth century. Though little documentation exists, it is believed that labyrinths such as the one in Chartres symbolize the long, arduous path that pilgrims would have followed to visit places of worship during the medieval period.

USES

This is one of the few practices in this book that you can’t undertake on your own—assuming you don’t have a labyrinth in your backyard or the space to build one. Luckily, there are labyrinths all over the world that are open to the public. The website www.labyrinthos.net has a “worldwide labyrinth locator” as well as a photo library and various other resources. Another great resource is the nonprofit organization Veriditas (www.veriditas.org), whose mission is to inspire “personal and planetary change and renewal through the labyrinth experience.”