The Beauty of Labyrinths
Images of labyrinths are as old as the Bronze Age and can be found on coins, paintings, as designs on pottery, and etched on the walls of caves or churches. The Romans built many primarily decorative labyrinth designs on walls and floors in tile or mosaic. Many labyrinths set in floors or on the ground are large enough that the path to the center and back can be walked. They have historically been used both in group ritual and for private meditation.
There are groups, such as The Labyrinth Society, who are invaluable resources to finding, creating and journeying to labyrinths. The Labyrinth Society says on its web site that it is “an international organization whose mission is to support all those who create, maintain and use labyrinths, and to serve the global community by providing education, networking and opportunities to experience transformation.” Another group is Veriditas, whose vision is “to activate and facilitate the transformation of the human spirit. The work of Veriditas centers around the Labyrinth Experience as a personal practice for healing and growth, a tool for community building, an agent for global peace and a metaphor for life.”
There are beautiful labyrinths open to the public in New York and Connecticut. The Labyrinth Society has a wonderful “locator” feature on their website that lists public sites and private sites, as well as contact information to arrange visits. Whether its for meditation or to connect with a bit of history or Greek mythology, a walk through a labyrinth can be just what your soul needs.
For more information, or to find a labyrinth near you: