Labyrinths have been around for over 4,000 years. No one knows exactly who designed them, but they’ve been found all over the world from Greece to Spain, to the Americas and Africa. They’re not attached to any one faith tradition but have been used by many. We can use them as a contemplative tool that allows us to slow down and get centered. We walk the sacred space of a labyrinth to connect with the sacred space within us, exploring whatever’s alive in our Divine Selves as we walk.
If you’re ready to Walk with your Divine Self on a labyrinth, there are several ways to get started:
I am a Veriditas-certified labyrinth facilitator, which means that I host ceremonies, workshops and retreats that involve labyrinth walks. If you would like to use your labyrinth to create community, celebrate a special rite of passage, or simply find some space and time for contemplation as a group, I’d be honored to help.
If you have a large indoor space, I can bring a portable canvas labyrinth (36′ in diameter) to your event. Together, we create an experience that celebrates the moment, walking together in silence. The labyrinth can be used as part of a workshop or celebration, or as a quiet space in between other scheduled events at a conference, for example.
As a trained landscape designer, I’ve been drawn to the creation of contemplative outdoor spaces for a long time. I’ve had the privilege of being asked to do several labyrinth projects, and would welcome the opportunity to do more.
Working with me doesn’t follow the typical “design/build” path, where I hand a design to a commercial landscaper for installation. My design process involves community – we gather a group of willing souls to create the labyrinth together.
Typically, I design a labyrinth that suits the property’s size and feel, the land is cleared in advance (if necessary), and the community and I gather the materials – rocks, bricks, twigs, whatever works best – and do the work of assembling it. This builds connection and community, which is one of the gifts of the labyrinth.
The culmination of our “community build” is a celebration and blessing, as well as the initiation of the labyrinth with a group walk. The ceremony is unique to each labyrinth, created by the group and host.
There are many labyrinths out there, waiting to be explored. The Worldwide Labyrinth Locator, will help you find one, wherever you are in the world.
From the blog post, “The Labyrinth of Life“: “Stop now, right now, and look around you. This is your place in the labyrinth. There is no place else you need to be. See with eyes that aren’t fixed on goals, or focused on flaws. You are part of the endless, winding beauty. And as you learn to see the dappled loveliness of your life, as your new eyes help you begin loving the labyrinth, you’ll slowly come to realize that the labyrinth was made solely for the purpose of loving you.” – Martha Beck