Labyrinths: A walking meditation and spiritual practice

labyrinth mindfulness walking meditation yoga Jun 01, 2023

If your only knowledge of labyrinths is the 1986 movie with David Bowie or as a mythological maze known to be home of the minotaur, then you may be wondering why I’m writing about them as a form of meditation and spiritual practice. However, labyrinths are ancient patterns found all over the world that have been used for millennia to symbolically connect to the spiritual. In fact, in the Middle Ages, labyrinths were often formed with coloured paving stones in the floors of cathedrals. Walking a cathedral labyrinth was a substitute for going on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, as not everyone could make the long and arduous journey to the Holy Land, so walking a labyrinth in a church became a devotional activity. Today, the labyrinth symbolises the spiritual; often used for walking meditation or activities such as group ceremonies and retreats.

So what is a labyrinth?

A labyrinth is a meandering path, with one singular route (unicursal) leading to the centre of a circle. Unlike a maze which has many paths, a labyrinth has no wrong turns and is not meant to trick someone into hitting a dead end or getting lost. Real labyrinths aren’t puzzles, but meditations. It is derived from the archetypal patterns of Nature (similar to rose windows, medicine wheels, crop circles, and stone circles). Labyrinths are tools for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation and they are thought to enhance right-brain activity. Labyrinths are in the domain of sacred geometry, meant to be a meeting place between heaven and earth. Labyrinth designs are typically two-dimensional (lines drawn on the ground or floor) and can be made with a compass and straightedge, the metaphorical tools of creation. Later, labyrinths were sometimes made from turf, herbs or hedges. They evoke metaphor, spiritual pilgrimage, religious practice, mindfulness, environmental art, and community building. Labyrinths are common to many different spiritual practices: According to Hindu lore, the universe itself is a game, a lila, that the gods play. Walking a labyrinth is following in the steps of Shiva Nataraja, the Divine Transformer who is Lord of the Dance.

Labyrinths are named by type and can be further identified by their number of circuits. Counting from the centre, the classic (Cretan) labyrinth contains a seven circuit design which represent a variety of sevenfold meanings, such as the seven spheres of the sacred planets, the winding pattern of the seven chakras (vital energies), and the seven days of the week, among others. The circuit can be either left- or right-handed, determined by the direction of the first turn after entering the labyrinth. The majority of the ancient classical labyrinths (also known as Cretan) were right-handed, while the majority of the modern classical labyrinths are left-handed. The preference for one over the other tends to be a personal one, just as the journey itself is a personal one; everyone gets something different out of the winding walk.

You begin a labyrinth walk at the entrance and proceed along the path. Lines define the path and often maintain a consistent width, even around the turns. You follow the path to the centre, at which point you have generally travelled half the distance. At the centre, it is common to pause for a few moments before turning around, and retracing your path back out again. You should always complete the pattern by following the path both inward and outward, rather than cutting across the pattern at any point. Passing to the centre of the labyrinth and returning to its circumference represents the involution and evolution of the universe, the coming into birth and the passing out of earthly life of an individual, a journey to the centre of our own being and therefore the achievement of a quest for wholeness. Walking the labyrinth is thus a type of Yoga.

If several persons walk a labyrinth at the same time, they may pass one another at various points of the path. It is common to pass in meditative silence or to quietly salute each other by a nod of the head. While the labyrinth is a joyfully sacred space and so you do not need to be sombre around it, if someone is walking the labyrinth, it is courteous to respect the need they may have for quiet concentration and contemplation.

Labyrinths of Nova Scotia

There are many labyrinths across Nova Scotia (and worldwide) that are open to the public either regularly or upon request for your meditative walking pleasure. I’ve listed many of them below for you to try the next time you’re out enjoying the Nova Scotia countryside or even to make part of a day trip!

Halifax Regional Municipality

St. Andrew's United Church

This church contains a private indoor (portable - on canvas) labyrinth open for scheduled events only. Contact for more information.

Address: 6036 Coburg Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1Y9

Contact: David Mundy

Phone: 902.422.3157

Labyrinths: A walking meditation and spiritual practice

So what is a labyrinth?

Labyrinths of Nova Scotia

Halifax Regional Municipality

Annapolis Valley

South Shore

Region of Clare

Cobequid and the North Shore

Cape Breton

DIY

Have you ever walked a labyrinth? What are your thoughts? Do you have a favourite? Share in the comments below!

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