Oops! I just missed World Labyrinth Day! Well—honestly—I didn’t even know there was a World Labyrinth Day. Every year on the first Saturday in May, people all around the world participate in World Labyrinth Day to celebrate the labyrinth as a symbol, tool, passion or practice. The event is a moving meditation for world peace. I may have missed this year’s event but I have been making an effort to find and walk labyrinths as much as possible. There really is something magical about slowly and carefully walking in circles around a labyrinth!
The dictionary defines a labyrinth as “a maze (as in a garden) formed by paths separated by high hedges”. Interestingly, most of the specialized sources I checked, start by clarifying that a labyrinth is not a maze. Both are intricate walking paths but their purposes differ significantly. A labyrinth is constructed with a single path, albeit with a complex winding route, which guides the walker from entry, to center to exit. Labyrinths are designed to calm the walker, to inspire peace and to encourage a walking meditation. A maze, on the other hand, has a complex branching route which the walker must navigate by choosing the correct path and direction. There are many dead ends forcing the walker to retrace their steps and re-evaluate their choices. Mazes are designed to confuse, amuse and entertain.
The first labyrinth I took notice of was in Hopelands Gardens in Aiken, South Carolina. At first glance, it looked like a large brick terrace.
The signage convinced me to give it a try. It read “Welcome to the Labyrinth at Hopelands Gardens. An ancient tool, the labyrinth is a metaphor for life’s journey. Pause at the entrance of the design then follow the path to the center. When you arrive at the center, linger and absorb all the labyrinth and the gardens have to offer. Retrace your path back to the entrance.”
“This labyrinth is patterned after a 13th century design in Amiens Cathedral France.” The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens, or simply Amiens Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church located north of Paris, France. Amiens Cathedral was built between 1220 and 1288. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered a masterpiece of High Gothic architecture. The labyrinth is located in the center of the nave’s floor and built of white and black marble. According to Wikipedia, the labyrinth “symbolised the obstacles and twists and turns of the journey toward salvation, but also showed that with determination the journey was possible”.
As was typical of medieval labyrinths, the Amiens labyrinth is divided into four quadrants. It is octagonal in shape.
I made an effort to slow down and walk the labyrinth from beginning to end. It was an interesting experience: slowly following the many twists and turns of the labyrinth path is quite calming.
Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina also has a medieval style labyrinth. I shared my recent visit to Brookgreen Gardens in the blog post, Thank You Anna Hyatt Huntington, but I didn’t mention the labyrinth. “The labyrinth at Brookgreen Gardens combines the ancient cross-cultural aspects of the labyrinth bringing together the traditions of people who have occupied this land including the Native Americans, the enslaved Africans, and the Europeans.”
“The design is a seven circuit, medieval Chartres-style with a 76-foot diameter and measures 4/10 mile total in and out.” The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, or simply Chartres Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church located southwest of Paris. It was constructed in the same era and style as the Amiens Cathedral—but finished earlier around 1220. It is also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and celebrated as “the high point of French Gothic art”. The Chartres labyrinth is also located in the center of the nave floor. Labyrinth experts refer to the design of the Chartres labyrinth as the “Eleven-Circuit Medieval Labyrinth”. The Chartres labyrinth is considered the most famous and credited with having influenced the popularity of labyrinths in 13th century France. The Chartres labyrinth is still highly regarded today—labyrinth enthusiasts travel to Chartres specifically to walk the labyrinth.
The Chartres labyrinth has a similar path arrangement to the Amiens labyrinth but it is circular, rather than octagonal, in shape.
The labyrinth at Brookgreen Gardens is situated beside a creek and surrounded by nature. It is an ideal place to slow down and walk a labyrinth.
I also had an opportunity to walk a labyrinth at the New Hanover County Arboretum in Wilmington, North Carolina. This labyrinth is constructed of contrasting pavers laid out in a “five-circuit medieval design.”
The New Hanover County Arboretum labyrinth is a focal point in “the Military Memorial Contemplation Garden … [which] was installed ‘to create a unique space of solitude and reflection honoring those who have chosen service above self’. … The garden was dedicated in honor of Durwood Baggett an Army veteran awarded the Bronze Star and former county extension agent.”
Surrounded by a floral landscape, the labyrinth is indeed a lovely space for solitude and reflection.
The final labyrinth I’d like to share is located in the Children’s Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville, Georgia.
It’s a little unusual because the walker walks on the stones instead of following the path between the stones. It’s probably perfect for the intended audience… children, I imagine, would enjoy the challenge of following that squiggly line.
Labyrinths are ancient symbols used by cultures all around the world. The patterns have been found on pottery, tablets and tiles that date as far back as 5000 years. A labyrinth pattern, called the Classical 7-Circuit, is based on a pattern discovered on a clay tablet from Pylos, Greece (circa 1200 BCE) and on Cretan coins (400-500 BCE). To this day, it is reported to be the most popular and most accessible labyrinth pattern. I haven’t come across a Classical 7-Circuit labyrinth yet but I’m watching for one…perhaps I’ll find it before the next World Labyrinth Day!
More Info
The Labyrinth Society “is an international group of labyrinth enthusiasts 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.” The Society sponsors the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator which is an online directory of labyrinths.
To learn more about the labyrinth locations mentioned in this blog post, check out the websites listed below:
. Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, USA. You can learn more about this award-winning botanical garden and its outstanding sculpture collection in my previous blog post Thank You Anna Hyatt Huntington.
. Hopelands Gardens in Aiken, South Carolina, USA
. Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville, Georgia, USA
. New Hanover County Arboretum in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
For information about World Labyrinth Day, held annually on the first Saturday of May, check out their website.
Today’s Takeaways
1. Explore the fascinating history of labyrinths.
2. Seek out a labyrinth near you.
3. Consider walking a labyrinth to help quiet the mind and ground the body.
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