The Labyrinth at St. Anne’s

The labyrinth is an ancient pattern found in many cultures around the world. Labyrinth designs have been found on pottery, tablets and tiles that date as far back as 4000 years. Many patterns are based on spirals from nature. In Native American culture it is called the Medicine Wheel and Man in the Maze. The Celts described it as the Never Ending Circle. It is also called the Kabala in mystical Judaism. One feature they all share is that they have one path which winds in a circuitous way to the center.

Labyrinths are currently being used world-wide as a way to quiet the mind, find balance, and encourage meditation, insight and celebration. They are open to all people as a non-denominational, cross-cultural tool of well-being. They can be found in medical centers, parks, churches, schools, prisons, memorial parks and retreat centers as well as in people's backyards.

The labyrinth is not a maze. There are no tricks to it and no dead ends. It has a single circuitous path that winds into the center.  The person walking it uses the same path to return and the entrance then becomes the exit. The path is in full view, which allows a person to be quiet and focus internally. Generally there are three stages to the walk: releasing on the way in, receiving in the center and returning; that is, taking back out into the world that which you have received. There is no right way or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. Use the labyrinth in any way that meets your needs (see below for a suggested practice).

14th century plan of walls of Jericho The labyrinth design used at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church is a replica of the 11-circuit labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral in France. It is open to the public year round  for prayer and meditation.  Lighting is provided for evening use and the labyrinth is surrounded by a trellis and benches for extended meditation.

Labyrinth Typology

Classical Labyrinths Circular and square varieties of the classical labyrinth design. Mirror image forms will result in the first pathway turning either left or right. Both forms are common and may simply be a consequence of the handedness of the creator.

Roman Labyrinths A typical Roman labyrinth design of the simple meander type, laid in the early fourth century CE, at Harpham,

The Medieval Labyrinth (also known as Chartres, cathedral or eleven-path/circuit) An ornate form of the medieval labyrinth, as inlaid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral, France, c. 1205 CE.

Walking the Labyrinth

The labyrinth has only one path so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. It touches our sorrows and releases our joys. Walk it with an open mind and an open heart.

There are three stages of the walk:

· Purgation (Releasing) - A releasing, a letting go of the details of your life. This is the act of shedding thoughts and distractions. A time to open the heart and quiet the mind.

· Illumination (Receiving) - When you reach the center, stay there as long as you like. It is a place of meditation and prayer. Receive what is there for you to receive.

· Union (Returning) - As you leave, following the same path out of the center as you came in, you enter the third stage, which is joining God, your Higher Power, or the healing forces at work in the world. Each time you walk the labyrinth you become more empowered to find and do the work you feel your soul reaching for.

Guidelines for the walk: Quiet your mind and become aware of your breath. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. The path is two ways. Those going in will meet those coming out. You may "pass" people or let others step around you. Do what feels natural.