T h e  L a b y r i n t h

Walking A Sacred Path
Each of us, at some point in life, embarks on a journey. A quest for solace, for truth, for inner peace, for the real meaning of it all. A pilgrimage to find one's soul. Landmarks are hard to come by, and we can easily become disoriented. The labyrinth — a metaphor for one's life journey — can help show the way. The very act of walking the labyrinth encourages focus, assists in opening up the Self, in creating a place deep inside where new insights and awarenesses can germinate, take root and grow. Each journey is unique.

A Maze in Grace
This circular figure is a replica of the labyrinth built at Chartres Cathedral in the 13th Century. During those times, Christians made a vow to visit Jerusalem during their lives. Many chose instead to take a pilgrimage to a great cathedral like Chartres. Walking the labyrinth served as the final stage of the pilgrim's journey. The center of the labyrinth became known as the New Jerusalem.

All Christians are on a spiritual journey. The labyrinth — a symbol for this journey — has a long history throughout many cultures, as does the concept of the pilgrimage. In this day of distraction and multiple demands on our lives, the labyrinth provides modern day Christian pilgrims a quiet place for developing and deepening their spirituality and their prayer lives.

People, formal cultures, and traditions have used the spiral and labyrinth designs as a symbol of their search for meaning and guidance. The labyrinth is a "unicursal" or one-path design — there are no tricks or decisions to be made, much as the surrender to walking a sacred spiritual path in life — our only decision is to choose God and surrender to divine guidance. The labyrinth is non-denominational. People of all faiths and people longing to re-connect to faith come to walk labyrinths. "I found peace and a sense of God's presence that I had not experienced since childhood," describes one labyrinth walker.

Some of the earliest forms of labyrinths are found in Greece, dating back to 2500-2000 B.C.E. This labyrinth is called the Cretan labyrinth or classical seven-circuit labyrinth. So much a part of the fabric of this early society was the labyrinth that it was embossed on coins and pottery. Early Christian labyrinths date back to 4th century, a basilica in Algeria. The Chartres design labyrinth is a replica of the labyrinth laid into the cathedral floor at Chartres, France in the thirteenth century. The Chartres design is a classical eleven-circuit labyrinth (eleven concentric circles) with the twelfth being in the center of the labyrinth.

One walks a labyrinth by stepping into the entrance and putting one foot in front of the other. After traveling through all the paths and windings, the walker comes into the center — the six — petal rosette, after a time there, the walker returns out to cover the same path out as in. Total travel is approximately one-third mile, depending on the size of the labyrinth.

Additional resources as well as suggestions for walking the labyrinth are available online:

>> About The Labyrinth
>> Suggestions for Walking the Labyrinth
>> A bibliography of Labyrinth resources (websites, music, books)

Walking the Labyrinth at
the Church of the Good Shepherd

The public is invited to walk the Labyrinth at the Church of the Good Shepherd during any of the scheduled times. Special walks and meditations also are are available for groups by appointment. For more information or to inquire about availability, contact the Church of the Good Shepherd at 337.433.5244.

>> Back to the top
>> Home
>> About The Labyrinth
>> Suggestions for Walking the Labyrinth
>> A bibliography of Labyrinth resources (websites, music, books)