Spiritual contemplation using labyrinths part 1 of 3

November 3, 4:13 PMPortland Spiritual Perspectives ExaminerCherrie Ward

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In this three part series, an overview of labyrinths and their history and use will be given, a review of a book about labyrinths will be made, and a personal experience of a walk through the labyrinth will be shared.

Labyrinths are often interchanged and confused with mazes.  There are a few differences between the two.  Labyrinths have one opening and do not have any dead ends.  They may appear maze-like, but if you stay on the path, you will be lead from the entrance to the center and then back out following the same path.  You cannot get lost in one.  Typically, a Labyrinth is rather one dimensional where mazes may have high walls that one cannot see over.  Mazes are built to confuse and challenge.  Labyrinths are built for contemplation.

The labyrinth dates back to at least 2500 BCE and has extensive lore in mythology, pagan and Christian as well as other religious significance.  They can be found in churches, and in every imaginable setting.  At one point in history, labyrinths were used to symbolize religious pilgrimages for those who could not afford or for varying other reasons could not undertake a traditional pilgrimage.

In the present day, the labyrinth has enjoyed a comeback.  They are springing up everywhere.  And, not without controversy.  There are religious objections to the use of labyrinths.  In part, their link to ancient, pre-Christian or pagan times is cited, as is the idea that there are not Biblical references to their use.  Further, the idea that one should not seek God through experiences but through faith is also cited.  However, many religious and non religious people embrace the use of the Labyrinth as a tool of introspection and connection to whatever their spiritual practice may be.

World Labyrinth Locater lists 92 labyrinths in the state of Oregon, and there are, no doubt many more that have yet to be listed.  In La Grande, Oregon, there are two:  One is a canvas floor labyrinth owned by the Presbyterian Church and has scheduled public access times.  One is an outdoor labyrinth on a vacant piece of business property on the corner of 5th and Spring Avenues.  It is open to the public 24/7 and is an octagonal, approximately 12 circuit labyrinth constructed into the lawn by brick outlines.

If you try a labyrinth, see if you notice an interesting connection to the labyrinth pattern (especially the Crete Design), and the structure of the human brain.  In the walking of the labyrinth, there appears to be a neural synchronization between the activity and a sense of calm and neural integration.

In the next article, I will review the book, Exploring the Labyrinth.

Just for fun, I've included a David Bowie music video from the Jim Henson movie Labyrinth.  If you're familiar with this beloved children's movie, you'll now know (if you didn't already) that they misuse the term Labyrinth.  The structure in the movie is clearly a maze.  Built with high walls, it has challenges and perils which a labyrinth does not.

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