Some Facts About Labyrinths

• Labyrinths are designs that have only one path in to the center whereas mazes can have many dead ends. A labyrinth is unicursal - meaning one path.
   
• Walking a labyrinth can be symbolic of life's path. Often one does not know where one is going, but must trust the twists and turns of the path.
   
• Labyrinths have been used in many ways. A few examples are as a walking meditation; centering: quieting the mind; for prayer; for healing; for protection; in rituals; ways of creating community; a way of problem-solving and connecting with spirit.
   
• They can be made from many different types of materials. They can be drawn in the sand; built with rocks, gravel, paving stones, bark or pine straw; drawn and painted on canvas or pavement; planted with vegetation; outlined with string or tape or candles; mown in the grass or built by mounding the earth.
   
• Labyrinth designs have been found on coins issued by the town of Knossos on Crete dating as far back as 300 BC. A labyrinth design inscribed on a clay tablet from Pylos, Greece dates as far back as 1200 BC. There are labyrinth petroglyphs in Spain that could be as old as 2000 BC.
   
• Labyrinths have been used in ritual or ceremony in cultures all over the world. The classical-type design has been found in Europe, Scandinavia, Egypt, Russia, India, Iceland, Java, Sumatra, Morocco, Brazil and the US.
   
• The Classical-type is the oldest form of Labyrinth. A popular form has seven circuits. Some refer to it as the Cretan design or the Mercury design.
   
• Another well-recognized pattern is a pattern with eleven circuits called the Chartres-type or medieval-type design. Labyrinths of this type of design have been in existence since 800-900 AD and were constructed in churches and cathedrals in Italy prior to being constructed at Chartres.
   
• Some labyrinth designs are based on sacred geometry, which is said to help balance the masculine and the feminine energies.
   
• Some labyrinths appear to draw energy to them, which was not present before. This has been determined by dowsing the area before and after the labyrinth was built.
   
• The references section and the links section of this site contain sources for finding out more about labyrinths.