Labyrinths 101

Believe it or not, i just realized I have never blogged about labyrinths and that is a focus of my artwork... this deceased estrogen stuff is getting to me. What exactly is a labyrinth? Labyrinths are ancient, sacred, symbols, that have 1 path in and the same path out. They are one of the oldest contemplative and transformational tools known to human kind. Labyrinths have been used for centuries for prayer, ritual, initiation and personal and spiritual growth. It is a form of moving mediation that engages the the body, mind and spirit together. I have a difficult time staying still, so this concept worked well for me! Walking the calming circuitous path addresses many psycho-spiritual needs: it can be a path to healing and wholeness in the face of change, facilitates the flow of creativity, provides inspiration, acts as a mirror to our life - reflecting an image of ourselves or serve as a moving mediation or form of prayer. Labyrinths are identified by the number of circuits or concentric paths with the the most familiar being the 7-circuit Cretan and the 12-circuit Chartes Cathedral Labyrinths. A finger labyrinth is a portable version of the full sized walking labyrinth, providing all the same benefits of a labyrinth in an accessible package. One of my missions as a healer and an artist has been to create accessible labyrinths initially for my self, now for others. Creating with the image of the labyrinth has been a healing mediation for myself.