What is a Labyrinth?
Cultures throughout history have recognized life's sacredness. An archetypal design that has arisen to represent the life journey across both time and cultures is the labyrinth. Dating over 5000 years old, the earliest representations of labyrinths have been discovered in pottery shards and carvings in stone. Curious to see examples? View a short video on Labyrinths Thru The Ages.
A labyrinth has one circuitous path that leads to the center with, most commonly, following the same path back out. It is not a maze. There are no dead ends, no right or wrong turns, and the goal is not to win. Instead, walking a labyrinth allows a person to fall into a natural pace and let the journey unfold along the circuitous path before them.
What are the Uses of Labyrinths?
Traditional uses are deeply meaningful to many and can be a suggested place to experience your first labyrinth walk. However, beyond traditional uses, new ideas and labyrinth designs have arisen in the modern era that honor the timelessness of the labyrinth and make it meaningful for the world today. The labyrinth is also a container that holds our curiosity and intentions as sacred.
Individuals use walking labyrinths, finger labyrinths, or downloaded apps in a variety of ways including:
for meditation
prayer
to connect with their source of Wisdom
to quiet the mind
process a life issue
discernment
reflect on milestones and life transitions
celebrate
relax
reduce stress
The labyrinth is also used to honor sacred events such as weddings, memorials for deceased loved ones, and Holy days.
Communities, such as universities & colleges, libraries, schools, corporations, hospitals, prisons, retreat centers, and city parks are using labyrinths to create space and bring people together. They have been involved in leadership training, healing rituals, retirements, vigils, and grief ceremonies.
The uses of the labyrinth continues to unfold as awareness grows and creative minds gather and generate new ideas.
Anne’s Qualifications as a Labyrinth Facilitator
Anne is a Certified Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator. She was first introduced to the labyrinth in the early 2000’s and found the rhythm and insight while walking helpful in processing her life journey. She pursued training through Veriditas and was fortunate to be in a workshop facilitated by Lauren Artress, one of the founders of the modern labyrinth movement.
In 2020 she completed the Veriditas Advanced Facilitator Training certification. She received her initial Veriditas Facilitator certification in 2015 and is a member of Veriditas International Association of Professionally Trained Labyrinth Facilitators (VIA,) which is a supportive community of professional labyrinth facilitators sharing ideas and providing education in the growing field of labyrinth facilitation.
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Anne has a 22’ modified Chartres canvas labyrinth. Her canvas is often used as an integral part of her workshops. Her labyrinth is also available as part of her work with organizations, including using it for team building, developing rituals, and to offer it as outreach to the communitiesserved. Anne also has small finger labyrinths for use during workshops or during spiritual companionship sessions.
Contact Anne to Facilitate an Event
Anne has a deep passion for facilitating the labyrinth across a wide variety of settings. She has offered events at a public library, college campus, healing retreats, and to healthcare professionals. She integrates the labyrinth into her own grief and life transitions workshops.
Anne is available to help you design and facilitate an educational event, special ceremony, community event, or discuss other ideas you have for using the labyrinth. Her canvas labyrinth is available (note: a 25’ clear indoor space is needed to lay the canvas out) if you don’t have access to another labyrinth.
Other suggested events include seasonal celebrations and traditions, milestones such as menarche or menopause, weddings, anniversaries and birthdays, healing ceremonies, group discernment, and team building.
Anne’s labyrinth is available to rent depending on availability and contractual agreement. Fees to be determined depending on use and time required. Contact Anne for inquires.
““The labyrinth has been a gift on my own life journey. I have literally walked the labyrinth 100’s of times since my introduction over a decade ago. No two experiences have been the same. I have danced, wept, laughed, trudged, gotten turned around and not reached the center, become frustrated with others on the path and with myself, been in deep meditation, felt the presence of the Holy, felt alone. I’ve come off feeling renewed, settled, aware. Or sometimes, not much has changed, except that I set time aside for myself. I always knew I would return.
For me, there is something about being held within the circle that feels safe. Knowing there is no “right or wrong way” is reassuring. The only judgment when I am on the labyrinth is from the inner critic within and as I walk, the rhythm of my feet on the surface slowly calms her into silence.
For a decade now, my New Year’s Eve tradition is to walk a labyrinth. Walking in toward the center I release the old year, offering gratitude for what unfolded, both challenges and blessings. In the center I open my heart to receive what the next year will offer. And as I walk out, usually with a lighter step, I am returning with a curiosity about what will be.
For me, it is an honor to bring this ancient archetype of the life journey to others as they reflect on their lives or are just curious and want to explore how a labyrinth can be included in daily living or life milestones.” ”
Quotes from walkers:
“Reminded me of all the twists and turns in life, then you finally get to where your meant to be.” “Very relaxing.”
“A very significant journey of rest and renewal. Thank you for the beauty of flowers, color, and light.”
“Thank you for the reminder that the only way through is the way-follow your guide-take the next step. There are no shortcuts.”
“Although exactly the same journey out, did not seem so and was not the same as the journey in. Ever changing, much as life. There was no fear in being alone with myself.”
Resources and Websites
iSpiritual.com (market place for labyrinth related products)
