Labyrinth Designfor a Sanctuary Garden

Lost in a maze? Find yourself in a labyrinth! Susan Harrington of Labyrinth Hill presents a short history lesson and a simple exercise drawing a labyrinth. Resources provided and techniques learned in this workbook can be used to create your own personal garden labyrinth, big or small.

The photo at the left is the 40-foot, seven-circuit lavender labyrinth at Labyrinth Hill. In this workbook you will begin with a seed pattern exercise to experience the basic construction of a labyrinth. Take this seed pattern with you anywhere.

Copyright (c) 2009 Labyrinth HillPO Box 448 – Hansville WA 98340

What is a Labyrinth?(from www.relax4life.com)

“A labyrinth is a path for assisting mental focus that has been used by many cultures and religions throughout history. The holistic function of labyrinths is to further those who are on the path to a more balanced spiritual, emotional, physical and psychological well being.

A labyrinth has a single, winding, unobstructed path from the outside to the center, unlike a maze which has many dead ends and wrong choices designed to trick the mind. Therefore, the labyrinth is often seen as a metaphor for our spiritual "life" journey; many twists and turns but no dead ends. In other words, we always have the opportunity to make another choice in life or "turn" in the labyrinth.

The labyrinth is a powerful tool to help your mind and body relax. The chance to release both mental and physical tension by walking a labyrinth is there for each individual. In addition, those people who find it difficult to

sit still and meditate or pray will find the perfect outlet in the moving meditation that is the labyrinth experience. It is at once kinesthetic and introspective, a complete mind-body integrative activity.

People have used labyrinths as oracles; places to receive answers to life's troubling questions and an oasis for the spirit. In other words, a place to receive wholesome "nourishment" for the spirit within by connecting with a divine nature; a situation not readily available in our usual day to day existence. It is also a tool that seems to be bridging the ever-widening gap between traditional religious ritual and new age spiritual practices.

In sum, a labyrinth is a playground for allowing our intuitions to take wing. So follow what comes into your head and your heart while inside the "walls" of the labyrinth; what many consider to be 'Sacred Space'.”

The Classical or Seven-Circuit Labyrinth(from www.lessons4living.com)

“The term “seven circuits” refers the seven paths that lead to the center or goal. This is an ancient design and is found in most cultures. It is sometimes dated back more than 4,000 years. Also known as the Cretan Labyrinth it is associated with the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. This design was found on Cretan coins.

Labyrinths have most likely always been used in a spiritual manner. They can create a heightened awareness of the human condition and aid psychological and spiritual growth. To build a labyrinth is to create a sacred space. To walk a labyrinth is to imbue it with power and meaning. The more a labyrinth is used, the more powerful it becomes as a symbol of transformation.

The classical labyrinth has an association with Christianity. A cross is the starting point used to construct this labyrinth. The cross at the center can become the focus for meditation and the experience of the labyrinth. The classical labyrinth design is found in many churches in Europe.”

The Seed Patternfor a Three-Circuit Labyrinth

Here's where you get to be a kid again! Get out your crayons or color felt-tip markers. Through the next series of pages you'll create a three-circuit labyrinth just to show you how easy it would be to create a simple labyrinth anywhere.

If happiness held is the seed.Happiness shared is the flower.

If happiness held is the seed.Happiness shared is the flower.

If happiness held is the seed.Happiness shared is the flower.

If happiness held is the seed.Happiness shared is the flower.

If happiness held is the seed.Happiness shared is the flower.

If happiness held is the seed.Happiness shared is the flower.

Creating a ClassicalThree-Circuit Labyrinth...Using a “Compass”

(instructions are based on information from www.labyrinth-enterprises.com)

Determining the Dimensions

Fasten a measuring rope in the center of the space you plan to build your labyrinth. Mark on it the width of the paths — four marks for the four circles that enclose the three circuits. In the traditional design, the center is small, just the size of the path, as if the path just came to an end there. Since the width is that of the path, the first mark on the guide rope, being the radius, is equal to half the width of the path. All subsequent marks are one path width apart.

In this reduced three-circuit labyrinth you have three paths on either side. The entire horizontal diameter, therefore, consists of 6 paths plus the center. So the entire horizontal diameter is 7 path widths. Thus, if the paths were three feet wide, the labyrinth would be 21 feet wide (3 X 7). Two-foot-wide paths give a diameter of 14 feet, whereas one-foot-wide paths make a labyrinth just 7 feet across.

The birth of the 40-foot labyrinth at Labyrinth Hill

Drawing the Top Circles

The classical labyrinth is not round; it is sort of mushroom-shaped. That's because there isn't a single center for the circles, such as for round labyrinths. The height to width ratio is 6.5 to 7. You can work backwards to determine your path-widths. If your space is 14 feet wide, then you divide by 7 and find that the paths should be 2 feet wide.

The classical labyrinth has slightly “distorted” shape because there are four different centers for quarter or half circles which comprise the labyrinth. See the following illustrations for the four different center points from which the labyrinth emerges.

We begin by drawing half-circles, which become the top of the labyrinth. Picture a horizontal line that passes through the center of the labyrinth where your measuring guide is attached (at #1). Start from a horizontal position and swing the guide rope across the top of the labyrinth until it again reaches horizontal. On the guide rope are the marks for the spacing of the paths, which determine the size of the labyrinth.

As you swing the guide from horizontal back to horizontal, stop every couple of feet to put down rocks as markers at each of the line marks on the guide. If you're setting up the labyrinth for planting, use flour or cornmeal to mark the lines. It's quite amazing that in front of you is nothing, and behind you are four semi-circles, or arcs.

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Here participants in a labyrinth-building workshop use pots to define the top arcs of the labyrinth. One is holding a bamboo stake attached to the measuring rope while pots were placed at the path markers on the rope.

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Begin with half-circle arcs. The center of your labyrinth will be one path width. When drawing this arc, divide the path width in half. EXAMPLE: If the paths are 3' wide the center's radius is 1.5'.

Drawing the Lower QuadrantsThe remainder of the pattern is made of quarter circles, which emanate from three different points. (Those points are numbered in the following illustrations.) You need to move your center post to each new location in succession. First, go to the upper marks, to the right and left of center.

Move the device that holds your measuring guide to each of these points. As shown in the illustrations.

Voila, you have made a classical 3-circuit labyrinth. With a little practice, you will find that you can do this very quickly. First, practice with a small compass and graph paper.

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The center of the next set of arcs is the point where the center arc touches the axis. Each quarter arc is a path width.

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The center of the third set of arcs is the point where the second top arc touches the axis. Each quarter arc is a path width. Note that there are only two quarter arcs.

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Here is the center of the last quarter arc.

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The final step is to connect two lines for the intersection of the turning points. You're now ready to walk your labyrinth!

When setting up a site for a new labyrinth, I lay out the preliminary stakes (points one, two and three on the previous pages) using white pvc pipe so I don't lose my place.

Now try your hand at a 7-circuit labyrinth!

Calculate Midday for a Sundialhttp://www.cmpsolv.com/los/sunset.html

Place a stake at least 3 feet tall in the ground on one side of your proposed labyrinth. At the time of midday, quickly place a stake at the end of its shadow repeating for each stake until you have a length that is about the size of the diameter of your labyrinth. This line represents the solar north-south axis.

In this photo the birdhouse in the lower right is in line with two Italian cypresses and another birdhouse seen above the birdbath near the end of the fence. The shadows of these all line up at midday to point solar north. As you enter the labyrinth on the left you face east.

Sunrise/Sunset Results ~ 2009Bremerton National Airport ~ Bremerton, WA (Kitsap County)

N47deg 29' 34" W122deg 45' 45" ~ PST8PDT (GMT-7)These are the results for my geographic location. Use the website on the previous page to find the

time of midday for your location. Look especially at the difference between my sunset and yours.

May SR SS MD LEN1 5:54 20:23 13:08 14:282 5:53 20:24 13:08 14:313 5:51 20:25 13:08 14:344 5:50 20:27 13:08 14:375 5:48 20:28 13:08 14:406 5:47 20:29 13:08 14:437 5:45 20:31 13:07 14:468 5:44 20:32 13:07 14:499 5:42 20:34 13:07 14:5110 5:41 20:35 13:07 14:5411 5:39 20:36 13:07 14:5712 5:38 20:37 13:07 14:5913 5:37 20:39 13:07 15:0214 5:35 20:40 13:07 15:0515 5:34 20:41 13:07 15:0716 5:33 20:43 13:07 15:1017 5:32 20:44 13:07 15:1218 5:31 20:45 13:07 15:1519 5:29 20:46 13:07 15:1720 5:28 20:47 13:07 15:1921 5:27 20:49 13:07 15:2122 5:26 20:50 13:07 15:2423 5:25 20:51 13:08 15:2624 5:24 20:52 13:08 15:2825 5:23 20:53 13:08 15:3026 5:22 20:54 13:08 15:3227 5:22 20:55 13:08 15:3428 5:21 20:56 13:08 15:3629 5:20 20:57 13:08 15:3730 5:19 20:58 13:08 15:3931 5:19 20:59 13:08 15:41

June SR SS MD LEN1 5:18 21:00 13:09 15:422 5:17 21:01 13:09 15:443 5:17 21:02 13:09 15:454 5:16 21:03 13:09 15:475 5:16 21:04 13:09 15:486 5:15 21:04 13:09 15:497 5:15 21:05 13:10 15:508 5:14 21:06 13:10 15:519 5:14 21:07 13:10 15:5210 5:14 21:07 13:10 15:5311 5:14 21:08 13:10 15:5412 5:13 21:08 13:10 15:5513 5:13 21:09 13:11 15:5614 5:13 21:10 13:11 15:5615 5:13 21:10 13:11 15:5716 5:13 21:10 13:11 15:5717 5:13 21:11 13:11 15:5818 5:13 21:11 13:12 15:5819 5:13 21:11 13:12 15:5820 5:13 21:12 13:12 15:5821 5:14 21:12 13:12 15:5822 5:14 21:12 13:13 15:5823 5:14 21:12 13:13 15:5824 5:14 21:12 13:13 15:5825 5:15 21:12 13:13 15:5826 5:15 21:12 13:13 15:5727 5:16 21:12 13:14 15:5728 5:16 21:12 13:14 15:5629 5:17 21:12 13:14 15:5630 5:17 21:12 13:14 15:55

July SR SS MD LEN1 05:18 21:12 13:14 15:542 05:18 21:12 13:14 15:533 05:19 21:11 13:15 15:524 05:20 21:11 13:15 15:515 05:20 21:11 13:15 15:506 05:21 21:10 13:15 15:497 05:22 21:10 13:15 15:488 05:23 21:09 13:15 15:469 05:24 21:09 13:16 15:4510 05:24 21:08 13:16 15:4411 05:25 21:07 13:16 15:4212 05:26 21:07 13:16 15:4013 05:27 21:06 13:16 15:3914 05:28 21:05 13:16 15:3715 05:29 21:04 13:16 15:3516 05:30 21:04 13:16 15:3317 05:31 21:03 13:16 15:3218 05:32 21:02 13:17 15:3019 05:33 21:01 13:17 15:2820 05:34 21:00 13:17 15:2521 05:36 20:59 13:17 15:2322 05:37 20:58 13:17 15:2123 05:38 20:57 13:17 15:1924 05:39 20:56 13:17 15:1725 05:40 20:54 13:17 15:1426 05:41 20:53 13:17 15:1227 05:43 20:52 13:17 15:0928 05:44 20:51 13:17 15:0729 05:45 20:49 13:17 15:0430 05:46 20:48 13:17 15:0231 05:47 20:47 13:17 14:59

Labyrinth Resources

Books AvailableExploring the labyrinth: a guide for healing and spiritual growthWest, Melissa GayleLabyrinths & mazesHohmuth, Jurgen ; with contributions by Simone Augustin [et al.]Labyrinths & mazes: a complete guide to magical paths of the worldSaward, JeffLabyrinths from the outside in: walking to spiritual insight: a beginner's guideSchaper, Donna & Camp, Carole Ann

Labyrinths: ancient myths & modern usesLonegren, Sig

The way of the Labyrinth: a powerful meditation for everyday lifeCurry, HelenWalking a sacred path : rediscovering the labyrinth as a spiritual practiceArtress, Lauren

Website ResourcesIf you want to find a labyrinth in your area here is a great labyrinth locator:

http://labyrinthlocator.com/

Though these sites are selling products, they also have a wealth of free information on the history, use and construction of labyrinths.

www.geomancy.org

www.labyrinthcompany.com

www.labyrinth-enterprises.com

www.labyrinthsociety.org

www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm

www.relax4life.com

www.veriditas.org