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Into
The Labyrinth
By
Jenny Skinner
The
Reverend Dr. Lauren Artress, in her wonderful
book, The Labyrinth As A Spiritual Path,
inspired me with the possibilities of labyrinths
and set my imagination on fire. This was several
years ago, and it took years before I had the
opportunity to actually walk a labyrinth. It
was a life-changing experience.
Now,
we have the blessed opportunity to hear Dr.
Artress, Founder and Director of Veridtas, and
John Kraft, labyrinth expert from Sweden, as
keynote speakers at The Labyrinth Society
Third Annual International Gathering on
November 1-4. Chairperson and founding member
of the Labyrinth Society, Annette Reynolds,
of Birmingham, Alabama, invites you to The
Gathering, to be held at the lovely Simpsonwood
Conference and Retreat Center in Norcross, GA,
just north of Atlanta.
The
first thing most people want to clear up, on
the subject of labyrinths, is “What's
the difference between a labyrinth and a maze?”
A maze has many paths, with blind alleys, and
it's a game that confuses and confounds
participants as they wander through it. A labyrinth,
on the other hand, has only one path, which
leads to the center and back out again. Its
purpose is never to confuse, but to serve as
a “right brain activity enhancer,”
according to the Labyrinth Society. Kind of
a dry way to put it, I'd say. Labyrinths
can inspire seekers spiritually and creatively.
They are wonderful tools for meditation. And
that's just scratching the surface of what you
can do with a labyrinth. According to The Labyrinth
Society, “Labyrinths are tools that have
been used by many cultures throughout history.
Their function is to further those who are on
the path to a more balanced spiritual, emotional,
psychological and physical well-being.”
The
Labyrinth Society is part of a wide spread movement:
“Labyrinths are being created all over
the world at churches, hospitals, schools, community
centers and in backyards. Their recent resurgence
has received wide-spread media coverage in both
the United States and in Europe. More and more
people are being drawn to the power and magnetism
of labyrinths. Country Living magazine said,
'Labyrinths have in fact become a powerful
healing tool for today's hectic times. While
no clinical studies have been done to prove
exactly how they unravel stress, some frequent
labyrinth travelers call the experience a meditation
in motion, fusing movement and inner calm. Concentrating
only on the course before you, your pace slows,
your breathing deepens and your mind becomes
clearer as you let go of stress.'”
At
the 2001 Annual Gathering, keynote speaker Dr.
Lauren Artress will address “Igniting
the Fire: The Labyrinth as a Path to Creativity.”
Her talk will explore questions such as: What
is it about the labyrinth that ignites the creative
fires? Is the labyrinth a right brain tool,
or a whole brain mirror? How does it balance
our chakras?
Keynote
speaker John Kraft is a Swedish journalist and
an archaeologist specializing in labyrinths.
While studying at the University of Uppsala
in the mid seventies, Kraft realized that labyrinths
are an area long neglected by archaeologists.
With books and more than fifty articles to his
credit, Kraft focuses on the historical uses
and prehistory of labyrinths. He'll illuminate
the various cultures and religions that used
labyrinths.
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