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Frequently Asked Questions
As an educational organization, we welcome your questions about labyrinths. The following questions are the most frequently asked. If you have a question that has not been answered below, please send your question to qclabyrinth@aol.com and we will be happy to send you an answer.
ª What is a labyrinth?
A labyrinth is a pathway that leads to a central point and back out again.
ª What is the difference between a labyrinth and a maze?
A maze is a puzzle that has many possible pathways, but only one solution. Mazes contain dead-ends and the potential for “getting lost.” Labyrinths have only one pathway that can be followed through various twists and turns to the center of the labyrinth and back out again.
ª Where did labyrinths originate?
Labyrinths have appeared in many cultures over many thousands of years across the globe. The word labyrinth is from the Greek word labryinthos meaning a fortified structure or city. One famous “labyrinth” is the maze of the minotaur in Greek mythology, but the word and the pattern it represents are much older.
ª What are labyrinths used for?
Today labyrinths are used in a variety of ways: as a relaxation tool, as a way to focus intention, or as a kind of moving meditation. Walking a labyrinth calms the mind, soothes the nerves, allows for quiet contemplation and provides mild beneficial exercise to the body. Labyrinths can be used to solve problems, to de-stress, and to turn down the “noise” in one’s mind, or to simply take a quiet walk. For more on the benefits of labyrinths, visit our Benefits page.
ª How are labyrinths used?
Large labyrinths can be walked; small labyrinths can be traced with a finger or tool. They are used to help cope with stress, to soothe the emotions after a trauma or disaster, to calm children, to decrease conflict, to build a sense of inner peace, to pray, to meditate, or for self-discovery. The labyrinth can be seen as a metaphor for life – we move toward one destination, but the path to get there takes many turns.
ª Aren’t labyrinths a Catholic practice?
Yes and no. Labyrinths were used in medieval monasteries and cathedrals to represent the path to God, but they are not exclusive to Catholicism or any other religion. They are a geometrical pattern that can be imbued with spiritual significance in any religious tradition or can simply be viewed as a form of relaxation.
ª Aren’t labyrinths pagan symbols?
Yes and no. Labyrinths have appeared in many cultures including Native American, Asian, African, and in both Christian and pagan European traditions. The oldest known labyrinth dates to 2,000 B.C. – long before the Christian era. They were used by cultures as different from one another as ancient Rome is from the Hopi Indians of the American southwest.
ª What do the different patterns mean?
There are many patterns of labyrinths, but they are divided into three basic groups: the Classical Family, the Medieval Group, and the Contemporary Group. For more on the various patterns, visit our page on Labyrinth Patterns.
ª Why are there so many different forms of labyrinths?
As with any human endeavor, different people and different cultural groups have added their own interpretation to the idea of the labyrinth. For more details on the different groups of labyrinth patterns, see Labyrinth Patterns.
ª How do you make a labyrinth?
The best resource for learning how to make a labyrinth is Labyrinth Enterprises ( www.labyrinthenterprises.com), which has information about how to make a Classical 7-circuit pattern and a Medieval 11-circuit pattern.
ª Can children use a labyrinth?
Yes, absolutely. Children seem to love walking, running, making, drawing and tracing labyrinths. Studies have suggested that walking the labyrinth helps children develop better concentration, reduces misbehavior, and improves attitude. Learn more on our Benefits page.
ª Where can I find a labyrinth to use?
There are a number of good labyrinths available in the Quad-Cities and surrounding areas. To find one near you, visit our Labyrinth Locator. You can also attend one of our public labyrinth walks – check our Events Calendar, or become a member of the QCLP to participate in our monthly World Peace Walks. You can also sponsor a labyrinth event at a location of your choosing, or get help building one in your own back yard!
ª I recently attended a labyrinth walk. What were all the seeds and scarves for around the labyrinth?
Because the labyrinth can be used in so many different ways, we provide tools that can act as symbols for your individual intention. Seeds in different colors can represent wishes, intentions, or things you want to discard along your path. We offer small battery-operated lights to represent your personal light in the world, or the “en-light-enment” that you may be seeking. Scarves can represent an idea or feeling through their color or patterns, or can serve as a way to create a cocoon of privacy. These tools are limited only by your imagination and there is no wrong way to employ them.
ª Is there a right way or a wrong way to walk a labyrinth?
No. Each person’s experience on the labyrinth is unique and all experiences are valid. Children like to run the labyrinth, for example. Some people walk the path only into the labyrinth, others walk in and back out. The only rules about walking the labyrinth is to be respectful of the others who are also there sharing the walk, and to please remove your shoes before walking on our canvas labyrinths.
ª Send your questions about labyrinths to qclabryinth@aol.com. The best questions will be posted here.
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