Labyrinth

St. Paul Presbyterian Church is proud to have an outdoor, natural stone labryinth. It was completed in July, 2006 and is nestled between the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary, beneath beautiful oak trees, which offer alot of shade. The pathway is lined with beautiful plants and shrubs to enhance God's natural surroundings. It offers a peaceful setting for your meditative walk.

What is a Labyrinth? A labyrinth is a single path or unicursal tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. Labyrinths are thought to enhance right brain activity. The Classical Seven Circuit Labyrinth in this example shows that you enter a labyrinth through the mouth and then walk on the paths or circuits. The goal is in the center of the labyrinth. When you reach it, you have gone half the distance – you now need to turn around and walk back out.

 

 

 

 

 

How are they used? People walk the labyrinth for many reasons. Some do it to relax, some as a walking meditation, some just for fun. 

Aren't they strictly some sort of New Age phenomenon? No. Labyrinths are ancient. The labyrinth was a central feature in many of the European Roman Catholic churches in the middle ages and many of these still exist today. The most famous of these remaining labyrinths is at Chartres Cathedral near Paris,France. The labyrinth at Chartres was built around 1200. It was walked as a pilgrimage and/or for repentance. As a pilgrimage, it was a journey to become closer to God. When used for repentance, the pilgrims would walk on their knees. Sometimes this eleven-circuit labyrinth would serve as a substitute for an actual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The cross is at the center of the pattern of the labyrinth and is used in the construction as a guide. Even today, churches with labyrinths encourage people to walk the labyrinth during Lent and Advent.

What type of labyrinth is at St. Paul? The labyrinth at St. Paul is considered to be a contemporary, miscellaneous design. This type of labyrinth does not fall into the typology of a classical labyrinth but offers the one way in/one way out pathway.

To learn more about labyrinths please go to World Wide Labyrinth Locator. World Labyrinth Day is May 6, 2017. 

The Labyrinth Society invites you to ‘Walk as One at 1" in the afternoon, joining others around the globe to create a wave of peaceful energy washing across the time zones.