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Years ago in San Francisco, I came across a labyrinth outside Grace Cathedral. It is the only one I have ever seen, and I love the idea of them.
I don't know much about them, other than that they are meant to be used in meditation. I have been looking around on the internet, and found a terrific site that helps you find labyrinth locations all over the world.
They are maintained by enthusiasts of the practice ranging from spiritual new age retreat centers, to Catholic churches, to private citizens who just want to share the love and the enjoyment of them. A labyrinth can very large, made with ornate tiles, or simple dirt paths defined by rocks or wood, and everything in between. Many of them are replicas of the Chartres labyrinth, laid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France around 1220. I'm wondering, does each design have a specific purpose or intent to create a certain type of experience for the walker?
The thought of walking a labrinth really appeals to me for some reason. They seem very comforting somehow, and look like such beautiful, peaceful places, they would be good to visit, if only to enjoy some sweet vibes, especially the outdoor locations. Do you have any experience walking labyrinths? Can you give me any advice on how to enjoy the practice? Have you pictures of an especially lovely one you've walked? I would appreciate you sharing whatever you know about them with me. Thank you. Love, Grace. :)
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Hi Grace The shapes of architectural labyrinths are based on sacred geometry and as such act as giant subtle energy emitters producing pure polarized energy that us humans can perceive as spiritually uplifting feelings. This energy can be measured using radiesthesia and on the bovis scale gives readings of up to 18000 unities which is exceptionally high compared with the environment, numbers above 10000 unities are considered to be in the "ethereal range". The normal vital vibration is 6500 unities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovis_scale Here are two examples; The "chartres" labyrinth is polarized yang and thus emits powerful positive energies;
Traditionally the pathway is followed walking on your knees which takes about 1 hour to reach the center of the labyrinth, about the time it takes to walk a league (3 miles or 4.8 km). On arriving at the center you benefit from an increased opening of the heart and spirit thanks to the ambient spiritual vibrations. The "amiens" labyrinth is polarized yin and thus emits a powerful receptive energy; ff As with all such labyrinths each individual design transmits a very precise wave form. They all possess 11 curved or octagonal parallel bands, most have their entrance on the same side to the principle doorway of the building and their first turning or branch is to the left on the 5th band. Notice that the amiens pathway is black (yin), whilst the pathway of the chartres labyrinth is white (yang). If you would like to know a bit more of how this fits into a wider picture including quantum physics, crop circles, the cube of metatron, platonic solids ... here is an article http://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/SODA_chapter5.html The two pictures and most of the information were gleaned from the book "Les Tracés d'Or des Emetteurs Radioniques" by Dominique Coquelle.
have fun :) 1
+1 Now I see what the point is supposed to be. Wow walking on your knees? Even being in karate that sounds grueling on your knees and back, almost like some punishment!
(11 Apr '13, 05:15)
Wade Casaldi
Cool answer @ru bis Love, love the souls of distortion site. I'm so into this now. Thanks..
(11 Apr '13, 08:01)
ele
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yes @Wade, the good thing about all that punishing knee walking is that it feels great when it's finished :)
(11 Apr '13, 10:57)
ru bis
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@ru bis Excellent answer and great link - wish I had paid more attention in Maths classes though!
(11 Apr '13, 11:29)
Catherine
@ru bis - Wonderful answer, thank you. I just knew there had to be more to these things than first meets the eye! And here I thought I was being silly, thinking they looked like crop circles. :) The link you provided is fantastic, and sheds so much light on this subject. I have never looked into sacred geometry, figuring it was over my head, but the link gives me some simple, clear info I can understand and appreciate....
(11 Apr '13, 16:14)
Grace
....I just loved the crop circle photos, too. So beautiful! I wonder why so many of these show up in England?
(11 Apr '13, 16:14)
Grace
@Grace Here is some interesting info on crop circles with a theory for why so many in mainly Southern England. http://www.astraltraveler.com/crop-circles2.html
(11 Apr '13, 17:03)
Catherine
Hi @ru bis I really did enjoy & still do. Very informative, insightful as well as meaningful. It seems to have an echo. It's getting easier to assimilate this info or you're giving easier to understand educational materials. Much appreciated.
(12 Apr '13, 01:49)
ele
@Catherine @Grace @ele thanks :)
(12 Apr '13, 02:40)
ru bis
@Catherine, yes i feel sure that crop circles are intimately linked with the earth's global magnetic energies ...
(12 Apr '13, 02:45)
ru bis
thanks for the info ru bis "Les Tracés d'Or des Emetteurs Radioniques" by Dominique Coquelle. I assume the book is in french only?
(12 Apr '13, 03:03)
ele
@ele you assume correctly my friend, i've contacted the editors and they confirm that it only exists in french ... :)
(12 Apr '13, 04:19)
ru bis
@ru bis hmm.. why do we keep using that symbol? (funny) Spanish was & still is more useful than French in MON & in the US for that matter. Maybe I'll get the book anyway; it has pictures. What about using the 9 petal flower in place of the 6 petal? Any thoughts pro or con?
(12 Apr '13, 08:28)
ele
yes ele, the book is half text and half beautiful pictures; there are chapters on how to activate radionic emitters, architectural wave forms, sacred volumes, radionic tools, telepathic drawings and much more ... you ask about the 9 petal and 6 petal, what do you mean by the "6 petal"?
(13 Apr '13, 03:03)
ru bis
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Yes Grace I know about labyrinths. First a labyrinthine is not a maze. You will not get lost. There is nothing to figure out. I walked a hay bale labyrinthine. It was a single path that wound around and around pointlessly until you arrived at the center. Once you and all the other people made it to the center you could turn around or simply step over the bales to get out. Most just stepped over the bales to get out. We all felt kind of silly and stupid for walking it. That was my experience walking a labyrinthine. There was no sense of accomplishment because there was no challenge. Edit added Thanks to Grace and Ele, I have come to the conclusion that this labyrinth was made for fun for the children by day and fun for the drunk adults at night. The purpose being it keeps both out of trouble. Since I'm not a kid and I don't drink I didn't see the point! lol!!! Oh well, if I made you laugh and lifted you up in happiness then this was good for something... :-) @Wade Casaldi ha-ha, hay bale labyrinth. Too funny! I've heard of corn mazes; but never a hay bale labyrinth. @Grace great ?, If you don't get any answers, I'll be back to put my 2 cents in. Having too many connection issues right now.
(10 Apr '13, 02:44)
ele
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@ele Yes these were small hay bales like you would find at a go- cart race. They were not even up to my knees. It was at a apple or pumpkin festival. I was disappointed with walking it, but I can say I tried it. lol
(10 Apr '13, 05:09)
Wade Casaldi
@Wade Casaldi ha-ha, I think what you are describing is an event for little people; not big people. lol!
(10 Apr '13, 05:46)
ele
@ele yes it seemed the children there enjoyed the labyrinth the most, running around in and out. The polka music and games where more for the adults. lol
(10 Apr '13, 23:13)
Wade Casaldi
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@Wade Casaldi - Hmmm that sounds like a different sort of thing... It doesn't really sound like it was intended for meditating. Still, I do love a harvest festival... I'd walk that one if I got to a pumpkin in the middle! :) Thank you for sharing.
(10 Apr '13, 23:15)
Grace
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@Grace Yes harvest festival, that was it! No, try mediating with loud polka music and lots of people all around! lol It was a fun day though! :-)
(10 Apr '13, 23:52)
Wade Casaldi
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@Wade Casaldi - Sounds like it! No, I cannot imagine trying to meditate to loud polka music lol! :) Something about the mental picture of trying that is just cracking me up! Thanks so much for putting a smile on my face, Wade. You have really cheered me up! :D
(10 Apr '13, 23:59)
Grace
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@Wade Casaldi You made me laugh too. The idea of a pumpkin fest, hay bale labyrinth & polka music cracked me up too. Must be a regional difference. " It was a single path that wound around and around pointlessly until you arrived at the center. " that made me laugh too... What's the point/purpose of a labyrinth?
(11 Apr '13, 00:10)
ele
I'd it was more for the children. There was a corn maze too. But I'd bet the labyrinth was for children so they couldn't get lost, and later in the night the adults that got drunk. "Hey Bob, I'll bet you can't get to the center of that there labyrinth!" "I'll a beer I can! Now what do I need to do here?" "Try not to fall over, that's the first step." I'll bet that was it's true purpose! lol
(11 Apr '13, 14:25)
Wade Casaldi
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I love labyrinths. I find that walking consciously and concentrating on what I'm feeling is a freeing and wonderful experience. We have had one on our property in the past. Thanks for the question - I may revive it this summer. Me too, I love labyrinths.
(10 Apr '13, 08:30)
ele
@purple_iris - Thank you. I was wondering if anyone here felt that way about this. I hope you do revive and enjoy your own labyrinth again, that sounds cool. Love to see a pic if you do.
(10 Apr '13, 23:10)
Grace
@purple_iris I would love to see a photo also. I think I've been inspired to make a labyrinth on my land this year. Thanks p_i & Grace.
(11 Apr '13, 00:16)
ele
I'll post a picture when it's done, probably not until late summer.
(12 Apr '13, 08:01)
purple_iris
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There is an image of a labyrinth inside a church that is nearby Grinstads kyrka dates from the middle of the 12th century. The labyrinth was uncovered 1913. It is painted in the center of the church,eye level If you were looking at the altar it would be on the left side ,the north facing wall. 2
@ursixx - That is one thing that intrigues me so about these - how very old some of them are. Yet no one talks about them, I've never read an historical reference to their use - nothing at all. Seems strange to me. Some of them are true works of art. Thank you for sharing your local labyrinth! :)
(10 Apr '13, 23:21)
Grace
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@Grace I've had experience with using labyrinths as meditation mandalas & have drawn labyrinths & mazes. As for walking labyrinths; I understand the purpose of but I think this link will explain better than I can. I've seen a few & they are breathtaking & beautiful; but no real experience other than admiring the art.
http://www.ualberta.ca/~cbidwell/SITES/labways.htm#how
http://www.ualberta.ca/~cbidwell/SITES/labwhat.htm
@Grace This is a link to the Grace Cathedral. It is so awesome; amazing.
http://www.gracecathedral.org/visit/labyrinth/
I recall this from years ago - labyrinths are known as "Path of Grace". I also left a comment for you on another thread which you won't get cause I didn't leave it under your answer. If memory serves me correctly, Tiger Eye (Cat Eye) is Grace & also good for the 3rd chakra. I'm going to have so fun this much this summer. I'm so inspired. I hope you do as well.
@ele - Those are excellent links, thank you.
If you can't find one to walk, you can try tracing the path with your finger.
I hadn't thought of that! Good idea.
@Grace Thank you for the Labyrinth locator link. I've seen more than a few labyrinths in my area. Everyone should check out the link & click on their state or states in my case. I can't believe how many more there are to see only a short distance from me. I'll be checking them out for sure. Nice place to stretch your legs & take a break. Thanks Grace!