Walking a Labyrinth

A labyrinth isn't a maze so you really can't get lost. And it's actually more relaxing than you might think!

Rope labyrinth in the Classical Style

There is only one way in and one way out. So it's a walk you can move into with ease, since you don't have to keep track of choices or decisions on which way to turn.

Traditionally, in a labyrinth, you just follow the path. You walk in. Pause. And walk out.

Some people walk with a word or intention. Others bring a question with them. Some walk slowly, others move through the space at a fast clip.

There is no one right way to experience a labyrinth.

Chartres style Labyrinth at Parish Hall, Eastsound, WA

There are a number of different designs for labyrinths. The two most common are the classical labyrinth (seen below in chalk on asphalt) and the Chatres labyrinth (seen here in the grass near the City Hall on Orcas Island) based on the labyrinth placed in stone on the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France.

A number of religious and spiritual traditions liken the walking of a modern labyrinth with going on a pilgrimage. Historically, this was also the case. The Chartres labyrinth was for parishioners who weren't, for whatever reason (often time, money, or physical limitations), able to visit the Holy Land on a spiritual pilgrimage. In modern times, labyrinths are still used in religious settings but their use has also broadened to include walking as a meditative practice for focus, intention, and mindfulness in schools, retreat centers, and community spaces.

If you'd like to find a labyrinth near you or in a place where you are traveling, use this link to locate one.

I recently brought a large canvas labyrinth to a local retirement community. Over 50 people walked the labyrinth, some with mobility assistants, and some on their own route they created. Some walked the path in and then just came right out. One person walked only the perimeter since she didn't want to use her cane and the edge was just the right distance for her to walk unassisted. Others sat and watched as their neighbors made their own ways through the winding circuits. Some participants even walked it twice!

There is no one right way to experience a labyrinth.

The labyrinth often surprises first timers. Many feel a sense of relaxation they didn't expect. Some find a clarity they didn't know they needed. Others leave with more questions to reflect upon in the days ahead. I love providing the opportunity for others to experience this, so if you'd like to bring a labyrinth to your workplace or community group, please reach out.

Chalk Labyrinth in the Classical Style at REI in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

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Lea Appleton, PCC, NBC-HWC, is a Wayfinding Guide whose outdoor job is leading Wayfinding Days and Labyrinth Walks and whose indoor job is coaching, writing, and speaking. She works with people who sense the path calling and are learning to trust that it is worth following. Learn more at www.wildwayfinding.com.

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