Labyrinth Blog Table

Australian Labyrinths

Photo	Link to Blog	Description
	Children's Hospital Labyrinth (Westmead)	This Chartres-style labyrinth, installed in 2012, was the first ever on a hospital property in Australia.
	St. John's Labyrinth in Brisbane, Australia	The seven-circuit medieval-style canvas labyrinth was folded up to make space for needed church-related repairs. Fortunately the cathedral staff allowed me to open it up and appreciate its beauty.
	Walking Inside the Lines	Set in a grove of trees, butterflies fluttered above the labyrinth, birds sang and flew to the center planter to get a drink of the rainwater that had gathered in the large pot, and bees collected pollen from flowers that grew in the center.
	Slow Is Good Labyrinth	The labyrinth at the Canisius Center for Ignatian Spirituality in Pymble, Australia (a suburb of Sydney) is set in the shadows of a forest.
	Walking Down Under: Sydney Centennial Park Labyrinth	This truly extraordinary labyrinth experience was the product of the magnificent sandstone below my feet, the companions beside and above me, the natural setting surrounding us all.

Cambodian Labyrinths

Photo	Link to Blog	Description
	Kampot Labyrinth (Cambodia)	The labyrinth helped participants of the pastoral training on the spiritual journey in Kampot, Cambodia to explore their lives, faith, and relationships with God.
	Praying the Labyrinth in Kampot	Praying the labyrinth in Cambodia. The theme of the walk was, “Speak, God, your servant is listening.” (I Samuel 3:10)
	Finger Labyrinth Prayer in Kampot, Cambodia	Praying the labyrinth by hand in Cambodia.
	Drawing and Walking Labyrinths in Kampot	Drawing and Walking Labyrinths in Kampot
	Building a Masking Tape Labyrinth in Cambodia	Step by step we built this forty-foot Chartres-style labyrinth with masking tape on the floor of a meeting room in Cambodia. None of my helpers had ever heard of or seen a labyrinth before, but by following some simple directions we constructed it an hour and a half.
	Praying the Labyrinth in Cambodia	After a brief introduction to the labyrinth as a tool for prayer, the pastors and church leaders at the Spirit-Led Leadership Training in Cambodia walked and prayed the labyrinth together.
	Labyrinth Prayer in Cambodia	we were moved by how every single participant indicated that the prayer walk was personally meaningful to him or her as a way to connect with God.

French Labyrinths in Chartres

Photo	Link to Blog	Description
	Artists Walking the Labyrinth in Chartres	A retreat for artists was held at the Center Œcumenique et Artistique de Chartres (COACH). Labyrinth walking was new to almost everyone.
	Labyrinth Prayer in the Chartres Cathedral	When the labyrinth in the nave was closed due to restoration work, we prayed on the cathedral’s canvas labyrinth which was placed in the south transept.
	Office of the Light on the Labyrinth	The twenty-first century celebratory dance on the labyrinth included festive explosions of gold confetti, children carrying sparklers, and the sharing of the Paschal Candle with the congregation.
	Building a Chartres-style Labyrinth with Masking Tape in Chartres	Planners of the Easter Eve service on the labyrinth thought it wise to practice the liturgy on a replica of a Chartres-style labyrinth, so we built a temporary one at The Visitation Center, a hub for activities and administration of the Diocese.
	Labyrinth Liturgy of Light in Chatres	On Easter at around 10:00 PM a Liturgy of Light took place in the Chartres Cathedral.

French Labyrinths

Photo	Link to Blog	Excerpt
	Mont St. Michel Area (Canvas)	There are many ways to walk and pray. We readied ourselves for a pilgrimage across the Bay of Mont St. Michel by prayerfully walking a labyrinth.

Italian Labyrinths

Photo	Link to Blog	Description
	Sixteenth-century Labyrinth in Ravenna, Italy	Set among the sixth-century mosaics in the San Vitale Basilica in Ravenna, Italy is a sixteenth-century labyrinth.
	Twelfth-century Finger Labyrinth in Pontremoli, Italy	The labyrinth at Pontremoli, carved out of a block of sandstone, is one of the few parts of the previous convent church that survived its repeated and extensive bombing during World War II. It can be seen behind glass in the back of the modern sanctuary.
	The Pavement Labyrinth Mosaic in Pavia, Italy	About a third of the mosaic floor that included a labyrinth was rediscovered when the altar of 1592 was moved in 1972. The labyrinth has a diameter of ten feet.
	The Embossed Labyrinth in Lucca, Italy	The labyrinth, located outside the Cathedral of San Martino, is carved on a stone block and inserted vertically into one of the westernmost pillars of the porch.

Myanmar Labyrinths: Chin Hills

Photo	Blog Link	Description
	The Next Steps: Labyrinths in Falam	We learned to draw three circuit Cretan, seven circuit classical, and eleven circuit Chartres-style labyrinths. Since it was the last day of the four-day event, we also took time to pray in three groups of about twenty-five people, using the question, “What do I want to remember from this week?”
	Praying the Labyrinth in the Chin Hills	Lay-leaders, pastors, students, and seminary teachers visited the labyrinth, praying individually and in groups.
	Labyrinth Prayer in Falam	Labyrinth prayer is one of the spiritual tools that we introduce during our week-long Spirit-Led Leadership trainings.
	Labyrinth Building in Falam	Thanks to all who prayed for the seminary community at the Chin Christian Institute of Theology as we built a temporary five circuit inner Chartres-style labyrinth in northern Myanmar.

Mayanmar (Yangon) Labyrinths

Photo	Blog Link	Description
	Inter-faith Labyrinth Prayer in Myanmar	A labyrinth was built and a prayer walk was held at a Christian Community Center on a Sunday afternoon. Over 50 students participated. Youth said they had prayed for their families, to feel joy, understanding about their actions and lives, as well as personal and community challenges.
	Building a Temporary Chartres-style Labyrinth in Yangon	MIT MDiv students built a temporary Chartres-style labyrinth and then prayed it.
	Walking Biblical Stories on a Labyrinth	As we embodied the stories, we discovered their meaning for our own lives.
	Community Needs and Labyrinth Prayer	As we prayed using the labyrinth we focused on the current needs that surround us, seeking wisdom, courage and insight.
	A Pilgrimage to the Cross	We used Scriptural Stations of the Cross to prayerfully walk with Jesus towards his death.
	Healing Prayer and Labyrinths	We considered Jesus’ call to heal, the many kinds of healing we desire (physical, mental/emotional, spiritual, societal, and ecological to name a few), and how we might pray for these on a labyrinth.
	Myanmar Seminary Students on the Labyrinth	We walked and prayed on the labyrinth together, considering their focus of the week, “What do I need to let go of in order to move ahead?”
	Creating Labyrinth Events	We considered how to create prayer services on the labyrinth. We discussed how to think of the needs of a group, and how to use simple gestures to deepen the experience.
	Making Small-scale labyrinths	Our seminary labyrinth class involved inviting students to draw on their creativity to lead others in prayer using small-scale labyrinths. We started by drawing–and praying–labyrinths with various seed patterns.
	Finger Labyrinth Prayer	We began with a prayer of blessing for our hands taken from Re-Discovering the Gift of Finger Labyrinths by Martha Erickson. Next we entered into prayer using a variety of labyrinths to pray.
	Seminary Labyrinth Course in Yangon	Although most of the students had never walked a labyrinth before, they were eager to try during the second hour. They walked slowly, took their time as they prayed in the center, and returned to the entrance/exit with deep focus.
	Labyrinth Discernment for Spirit-Led Leaders	Students in the Spirit-Led Leader elective class are led through a process in which they identify their vision for their relationship with God and their leadership. During this class session, they used the labyrinth to pray as they prepared themselves for this important work.
	Sharing a Labyrinth Walk on Campus	I love how God uses the labyrinth to touch people and to minister to their needs. Over and over again, I see God using labyrinth prayer to bring people together, to help us care for one another, and to inspire us to serve our communities in new ways.
	Labyrinth Communion: A New Year's Service	Beginning the semester with a labyrinth communion service allowed time for reflection and prayer.

New Zealand Labyrinths

Photo	Blog Link	Description
	Suffering and Labyrinth Prayer	The Chartres-style labyrinth on the site of the former St. Luke’s Anglican Church which was weakened and then damaged irreparably in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand exemplifies the honoring of suffering and the hope of new life which can grow despite destruction.
	Labyrinth Walking in Johnsonville, New Zealand	We prayed together at the Uniting Church labyrinth in Johnsonville (near Wellington), New Zealand on this seven-circuit classical labyrinth with stone pathways and terra cotta dividers.
	Labyrinth Surprise in Auckland	The cross seemed situationally appropriate and comforting as it defined the walk. Under the deep blue skies, while sheltered by lovely gardens, we watched the city life just beyond the hedges.
	Walking on Water Labyrinth	“Based on the Chartres design, but painted in swirling blues, greens and browns–the colors of the South Pacific,” read the description of the St. Columba labyrinth on the World-wide labyrinth locator.
	Walking Labyrinths in New Zealand	This labyrinth built by students and staff at Carmel College on the North Island in Auckland, New Zealand.

Peruvian Labyrinths

Photo	Link to Blog	Description
	Labyrinths on the Nazca Plain of Peru	Among the ancient geoglyphs created around 500 CE by people living on the Nazca Plain in southern Peru are several labyrinths. The best known is a three-circuit labyrinth.

Portugese Labyrinths

Photo	Blog Entry	Description
	Museu Monografico, Conimbriga	Towers, squared-off pathways, an open door, and a minotaur are prominently featured in the second century labyrinth mosaic that is found in the Museu Monografico.
	3rd Cent. Roman Mosaic in Conimbriga	Labyrinths and minotaurs were not usual choices for mosaic artists during the Roman period. This third century example is found in the House of Fountains at Conimbriga (modern-day Portugal).
	3rd century Mosaic in the House of Fountains	A multicolored mosaic which uses a seven circuit classical labyrinth design that is angular.
	A Modern Mosaic Labyrinth in Sintra	Coming upon the Six Senses labyrinth as one walks in the gardens was literally a breathtaking event. It seems to hang in space.

Swedish Labyrinths

Photo	Link to Blog	Excerpt
	St. Mary's Cathedral Labyrinth	I am on pilgrimage to the Swedish labyrinths found on Gotland Island. As a pilgrim I may ask, “What am I seeing?” but my heart needs to rest with the question, “What is God showing me?”
	St. Lars Church Ruins Labyrinth	My prayer for this retreat time has been, “God, as I open the windows and doors of my life, please blow in like the wind and refresh my life with your Spirit.” Walking into the St. Lars Church ruins in Visby gave an added dimension to my prayer. The central crossing roof was open the blue sky. I saw and experienced how what is inner and outer really are one!
	The Trojaborg Labyrinth	Walking labyrinths with others is a beautiful way to re-member that while each of us is on our own journey, we are connected to those who have walked before us, those who walk beside us, and those who will walk behind us.
	Stone Labyrinths	Placing stones, one after another, on the ground, has been the preferred method of labyrinth building in Sweden for centuries. Faith experience is constructed with a similar process. Prayer by prayer I create an unseen sacred space that supports my ability to connect with God.
	Labyrinth Flow	The s-like meanders in rivers allow the water to avoid stagnation. The meanders in labyrinths help me to keep experiencing the walk–and thus my life–from different perspectives. When a turn on the labyrinth in Frejel, Sweden led me to a water pump, I remembered the deep washing of my baptism which continues to flow through my life.
	The Unexpected	Labyrinth walks are often filled with surprises. The “labyrinth” we went to investigate at Roma on Gotland Island turned out to be a maze. I wandered off among the Cistercian Abbey ruins until when turning a corner I was overwhelmed by the beauty of an image of Mary holding Jesus. While God often “finds” me in places I expect, like labyrinths, God also loves me in unanticipated ways as well.
	Pilgrimage on Gotland Island	Pilgrims have been walking across Gotland Island for centuries, their footsteps an extension of their desire to know God’s love and power more fully. While here, I joined their path, seeking to spend a day not moving towards and with God on labyrinths, but biking on what is known as “The Pilgrim’s Way.”
	Pondering My Pilgrimage	As my pilgrimage draws to a close, I am taking time to remember what has happened. I am pondering the gifts received and the insights gained, especially during my prayer-times on the various labyrinths. I want to leave the island with a sense of how the story of this journey fits into the bigger story of my life in God.
	Integrating My Pilgrimage to Swedish Labyrinths on Gotland Island	Pilgrimage involves an outer and inner voyage with God. My experiences, as represented by the images below, kept calling me to welcome the Holy Spirit’s enlivening presence.

Ukranian Labyrinths

Photo	Blog Entry	Description
	Ukranian Labyrinth Prayer Walk	Praying in a circle, we sang praise songs in Russian before entering the five circuit Chartres-style masking tape labyrinth for our prayer walk.
	Labyrinth Construction in Ukraine	Although there are no labyrinths listed on the world-wide labyrinth locator for Ukraine, seminary students in Kiev built a temporary one for their campus.

United States Labyrinths

Photo	Link to Blog	Excerpt
	Labyrinth Prayer Out West	Walking a brick collector’s labyrinth in Cody, Wyoming (USA) reminded me of how our passions can improve others’ lives.
	Where Am I? (Mpls. MN)	When I asked if I could take their picture, these folks discovered they were eating in the center of a labyrinth! It’s way too easy to not know where I am.
	Playfulness	When I feel small and the way seems long, it helps to remember that I can move ahead with playfulness!
	Now (St. Paul, Minnesota)	Where does the path lead? Every time I walk it, I come to the center–of that moment!