From a distance, it can be weird to see people walking by themselves slowly in a circle. Up close, it can still look odd. But when you understand the intention of people pacing a labyrinth, it is charming and enticing.
By definition, labyrinths can often be almost invisible. A new one at the Unitarian Church of 麻豆传媒映画could be mistaken merely for a nice design in the paving stones of a courtyard. On the other hand, many are elaborate and unmistakable. There are, according to a global database of labyrinths, no fewer than 10 in the city of 麻豆传媒映画that are open to the public and dozens more throughout the province. But who are the people who find comfort or spiritual fulfilment in this ancient yet unusual pursuit? It鈥檚 a diverse group, from pagans to devout Christians, atheists to New Agers.
There are two new labyrinths in town, thanks in part to Mary Bennett, a 麻豆传媒映画woman who is the former executive director of the Canadian Unitarian Council and a regular at the 49th and Oak Unitarian church. She and two friends stumbled upon the idea of labyrinths about 20 years ago during a women鈥檚 spirituality conference.
鈥淧eople have sometimes described it as a meditative technique that works better for Western people because it鈥檚 active rather than sitting passively,鈥� says Bennett. 鈥淚 find it useful as a kind of walking meditation.鈥�
Another thing that appeals to her is that some of the fundamental labyrinth designs appeared throughout the ancient world at remarkably different locations 鈥� Scandinavia, South America and parts of what are now the southwestern United States.
In Greek mythology, Daedalus constructed the first labyrinth to contain the half-man, half-beast Minotaur and nearly got lost in it himself. The point of today鈥檚 labyrinths, though, is not to get lost like you might in a corn maze or to replicate a house of mirrors. Most have a single path leading from the mouth to the middle.
The classic Cretan or seven circuit labyrinth is designed like the double-headed axe (鈥渓abrys鈥�) of the Minoan mother goddess of Crete. Another of the most common styles is the Chartres labyrinth, which resembles a four-petalled flower, designed in the 13th century at the French cathedral.
Rather more recent are the two labyrinths at the Unitarian church.
鈥淭here is a courtyard area that we thought could accommodate a small labyrinth and this year they were replacing some of the concrete there and fortunately somebody remembered that we had had hopes and dreams of having a labyrinth there,鈥� Bennett says. Using concrete pavers, they embedded a labyrinth into the concrete. A second one, on the east side of the church property, will be a garden labyrinth.
鈥淚t鈥檚 still kind of a work in progress, but you can walk it,鈥� she says of the garden version. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not as beautiful as it will be next year at this time.鈥�
While walking a labyrinth can be a form of meditation, she says, it is also a process with a beginning, a middle and an end.
鈥淲hat people say, and I do experience this myself, is when you walk into the centre, you could walk in with some kind of phrase on your mind, or an intention,鈥� says Bennett. 鈥淏ut sometimes, and this is what I usually do, just kind of open.鈥�
People will occasionally begin walking with their palms up until they get to the centre. This is a gesture of openness.
鈥淎nd then in the centre, sometimes, if you have a labyrinth experience,鈥� she says with a laugh, 鈥測ou receive what I say is鈥� not necessarily an answer to your question or dilemma, but some kind of a response.鈥�
Quite simply, she admits, it is probably just a matter of finding the answer you seek once you quiet yourself.
鈥淭hen, on the way out, people sometimes walk turning their hands palm-side-down to kind of ground that intention,鈥� she says.
Bennett does more than just walk labyrinths. She is part of a group called G.L.A.D. 鈥� The Gathering for Labyrinth Art and Dance. The group meets the third Thursday of each month 鈥� the next one is Sept. 15 鈥� from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Unitarian church.
鈥淭he first half-hour is doing art, usually relating to labyrinths, drawing labyrinths, painting labyrinths on stones, making labyrinths out of clay,鈥� she says. Labyrinth art allows you to 鈥渨alk鈥� a labyrinth with your eyes or trace it with your finger. 鈥淭hen the second half-hour, if it鈥檚 good weather, we go out and walk one of the two labyrinths that have just been put in at the church over the past year and then the last hour is doing circle dancing together.鈥�
Circle dancing is not very proscribed. It is just what it says, a group of people dancing without partners in a circle to music of any sort.
鈥淢ost recently, the first dance that I choreographed, I took one of Buffy Sainte-Marie鈥檚 songs from her Polaris-winning album 鈥楶ower in the Blood,鈥� It鈥檚 called 鈥榃e are Circling.鈥� It just called out to be danced to.鈥�
The Unitarians aren鈥檛 the only ones in the city getting into labyrinths. At least four Anglican churches in town have labyrinths, including St. Paul鈥檚, in the West End, which does a big celebration around the labyrinth on New Year鈥檚 Eve. There are labyrinths in the Renfrew Ravine, in Strathcona Linear Park and at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
鈥淚t had a real surge 20 or 25 years ago,鈥� Bennett says of modern humans鈥� interest in the design and practice, adding that there are probably plenty that almost no one knows about. 鈥淧eople sometimes just install them in their backyard if they got the space.鈥�
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