Doing the Labyrinth WalkIf you feel in need of a brisk winter walk, I have the very thing. What I have in mind is not just any old walk. It is a walk around a labyrinth.
Such a walk, in the Middle Ages, would have counted as a substitute for a pilgrimage, if you were unable to make the trek to Canterbury, Rome or Jerusalem.
But the labyrinth is much older than that. The Greeks first created them 4,000 years ago.
A
labyrinth is like a maze, but with one key difference. A maze has false
turns, dead ends and is designed to puzzle and entertain. A labyrinth
follows one true path to the centre, and is usually arranged in a
circle. The one above is at Hilton, near cambridge
While mazes often have high hedges to make it even harder to puzzle
them out, labyrinths are laid out on the ground, so you can see your
goal at all times, even when the path does not seem to be taking you
towards it and, indeed, may be leading you in the opposite direction.
Once there were labyrinths throughout the British Isles,
often cut into the turf of village greens or close to churches, and
their symbolism was powerful. Today there are only eight originals left
in England,
but many new ones are being created: at churches, universities,
hospitals and on community space. There’s one down the road from me at Ealing Abbey, and that’s where I walked off my Christmas lunch.
Seven of the English originals, spread from North Yorkshire to the New forest, are on public land and easily visited. More on them below.
Having been nicked off the pagans by the Church, labyrinths are now being adopted by those on a post-Christian spiritual quest.
But you don’t have to worry about any of that.
You can admire them simply for their intricate designs. They look wonderful in a garden. One of my favourites is at Grey's Court near Henley
in Oxfordshire. Actually, that is strictly a maze, as it has false
turns, but it is laid out in the circular pattern characteristic of
labyrinths.
If I ever get the space, I shall build one. Perhaps you’ve already done it? Be great to hear from you if you have.
Here are links to a great deal more about the labyrinth.
The eight English turf labyrinths
Once there were labyrinths cut into the turf on many English village greens, now only eight left. Find out about them here
The 4,000-year history of the labyrinth
From classical, through medieval to modern times, the labyrinth has appeared in many lands, and in many cultures.
Labyrinths around the world
They are found in almost every land, and in many cultures. Here is a world tour of some of the most interesting
Other labyrinths in the British isles
The turf-cut labyrinths are just a part of the story of labyrinths in Britain. Here is the rest.
How to design and make a labyrinth
It may look daunting, but infact it can be pretty straightforward - once you are shown how. Get creating here
Doing the Labyrinth Walk