By The Rev. Dr. Joel Clark Mason
December 7, 20007
Labyrinths have been a part of human experience for over 4,000 years, and they’ve been mixed up with mazes for nearly as long.
The earliest mention of a labyrinth comes from Herodotus, who wrote about an enormous structure in Egypt that was built around 2,000 BCE. However, he probably made a common error, most likely mislabeling a maze as a labyrinth; the building or series of buildings he described contained features unique to mazes, such as myriad passageways.
So what is a labyrinth? A labyrinth presents only one path without any exits or places to get lost. The path that leads in is the path that leads out. Mazes are more akin to puzzles. They present blind alleys, dead ends and many different choices of directions to take.
Only two traditional labyrinth layouts
Mazes can come in an infinite number of configurations while the labyrinth is usually found in only one of two layouts. The first is referred to as the “classical” labyrinth. This design is found in most cultures and is made up of seven circuits that lead to the center or goal. This is the design that was found on Cretan coins. The labyrinth at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin is this more ancient, classical design.
The other design is called the “medieval” labyrinth, probably because this style of labyrinth flowered in the 12th and 13th centuries as grand gothic cathedrals began to rise. It was and still is often found embedded in pavement either inside a church or outside in a courtyard. The most famous example of this type of labyrinth is located at Chartres Cathedral in France.
The medieval labyrinth usually contains twelve circuits through which one travels to reach the center. It is much larger than the classical labyrinth and therefore requires more time to walk than a medieval layout.
Labyrinths calm all walkers, no matter their religious affiliation
Labyrinths can be found at Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist and other churches. Many churches recognize the value of the labyrinth in helping members to still themselves, focus, and enter a deeper state of prayer or meditation.
Is the labyrinth exclusive to Christians? Of course not; it predates Christianity by over 2,000 years. The labyrinth at St. Mary’s is available for any person, regardless of religious persuasion, to use as they need. It is located outside on the south side of the church and can be walked at any time.
The Rev. Dr. Joel Clark Mason has been Rector of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin for the past eleven years. He and his wife, Mary Jo, can be seen, on warmer days, tooling around Chappaqua on their Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Copyright 2009 NewCastleNOW.org