Hilton village maze, Cambridgeshire, March 2016

Copyright © Chris Trwoga 2016

SOMERSET NATURAL LEARNING ACADEMYwww.snla.co.uk

The author is happy to provide further advice and guidance for any of the projects in this book.

Contact Chris at:learning@snla.co.uk

British Library Cataloguing in Publication DataTrwoga. C.

The Power of Labyrinths

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any other means (electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Printed and bound in Great Britain

ISBN: 978-0-9576603-1-1

Published by Winding Road Books

THE POWER

OF LABYRINTHS

100 Activities & Projectsfor Individuals, Schools, and

Community Groups

with diagrams and illustrations

Chris Trwoga

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thanks the following who have supported our labyrinth journey.

Gwyn Harwood who has encouraged and partnered our labyrinth work for many a year.

The late Reverend Maxine Marsh, Vicar of St. John’s, Glastonbury and Sig Lonegren for inviting our participation in the building of the Tercentennial Labyrinth in St. John’s churchyard, Glastonbury.

The Isle of Avalon Foundation for supporting our Labyrinth Training courses at Abbey House, Glastonbury. Fiona Moir and the NHS who supported our Labyrinth Programme through the Healthy Schools Plus initiative. The Glastonbury Trust for funding our work in schools, including our many labyrinth training days.

We would also like to thank the following Somerset Schools who invited us to build permanent labyrinths with the children and participate in our ‘Labyrinth Week’ programme: St. Dunstan’s Academy, Glastonbury; Fairmead School, Yeovil; St. Johns’ Infants School, Glastonbury; Hindhayes Infants School, Street; North Cadbury Primary School; St. Margaret’s Primary School, Tintinhull; Rockwell Green School, Wellington; St. Joseph and St. Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Wells; Holy Trinity Primary School, Yeovil; Upton Noble Primary School, Shepton Mallet; Winsham Primary School, Chard.

We would also like to thank the many schools who attended our Labyrinth Training Days via the Somerset School Clusters, together with Gloucester Cathedral and Wells Cathedral for inviting us to deliver labyrinth training to their diocesan schools.

CONTENTS

i. Introduction – encountering a labyrinthii. Let’s Talk about Labyrinths – introduction to their meaning and origin iii. Deep Roots – the prehistory and history of labyrinthsiv. Labyrinths - a Christian perspectivev. How do Labyrinths Work? – some ideas about why their use is beneficial

1 Understanding Labyrinths – 10 activities to bUiLd awareness

1.1 – Drawing the Classic Labyrinth1.2 – What is a Labyrinth? – introducing labyrinths to others1.3 – Drawing a 6 Circuit Medieval Labyrinth1.4 – Drawing an 11 Circuit Chartres Labyrinth1.5 – Making a Wool or Papier Mâché Finger Labyrinth1.6 – Making a Clay Pendant Labyrinth1.7 – Designing and Drawing a Finger Maze1.8 – Making a Dreamtime Aboriginal Labyrinth1.9 – Who or What is my Minotaur? Minotaur Art Project 1.10 – Research an Ancient Labyrinth – connecting with sacred ground

2 Labyrinths for PersonaL weLL-being

2.1 – Labyrinth Familiarisation2.2 – Fresh and Alert2.3 – Anger or Stress Management2.4 – Confronting the Minotaur - disposing of negative energy2.5 – Time Out2.6 – Generating Positive Energy2.7 – Decision-Making2.8 – Conflict Resolution2.9 – Reflection Labyrinth2.10 – Relax & Play

3 Making teMPorary Labyrinths

3.1 – Making a 3 circuit Cobble or Pebble Labyrinth3.2 – A Labyrinth for people with a Disability 3.3 – Temporary ‘white line’ 6 circuit Medieval Labyrinth3.4 – Barrier Tape or Ribbon Labyrinth3.5 – Making a 7 Circuit Classic Labyrinth with Ropes3.6 – Scavenger Labyrinth3.7 – Fire Labyrinth3.8 – Jam Jar or Paper Bag Candle Labyrinth3.9 – Mown Grass Circular Labyrinth3.10 – Beach Labyrinth

4 bUiLding PerManent Labyrinths

4.1 – Choosing your Labyrinth Design4.2 – Choosing a Location for your Labyrinth4.3 – Materials and Method of Construction4.4 – Tyre Wall Labyrinth4.5 – Turf Path and Gravel Wall Labyrinth4.6 – Stone Rib Labyrinth4.7 – Sunken Path Labyrinth4.8 – Three Circuit Living Willow Labyrinth4.9 – Zen Sand and Cobble Labyrinth4.10 – Fabric Labyrinth Project

5 Labyrinth sPiritUaLity – connecting with seLf

5.1 – Labyrinth Patience5.2 – Labyrinths as Sacred Space - finding my special space5.3 – Labyrinth Meditation - introductory exercise5.4 – Breath Mindfulness5.5 – Zen Walking - Breath, movement and focus5.6 – Labyrinth Guided Journey (Stilling Introduction)5.7 – Personal Pilgrimage5.8 – Path to Blue - Reflecting on choice5.9 – Insights into Impermanence5.10 – The Paradox of Theseus - do we stay the same?

6 connecting with others – coMMUnity, nation, worLd

6.1 – High Five Labyrinth – Breaking down barriers6.2 – Music and Sharing – Desert Island Discs labyrinth6.3 – Penny Labyrinth – coming together for a good cause6.4 – Community Flags6.5 – A Rite of Passage – transition walk6.6 – Global Awareness Labyrinth6.7 – Forgiveness Fire Labyrinth6.8 – Labyrinth Festivals (1) – Ash Wednesday & Lent6.9 – Labyrinth Festivals (2) – Advent & the Jesse Tree6.10 – Bereavement Labyrinth

7 connecting with natUre

7.1 – Nature Meditation7.2 – Sensory Labyrinth7.3 – Exploring the Labyrinth Environment for Life – bugs, plants, trees, worms7.4 – Seasonal Labyrinth – walking the turning year7.5 – Sky Labyrinth7.6 – Animal Labyrinth 7.7 – Tree of Extinction – awareness of the earth as a diminishing resource7.8 – Labyrinth Seasonal Haikus7.9 – Celtic Christian Reflections on Animals7.10 – Harvest Labyrinth

8 connecting with god

8.1 – Prayer Tree8.2 – Offering Footsteps8.3 – Peregrination – a journey with God8.4 – Labyrinth Prayer8.5 – Labyrinth Calvary8.6 – Pilgrimage to Jerusalem – Christian, Muslim, Jewish8.7 – Easter Fire8.8 – Prayer Flags8.9 – A Grail Quest8.10 – Crossing the Bar - a meditation on Tennyson’s poem

9 taLes froM the Labyrinth – Part 1

9.1 – The Serpent in the Labyrinth9.2 – Noah’s Flood9.3 – Caravanserai – A Nativity story9.4 – The Devil and the Cross9.5 – The Road to Emmaus

10 taLes froM the Labyrinth – Part 2

10.1 – Theseus and the Minotaur10.2 – Pier Gynt10.3 – A Christmas Carol10.4 – Orpheus in the Labyrinth10.5 - Narcissus and Goldmund

11 Labyrinth gaMes

11.1 – Doing the Labyrinth Differently11.2 – Grail Quest Labyrinth (The Fun Version)11.3 – Walls of Troy11.4 – Snakes and Labyrinths11.5 – Labyrinth Stepping-stones Race11.6 – Labyrinth Football11.7 – Labyrinth Cricket11.8 – Spiral Dance11.9 – Labyrinth Relay Race11.10 – Labyrinth Musical Chairs

Scavenger Labyrinth, Green Gathering, Monmouthshire, August, 2015

1

outwittedHe drew a circle that shut me out.

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.But love and I had wit to win.

We drew a circle that took him in. Edwin Markham

who is this book for?

This book is for anyone – individuals, schools, community groups - who wish to use labyrinths as a simple and accessible tool that will deepen and enrich their sense of things. The labyrinth activities and projects contained in this book are vehicles for well-being and spiritual growth in the same way that prayer, yoga, meditation and reflection are tools that can serve folk of all faiths and none.

have yoU encoUntered a Labyrinth?

You come across your first labyrinth in a park, churchyard, college campus or even on a beach. You walk the labyrinth out of curiosity, maybe a little self-consciously, not knowing what to expect. You discover that the experience has affected you. Perhaps it helped you let go of something that was troubling you, or stirred a happy memory from long ago. Maybe it was simply the relief that comes from giving ten minutes to yourself.

Or you watch children playing in the labyrinth, laughing and greeting each other as the convolutions of the path cause them to meet in opposite directions. Even toddlers seem to get it, enjoying the sensory experience of grass under their feet, running this way and that without the need for purpose or destination. And you think there is something here we have lost, something that is so simple and so of the spirit, the message seems hardly worth the telling. That ‘something lost’ is this.

A labyrinth is about walking. Walking is the simplest of spiritual practices. Spiritual practices exist and have survived the millennia because they help us and because we need them. Spiritual practice supports our physical and mental well-being. Patterned prayer gives strength to millions. Simple daily rituals at shrine and altar

i IntroductIon

2

give a sense that there is love and purpose in our being here. Meeting together in sacred space fulfills our need for community and common purpose. Walking the labyrinth can provide all of these things.

Labyrinths are an ancient phenomenon, and are found in many cultures – Native American, Indian, Christian, Pagan to name just a few. Labyrinths belong to all humanity.

A labyrinth is a winding, usually circular path that leads to a centre or goal. It is a single path with no surprises and no dead ends. If we stick to the path we will reach our destination.

A labyrinth is different from a maze. A maze is a trickster. It has dead ends and false paths. It is designed to confuse. In a maze you can get lost and you have to use your wits to find your way out. In a labyrinth you must learn to relax, let the inner eye guide you, learn just to be in the space.

what’s in this book?

I have worked with labyrinths for more than a decade as part of my vocation of encouraging well-being through outdoor learning. We are currently working with two labyrinth projects in a Catholic and an Anglican school where we hope to embed the rather beautiful labyrinths the children have made into their daily lives.

Over the years we have worked on developing the use of labyrinths to meet many needs – including physical and mental health projects funded by the National Health Service. One hundred of these activities and projects are here for you to share with your community.

They are presented as fully developed activity plans. They include different ways to make labyrinths, both temporary and permanent, and an array of fun activities, spiritual practices, games, relaxation exercises and much more.

enjoy!