Froga Yoga, Raw Food And Labyrinths            Lani Rossetta

Labyrinths - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a labyrinth?

A labyrinth is a cultural form or ancient symbol that has been found in many regions around the world for thousands of years. Unlike a maze, the labyrinth has only one path, leading from the outside to the center. There are no dead-ends. You will never get lost in a labyrinth if you stay on the path.

How does one walk a labyrinth?

One can walk a labyrinth in prayer or meditation; one can walk the path as if taking a walk, noticing everything in one's immediate environment. One can run or dance to the center. Children love to do this. There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. Walking a labyrinth has universal appeal and unlimited uses, for it is ancient archetype with universal appeal. See (link to Labyrinths for Kids and Let's Have a Labyrinth Party for ideas in using labyrinths with children.

Where are labyrinths found?

All over the world. On hilltops, near the sea, in churches, cathedrals, hospitals, in the desert, at Universities, in private yards, at corporations.

What are labyrinths made of?

Any materials one can find: Bricks, grass, dirt, rocks, stones, painted, inlaid stones, etched in cement, etc. There are permanent labyrinths indoors and out. There are temporary labyrinths - made with a stick in sand at a beach, from ropes, lights, spray paint. People paint them on a large painter's canvas and make them portable. There are desktop or finger-walking labyrinths that can be held in one's lap and walked with a finger. See (link to same books as above)

What are the main types of labyrinths?

There is the Cretan or Classical labyrinth, made from an easy pattern, usually 7 paths, but could be greater or less than 7. These have long flowing lines and are found all over the world, especially outdoors. There is the Chartres style labyrinth, named after the labyrinth built inside the Chartres cathedral in France during the 13th century. It has 11 circuits. Another style is the Baltic Wheel and England has many hedge mazes and labyrinths.

What about working with children and labyrinths?

In my years working with children, as a parent, teacher and occupational therapist in the school setting, I realized that using labyrinths as a tool for developing important learning skills in the classroom, proved to be fun, educational and highly beneficial to the children. In the areas of stress reduction, balancing left and right brain hemispheres, visual-perceptual skills, multi-sensory experiences, fine motor and gross motor skills as well as social interaction, making labyrinths, learning the pattern and walking labyrinths was new and exciting for most of the children I worked with. Out of this work came my first labyrinth book for children, Labyrinths for Kids, which is a handbook for teachers, educational assistants, physical and occupational therapists and anyone else in various community settings who work with groups of children.

What are some of the ways children can walk labyrinths?

Children I have worked with have moved through the labyrinth in some of the following ways: licking their ice cream cones, blowing bubbles, to music, to singing, hopping on one foot, riding a scooter, crawling on all fours, twirling, dancing, using a flashlight in total darkness to light the path in front of them, running, walking with one foot placed directly in front of the other, walking backwards, turning cartwheels and somersaults. For tabletop labyrinths that children make, they can walk through with their fingers, trace the path with crayons or colored pencils, or hold a three dimensional labyrinth and tip the labyrinth left, right, forward and backward, or north, south, east and west to get the marble to roll through the path toward the center. Spiritually, they can learn to set a goal, solve a problem, etc., by quieting the mind and centering themselves on their walk. Many game and party ideas can be found in my second book, Let's Have a Labyrinth Party.

Where do I get more information on labyrinths?

I recommend going to The Labyrinth Society website for all kinds of information on the history of labyrinths. There is a worldwide labyrinth locator so you can find labyrinths in your own area to visit. There are free patterns to download.