How to Build Your Own Labyrinth

Have you ever seen a labyrinth or had the chance to walk one for prayer or meditation? Many people think that mazes and labyrinths are one and the same. The difference is that a maze has many ways out and it is possible to become lost. A labyrinth, however, has only one path into the center and back out again.

Labyrinths were once used by Christians as a way to atone for sins and also for meditative prayer, much like using a rosary. Some ancient churches have labyrinths carved into the floors where worshippers can come and walk the line while they pray. There are a few different labyrinth designs, but all of them contain a single path which leads in a spiral pattern to the center and back out again.

Today, many people build their own labyrinths or visit a local park area where a labyrinth has been built in order to meditate. Walking the line of a labyrinth to its center and back out again is symbolic of taking a path inside your soul and back out again. It can offer insight and many people who use labyrinths claim that they are better able to solve problems while walking a labyrinth and that it works well for calming them or reducing stress in their life.

You can easily build your own labyrinth in your backyard. Not only will it be a useful tool for meditation and de-stressing, it makes a lovely focal point for your yard or garden, much like a statue or piece of art. Labyrinths are generally permanent, but like any garden, do require a small amount of care to keep them beautiful.

When building your labyrinth, mark it out first in either sand or with a long piece of brightly colored yarn. With a stone labyrinth, you can easily move the stones, so you may not need to mark out the boundaries first with sand or string. Always start drawing your labyrinth from the center and work your way out again. It is much too difficult to start from the outside and work your way in as you may run out of room before reaching what you intend to be the center.