World Labyrinth Day 2013

Again the Labyrinth Society invitates to celebrate the World Labyrinth Day.

World Labyrinth Day

 

A global celebration of the labyrinth

The first Saturday in May

 

May 4, 2013

 

 “Walk as One at 1”

 

Be part of a rolling wave of peaceful energy

as the earth turns.

Walk a labyrinth at 1 PM in your time zone. 

 

World Labyrinth Day, a project of The Labyrinth Society, is a day designated to bring people from all over the planet together in celebration of the labyrinth as a symbol and a tool for healing and peace.

Most nicely it would be if everybody which is able would walk a labyrinth. But it is also possible, as a substitute to trace a finger labyrinth, to make a labyrinth meditation or to be active  labyrinthine in some way.

If you are looking for a labyrinth near you, maybe you will find one here:

• To find a labyrinth worldwide
• To find a labyrinth in Germany
• To find a labyrinth in Austria
• To find a labyrinth in Switzerland
• More information about the World Labyrinth Day from the TLS

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Labyrinths in Gurudwaras at Nanded (India)

I got the photos and most information in this article from Jagpreet Singh from Mumbai in India. I had like to say a big thank you to him.

He was on a religious trip to Nanded in February 2013.

Jagpreet Singh reported:

I visited nearly 10 – 12 historical Gurudwaras in and around Nanded. Most of the big Gurudwaras in India have geometrical designs in the Parikrama, like the Golden Temple in Amritsar. I was really intrigued when I discovered as many as 7 labyrinths during the Parikramas (the walk around) in the different Gurudwaras.

The commonality in many of these was that they were on the left hand side of the entrance of the Temples. However, all of them were of a different design and size in the center. While some labyrinths were approx. 6 feet by 6 feet, there was one which was approx. 20 feet by 20 feet – a person can actually do the labyrinths’ walk. There was one that was approx. 4 feet by 4 feet also.

As to the material used to make them: All have been made of marble of different colours.

Even though the Gurudwaras are approx. 300 years old, all of them have gone through a major renovation in 2007-2008, (just before the 300 year centenary of the 10th Guru of the Sikhs – Guru Gobind Singh). So I am not sure if the labyrinths are a new addition or have been there all along.

Gurudwara

Labyrinth 1

Labyrinth 1

Labyrinth 2

Labyrinth 3

Labyrinth 3

Labyrinth 3

Labyrinth 4

Labyrinth 5

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All photos with kind permission of Jagpreet Singh. © by Jagpreet Singh.

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On the photos I could identify five different labyrinths. Four follow the pattern shown below, only one deviates from it.

They are square, the entrance is situated on the first circuit which leads clockwise around the whole figure. In the four corners are convexities in angular or circular shapes. From the last circuit one reaches the middle which is a little bigger and is mostly still decorated with geometrical patterns.
The path sequence is: 0-1-4-3-2-5-6-7. One recognises in it the relationship with the classical 3 circuit labyrinth type Knossos.

6 circuit labyrinth with seed pattern

The designers of the labyrinths are (still) unknown, also the intended purpose. Are they pure ornaments or, nevertheless, suited for rituals? Are they influenced by the western culture or from Indian origin?

Maybe somebody knows more about these labyrinths?
In the next Caerdroia Jeff Saward has intended a publication about this and other labyrinths in India. Maybe we get to know then more?

Further Links

• Sikhism
• Parikrama
• Nanded
• Gurdwara
• Sikh Gurus
• Guru Gobind Singh
• Gurudwara Hazur Sahib – Nanded
• Gurudwara Nagina Ghat Sahib  - Nanded
• Gurudwara Banda Ghat – Nanded
• Gurudwara Mata Sahib – Nanded
• Gurudwara Shikar Ghat Sahib – Nanded
• Gurudwara Hira Ghat Sahib – Nanded
• Gurudwara Nanaksar – Nanded

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Facebook and the Labyrinth

The labyrinth is networking and connecting together. Innately. However, by what labyrinth lovers are connected or organised? Can Facebook help to do that? Does a labyrinth enthusiast derive any benefit from Facebook?

There are labyrinths in the private and in the public space which invite to walk them. There are historical and contemporary labyrinths. There is literature on the subject, audio-visual material. There are associations, even a proper organisation – The Labyrinth Society. There are events and workshops on the subject, even gatherings. One gets to know from it by word-to-mouth advertising or on the Internet, the modern communication medium. The labyrinth is subject of websites and blogs. To communicate there are forums, on websites visitors’ books, on blogs comment areas. These options are less used since Facebook has developed as social networking service.

© Author: Enoc vt

Facebook is in wide use, however rejected by some. Above all for reasons of data protection. Thus the like button on normal websites is strongly criticized. Since with this social plug-in even data from non-Facebook users can be passed on.
To use Facebook, one must register with a personal profile. It is easy to handle as all is managed with text inputs.
I admit: I am member of Facebook. One must not, it is possible not to be. Above all one may not be debauched from the possibilities which it offers. And one may not reveal too much from himself, already not at all what suggests Facebook. Otherwise one has in no time too many and only friends and is overwhelmed with information.

I use Facebook primarily to get to know about the labyrinth. For that purpose  there are different groups. Where one can find absolutely interesting tips.

If you are interested in my personal profile, please here it is: http://www.facebook.com/mymaze75

Here the groups:

• The Labyrinth Society on Facebook – Events (1115 members)
• Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth (263 members)
• Classical Labyrinths (140 members)
• Living Labyrinths ~ The Journey (117 members)
• Living Labyrinths (257 members)
• Children and the Labyrinth (56 members)

Related Link:

• Wikipedia about Facebook

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Snow Shoe Labyrinths at Hofkirchen i.M. (Austria)

This winter I have got snow shoes to tramp more beautiful Ariadne’s thread into the snow. I met the snow blanket suited for this in Hofkirchen i.M. Unfortunately, the sun was to be seen only very sporadic, so that I only made few labyrinths. I started with a 11 circuit classical labyrinth on a meadow behind the property of Prof. Gerhard Wünsche in Hamet. As a trial I added “my” 6 circuit Jericho labyrinth. And Gundula surprised with a 7 circuit “transition”  labyrinth. This arises if one does not go from the 5th circuit to the middle as usually in a classical labyrinth, but out again. Thus you get a  second entrance.

Here some impressions:

11 circuit classical labyrinth Hamet

11 circuit classical labyrinth Hamet

11 circuit classical labyrinth Hamet

11 circuit classical labyrinth Hamet

11 circuit classical labyrinth Hamet

6 circuit Jericho labyrinth Hamet

6 circuit Jericho labyrinth Hamet

6 circuit Jericho labyrinth Hofkirchen

7 circuit labyrinth “Gundula”

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