The Labyrinth and the Flower of Life

Almost seven years ago, the flower of life was a topic in this blog. Now I would like to add a few things.
First, the original drawing of Ariadne’s thread in the flower of life. During a visit to Salzburg, Marianne Ewaldt asked me if the labyrinth was included in the flower of life. She gave me a small anniversary publication for the 80th birthday of Dr. Siegfried Hermerding, which was titled “The Flower of Life and the Universe”. It contained countless symbols and prototypes, but not a labyrinth.

Ariadne’s Thread in the Flower of Life

This is the picture to which I drew Ariadne’s thread for the three-circuit labyrinth on 25 June 2012 in Salzburg.

What is it about the flower of life? A sober and rational answer comes from Wikipedia :

An overlapping circles grid is a geometric pattern of repeating, overlapping circles of equal radii in two-dimensional space. Commonly, designs are based on circles centered on triangles (with the simple, two circle form named vesica piscis) or on the square lattice pattern of points.

Patterns of seven overlapping circles appear in historical artefacts from the 7th century BC onwards; they become a frequently used ornament in the Roman Empire period, and survive into medieval artistic traditions both in Islamic art (girih decorations) and in Gothic art. The name “Flower of Life” is given to the overlapping circles pattern in New Age publications.

Many see much more in the flower of life. They may, but one should not overemphasize. From the labyrinthine point of view, it remains to be noted that it is a grid in which, depending on the size, different labyrinths can be accommodated. They always have a hexagonal shape and a cube-shaped appearance. It’s a style similar to the labyrinths in man-in-the-maze style, as Andreas has explained in several articles.

In the articles mentioned below further drawings and derivations of Andreas and me can be found.

To accommodate a 7-circuit labyrinth in the Flower of Life, you have to extend the grid of full circles, as Andreas has stated. Marianne Ewaldt did that as a ceramic artist and gave me as present such a labyrinth last year.

A Golden Ariadne’s Thread in th Flower of Life

And here is another drawing of me with all the lines of the labyrinth in a slightly larger grid:

The complete 7-circuit classical labyrinth

It can be clearly seen that the outer boundary lines form a hexagon and also depict a cube.

Related Posts

• The Labyrinth Inside the Flower of Life
• The whole Labyrinth inside the Flower of Life
• The Flower of Life – On Track
• Flower of Life and Labyrinths with Multiple Arms

Further Link

• Wikipedia: The Flower of Life

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