Labyrinth

Introducing the Labyrinth to our Samford community.

A new Labyrinth is being developed at St Paul's. Watch this space for more details.

We have in 2017 been exploring the labyrinth, it is a new addition to the grounds here at St Paul’s, and I invite you to come and explore it for yourself. What is a Labyrinth? A labyrinth is a spiral course having a single, winding unobstructed path from the outside to the centre; it is used to calm and relax, meditate and quiet the mind, and here at St Paul’s we use it as a way to pray. It is not a maze; a maze has blind dead ends that are used to confuse and trick the mind. Labyrinths are tools to still, relax and re- centre the mind.

Labyrinths have been around for over 4,000 years with labyrinth stone wall carvings, clay tablets and coins dating back to the Bronze Age. Labyrinths have been featured in Greek and Roman mythology and, in the Middle Ages, they started to appear in churches and temples around the world. Labyrinths have been used by many different cultures and religions across time as they have been known to be used for relaxation, meditation and prayer that can bring spiritual and emotional well-being to the lives of those who used them.                                        Labyrinths can be found in hospital gardens, parks, schools and home gardens as they are known for their meditative properties.

Meditations can take many forms and have been around for centuries. The important part is allowing you to be in the moment and letting other thoughts float past.

A new Labyrinth is being developed at St Paul's. Watch this space for more details. During 2018 guided labyrinth walks were scheduled regularly and it was included in the Samford 100 Wellness Day.