Imagine stepping into your backyard for a complete break from the daily stresses of work and life. Since the pandemic, backyards have become popular spots for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation as more homeowners install spa-like amenities such as hot tubs, plunge pools, yoga platforms, and meditation gardens. One of the most unique relaxation tools to add to your garden is a walking meditation maze. Meditation labyrinths often found in houses of worship, high-end spas, and community centers are now available in homes.
Interest in residential mazes continues to grow, said Stephen Sibley, a land artist at Fertil Ground, a studio that specializes in maze design and construction.
“Since COVID-19, many people have come out of a period of inward withdrawal and loss and reassessed what is truly important,” he notes. “Trends to foster a better work-life balance and make more time for family, friends, and self-care will continue to highlight how the family maze reinforces the benefits of embracing life’s unexpected twists and turns.” Let’s go.”
What is a meditation labyrinth?
Originating around 4,000 years ago in various cultures around the world, labyrinths are circular or spiral paths with a single route leading in and out of the center. Unlike a maze, where you have to find the exit, a labyrinth has no tricks or dead ends. From a spiritual perspective, some believe that the labyrinth represents a journey to the inner self.
Labyrinth is primarily used for mindful walking, a calming practice that allows you to focus on the present moment by tuning into your body’s sensations. Labyrinth walking meditation can be done barefoot or with shoes on, with no destination in mind, with the goal of moving slowly and being aware of each step and breath. This rhythmic movement of slowly and deliberately raising your feet while feeling the natural environment with all your senses helps people reach a mindful state.
Benefits of labyrinth meditation
Spending time walking through the maze increases your sense of well-being. A recent study found that people report positive emotions, sensations, and thoughts during and after maze walking.
ME (Beth) Langley, Veriditas Certified Labyrinth Facilitator at Lasting Labyrinth said: Mind, body and spirit he can restore, revitalize and train all in one place, leaving you empowered and ready to live well. ”
Labyrinth provides a specific space and time for a personal meditative experience. “This is a place where one can step out of the frenetic world and walk in a meditative way with inner focus,” said Path of Peace maze designer and maze builder. explains expert Lisa Gidlow Moriarty. “We don’t often spend quiet time, but when we do, the experience can be refreshing, soothing, and calming.”
Moriarty also mentions the physiological benefits of using labyrinths. “When you walk through the maze, you experience a balancing effect where you experience an equal number of 180-degree turns to the right and left, which seems to balance your body.” [and] The hemispheres of the brain are activated, resulting in a deeper sense of calm. ”
Finally, Veriditas Certified Maze Facilitator Anne Marie Emanueli of Mindful Frontiers LLC describes maze walking meditation as a journey into the mind. “It’s the release of trapped energy or energy that needs healing. The path goes inward and toward the center, so the person walking may feel like they’re going toward the center of their heart. I don’t know.”
People walk through labyrinths for a variety of reasons, including grief therapy, personal meditation, or simply enjoying the picturesque outdoor space.
How to build a meditation labyrinth: Installation considerations
For those interested in installing a maze on their property, there are many options and considerations to keep in mind. “There are hundreds of maze designs and many ways to build a maze,” Moriarty says. “Outdoor mazes can be as simple as cutting a pattern into the lawn or placing stones in the ground. But when things get as complex as creating a design on concrete or pavement, there is.”
The size of your available space and your budget will determine what is possible. The cost to design and build a labyrinth can range from $0 (for a simple DIY project) to over $60,000, depending on materials, size, and design.
Moriarty suggests visiting as many labyrinths as possible before deciding on the details. Check out the Labyrinth Locator website to find examples by location.
Labyrinth size and shape
The choice of maze size and shape is a matter of personal preference. Sibley explains that people are often drawn to specific patterns. “In some cases, the opportunities and constraints of the site dictate a particular scale and orientation, which can influence the pattern.” We suggest keeping it between. Ideally, the minimum space for nesting a maze is 25 feet by 25 feet. The most common patterns are classical and medieval, with many variations based on shape and number of circuits. Contemporary design also has many possibilities.
labyrinth material
Choosing the best materials for your labyrinth project will depend on your preferences, budget, availability, and even climate. Mazes can be constructed over new or existing concrete or asphalt, or they can be created using concrete pavers, bricks, or natural stone. Pathways may also consist of grass, ground cover, mulch, or compacted gravel. Another option is to use rocks, bricks, and/or vegetation to draw patterns that contrast with the surface of the path.
Moriarty explains: “Materials vary greatly depending on location. If you live in a desert environment, it’s impossible to mow a green lawn, but it’s possible to create a labyrinth by arranging stones in a sandy field.” Deciding whether to walk on a surface, a hard surface like a piece of wood, or a solid surface is also a consideration.
labyrinth location
Sibley offers his best advice on where to place your labyrinth: Even if you can’t physically walk at that moment, you’ll use it more and probably walk it in your mind’s eye. ”
labyrinth maintenance
Before issuing a permit, consider how much it will cost to maintain. “There is no such thing as a maintenance-free labyrinth,” warns Moriarty. “Different materials require different types of maintenance, so that should be part of your initial planning discussion.” For example, a labyrinth created with flower beds will require regular gardening, and Lawns require weekly mowing, and stones may require weed control and trimming.
Get professional support
If you are looking to hire a professional to design and build your maze, be sure to choose a maze specialist. This is because most landscapers and general building contractors do not have the knowledge and experience to perform this type of project. See the Labyrinth Society for a list of labyrinth experts.
When working with a professional, we schedule an on-site visit and initial consultation, which can be done virtually or in-person. The proposed scope of services will then be shared.
“What I most often recommend is a conceptual master planning stage where I, the land artist, and the client can solidify the vision on paper. Doing so allows us to understand the unique site opportunities and constraints, and the client. “We can best estimate the cost based on your desire for scale, pattern and type of materials needed to build the labyrinth,” Sibley explains.
Build your own meditation labyrinth
Some homeowners may prefer to go the DIY route. Be prepared for some difficult physical labor. Emanuelli built a 30-foot, seven-circuit classic maze at his home in New Mexico. “Building a labyrinth is a creative and fulfilling activity,” she says. “It was a blessing and a spiritual experience.”
The path is outlined with stones she has collected from her walks over the years, and the path is covered with coarse sand. “I recommend not making something that costs a lot of money and takes a lot of time,” she says. “My labyrinths are fairly easy to maintain, but the cost of maintaining an outdoor maze in a natural environment is surprising.”
How to get the most out of the labyrinth
Once you’ve built your meditation maze, there are many ways to enjoy all the positive aspects that come with it. Moriarty suggests setting an intention to walk through the labyrinth and keeping a thought, image, blessing, prayer, or concern in mind as you walk the winding path. “Or just walk with an open and quiet mind,” she says. “Above all, let go of distractions and nagging ‘to-do’ lists and to-do lists and gift yourself some quiet time. Let whatever seems important arise and let go of anything that seems to get in the way. ”
Other ways to participate in the labyrinth include listening to relaxing music or recorded nature sounds, or choosing a peaceful word or phrase as a mantra and repeating it as you walk along the path. Some ideas include “I’m at peace,” “I feel happy,” “Oh,” or “This too shall pass.” Finally, capture the essence of your subsequent experience by writing a diary, writing a poem, or drawing a picture about any thoughts or feelings that may have arisen while you were in the labyrinth.
Photo provided Lana Clay/Shutterstock.com
