The Labyrinth Garden
On my recent trip to Tucson’s Sonoran Desert Museum, I took time to walk paths and really enjoy the scenery. I was drawn to a garden area with a spiral path. The path was a labyrinth design and following it I became quietly thoughtful. I was focused on the here and now as I looked at the rocks and plants beside me. Quite the Zen experience! Later I read the signage about the path and was intrigued. A labyrinth is a combination of a circle and a spiral that meanders into a meaningful experience. There are two types of labyrinth patterns. The archetypal design is classical – about 4000 years old. It is a single pathway that loops back and forth to form 7 circuits around a single goal. The one at the Desert Museum is a variation with 5 circuits. The medieval labyrinth is the second pattern and is very symmetrical. It was developed in the 10th and 11th centuries and has eleven concentric circles. ...