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Showing posts with the label spiral paths

The Labyrinth Garden

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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.   The Chartres labyrinth is an example of this.   Wish I had been