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The classical labyrinth stems from a seed
pattern as a nucleus. This simple method for reproducing the labyrinth
design is an ingenious drawing trick that has been passed from person
to person, from one culture to another, for thousands of years.
Simple 3-circuit labyrinth
This is the easiest labyrinth to draw and build. Once you know
the seed pattern, it is easy. It is simply a cross with a dot in
each quadrant to form a square. The bigger the cross, the bigger
your labyrinth will be. |
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Connect the top of the cross with the dot in the upper right corner,
making a clockwise circular line. |
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Drawing a bigger circular line, connect the dot in the upper left
corner with the right arm of the cross. |
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Connect the left arm of the cross in a still bigger circular line
with the dot in the lower right corner. |
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And lastly, connect the dot in the lower left corner in the last
and outside circular line with the bottom bar of the cross. Voila! |
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Classical 7-circuit labyrinth
Here the seed pattern has extra lines
between the cross and the dots, but the process is exactly the same.
You always start with connecting
the top of the cross with the very next line on the right-hand
side. Connecting the rest of the series of circular lines (see pictures)
may seem daunting at first, but once you get the knack of it, it
is fun!
Seed pattern of the classical 11-circuit labyrinth
Once you can draw a 7-circuit labyrinth easily, it is fun to
explore with more lines.
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Seed pattern of the classical 15-circuit labyrinth
With this one you really need to concentrate!
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Siting
The choice of location for a labyrinth should not be an arbitrary
decision. It is important to site a labyrinth in accordance with the
visible
and invisible earth energies of a particular place. Many labyrinth
creators ensure they place their labyrinth in the most beneficial
place possible by calling on the services of a professional dowser to
check,
among other things, the compatibility of the space they have selected
with the positioning and design of the labyrinth they have chosen.
(Learn how to dowse from Sig Lonegren: http://www.geomancy.org/dowsing/index.html)
But, many people just want to build a labyrinth in their backyard and
don't have a dowser in the vicinity. First, you need to decide what your
intention with the labyrinth is: will it be used for relaxing, focusing,
de-stressing, growing, self-exploring, healing, playing or creating.
You need to know your intention before you can decide where to place
your labyrinth for optimum use. Finding the perfect spot for your labyrinth
begins by relaxing into a meditative state so that you can connect with
the spirit of that specific piece of land and your intuition. It is in
this state that you would focus on your intention for building the labyrinth
(this is about directing the energy, both for the environment on which
it is built and for the people who will walk it).
The first question you ask is: May I build a labyrinth here? You ask
this question to get permission from Mother Earth, the spirit of the
place, elementals and native spirits who may be on the land. Always ask
permission, for both a permanent and a temporary labyrinth. I have never
found that I couldn't build a labyrinth somewhere on the property. Sometimes
it just took time to find the right spot! Then offer Mother Earth something
(a flower, incense, some spit), something that holds your essence, so
that Spirit can know where to find you if necessary.
When you have the site, find the location of the centre first. This
can be done with dowsing rods, a pendulum or your intuition. A lot of
labyrinths are sited exactly on the north/south/east/west lines, but
it is not necessary. Sometimes the feng shui of the land does not work
with the four wind directions and one would rather have the beginning
path face towards a mountain or a tree or the ocean. When you use the
labyrinth with intent it has the ability to draw the earth energies towards
it. One example of a South African labyrinth that was built exactly on
the four directions, is the 7-circuit cacti labyrinth at Graaff-Reinet.
It is interesting to note that the cacti in the labyrinth that was planted
six months later than the cacti in the field (it is for a nursery) grew
four times bigger over a period of three years.
After you have the position of the centre, find the location of the
entrance. Like I mentioned before, the entrance may be influenced by
the environment. Then draw the labyrinth in the space.
Materials
Labyrinths can be built out of literally anything, from stones
and bricks to flowers, shells, leaves, cooldrink cans and shoes!
Use your imagination
and find what will suit the environment, especially if it is a permanent
labyrinth.
Virtual labyrinth
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