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The Labyrinth
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The Labyrinth at Fellowship Farm
Labyrinths have been known to the human race for over 4,000 years. The oldest form on record is the Cretan labyrinth, also called the classical seven-circuit labyrinth.
Labyrinths have been made of many materials - some have paths outlined in stone; others were carved into stone. Early Roman-style labyrinths were made of mosaic tile. Turf labyrinths, found throughout England, Scandinavia and Germany, are made from mounds of earth covered with grass.
Fellowship Farm's labyrinth is fashioned after the classical eleven-circuit labyrinth that was laid in the stone floor of the cathedral in Chartes, France over 800 years ago. It is thought to come from the tradition of the Knights Templar. Legend says that the design was part of King Solomon's temple and the concept was later carried to France by the Templars. This style of labyrinth is also associated with the freemasons, the guilds that provided the expertise and labor for the building of the Gothic cathedrals throughout Europe.
The singular path of the Fellowship Farm labyrinth lies in 11 concentric circles with a 12th being the center. The path meanders throughout the whole circle. There are 34 turns on the path going into the center. The center is often called the rosette, a six-petaled rose-shaped area.
Use
Thinking is not required to walk a labyrinth. At the same time, one must remain alert to stay on the path. This combination of reduced mental activity and heightened awareness makes the labyrinth ideal for walking meditation or prayer.
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