Maze? Labyrinth? What's the difference?

Often the term maze and labyrinth are used to mean the same thing, a maze.

Unlike a maze, a labyrinth is flat, you can see it all. It is not a puzzle or test. It is just one path. So there are no decisions to make, no different paths to chose. One path, but a twisty one, so you can quite work out where you are going. All you can do is put one foot in front of the other.

You just are in the moment.

"In a maze you lose yourself; in a labyrinth you find yourself."

Sometimes labyrinth paths are called Ariadne's thread. In the Greek myth Theseus enters the labyrinth to killed the minataur. Ariadne helped Theseus by giving him a thread to let out as he went through the labyrinth so he could find his way out. One path in, same path out.

A little history

Labyrinths dating back to medieval times have been found carved into rocks in Wales and Ireland. Labyrinths have been found in South America, Ancient Greece and Roman remains, India, Sumatra.

In the West they became very popular in Europe during the time of the Crusades. For people who couldn't make the journey to the Holy Land, a labyrinth gave them the way to do a pilgrimage staying at home. One of the most famous labyrinths, possibly dating back to the time of the Crusades, is in Chartres Cathedral in France. There are records of 'pilgrims' walking the labyrinth on their knees.

Nowadays labyrinths are commonly found at universities, cathedrals and churches, and some hospitals, giving people an opportunity to pause, think, contemplate, pray, and find peace or clarity.

Different types of labyrinths

There are two main types of labyrinths.

• Classical labyrinths

• Chartres labyrinths (similar to the one at Chartres Cathedral.)

You can download a pdf of each of these below.