THE WORLD OF FAITH
MAY 2026
WALKING WITH THE DIVINE
Labyrinths as Holy Places
Story and photos by Cathy Carter
A welcome to the labyrinth at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.
Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. ~ Jeremiah 6:16
May 2, 2026. Today is World Labyrinth Day and around the world thousands will gather at local labyrinths to walk the path of the labyrinth with the hope of encountering the Divine. This video shows peoplle walking their labyrinths in places that might not be expected.
What is a Labyrinth?
A labyrinth is a place of ritual, of motion, of chora. Chora is a Greek term that refers to a kind of space that is liminal, a space that exists at a threshold, often between earth and the realm of the gods. It waits for a person to walk in its pathways and gives the walker the time and space to consider whatever might lie on his or her heart. The presence of a labyrinth marks its place in the landscape as holy ground.
Labyrinths are ancient religious symbols that have regained popularity in recent times. They are life-size symbolic representations of winding journeys and are usually associated with spiritual practices. A labyrinth is unicursal; it has a single, uninterrupted path leading to the center and back out again. Labyrinths can be found in various cultures and have been used for thousands of years as tools for introspection, self-discovery, and transformation. They are ancient archetypes that date back 4,000 years or more, used symbolically as walking meditations, choreographed dance, or a site of rituals and ceremony. They evoke metaphor, sacred geometry, spiritual pilgrimage, religious practice, mindfulness, environmental art, and community building.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF LABYRINTHS
Silver coin from Knossos displaying the 7-course "Classical" design to represent the Labyrinth, c. 400 BCE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth
Labyrinths have existed since at least 2200 BCE. The most famous was created by Daedalus for King Minos of Crete. Greek mythology tells the story of the Minotaur, a violent half man - half bull that was eventually killed by Theseus. Ancient coins c. 400 BCE were made with a representation of the labyrinth. This shows a 7-circuit classical design but square rather than round.
Labyrinths predate Christianity by at least 2,000 years. They have been used in many cultures worldwide for a variety of purposes. Within the Christian church labyrinths have been used at least since the fourth century CE. Currently they are used by people world-wide as spiritual tools for prayer, reflection, contemplation, meditation, worship, celebration, and spiritual growth
The first Christian labyrinth was placed on the floor of St. Basilica of Reparatus in Algeria about 324 CE. It is of a more unusual square design that has a palindrome in the center which reads Sancta Eclesia (Holy Church).
First Christian labyrinth 324 CE
Labyrinths came into their own during the Medieval period. There is a labyrinth at Chartes Cathedral in France that was built during this time. This image gives us a look at the cathedral interior circa 1750.
Interior of Chartes Cathedral with labyrinth
Labyrinths were built to emulate pilgrimages, a spiritual activity that became popular during the Middle Ages. You may have read, or at least heard of, The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 1300s. He used a literary device of stories recounted by pilgrims going to the shrine of Thomas a’ Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Pilgrimage was popular long before this, however. In 1099 CE Christian military forces in the First Crusade captured Jerusalem, which made the religious sites there available to pilgrims. But in 1187 Muslim armies recaptured the city and closed access to those sites. As a substitute several cathedrals created labyrinths to serve as symbols of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The image below is another look at the labyrinth in Chartes Cathedral.
https://tinyurl.com/yhvjzbet
By the 16th century travelers began to turn to more secular reasons for travel and pilgrimages declined. With the world available to travelers, the need for labyrinths as symbolic pilgrimages no longer existed.
In the modern era the labyrinth as a devotional tool reemerged in popularity, in part due to the coming of age of the baby boomers and their renewed interest in spiritual matters. Today, labyrinths are being built across the country.
Labyrinth Design
To reiterate, labyrinths are unicursal (def: an object or figure composed of a single path, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Main_Page). The path through the labyrinth leads from an opening on an outside edge to the center and then back out again. There is no way to get lost or take a wrong turn; in a typical labyrinth the path inevitably leads to the center.
There are two main labyrinth designs : the classical style and the Chartesknor medieval style.
The classical labyrinth is one of the most well-known and ancient styles. It features a single, convoluted path that leads to the center and back out again. The path often loops as it proceeds but still forms a single continuous path. It has a circular shape. The number of circuits varies but the original ancient design contained seven circuits.
https://tinyurl.com/4en7ccmv
The medieval labyrinth typically contains 11 circuits that feature an asymmetrical, mathematically and visually complex pattern.
https://cathedralofhope.org/ministries-programs/labyrinth/
How Labyrinths Mark the Landscape as Holy
The concept of a sacred place is based upon the idea of a hierophany, or the appearance of the divine in a previously profane place (Mircea Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane).
Labyrinths are created by humans and therefore do not typically fall into the category of “sacred." But Professor Belden Lane identifies four axioms for the study of sacred place. One of these is "... sacred place is ordinary place, ritually made extraordinary.” This axiom fully encompasses the labyrinth.
We have identified the labyrinth as a symbol or a devotional tool. The ritual which turns topos to chora is the walk within the labyrinth together with the prayers of the walker. This activity functions as the consecration of the labyrinth.
Labyrinths of Albuquerque
New Mexico is an exceptionally spiritual place and Albuquerque, the state's largest city, is no exception. The images below show some of Albuquerque's labyrinths.
Norbertine Abbey
From the Monks: “Who can climb the mountain of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place? The one with clean hands and a pure heart.” Psalm 24:3-4
St. Paul Lutheran Church
A medieval labyrinth
Canossian Spirituality Center
Classical labyrinth at the Convent for the Canossian Sisters
Center for Action and Contemplation
Classical labyrinth Established by Father Richard Rohr in 1987.
St. Chad Episcopal Church
Medieval labyrinth
REMEMBERING THE STORY
by Cathy Carter
Reading the story of Passover. Paul Tanenbaum, Natalie Tanenbaum, Julia Grossberg, Bill Vincent
Photo by Cathy Carter
April 1, 2026. The Jewish Interest Group tonight celebrated Passover with a traditional Seder at the Amenity Center. They welcomed three Mirehaven News Reporters to the event. Debbie Sloan, leader of the group said, “Jewish tradition advises to always be willing to accept anyone who wishes to attend a Seder.”
In the previous issue, Mirehaven News reported on the idea of Passover and its origins. Tonight, at the Seder, these ideas were lived out.
“The Seder is the traditional Passover meal that includes reading, drinking four cups of wine, telling stories, eating special foods, singing, and other Passover traditions” (www.chabad.org).The story of the origin of Passover and its meaning is read aloud by the participants. The Mirehaven Seder was somewhat abbreviated with some parts shortened or omitted to reduce the length of the ritual.
The reading begins with a prayer and lighting the Festival candles followed by another prayer that was read aloud in unison: “May the festival lights we now kindle inspire us to use our powers to heal and not to harm, to help and not to hurt, to bless and not to curse, to lead us all to freedom.”
The attendees talked about how participation in the Passover Seder was a lifelong tradition. As children, they were invited to ask four ritual questions that clarify the meaning and importance of Passover. The first question asks “Why is this night different from all other nights?" The answer, from the reading, is, in part,“… on this night we celebrate our ancestors going forth in triumph from slavery to freedom.” This question identifies the central tenet of the Jewish faith.
Later, some of those present talked about their favorite parts of the Seder. One said it was listening to the retelling of the story of deliverance from Egyptian slavery by God. Another said it was the opportunity to celebrate the central event of their faith with their friends and neighbors. Everyone who was asked responded with “the food!”
A group of friends after completing the ritual meal.
Photo by Cathy Carter