Walk As One at 1: World Labyrinth Day, May 7

World Labyrinth Day is Saturday May 7, 2011.

Stone Labyrinth by Marty and Debi Kermeen.

World Labyrinth Day (WLD) is an annual global event celebrated each year on the first Saturday in May, sponsored by The Labyrinth Society, an international organization founded in 1998. The first WLD was held in 2009.

Jeff Bridges' labyrinth drawing. jeffbridges.com by www.jeffbridges.com

Labyrinths are thought to enhance right brain activity, and have been used for creative problem solving, conflict resolution, walking meditations, and stress management.

Ochsner Clinic Labyrinth by Marty Kermeen, Covington, LA.

The American Cancer Society states that labyrinths "may be helpful as a complementary method to decrease stress and create a state of relaxation."

Research studies conducted in a variety of settings have consistently shown that walking a labyrinth reduces stress. According to John W. Rhodes, Ph.D. Chair of The Labyrinth Society Research Committee, , this has been the most commonly reported finding related to the so-called "labyrinth effect.'

Walking a Santa Rosa backyard labyrinth. Design by Lea Goode-Harris, Ph.D by Lea Goode-Harris, Ph.D

While the origin of the labyrinth is unknown, labyrinths have been found all over the world dating from earliest antiquity. Once popular in the Middle Ages, labyrinths have been experiencing a resurgence in popularity. It has become increasingly common to find labyrinths in schools, prisons, parks, hospitals, spas, churches, and retreat centers. The World Wide Labyrinth Locator, www.labyrinthlocator.com , an online database, lists over 3400 labyrinths around the world.

Tamarindo Labyrinth, Costa Rica, by Ronald Esquivel. Photo Ricardo Pilurzu by Ronald Esquivel

The Labyrinth Society invites the world to "Walk As One at 1' in order to contribute to a wave of peaceful energy moving around the planet. To participate, people are invited to walk a labyrinth at 1:00 p.m. in their local time zone.

Earthworks labyrinth by Alex Champion. Photo: www.CAPavlinac.com

While large group events are planned, no event is too small.

Lily likes to lie in the Labyrinth. Photo: Robin Hansel
 

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