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

 

World Labyrinth Day is Saturday May 7, 2011.

 

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.

 

 

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

 

 

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.'

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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

 

In past years, a variety of events have been held at locations worldwide, including the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., churches, and even a maximum-security women's prison. International countries joining the celebration have included: Canada, England, the Bahamas, France, Spain, New Zealand, China, South Africa, and Australia.

 

 

 

 

Individuals who wish to participate may use a finger labyrinth or virtual labyrinth or walk a local full-size labyrinth, made of natural materials or painted on canvas.

 

 

Local labyrinths open to the public can be found through the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator at http://labyrinthlocator.com

 

 

WLD events from MA to CA, from TX to WI, can be found at: http://labyrinthsociety.org/events-calendar

 

 

A Classical finger labyrinth can be downloaded for solitary participants here: http://zdi1.zd-cms.com/cms/res/files/382/ClassicalLabyrinth.pdf

 

 

Walk a virtual labyrinth here: http://labyrinthsociety.org/virtual-labyrinth-walk

 

 

 

Previous articles on OEN by this author include additional, in-depth information about labyrinths:

 

May 2: First Annual World Labyrinth Day (2009)

http://www.opednews.com/articles/May-2-First-Annual-World-by-Meryl-Ann-Butler-090501-269.html

 

 

Walk the Pavement to A-Mazement: World Labyrinth Day, May 1 (2010)

  http://www.opednews.com/articles/Walk-the-Pavement-to-A-Maz-by-Meryl-Ann-Butler-100428-16

 

Exploring Portland Labyrinths: An A-Mazing Journey http://www.opednews.com/articles/Exploring-Portland-Labyrin-by-Meryl-Ann-Butler-091028-242.html

 

 

 

The Labyrinth Society (TLS) is one of the foremost groups responsible for promoting the current international labyrinth movement. The Labyrinth Society is an international organization whose mission is to support all those who create, maintain and use labyrinths, and to serve the global community by providing education, networking, and opportunities to experience transformation. Since its inception, more than 1500 people have joined TLS. One of The Labyrinth Society's greatest contributions has been helping to establish The World Wide Labyrinth Locator. http://www.labyrinthsociety.org

 

 

Additional World Labyrinth Day information and resources are available on The Labyrinth Society's website at http://www.labyrinthsociety.org  

 

Contact: Carol Posch Comstock, PR Chair tlspr@labyrinthsociety.org

Carol House, World Labyrinth Day Coordinator wld@labyrinthsociety.org

 

 

The next article in this series is Celebrate Peace on World Labyrinth Day, May 5 (05.03.12) click here

 Previous articles in this series:

3. Walk the Pavement to A-Mazement: World Labyrinth Day, May 1   (04.28.10)
click here
 
2. Exploring Portland Labyrinths: An A-Mazing Journey  (10.28.09)
click here

1. May 2: First Annual World Labyrinth Day  (05.01.09) 
click here