The document discusses the history and characteristics of labyrinths versus mazes. A true labyrinth has a single path that leads to the center and back out, while a maze offers choices of paths. The author describes visiting three different styles of labyrinths - a classical painted concrete labyrinth at a church, a medieval replica at a hospice, and a contemporary hedge labyrinth at an art museum. All were in serene natural settings. The author concludes by reflecting on how a labyrinth's single path to the center and back relates to their life journey of achieving goals along a clear path without changing course.

1. Labyrinth
By: Adam Geissenberger

2. The Labyrinth symbol has been traced back over 4000 years but its origin is
still a mystery. A true labyrinth has only one path (unicursal) that leads to
the center and to get out you have to go back the way you came. This
differs from a maze in that a maze offers path choices (multicursal)which
would have to be retraced to find the way out.
MAZE

3. In reading the story of Thesus and the Minotaur, it becomes clear that the structure built by
Daedalus for King Minos was actually a maze rather than a labyrinth. It was to keep the
Minotaur trapped in the center.
There are labyrinths all over the world and quite a few in Florida. They’re located in many
different settings, and made in many different ways, from painted concrete, to rocks and
hedges. They are spiritual, religious, or just art.
I spent some time travelling around locally to see some examples of labyrinths and walked each
one. One was at a church, the next was on the grounds of a Hospice and the last one was at the
Dali Museum. In each case they were in a serene setting with nature all around.
The first one was an example of a classical labyrinth. It was located on the grounds of a the
Unity Church in Palm Harbor, Florida located in the garden area. The labyrinth was painted on
concrete and was 24 x 24 feet.

4. The next example was on the grounds of the Hospice
in Pinellas Park, Florida. This too was painted on
concrete but this one was a medieval style. As a
matter of fact it was a replica of the labyrinth located
in Chartres Cathedral in France. This one was larger
than the first one I visited.

5. The third was an example of a contemporary
labyrinth. It was located on the grounds of the Dali
Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. The contemporary
labyrinth is more squared off than the others I visited.
This one was a hedge, which
got gradually taller as you
got closer to the center.

6. World Wide Labyrinth Locator
All of the labyrinths I visited for this presentation were found via the
internet. You can locate labyrinths in your area by following this link.
http://labyrinthlocator.com/

7. From what I’ve learned of labyrinths, there is one
path that leads ultimately to the center or goal and
then there is a path leading out the way you came in.
If I were to apply this to my life I would say that I’ve
been blessed in that I’ve stayed on the path I chose
for myself and haven’t changed course along the way
(maze). I have goals that I’ve met and then travelled
forward to the next and the next one after that,
learning and growing along the way. I hopefully see
reaching the ultimate goal (center) as the culmination
of a long, long and happy life well lived, no need to
turn around and go back the way I came.