Slides from our presentation

These slides include a brief history of labyrinths and a step-by-step how to draw a classical labyrinthfrom a simple seed pattern (and variations on the seed). 

The Labyrinth Society website & local labyrinth resources

Did you know that there is an International Labyrinth Society, with an informative website and annual meetings?

There are quite a few existing labyrinths in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island -- for just a few examples, the St. Paul's Anglican Church painted labyrinth in Vancouver's West End ( a replica of the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth), and a whole tour of labyrinths on the Island.

Did you know that the Bethlehem Centre in Nanaimo houses Bill Godden's collection of Finger Labyrinths -- a finger labyrinth museum? Finger labyrinths can help plan labyrinth designs, and are sometimes used as a way for people (including kids) to calm an anxious mind by 'walking' a labyrinth in miniature with hands.

There are labyrinth designers and historians all around the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and around BC.

Here's another excellent resource for those who want to try their hand at designing and building a labyrinth!.

More excellent resources on labyrinths, their history and construction

Most of these interesting books are available via Amazon.ca and other online sources!

A write-up, animation and film of Gardner's Double Appleton labyrinth dance

How can it be geometrically possible to have two (or even three) people walk a labyrinth hand in hand (in hand) when some are going in toward the centre, and others are going out the the finish?

Grahame Gardner has worked out the logic of this labyrinth dance in 2011, based on Appleton's original form.

The write up of Gardner's Double Appleton is here, on Gardner's blog.

The film illustrating Gardner's Double Appleton is here.

Fascinating! We're looking forward to trying this on our own labyrinth.

Labyrinths are ancient, fascinating and mathematical

Note the difference between mazes (which have high walls, dead ends and many potential wrong turns) and contemporary labyrinths (often a very low or flat design on the ground that encourages contemplative walking. Labyrinths are unicursal (i.e. having a single path) and often in the shape of some kind of spiral. They often lead in to a resting place near the centre, so that the labyrinth walker has a phase of going in, a phase of resting or meditation, and a phase of going out of the path.

Here are some great resources to start learning about the history of labyrinths and math:

1. Chapter from the MAA book, Hands On History, about the history and geometry of traditional labyrinths.  (Here's a scan of it too.)
   
   
   
2. A Bridges Math and Art 2013 conference paper (Fenyvesi, Jablan & Radovic) that shows a way to construct labyrinths out of striped squares -- something that would be interesting to try with a class.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Making Your Own Labyrinth The Easy Way: Anne Nesbitt, 2003.