Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide for Healing and Spiritual Growth [Paperback]

Melissa Gayle West (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2000

"Whoever you are, walking the labyrinth has something to offer. If a project is challenging you, walking can get your creative juices flowing. When struggling with grief or anger, or a physical challenge or illness, walking the labyrinth can point the way to healing and wholeness. If you're looking for a way to meditate or pray that engages your body as well as your soul, the labyrinth provides such a path. When you just want reflective time away from a busy life, the labyrinth can offer you time out. The labyrinth holds up a mirror, reflecting back to us not only the light of our finest selves, but also whatever restrains us from shining forth."
--From the Introduction

Join Melissa Gayle West and thousands of others who are turning to labyrinth walking for quiet meditation and spiritual healing. Exploring the Labyrinth blends the timeless wisdom and meaning derived from labyrinths along with practical advice, divided among three sections:

What is a labyrinth and why does it have such astonishing contemporary appeal? You'll be introduced to walking and working with this ancient archetype.

Learn to construct a temporary or permanent, indoor or outdoor labyrinth from rocks, rope, canvas, and a wide variety of other materials.

Discover specific ways to use the labyrinth for rituals, meaningful celebrations, spiritual growth, healing work, creativity enhancement, and goal setting.

With practical advice, spiritual wisdom, and helpful resources, Exploring the Labyrinth is the complete guide to this ancient, transformative tool.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The oldest and most universally known labyrinth existed over 3,500 years ago on the Greek island of Crete--home of the mythical Minotaur. Now, over three millennia later, walking the labyrinth has become an astonishingly popular form of spiritual and emotional growth and healing. In fact, walking the labyrinth has proven itself to be so transformative and soothing, labyrinths are now being built on school playgrounds, university campuses, hospital courtyards, and even prison grounds.

Why the sudden surge in popularity? "Walking the labyrinth fulfills six important contemporary needs," according to author and psychotherapist Melissa Gayle West: "deepening spirituality; inwardness and connection; access to intuition and creativity; simplicity; integration of body and spirit; and intimacy and community." These are tall orders, but West manages to demystify this powerful process, explaining how it differs from walking a maze and how readers can make their own labyrinths. The book's narrative and organization themselves flow as thoughtfully and compellingly as a labyrinth. The three main sections cover "Meeting the Labyrinth," "Making the Labyrinth," and "Playing and Healing with the Labyrinth." West also offers an extensive resource listing and a thorough index. This is easily one of the best contemporary guidebooks on this fascinating and evolving form of spiritual practice. --Gail Hudson

From Library Journal

Labyrinths, a growing phenomenon in the New Age world, are used for emotional and spiritual healing. In this book, psychotherapist West explains how she has found labyrinths constructive in her life. But while she tells us how to construct our own labyrinths, she neither gives the uninitiated a clue as to how to find out if we live near one nor provides a general list of where they are located. She includes a very brief, glossed-over history of labyrinths and a too-short annotated bibliography that fails to include many references made in the text. She does offer detailed instructions on how to construct our own labyrinthsAfrom tabletop-sized ones suitable for finger-tracing to full-fledged football field-sized ones good for contemplative walkingAand a helpful appendix of organizations, products, and web pages. But on the whole, this book leaves the reader with more questions than answers. Not recommended.AMarija Sanderling, Rochester P.L., NH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; First Edition, Later Printing edition (February 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767903560
• ISBN-13: 978-0767903561
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.6 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting must read, May 6, 2000

By 

Adair Deacon (colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide for Healing and Spiritual Growth (Paperback)

I am a longtime scholar of the labyrinth, and labyrinth enthusiast. Ms. West's book is by far the best book I have ever read on labyrinths, and I believe I've read them all. I had never before had the courage to make a labyrinth, though. Ms. West's clear and simple instructions gave me the push I needed-I was astonished to find how really easy it was to create a labyrinth using her instructions. For anything to do with the labyrinth-history, theory, creative and imaginative uses, and how to make them-this book is absolutely essential.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars finest labyrinth book available, November 30, 2000

By 

helene m (Montant) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide for Healing and Spiritual Growth (Paperback)

I just discovered Melissa West's book. I am a longtime labyrinth facilitator and have devoured everything in print I can find. Her book is profoundly inspiring, both to newcomers (I've already recommended it to several) and regulars. I find especially helpful her specific instructions for using the labyrinth for fostering creativity and goal setting, something I've never thought to use the labyrinth for. I find very moving, and very inspiring, her work with people who are seriously ill to use the labyrinth as a powerful healing tool. Ms. West obviously lives life from a very deep place, and writes about the labyrinth from that place as well. Guaranteed to invite you into new territory with the labyrinth, no matter what your level of experience! A great gift to us all.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative Inspiration, February 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide for Healing and Spiritual Growth (Paperback)

If you want to explore all the many ways of working with a labyrinth, this is the best book available. I'm a veteran labyrinth walker, and I've learned ways to use the labyrinth I've never known about. I particularly liked the chapters on creativity, inspiration, and healing