Labyrinths Ancient Paths of Wisdom and Peace [Hardcover]

Virginia Westbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2003

A maze, a prison, a sacred precinct, a place of peace...for thousands of years the human mind has puzzled over the enigma of the labyrinth. At first glance, it strikes us as one of the stranger products of human imagining-a winding path leading through a series of seemingly endless twists and turns, into a center and out again. Where does it come from? What is its purpose? Today, the labyrinth's spiritual connotations are absorbing much of our attention in the West. In the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia it is being walked mainly for meditation and a sense of inner peace. This fascinating and beautifully illustrated book explores the history, the mysteries, and the locations of these "paths of peace." It provides first-hand accounts of walkers' experiences and shows why the labyrinth appears to have become a kind of "universal spiritual tool" once again. Virginia Westbury, journalist and award-winning documentary maker, has written the first global account of the modern labyrinth movement, complete with a guide to where the world's finest models can be found. She also provides a comprehensive account of labyrinth history and an intriguing look at the modern phenomenon of interest in the labyrinth.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Virginia Westbury is an Australian-born internationally published journalist, television producer, and lecturer who specializes in writing about new social, political, and spiritual movements. Her work has appeared in leading magazines and newspapers around the world and she has taught courses in media and cultural studies at universities in Australia. For several years she has been teaching and facilitating workshops on the labryinth in the U.S.A., New Zealand, and Australia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (September 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306813106
• ISBN-13: 978-0306813108
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #958,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost Impossible to Find a More Enjoyable, Better Illustrated, Basic History of Labyrinths, August 27, 2005

By 

Meredith Noire "Writer and Reader" (The Banks of the Wabash Far Away) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Labyrinths Ancient Paths of Wisdom and Peace (Hardcover)

One would be hard pressed to find a better overview of labyrinths. This book is short, concise, and highly readable, and it contains an extraordinary collection of labyrinth photographs. A color photo, if not two or three, adorns nearly every page. There is also an abundance of illustrations. The book itself is well bound -- actually sewn instead of glued, which is a rarity these days.

Although it is barely over 100 pages, this book is packed with information. There are numerous sidebars with quotes from labyrinth walkers as well as featurettes on subjects mentioned within the text. There is even one demonstrating how to draw a seven-circuit labyrinth. In the introduction, the author quickly distinguishes between a labyrinth and a maze, the two words often being used interchangeably and incorrectly. Sorry to disappoint fans of the movie "Labyrinth" with David Bowie, the structure in which that film takes place is actually a maze and not a true labyrinth.

The history of the labyrinth unfolds in the first six chapters from its vague origins in the Bronze Age through to its reappearance in the 20th Century. The author does not go into great detail during the history portion of the book, but she provides key names, locations, and dates, enabling the reader to explore certain aspects further if so desired. The early uses and symbolisms of labyrinths are theorized, but in instances where little is known, archaeological guesswork is cleared indicated.

The final four chapters are devoted to the reemergence of labyrinths in the 20th Century. An overview is given of the modern movement sparking renewed interest in this ancient design and resulting in the creation of the majority of the walking-size models ever to have existed. The current uses of labyrinths as tools for meditation, relaxation, stress relief, emotional healing, and nondenominational spiritual awakening among other applications are given detailed treatment. There is also an entire chapter devoted to nine contemporary labyrinth designers.

The book concludes with a listing of some of the most famous labyrinths (complete with accompanying photographs) in North America, Europe, and Scandinavia. There is an index, a bibliography for further reading, and list of resources whose included web and email addresses may or may not be still available.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both scholarly and spiritual, October 3, 2003

By 

Joyce C. Gibb - See all my reviews

This review is from: Labyrinths Ancient Paths of Wisdom and Peace (Hardcover)

This book combines the best informational qualities of a thoroughly-researched scholarly work with the warmth of a journal of a personal pilgrimage. The author's broad experience with labyrinths casts a profound aura of spiritual authenticity over the whole presentation. The array of dramatic photographs alone would be worth the price of admission! I already knew a good deal about labyrinths and I learned even more from this book. I particularly appreciated the range of historical information presented. This is truly a seminal work in the field. Joyce Gibb, M.A. psychotherapist, Oklahoma City, OK.