University of Lincoln

Architecture students chalk up labyrinths

Sue Watling Labyrinth Events, University of Lincoln ,

Labyrinths have been in the news at Lincoln recently. Students from the University of Lincoln’s School of Architecture drew a chalk labyrinth in front of the Main Academic Building – photographs can be seen on the Lincoln School of Architecture blog here http://lincolnschoolofarchitecture.blogspot.com/2011/11/students-work-on-labyrinth-in-lincoln.html 

University of Lincoln School of Architecture students drawing a chalk labyrinth

Architecture students went on to draw a replica of the Chartres Labyrinth under the central tower of Lincoln Cathedral as can be seen here http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Famous-labyrinth-drawn-floor-Lincoln-Cathedral/story-13937767-detail/story.html

Les Acklam talks about labyrinths

Sue Watling University of Lincoln , ,

I was first initiated into the labyrinth when I attended  a week-end workshop facilitated for the first time in the UK by Lauren Atress herself. It took place at Winford Manor just outside Bristol in the summer of 2001.  Lauren Artress, from Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, is generally credited with being one of the first to rediscover this long-forgotten spiritual tool in the early 1990’s. It was the 11-circuit labyrinth at the medieval cathedral at Chartres in France which She became so committed to opening up the experience of walking a labyrinth for as many people as possible that she set out to ‘pepper the planet’ with them – and she has been very successful in dong so, through such workshops as the one I attended at Winsford, which couldn’t be succeed in enthusing the many participants who went out to ‘spread the word’.

I returned to Lincoln, and enthused about the experience to my colleague, senior student counsellor, Eunice Mather. Together we formed a pact to make  our own canvas following the instruction pack available from Grace Cathedral.

The rest of Les’s account of how the Ermine Labyrinth came into being can be found under the Labyrinth Projects link at the top of this page.

Labyrinths from Glen and Rebecca

Sue Watling University of Lincoln , ,

I was delighted to hear from Glen Robinson, Graphic Design lecturer at the University of Lincoln, about the labyrinths he and his friends have been building. Glen has kindly provided this link to more pictures on Flickr and the text below.
[nggallery id=11]

“The artists collaboration GRRR and any friends they can talk into helping have been quietly building labyrinths in the sand on Lincolnshire beaches and in fields of snow for a couple of years now.‘We feel the process of making a labyrinth is an expression of coalescence with nature, to attain coherence with our surroundings and resonate with an ancient symbol. The ephemeral quality of using materials or building in environments where nature will “take back” is an interesting process for artists to explore and working in public often creates an opportunity to discuss the symbol’s design and origin with passers by, who are encouraged to walk the path, although the labyrinths we build are primarily for personal reflection and relaxation; a token of the unbounded potential of everything”.

GRRR – Glen & Rebecca
studio@grrr.org.uk

Welcome

Sue Watling Uncategorized , ,

Welcome to the Walking the Labyrinth blog hosted by the University of Lincoln. This was created to support the growing interest for the use of labyrinths in teaching and learning in higher education. As well as this home page, the blog has four other areas; Labyrinth projects, Legends,  Links and the Gallery. Please explore the contents and feel free to click the Comment link below and make a contribution.

The origin of the labyrinth is shrouded in myth but the symbol appears to have ancient origins and in the 21st centruy people are rediscovering that walking a labyrinths can have many benefits. These include relaxation, stress or anger management, spiritual development, or simply to relax and take a quiet meditative break in the middle of a busy day with time out for oneself.

The use of the labyrinth as a teaching and learning resource has been led by Jan Sellers at the University of Kent, following on from the work of Di Williams at the University of Edinbugh.  Jan says “A labyrinth walk or workshop can contribute to modules and programmes and to personal and professional development in a variety of ways, adaptable for students and/or staff. Examples include: creativity (Creative Writing; Dance); reflection (MBA students; strategic planning); exploring values (educational development); reflection on a life journey or on experience and aspirations (any discipline).”  Click this link for futher details.

This Walking the Labryinth online information and support network is being developed by Sue Watling, Learning and Teaching Coordinator at the University of Lincoln. For any queries about this area please contact Sue on swatling@lincoln.ac.uk

The banner picture is by Jim Higham and shows the Canterbury Labyrinth in heavy frost at dawn on a crisp winter morning.