Walking down to a hardware store to get materials for one of my chores when I come to visit Ryan & Ben here in Toronto, we decided to make a morning of it and walk around the downtown area of Toronto. With no serious goal in mind, we were just exploring and looking around when I noticed a sign saying “This way to the Labyrinth”. I certainly did not expect a labyrinth in downtown Toronto so we followed the signs to a lovely park with a large circle made with paving stones in the shape of a labyrinth. There was a sign explaining the history and the story behind the labyrinth so we decided to stay and explore the site.
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| Toronto City Hall |
I did not know exactly what a labyrinth was and thought it was some sort of maze. However, a labyrinth is not a maze. There are no dead-ends and false trails, you simply follow a complicated route, twisting and turning from the outside into the centre. The path you follow is supposed to be soothing and contemplative, and it was suggested you think of and issue that you need to think about as you walk the pathway through the labyrinth. I really did not do this and I just walked the pathway, but it is sort of interesting and relaxing. The labyrinth is not that large, but pathway through the labyrinth actually takes a while to complete as it constantly turns back on itself, and covers all of the labyrinth twisting and turning back and forth. As we walked the pathway with another guest who had started before us, you often converge and pass each other over and over until you get to the centre.
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| Walking the Labyrinth |
All in all it was an interesting experience and I was intrigued about the concept of the labyrinth, so when I got home, I decided to look into it on the internet. I discovered that there is a labyrinth Society that maintains the site but also is part of a larger network of labyrinths over Ontario. I discovered that there are almost 150 Labyrinths scattered over the province and this particular one is based on a labyrinth outside Paris France. I found that most of them are located close to or in churches. Many are public but there are also quite a few private labyrinths. Many, including this one, are paved with coloured paving stones, some are painted or decorated with tile and other ornamentation. Some are done in grass and gardens and one was constantly updated and changed with chalk; that would take dedication . . . .
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| At the Centre! |
I’m glad we found this interesting Toronto attraction, and I am sure that the homeless tenting around the outside of the labyrinth get some enjoyment watching tourists like us walking back and forth, in and out, going nowhere except to the centre.
