The Complete Guide to Labyrinths: Tapping the Sacred Spiral for Power, Protection, Transformation, and Healing

As one who is skeptical of so-called "new age" earth-mother goddess occultist belief and practice, I found the material in the book interesting enough from historical and cultural perspectives. If the reader does not believe in mystical powers, archangels, earth-spirits et al, just ignore those chapters. Take from the text only what you personally deem credible and useful. I regard labyrinths solely as beautiful landscape art. The walking of the spiral courses of a labyrinth can be as relaxing and potentially meditative experience as a stroll in a garden or a trek along a wilderness path, even without consideration of its purportedly spiritual aspects. The history of the labyrinth is not traced chronologically in the book - perhaps one of its weaknesses - but it is there for the reader who perseveres and is able to gather and assemble the information as he or she reads. The chapters on design and construction are useful, and whether one desires to build a labyrinth or not, the information enhances one's understanding of how labyrinths are created in scales both large and small, simple or elaborate. For those wanting to visit a significant labyrinth, the listings of locations in the USA and Europe are most helpful and interesting as they include not only their locations, but also descriptions of their designs and a bit of their histories. The book does suffer somewhat from a complete lack of photographs. All of the illustrations are line drawings. Still, I deem it a worthy book and have added a copy to my personal library.