Labyrinth is built in Blarbuie Woodlands
A team of art and garden fans had a mission on Monday February 11 – to put a labyrinth on the Worldwide Labyrinth Locator map.
Led by labyrinth artist Margaret Ker, the team used donated stones to create a labyrinth in Blarbuie Woodlands. The marble-looking white stones came from Achnaba Quarry, donated by Kenny Macleod.
There are well over 50 labyrinths in Scotland and a surprising number of these are in Argyll, including in Tarbert, Oban, Mull, Iona, Taynish, Kilmichael Glen, Islay and Lismore.
The labyrinth can symbolise the connection between man and nature, with the earliest labyrinths found to be prehistoric and can be found in nature in conjunction with the Golden Ratio.
Labyrinths have been around for over 4,000 years showing up every few centuries in almost all cultures in the world from Scandinavia to India and from Africa to Arizona and Peru. Ancient folk customs used them for protection, good luck and other rituals. They are often concentrated on the coastline because sailors and fishermen built them to trap the winds and control bad weather.
In the past 25 years, labyrinths have become more popular than at any other time in history and they are being used for meditation, celebrations, creative learning and for providing opportunities to ‘get back to nature’. Margaret said: ‘Walking slowly round the labyrinth path in among the trees in Blarbuie Woodland provides a great opportunity to enjoy walking slowly and breathing in the fresh air, to listen to the birds and experience the tranquillity of the woods. Great to raise the spirits and boost the human immune system.’
Margaret spent seven weeks in Vancouver walking labyrinths as part of her research. She said: ‘My favourite one was outside a lighthouse, on a rocky coast, made out of oyster shells. Meditative walk
‘There is a difference between mazes and labyrinths. A maze is about getting lost with dead ends and confusing routes, so that’s more about the logics of it, but a labyrinth is one path and it’s more a gentle, slow, meditative walk.’
Project manager Sally Wilkin expressed the team’s gratitude for the labyrinth stones that were generously provided by MacLeod Construction Ltd from their Achnaba Quarry.
Sally said: ‘We’ve also been delighted to accept a gargoyle sculpture, our Guardian of the Labyrinth, carved by local sculptor Bob Carss. We hope with these new additions we will attract more visitors to enjoy interaction with the beautiful Blarbuie Woods.’