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An open call for Researchers and Discoverers,

If you have an interest in labyrinth research, please join with other like-minded individuals to help build a research base. Many people who want to take labyrinths to hospitals, schools, corporations, and other organizations are confronted with a request for data on what the labyrinth is and why it works. Whether your interest area is heath, education, spirituality, art, history, or other areas, we need your input for developing solid information that will substantiate the benefits of the labyrinth. Below is the mission statement of the Research Committee and some of our projects. If you are interested in finding out about research, contributing to any of our projects, or joining our committee please email the Chair of the Research Committee.

Mission Statement of the Labyrinth Research Committee

The Labyrinth Research Committee supports research on labyrinths and labyrinth experiences by providing a resource base and encouraging a wide variety of research interests.

Useful Research Resources:

We update these resources as more material becomes available. So please check back. If you find any of this information helpful please email us with your comments. We need to know what your interests and needs are so we can best direct our future efforts.

1. Please use The Labyrinth Society General Forum to ask questions and make connections with other like-minded people. We hope this becomes a vital link between researchers, students, and facilitators to encourage communication, ask questions, share resources, and inspire each other.
   
   
2. The Bibliography of Studies Related to Labyrinth Research includes more than 40 bibliographic citations and abstracts of labyrinth-related research studies and articles.  This bibliography will be updated periodically as the Research Committee becomes aware of additional studies.  If you are aware of research studies, research-related articles, theses, and dissertations that are not included, please send bibliographic citations and abstracts (and copies of the complete studies or articles, if available) to research@labyrinthsociety.org.
   
   
3. The Labyrinth Walk Questionnaire and Instructions provide an easy way for indivuduals who facilitate labyrinth events to contribute to the field of labyrinth research.  By including this questionnaire in your labyrinth events you will be assisting the Labyrinth Society in its ongoing efforts to collect data about the labyrinth and the experiences of those who walk it.   The questionnaire is non-intrusive.  Participants are simply invited to complete the short questionnaire after they conclude a labyrinth walk.  For additional information about the questionnaire or for assistance with its use, contact research@labyrinthsociety.org.
   
   
4. We are providing the following relevant website links that will help you in your research.  Please contact us with any research related links that you think should be part of this list. 
    
   1. Robert Ferré's Labyrinth-Enterprises website provides a list of hospital labyrinths.
      
   2. National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
      
   3. American Holistic Nursing Association
      
   4. The HealthWorld-Professional Association Network has a list of professional organizations and access to wellness articles, resources, etc. 

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The following story about a young girl and the labyrinth is not intended to “prove” that labyrinths work. But it does direct our attention to the possible efficacy of the labyrinth and will hopefully inspire further research.

A nine year old girl terrified a classmate with the pictures she repeatedly drew of gory monsters with horns and fangs. She was abnormally preoccupied with blood and bodily functions. She has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, a childhood disorder characterized by social isolation, peculiar speech, clumsiness, and development of restricted, repetitive and eccentric patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. One of her teachers brought a portable labyrinth to school and the class did a labyrinth walk. The girl walked in slowly, spent at least 15 minutes lying quietly in the center, then skipped and giggled on the way out. After the walk, she said, “It was nice. I felt happy. I thought about flowers and a clear blue water lake.” This response astonished her teachers. A week later she walked the labyrinth again, then drew a picture of these thoughts. It was the first time she had included color and beauty in a drawing. She now has a finger labyrinth that she uses to relax during free time at school.


Drawing before the labyrinth walk.

Drawing after the labyrinth walk.