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Each Saturday I post a new hard maze with all of them sitting in the Hard Maze Archive. I will try to post a variety of maze types to keep things interesting.
Weekly Hard Maze #26 - Mega Dot Maze
Solution will be in the archive. Download is below.
If you solved that maze quickly and want to try some of my archival hard mazes, these posts should do the trick:
This is a continuation of my maze design experiments. Read about it in post #1, One Maze - Many designs, and so on with a new post every Friday. This will be the last official maze compilation after 25 weeks I am running out of time and ideas. I will wrap this up with one final blog post to talk about what I learned.
The original maze:
I did a few variations of previous themes as a last gasp of inspiration.
The first maze was a leftover I never used from Bing image generator. I uploaded my original maze and used the preset button to create a sketch version of it. Not sure why it included people.
The second maze I used stacked rainbow boxes in the background. As I learned before - the distraction actually makes the maze more difficult to solve because it tricks your eyes.
The third maze uses an Inkscape filter called growing cells.
The fourth maze is the black maze on a dark charcoal background.
The fifth maze has a background of a large red dot.
Another hodge-podge of mazes.
Did you know that Illinois is home to over 100 labyrinths ? I have selected 7 of the best that are accessible to the public, focusing on large population areas. If you are near one, stop by and take a meditative walk. If you want a full list of labyrinths in the state check out the Worldwide Labyrinth Finder.
Before we get to my recommendations for Illinois I want to tell you about some statistics about labyrinths in the USA from some research I did. If you are interested in knowing things like what the largest labyrinth is in the US, where the Northernmost, Southernmost labyrinths are in the US, and similar questions, it is worth a read: Questions about US Labyrinths Answered. All of these Illinois answers and statistics were part of that research. We start with a chart summarizing the data from Illinois:
Here is how Illinois compares to the rest of the US. With 117 labyrinths the state ranks 18th in the US, while the per capita amount ranks only 41st. It has a lot of indoor labyrinths and is 9th in the US in terms of average labyrinth size.
Illinois Labyrinth Questions:
What is the largest labyrinth in Illinois ? 210 foot diameter. The Centralia Foundation Park labyrinth in Centralia, Illinois. This is an 11 circuit Chartres style labyrinth cut into the grass. I believe it is the largest Chartres style labyrinth in the US. Here is a link to find it on Google Maps.
What city has the most labyrinths in Illinois ? Chicago has the most labyrinths in Illinois with 14.
Why visit a Labyrinth ?
Labyrinths are ancient and mysterious symbols that have been used for centuries for meditation, contemplation, and spiritual renewal. They are also a lot of fun to explore! If you're looking for a unique and challenging experience, walk a labyrinth with intention - it often leads to self-discovery. Personally, I like to walk labyrinths between dawn and sunrise or at sunset until dusk. You may not realize it, but there is probably a labyrinth near where you live. Today we explore…
1. St. James Cathedral Labyrinth
I choose this 7 circuit Chartres style labyrinth because of it’s location in downtown Chicago. Located off of Huron St if you are in town for sightseeing you will be near this location at some point ! While you cannot see it on satellite view, there is a Google Maps entry to easily find it and see some great pictures.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Address:
65 E Huron St
Chicago, Illinois 60611
2. Garfield Park Conservatory Labyrinth
Garfield Park Labyrinth - J E Koonce - flickr
This outdoor 7 circuit grass labyrinth is open from 9AM-5PM. Plan your visit on their website, including this helpful map of the grounds so you know where the labyrinth is located.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Address:
300 North Central Park Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60624
3. Aurora University Labyrinth
Made of brown and red concrete pavers, this 7 circuit labyrinth is 40 feet in diameter and was a gift from the class of 1967. You can learn more about the labyrinth here (short video in addition to a blog post).
Location: Aurora, Illinois
Address:
347 S. Gladstone Ave.
Aurora, Illinois 60506-4892
4. Naperville Riverwalk Labyrinth
This Chartres style labyrinth has been entertaining locals since it was built in 1998. It was built by the company Labyrinths in Stone which has some great designs if you are looking to install your own labyrinth.
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Address:
Eagle and Jackson Streets, on the Riverwalk
Naperville, Illinois 60563
5. Womanspace Labyrinth
This 72 ft diameter Chartres-style labyrinth is made from limestone rock & aglime, and is open from dusk til dawn. The labyrinth was built in 2002 and they often have events for the labyrinth: here is an example from their website with a great picture of the labyrinth. You can also see it at 3 o’clock above.
Location: Rockford, Illinois
Address:
3333 Maria Linden Drive
Rockford, Illinois 61114
6. Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin Earth Wisdom Labyrinth
This 11 circuit Chartres style labyrinth was first built in 1997. It is open during daylight hours. From the website: “It is the largest permanent outdoor labyrinth in Illinois, spanning more than 94 feet in diameter, and winding inward for 1/3 a mile, and then outward again for 1/3 a mile. It is made up of more than 165 tons of stone and crushed limestone, and was moved by hand by the congregation from its original location. The labyrinth was dedicated in a ceremony during the Summer Solstice of 1997.”
Location: Elgin, Illinois
Address:
39W830 Highland Avenue
Elgin, Illinois 60123
7. Friends of Lakeview Prairie Labyrinth
This is one or the largest labyrinths you will find at 210 feet in diameter. It has it’s own website where you can see the labyrinth in different seasons and obviously you can watch it be made/cut into the grass in the video above.
Location: Macomb, Illinois
Address:
Lakeview Nature Center
Macomb, Illinois 61455
5 TIPS FOR VISITING A LABYRINTH
Set an intention for your walk so you can walk with purpose. It could be prayer, reflection, meditation, contemplation, or openness.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking.
Bring water with you, especially if you are visiting on a hot day.
Take your time and enjoy the experience. There is no need to rush through a labyrinth.
Be respectful of other visitors. This includes not making noise and being respectful if walking with other people.
5 BOOKS TO READ ABOUT LABYRINTH WALKING
I wrote a blog post reviewing the following 5 books, each that deals with walking labyrinths. You can check them out yourself at the Amazon links below or read this blog post: 5 Books about the Spiritual Aspect of Labyrinths to learn a little about what each book teaches.
Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool by Dr. Lauren Artress 201 pages. AMZN
Labyrinth : Your Path to Self-Discovery by Tony Christie 312 pages. AMZN
Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide For Healing and Spiritual Growth by Melissa Gayle West 209 pages AMZN
Walking the Labyrinth: A Place to Pray and Seek God by Travis Scholl 240 pages AMZN
Labyrinths from the Outside In: Walking to Spiritual Insight by Rev Dr Donna Schaper and Rev Dr Carole Ann Camp 187 pages AMZN
If you are interested in more spiritual labyrinth aspects I suggest the following websites:
Lauren Artress website - For coaching, workshops and classes.
Veriditas - The nonprofit labyrinth group founded by Lauren Artress
Worldwide Labyrinth Finder - Find a labyrinth to walk near you, or while on vacation
I am a maze artist and have made a few mazes of places in Illinois:
Cloud Gate Maze - Chicago
Wrigley Field Sign Maze - Chicago
Chicago Theatre Sign Maze - Chicago
Spillway Lanes Sign Maze - Springfield
Don Carter Lanes Sign Maze - Rockford
Emo’s Dairy Mart Sign Maze - Peoria
So you want to visit a labyrinth in Idaho. I can help. I have selected 5 of the best (there are around 25) that are accessible to the public from around the state. If you want a full list of labyrinths in the state check out the Worldwide Labyrinth Finder. I want to mention that many labyrinths in Idaho are private or you need an appointment to visit. Those labyrinths can be found on the link above and will not be included here.
Before we get to my recommendations for Idaho I want to tell you about some statistics about labyrinths in the USA from some research I did. If you are interested in knowing things like what the largest labyrinth is in the US, where the Northernmost, Southernmost labyrinths are in the US, and similar questions, it is worth a read: Questions about US Labyrinths Answered. All of these Idaho answers and statistics were part of that research. We start with a chart summarizing the data from Idaho:
Here is how Idaho compares to the rest of the US. Not many indoor labyrinths in Idaho. 39th in number of labyrinths and 27th in per capita.
Idaho Labyrinth Questions:
What is the largest labyrinth in Idaho ? The largest labyrinth in Idaho is the 11 circuit Chartres style labyrinth at the Society of the Compassionate Heart in Boise.
What city has the most labyrinths in Idaho ? Boise has the most labyrinths in Idaho with 5.
Why visit a Labyrinth ?
Labyrinths are ancient and mysterious symbols that have been used for centuries for meditation, contemplation, and spiritual renewal. They are also a lot of fun to explore! If you're looking for a unique and challenging experience, walk a labyrinth with intention - it often leads to self-discovery. Personally, I like to walk labyrinths between dawn and sunrise or at sunset until dusk. You may not realize it, but there is probably a labyrinth near where you live. Today we explore…
1. St. Luke's Boise Regional Medical Center Labyrinth
This 5 circuit medieval labyrinth is made from concrete and is located near the walkway between the main building, near the coffee shop. Labyrinth includes benches. To see a photo or the labyrinth and the plaque this waymarking site has them.
Location: Boise, Idaho
Address:
190 E. Bannock St.
Boise, Idaho 83712
2. Saint Luke's Episcopal Church Labyrinth
The 5 circuit medieval labyrinth is located on the lawn in front of church made from bricks/pavers.
Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Address:
270 N. Placer Avenue
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402
3. Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park Labyrinth
A double meandering labyrinth in a Roman style with a sculpture in the middle ! The location can be found a map for the park. It looks like wonderful park to visit based on the park website ! I want to thank Randy Miller for posting a photo on Google Maps where you can see the labyrinth !
Location: Meridian, Idaho
Address:
1900 N. Records Avenue
Meridian, Idaho 83642
4. First Congregational United Church of Christ Labyrinth
Photo courtesy Starr & Cross Reardon
A 5 circuit medieval labyrinth made form rocks and bricks is located next to a peace garden. It was made using discarded bricks and stones from construction sites.
Location: Pocatello, Idaho
Address:
309 N. Garfield Ave
Pocatello, Idaho 83204
5. Church of the Ascension Labyrinth
A 8 circuit Chartres style labyrinth made from bricks/pavers. You can find details about the labyrinth on the website of the church on it’s own webpage ! If you click on the Discover More link it will open a 27 page pdf of a presentation on labyrinths ! Zoom in in a satellite image above at 12 o’clock north of the church.
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
Address:
371 Eastland Drive N
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301
BONUS Labyrinth: I you visit the Idaho Botanical Gardens in Boise, they have a labyrinth made from bricks and gravel on site. There is an entrance fee to visit the gardens. Plan your trip at the link above.
BONUS Labyrinth 2: If you can find it !! I found this video on YouTube one day and just had to include it here if you prefer a bit of adventure !
5 TIPS FOR VISITING A LABYRINTH
Set an intention for your walk so you can walk with purpose. It could be prayer, reflection, meditation, contemplation, or openness.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking.
Bring water with you, especially if you are visiting on a hot day.
Take your time and enjoy the experience. There is no need to rush through a labyrinth.
Be respectful of other visitors. This includes not making noise and being respectful if walking with other people.
5 BOOKS TO READ ABOUT LABYRINTH WALKING
I wrote a blog post reviewing the following 5 books, each that deals with walking labyrinths. You can check them out yourself at the Amazon links below or read this blog post: 5 Books about the Spiritual Aspect of Labyrinths to learn a little about what each book teaches.
Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool by Dr. Lauren Artress 201 pages. AMZN
Labyrinth : Your Path to Self-Discovery by Tony Christie 312 pages. AMZN
Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide For Healing and Spiritual Growth by Melissa Gayle West 209 pages AMZN
Walking the Labyrinth: A Place to Pray and Seek God by Travis Scholl 240 pages AMZN
Labyrinths from the Outside In: Walking to Spiritual Insight by Rev Dr Donna Schaper and Rev Dr Carole Ann Camp 187 pages AMZN
If you are interested in more spiritual labyrinth aspects I suggest the following websites:
Lauren Artress website - For coaching, workshops and classes.
Veriditas - The nonprofit labyrinth group founded by Lauren Artress
Worldwide Labyrinth Finder - Find a labyrinth to walk near you, or while on vacation
I am a maze artist and I have made a few sign mazes from Idaho:
Cabana Inn Sign - Boise
Nampa Rollerdrome Sign Maze - Nampa
Tough Guys Lanes Sign Maze - Pocatello
Grandview Hotel Sign Maze - Boise
