Book Review: The Complete Guide to Labyrinths

The Complete Guide to Labyrinths: Tapping the Sacred Spiral for Power, Protection, Transformation, and Healing (2004) - 336 pages. AMZN. by Cassandra Eason (Author)

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

The Book explores the many ways that labyrinths have been used for personal transformation, protection, healing, and enlightenment throughout history. It also provides instructions for creating and using labyrinths in your own life.

What you can expect in this book:

• The book begins with an overview of the history of labyrinths, from their earliest origins in ancient Crete to their modern use as tools for personal growth. Eason then discusses the different types of labyrinths, including the classical seven-circuit labyrinth, the Chartres labyrinth, and the hedge maze. She also explores the symbolism of labyrinths, which is often associated with the journey of the soul.

• The second half of the book focuses on the practical use of labyrinths. Eason provides instructions for creating labyrinths in your own home or garden, as well as for using labyrinths for meditation, healing, and spiritual growth. She also includes a number of rituals and exercises that you can use to connect with the power of the labyrinth.

What this book does best: I really enjoyed Chapter 7 where the book discusses how to use labyrinths for meditation. There are a number of exercises that you can use to connect with the power of the labyrinth and to use it as a tool for meditation.

Book Review: The Maze: A Labyrinthine Compendium

The Maze: A Labyrinthine Compendium (2018) - 144 pages. AMZN.

by Thibaud Herem (Illustrator), Kendra Wilson (Author), Angus Hyland (Author)

The Maze: A Labyrinthine Compendium

The book features 60 real and imagined mazes from around the world, each illustrated by Thibaud Hérem. The mazes are accompanied by short histories and descriptions, which explore the cultural significance of each maze.

What you can expect in this book:

• The book features 60 mazes, which are arranged by region. Each maze is illustrated by Thibaud Hérem and accompanied by a short history and description. The histories provide information about the origins of the maze, its cultural significance, and its design. The descriptions offer tips on how to solve the maze and explore its symbolism.

• It also looks at mazes from a variety of angles - including these: Symbolism, Religion and Myth, Art and Literature, Architecture, and Pop Culture.

What this book does best: The illustrations are outstanding and the overall design of the book is really appealing.

Book Review: Esoteric Mysteries of the Underworld

Esoteric Mysteries of the Underworld: The Power and Meaning of Subterranean Sacred Spaces (2020) - 320 pages. AMZN. by Jean-Pierre Bayard

Esoteric Mysteries of the Underworld

My focus for this book was Chapter 2, titled The Labyrinth: A Symbol of the Underworld. After the background and overview of Chapter 1 I was less interested in the Telluric Currents or Denizens in the Underworld sections that followed. But if you like to read about ley lines, dwarfs, gnomes and the hollow earth - it is all covered !

What you can expect in this book:

• Labyrinths are often seen as symbols of the underworld. This is because they are typically maze-like structures with a single path leading to the center. The journey through a labyrinth can be seen as a symbolic journey into the underworld, where the individual confronts their shadow self and undergoes a process of transformation.

• Labyrinths are also seen as symbols of the journey of the soul. This is because the path through a labyrinth is often winding and challenging, just like the journey of life. The journey through a labyrinth can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual journey, where the individual faces challenges and obstacles on their way to self-realization.

• Labyrinths are also seen as symbols of initiation. This is because the journey through a labyrinth is often seen as a rite of passage, where the individual is transformed and reborn. The labyrinth can be seen as a symbol of the process of initiation, where the individual enters a new stage of life and takes on new responsibilities.

What this book does best: This is very different than most books because of the perspective it is coming from since everything is seen through the lenses of the underworld !

Book Review: Follow This Thread: A Maze Book to Get Lost In

Follow This Thread: A Maze Book to Get Lost In (2019) - 240 pages. AMZN. by Henry Eliot (Author)

Follow This Thread: A Maze Book to Get Lost In

The first thing you are going to notice about this book is the unique format. The text of the book follows red thread through the pages. I don’t think there is any grey with this - you’ll hate it or love it.

What you can expect in this book:

• The book begins with a discussion of the history of mazes, from their earliest origins in ancient Egypt and Greece to their modern-day use in everything from video games to corporate logos.

• It then explores the psychological and spiritual significance of mazes, arguing that they can be seen as symbols of the journey of life, the process of self-discovery, and the search for meaning.

• The book also includes a number of personal essays by Eliot, in which he recounts his own experiences with mazes, including his childhood visits to the Hampton Court Maze, his attempts to solve the Chartres Labyrinth, and his participation in a modern-day mystery school that uses mazes as a tool for spiritual development.

What this book does best: The illustrations and format of the book are wonderful. If you click to the Amazon link above you catch watch a short video and see the book layout. Very cool !