How to Make a Hand Held Prayer Labyrinth

A labyrinth path can be simple or intricate.

A prayer labyrinth is a path that is meant to be followed slowly to allow you to pray and reflect. It is a metaphor for the spiritual journey of life, with the twists and turns representing obstacles that come up in life. Praying the labyrinth can help you gain clarity on a personal issue or problem. With a hand-held prayer labyrinth, you can take the labyrinth with you so you can pray wherever you are.

Things You'll Need

• Labyrinth template
• Carbon paper
• Wooden disc, 5 inches by 1/8 inch
• Transparent adhesive tape
• Ballpoint pen
• Wood-burning tool
• Wood sealant or clear varnish

Instructions

1. Print a picture of the labyrinth path you want to use for your hand-held prayer labyrinth. Tape the carbon paper onto your wooden disc and lay the labyrinth template over the carbon paper.

2. Trace the labyrinth path of your template with a ballpoint pen. The carbon paper will transfer the path onto the wood to give you a guide. Set the template, carbon paper and ballpoint pen aside.

3. Burn the labyrinth path into the wooden disc with the wood-burning tool by following the guide.

4. Seal your hand-held prayer labyrinth with wood sealant or clear varnish and allow it to dry completely. This will protect your labyrinth.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a larger or smaller wooden disc depending on your needs. For example, a more intricate labyrinth path may require a larger disc.

• You also can use wood stain as a finish for your hand-held prayer labyrinth.

• Use caution when using a wood-burning tool.

• Sealant or varnish should only be used in well-ventilated areas.

References

• Eastern Mennonite Seminary; Labyrinth: the Walking Prayer
• For Wood Lovers; Transferring your wood burning pattern easily to your wood: Using Carbon Paper

Resources

• Faith, Hope and Love Global Ministries; Labyrinth Prayer; Jill Kimbelry Hartwell Geoffrion, Ph.D.
• Equinox gifts: Labyrinths
• Labyrinth Company