Some people walk a labyrinth on the eve of important events in their lives, such as their baptism or holidays, as an aid to contemplative prayer. Part of the power of labyrinths is in their design. The types of labyrinths used by the medieval church are universal because they have only one path with no tricks or wrong turns. By walking the pathway one reaches either the center or the outside. One never becomes lost when walking a labyrinth, which means there is no need to concentrate on what lies ahead.
Labyrinth pilgrims are free to focus their attention on their experience.
Psychologist Dr. Lauren Artress, Episcopal priest and counselor at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, used labyrinths as early as 1985 as a general spiritual development tool. Dr. Artress had been searching for a spiritual tool to meet the peculiar needs of late 20th century Americans. When their personal lives became complicated, often due to death of loved ones, divorce, forced career changes and severe illness, they did not have the spiritual strength to support themselves, let alone others that might be dependent on them. With the labyrinth, Dr. Artress found a tool that required little advance preparation that had the power to help begin healing and nurture. Many people have found that labyrinths are especially useful as part of their New Year's Eve celebration.