During the Middle Ages the Chartres labyrinth was used as a metaphor for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem by Christians who could not make the physical journey because of disease and war. Although not the first labyrinth, it was laid into the cathedral floor sometime between 1194 and 1220, and remains as one of the oldest intact labyrinths. Today the twelve-circuit labyrinth is being used in retreat houses. The purpose of all spiritual disciplines and tools is to help us in an open attention so that we can receive and renew awareness of our grounding and wholeness in God. A labyrinth is different from a maze.
Labyrinths are unicursal.
They have one well-defined path that leads to the center and back out again. Mazes on the other hand, are multicursal. They offer a choice of paths, some with many entrances and exits. Mazes challenge our decision-making skills. The unicursal path of the labyrinth is what differentiates it and sets it a part as a spiritual tool.