Finding Meaning, not Minotaurs: A Beginner’s Guide to Labyrinths | Eliza Pillsbury | TEDxKids@SMU

When thinking of labyrinths, you might imagine a maze filled with twists and turns, or perhaps a hero battling a minotaur in the middle. In reality, a labyrinth is a tool crafted by many ancient cultures that is becoming increasingly relevant in our modern, chaotic times. Anyone seeking clarity and peace can walk in a labyrinth as a meditative and creative journey. With artist, educators, and a disparate band of fifteen students, Eliza built the first labyrinth in Lyon, France, this summer. She will share her global insights as well as how to take advantage of local labyrinths. Keep an open mind to the unexpected.
When faced with a challenge, Eliza Pillsbury will not back down. Unless it is a sport, in which case she will gracefully leave that particular challenge to a more capable individual. Eliza is a romantic at heart, and is determined to move to France after college. She attends Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts as a theatre student. She loves Polaroid photography, Jane Austen, experimental theatre, and Wes Anderson films. Anyone who wants to start an argument with Eliza should challenge the literary validity of Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman, but only if prepared to encounter Eliza when she gets excited about something. She yearns to explore, create, travel, and tell stories.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@GregHuffman1987]

45 seconds of this was about labyrinths. the rest was her bragging about her trip to France and then ending on a random note about someone getting beheaded.

[@JWvdv]

if she would have at least told us what she "learned" from the trip but nah here is a picture of me just chilling in the sun -_-

[@cheesecake4648]

exactly what I thought!!

[@JadeRayneSelf-Defense]

Thank you! I learned a few interesting facts - I had no idea, there are so many labyrinths & have never heard of a "finger labyrinth!" Good to know there are so many different types! I'm looking forward to visiting Grace Cathedral in San Francisco tomorrow to see the 2 labyrinths there. I can't wait! Also, I want to acknowledge how much courage it takes to present in front of an audience like this. I see the negative comments below. If more people lived by the Golden rule, treat others as you would like to be treated, the world would be a much better place. You were very brave, you are clearly passionate about this, you presented with grace, and you did great! You should be proud. And the next time will be even better. 🙂

[@joycebuteyn-garrett1350]

Worth seeing

[@MARS1111]

I use the World wide Labyrinth locator all the time and wherever I visit or move to I always find wonderful spiritual peaceful nature filled labyrinths to walk!

[@edwardhanson3664]

Don't dismiss the story of the Minotaur and the labyrinth it was associated with. Because of the love story between Ariadne and Theseus, the labryinth is the symbol of love (between Ariadne and Theseus) and freedom (because Theseus freed the youth of Greece from the curse of the Minotaur.

[@elizapillsbury8299]

Oh I agree! In some ways, the labyrinth in its more modern iteration can provide love and freedom to those who walk it. I was simply making a distinction between how some people might perceive labyrinths versus my own experience with them. Thank you for adding to the conversation!

[@edwardhanson3664]

My pleasure.

[@windingpathways3565]

While there are a couple of points I would ask her to consider modifying - 2,000 years and "you can't get lost", Eliza's final comments are the meat and well spoken: "UneXpecTED" and "...keep an open mind to new knowledge and new perspectives you cannot imagine the connections you can create."

[@REDonFIRE]

Not from 2000 years ago?

[@LauraMcArtor1]

Dear Eliza, I am one of the volunteers who helped build the "secret garden" labyrinth in Chartres. Delighted to find your talk and learn of your walking and building experiences. I reunited with several of the volunteer builders this weekend, and we wrote a card to send to you. How can I get your current mailing address?

[@AnyoneCanSee]

Labyrinths or mazes are at least 3000 years old. I have visited petroglyphs of labyrinths from Cornwall in the UK and Galicia in Spain, which were clearly made by the same Iron age group, to the ones in Sardinia. I recently found videos online of an Iron Age petroglyph of the SAME labyrinth design in Iran. I enjoyed the talk but I was hoping for an insight into who made these Iron Age petroglyphs from England all the way across the ancient world and why these designs are copied into churches dating back to at least 1000 years ago. It is a strange enigma to me.

[@naturalinsomniaandtinnitus4448]

Thanks Eliza. I am researching as much as I can about Labyrinths before creating my own in my Permaculture forest garden. I never knew that there were so many different types of Labyrinth and that each one works on a different energy system within us. I am specifically looking for a design of one that offers healing. Thanks again. Johnnie

[@Sol-Amar]

This topic is definitely fascinating. All the best and happy creating with your labyrinth and verdant forest garden! That sounds like a great idea.

[@JWvdv]

check out survive the jive he has a great video about the meanings and the indo european routs of the labyrinths

[@sfpagan]

It's wonderful that people are discovering and are becoming aware of labyrinths. Unfortunately they're becoming stuck on Chartre & Cretan designs as being the definitive makings of a labyrinth, and travel to sites they believe are more sacred than what they can manifest if they create their own labyrinths closer to themselves.

[@elizapillsbury8299]

+Ed Laufer Fascinating thoughts. I have found that the most sacred labyrinths are the ones closest to my heart. A pocket labyrinth I picked up while traveling...or the labyrinth I helped to build. Each step and each breath become more valuable when they are a part of your own intensely personal journey. I hope to be a catalyst in urging young people to create labyrinths in their community!

[@sfpagan]

+Eliza Pillsbury ...I create glow in dark labyrinths for various groups here in CT. My designs are based/homages to sacred symbols ...from Yin-Yang to Infinity and it always amazes me what peoples reactions are even if they see/walk a practice session where I'll use white strings instead of glow strips. The major difference tho between my designs and standard labyrinths is that mine have an exit path (can be long or short) so that people place more focus on what they contemplate/sense at center(s), and they're not distracted while retracing path back.

[@Sol-Amar]

@@sfpagan I enjoyed reading your commentary and found it very thought provoking. Thank you for sharing.

[@Sol-Amar]

@@elizapillsbury8299 Mission accomplished! Your work has definitely got me inspired to create and play around with these structures. Thank you!

[@karinlarsen2608]

Asking the map app for 'Labyrinth near me' takes me right there. Labyrinths are everywhere

[@nibiruresearch]

The labyrinth that we see at 1 min is not the classic labyrinth so it can not be explained. We find the classic labyrinth all over the world. Very ancient ones. The labyrinth represents the increase and decrease of the world population during a cycle of seven world eras. It represents the path of life from mankind. This cycle is the curse of our Planet Earth. The eras are separated by a natural disaster. Those disasters are caused by the ninth planet in our solar system. They are predictable but inevitable. The disasters cause a huge tidal wave thus flooding all over the planet, earthquakes, volcano eruptions and a bombardment of fiery meteors. Many living beings do not survive. Another result is a cycle of five civilizations. Four of them live a 'short' period of time. One civilization lives much longer, becomes more numerous and educated. The labyrinth shows this increase and decrease in a remarkable way. To learn much more about the cycle of civilizations and its timeline, recurring floods and ancient high tech, read the e-book:"Planet 9 = Nibiru" You can read it nicely on any computer, tablet or smartphone. Just search for: invisible nibiru 9

[@DiscoverLabyrinths]

great talk Eliza!

[@elizapillsbury8299]

Thank you so much!

[@omahrx8199]

I promise

[@JWvdv]

this has nothing to do with labyrinths wtf

[@JWvdv]

@NihilisticEntropy how so

[@EnricoLocco]

wunderbar & einzigartig & charmant.

[@pauomac3759]

Actress indeed , looks fresh out of college , 0 global expirience. What an insult putting that on a pedestal.

[@AirWitchAlaandra]

Horrible talk. TED is getting worse and worse.

[@davidvindel7383]

S

[@davidvindel7383]

Sub

[@bujfvjg7222]

WESTWORLD anyone?

[@cheesecake4648]

how to talk about labyrinths and say nothing interesting.

[@00i0ii0]

wack.

[@Recon_Fi]

WITCHES

[@marieg5300]

yes and then the end you will regret this is one of the devil's to Satan and his demonic forces why do you need to walk around a path to get relax and meditate. I hope that you find Jesus

[@neverwin2518]

I bet you're a blast at parties.

[@GregHuffman1987]

maybe hes hiding at the end of a labyrinth in France

[@andrewcorbett5729]

Jesus wasn't his name it was Jeshua.

[@bigj3508]

She's cute, would make a great stay at home mother.