Date of Award

8-2021

Access Control

Open Access

Degree Name

Creative Studies, M.S.

Department

Center for Studies in Creativity

Advisor

Dr. Susan Keller-Mathers

Department Home page

https://creativity.buffalostate.edu/

First Reader

Dr. Susan Keller-Mathers

Abstract

The labyrinth, a unicursal walking path, can be found throughout the world. There is evidence of its existence as far back as c.1200 B.C. Since the late 90’s the labyrinth has re-emerged and grown in popularity in the western world as a spiritual and creative thinking tool. While more often establishing them on sites of spiritual, organizational and creative communities, some people have placed them on private property. The purpose of this research project is to understand the creative process of designing and constructing a labyrinth on private property. How might the creative person be impacted by an intrinsically motivated and seemingly individualistic effort? This exploration has revealed that this unique experience of designing and building a labyrinth is one of self-observation, self-discovery, and personal growth. It may be useful for developing one’s inner life towards openness to experience and contextual thinking. These creative thinking skills and some others, such as resisting premature closure and tolerance for risk are useful in building strength and agility in human relationships. The outcome of this experience suggests the possibility of unifying interpersonal interactions among diverse people with labyrinth use. More structured research into the effects of the labyrinth on human relationships and inner life management is needed to understand this phenomenon.

Keywords: labyrinth, creative thinking, spiritual intelligence, creative interdependency, inner life

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