Have you ever walked a labyrinth?
They are great spaces to contemplate life and to meet with God, but sometimes it's not practical to get to a full-size labyrinth.
This creative corner slot is about how to make your own finger labyrinth from air-dry clay so you can travel the labyrinth journey anytime, anywhere. It's all about expressing yourself, so relax, you don't have to create a masterpiece work of art!
Air-dry clay is a bit fragile, you'll end up with lumps and bumps and it might crack when it dries, it won't be waterproof or drop-proof... but perhaps that tells us something about ourselves.
Kit
- air-dry clay (about 200-250g),
- a piece of corrugated cardboard cut from a box, about 20cm x 20cm to make a flat base
- pencil and paper
- a cup or beaker with some water in it
- scavenged modelling tools - a paper clip is really good for gouging out the clay, you can also make impressions in the clay with found items - nuts/bolts, screws or the end of a pencil, you can use small biscuit cutters to make decorative shapes to stick on... let your imagination run wild
- optional - paintbrush and acrylic paint / PVA glue to decorate and seal your labyrinth
Instructions
- Take a lump of air-dry clay (about 200-250g).
- Roll it into a ball, then flatten it to about 1/2cm thick, and make a circle (or freestyle shape of your choice) about 15cm in diameter.
- Place your clay circle on your piece of card. (If you want to make a 3D labyrinth, keep some clay back to make ‘walls’ or decorations.)
- Draw a labyrinth about 15cm in diameter, or use one of our templates. Place it on your clay and with a pencil lightly trace the walls so you get an impression on the clay beneath.
- Start modelling:
- Messy version: use a paper clip to gouge out clay between the walls (but make sure it's not too thin), roll bits of clay into worms to stick on for ‘walls’ - use a tiny bit of water to help stick the walls down. Smooth with a slightly damp fingertip.
- Less-messy version: use found things to make impressions in the clay following the route of the labyrinth: nuts and bolts, pencil end, screw end etc.
Thoughts:
As you model, think about the journey you are creating - does it reflect anything of your own life?
Are there areas where the path is wider or narrower - does that remind you of times in your own journey?
Are there parts of the labyrinth which seem easier to build, or more difficult?
As you model, talk to God about what you are shaping. Ask what God sees in the labyrinth, let your fingers listen for an answer.
When you’re satisfied with your labyrinth put it in a warm place to dry slowly (it’ll take at least a day depending how thick it is, don't be tempted to put it in the oven as it will crack and break.)
Optional - when it’s dry, you can paint it, or ‘varnish’ it with diluted PVA glue, or just leave it as it is.
Tracing the labyrinth
When your labyrinth is dry, make yourself comfortable and using a finger, trace your way slowly from the edge to the centre.
Notice how the clay feels under your finger, and reflect on the journey your life is taking with twists and turns, ups and downs, sometimes coming closer to the centre, sometimes moving away.
You might like to talk with God or just be quiet together. When you reach the centre of the labyrinth, linger for as long as you want before tracing the route back out, reflecting on the path that lies ahead.
If you like to keep a spiritual journal why not write down any thoughts that have surfaced, or insights you've found, to reflect on further?