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WE INVITE YOU TO WALK OUR LABYRINTH

Photos by Guy Abbott

A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness.  It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path.  The labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world.  Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools.

A labyrinth is an archetype with which we can have a direct experience.  We can walk it.  It is a metaphor for life’s journey.  It is a symbol that creates a sacred space and place… and takes us out of our ego to “That Which Is Within.”

Labyrinths and mazes have often been confused.  When most people hear of a labyrinth, they think of a maze.  A labyrinth is not a maze.  A maze is like a puzzle to be solved.  It has twists, turns and blind alleys.  It is a left brain task that requires logical, sequential, analytical activity to find the correct path into the maze and out of it.

A labyrinth, on the other hand, has only one path.  It is unicursal.  The way in IS the way out.  There are no blind alleys.  The path leads you on a circuitous path to the center and back out again.  It is a right brain task.  It involves intuition, creativity and imagery.  With a maze, many choices must be made and an active mind is needed to solve the problem of finding the center.  With a labyrinth, there is only one choice to be made.  The choice is to enter or not.  A more passive, receptive mindset is needed.  The choice is whether or not to walk a spiritual path.

At its most basic level, the labyrinth is a metaphor for the journey to the center of your deepest self and back out into the world with a broadened understanding of who you are.

There is no right way to walk a labyrinth.

You only have to enter and follow the path.  Your walk, however, can encompass a variety of attitudes.  It may be joyous or somber.  It might be thoughtful or prayerful.  You may use it as a walking meditation.

Adults are often serious in the labyrinth.  Children most often run in and out as fast as they can in a playful manner. 

When you walk a labyrinth choose your attitude.  From time-to-time, choose a different attitude.  Make it serious, prayerful or playful.  Play music or sing.  Pray out loud.  Walk alone or with a crowd.  Notice the sky.  Listen to the sounds; and most of all, pay attention to your experience.

Some general guidelines for walking a labyrinth are:

  1. Focus:  Pause and wait at the entrance.  Become quiet and centered.  Give acknowledgement through a bow, nod or other gesture, and then enter.
  2. Experience:  Walk purposefully.  Observe the process. When you reach the center, stay there. Focus for several moments.  Leave when it seems appropriate.  Be attentive on the way out.
  3. Exit:  When reaching the end, turn and face the entrance.  Give an acknowledgement of ending, such as “Amen.”
  4. Reflect: After walking the labyrinth, reflect on your experience.  Use journaling or drawing to capture your experience.
  5. Walk often!



... BLESSINGS ON YOUR SACRED JOURNEY ...


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