HEALTH & HELP

Spiritual Practices

Walking the Labyrinth
Robin Bradley Hansel

Thus says the Lord:
Stand at the crossroads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it,
and find rest for you souls.

Jeremiah 6:16a (NRSV)

A labyrinth walk is like a pilgrimage of the soul. The ancient pathway provides a deep connection between our physical and spiritual selves. Every walker’s journey is unique as he or she explores the mystery of the labyrinth.

Labyrinths are ancient, dating back four or five thousand years. Cathedral labyrinths became popular in Europe in the Middle Ages, when the Crusades made it unsafe for Christians to travel to the Holy Land. Walking the labyrinth may have symbolized the pilgrimage they were unable to make.

The oldest, most well known cathedral labyrinth is in Chartres Cathedral, located one hour south of Paris, France. Constructed in the early 1200's, it is an eleven-circuit labyrinth, forty-two feet in diameter with a path sixteen inches wide. The center is a circle with six petals and resembles a rose. The ancient pattern is based on strict rules of sacred geometry and is rich with spiritual symbolism.

The design has been widely replicated in churches, communities, hospitals, and spiritual retreat centers today. A single path leads the walker from the outside to the center of the labyrinth. The pathway circles the center eleven times, moving though four quadrants in a nonlinear, non-sequential way. The circles in the pattern symbolize wholeness and unity; but the path is designed to create a feeling of timelessness, as the walker loses track of where he or she is on the path. The walker is thus encouraged to simply trust the path and to take the journey step by step.

Unlike mazes, which include dead ends, tricks, and intersecting paths, labyrinths have no walls or barriers. While mazes are games designed to stimulate the intellect, labyrinths are spiritual tools designed to invite quiet contemplation. They allow us to connect with our inner selves in a non-threatening, sacred space.

The labyrinth walk may be divided into three phases: releasing, receiving, and returning. In the first phase, the walker quiets the mind, releasing all distracting thoughts. After arriving at the center of the labyrinth, the walker is encouraged to stay and to receive whatever is given. Finally, the walker follows the same pathway away from the center and returns to the world. These three phases of the walk are only suggestions, as there is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth.

Preparing to Walk
Before entering the labyrinth, spend a few moments in silence to calm your mind. Writing in a journal may help you release busy thoughts or clarify your intention. When you feel led to begin, simply step onto the path and begin to move. Often, the physical movement of walking may release energy and calm the overly-active mind.

Look at everything that happens in the labyrinth as a metaphor for what is happening in your life. Trust the path. Be gentle with yourself. Keep your eyes open but softly focused in an attempt to embrace all that is around you. Choose a walking pace that is natural. Allow your arms to sway gently; breathe slowly as you move. If other walkers share the path with you, feel free to move around them or to step aside if you meet one another on the path.

In the center of the labyrinth, feel free to sit, stand, or kneel in prayer. Be comfortable. Listen to and observe whatever is there for you to receive. Then, when you are ready to leave, simply step back onto the path and follow it back to the beginning.

Before leaving the labyrinth, you might pause and offer a brief prayer of thanksgiving for your walk. Consider spending a few additional moments in silence outside the labyrinth. You may want to write in your journal, draw, sketch, or color.

Every labyrinth walk is unique. Try to keep your expectations to a minimum. During one walk, you may feel calmed and comforted. In another, you may feel a sense of unrest and discomfort as you struggle for clarity about conflicts in your life. Often, you may feel no different after your walk than you did before you began. As you walk, immerse yourself in the experience and rest assured that God is there.

Robin Bradley Hansel is a Certified Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator and writer living in Florida. She is also the founder of Labyrinth Wellness, LLC, http://labyrinthwellnessllc.blogspot.com/

For more information and to find a labyrinth near you:
Check Out
> Veriditas, The World-Wide Labyrinth Project, www.veriditas.org
> The Labyrinth Society, www.labyrinthsociety.org

Read
+ Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice by Dr. Lauren Artress
+ The Sacred Path Companion: A Guide to Walking the Labyrinth to Heal and Transform by Dr. Lauren Artress
+ The Sand Labyrinth: Meditation at Your Fingertips by Dr. Lauren Artress
+ Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide for Healing and Spiritual Growth by Melissa Gayle West

Watch
Rediscovering the Labyrinth: A Walking Meditation (DVD) with Dr. Lauren Artress, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco (www.gracecathedral.org)

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