“Labyrinths are found in many cultural and spiritual traditions. Based on the circle and spiral, the labyrinth is and ancient and powerful symbol of wholeness and transformation.” It’s a form of walking meditation. You begin at a garden path, and pause at the entry to gather yourself, to quiet your mind so that you can be fully conscious of the act. Releasing: Letting go of the details of life to quiet and empty your mind, to focus on each step. Walking can be a time of purgation and cleaning. As you step on to the path, allow yourself to find your own pace. There is no rush, no need to hurry. As you walk, breathe deeply. Listen to the sounds of nature, the movement of the wind, and feel peace beginning to envelop you. Continue on the path and you will make turns and twists and you spiral toward the center. Illumination: At the center you pause for as long as you need. Receive energy, insight, revelation, serenity, peace. The center is a place of prayer, meditation, receiving. You might clearly hear a word from the Holy Spirit. You might feel a nudge, an impression, or just experience peace. There’s no agenda, this is just a place and time where you are a human “being.” When you are ready, you begin the walk out — retracing your steps on the path and the entrance becomes the exit. Union: Join God by connecting the inner and outer worlds. Breathe, smile, laugh, enjoy the creation. Walking out is symbolic of committing and strengthening your ability to carry the Divine presence into the world around you. So both symbolically and actually, you are taking back out into the world that which you have received.
The labyrinth is not necessarily somber, it’s a joyfully sacred space. It’s not a maze or there are no tricks or dead ends (like in the movies). You can see the whole path ahead and this allows you to focus. Meditation can bring illumination, and the point of going to a place like this is to allow yourself a few moments to silence the noise around you and seek peace and clarity. Some have described it as “a path of prayer, a walking meditation, a crucible of change, a watering hole for the spirit and a mirror of the soul.”
I enjoyed a walk in the labyrinth today. The cell was off, there was no rush, it was just a peaceful time of reflection, seeking, and listening. If you have an opportunity, I would recommend giving it a try. It might just be a good exercise in learning how to slow down and reconnect with yourself and, likewise, to the One who is ever with you.