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Labyrinth walking
Labyrinth walking involves following (walking) a man-made, spiral pattern path
(traced on the ground, often in cathedrals or gardens) to meditate, focus, and
calm the mind. A labyrinth is not the same as a maze, as the path follows a
number of circuits to the center of a circle and back out.
Labyrinth walkers believe that we are all on a path, exactly where we need
to be, and that the labyrinth is a model of that path. The labyrinth is an ancient
symbol, relating to wholeness, that combines the imagery of the circle and the
spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The Labyrinth represents a journey
to the center of our being and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have
long been used as meditation and prayer tools.
A labyrinth can be walked and is a metaphor for life's journey, a symbol that
creates a sacred space.
Labyrinths and mazes are often confused. A maze is a puzzle to be solved with
twists, turns, and blind alleys, requiring logical, sequential, analytical activity
to find the correct path into the maze and out. With a maze, there are many
choices to be made in order to solve the problem of finding the center. A labyrinth
has only one path, no blind alleys, and no walls to obstruct vision; the way
in is the way out. Labyrinth walking involves intuition, creativity, and imagery.
With a labyrinth, the only choice to be made is whether to enter or not, whether
or not to walk a spiritual path.
The labyrinth is a metaphor for the journey to the center of the self and back
out into the world with a broadened understanding of who you are.
There is no right way to walk a labyrinth. All that is physically required
is entering the labyrinth and following the path. However, the walk can encompass
a variety of attitudes from joyous or somber to thoughtful or prayerful. As
is often the case in life, adults tend to be serious in the labyrinth, whereas
children most often run in and out as fast as they can in a playful manner.
Labyrinth walking calms the body and mind by providing a space that guides
focus inward. The rhythmic action of walking reduces nervous energy, deepens
breathing, and helps to release built-up tension. Some people find inspiration
or solve problems on the labyrinth path, while others simply walk to find focus
at the beginning of the day. The intricate courses provided by labyrinths are
believed to provide a special format for "going within."
When labyrinth walking, people are encouraged to choose an attitude, changing
it from time to time. Labyrinth walking can be serious, prayerful, or playful.
Listening to music or singing can assist the experience, as can praying out
loud. It is important to be aware of the surroundings - watch the sky, listen
to the sounds, and pay attention to the inner experience. Labyrinth walking
can be done alone or with a crowd.
Guidelines for labyrinth walking include:
· Focus – Pause and wait at the entrance. Become quiet and centered.
Acknowledge through a bow, nod, or some other gesture, and then enter.
· Experience – Walk purposefully. Observe the process. When you
reach the center, stay there and focus for several moments, then leave when
it feels appropriate. Be attentive on the way out.
· Exit – Turn and face the entrance. Give some kind of acknowledgement
of ending.
· Reflect – After walking the labyrinth, reflect on the experience.
Journaling or drawing may help to capture the experience.
The Classical labyrinth, used most widely around the world, brings the emotional
and physical bodies into balance through seven “paths,” believed to be equal
to the seven “chakras” of the human body. The chakras are centers of power and
energy within the human body that connect the human energy field with the greater
energies of the universe. When emotions are out of balance, the negative energies
in the emotional body move into the physical body, manifesting themselves as
ailments ranging from mild illness such as a common cold, to more serious disease.
Labyrinth walking facilitates good health as it brings the emotional and physical
bodies into balance. As emotional health is restored, so is the physical, and
the result is good physical health and less chance of illness and disease.
Often, clearing the mind in order to listen to the inner self can be very difficult
due to the pressures of daily life. Meditation is the art of paying attention,
listening to the soul, and learning to be present in the moment. Sometimes without
being fully conscious of it, we withdraw from the present and live in the past
or the future. Meditation brings us into the present and teaches us to accept
the past and let go of old behaviors. We learn to live in the present and trust
our intuition. Through meditation, our lives become more simplified and we learn
to live life more fully, and more peacefully.
Labyrinth walking helps with meditation practices and self-healing, and stands
as a metaphor for the spiritual journey. The labyrinth serves as a powerful
tool for transformation, as it quiets the mind and opens the soul, creating
a sense of wholeness and peace.
Before entering the labyrinth, take deep breaths, and focus on calming the
mind. Reflect on where you are in life, and bring worries or questions to the
surface, for which you hope to receive spiritual guidance. The walk to the center
of the labyrinth quiet the mind, calms the body, releases tension and conscious
thought. While walking the labyrinth, it is not necessary to focus on anything
specific, only to be open to the experience and to allow the healing energies
to enter your inner self. Trust that the labyrinth will assist you with receiving
answers or releasing whatever is necessary. At the center, remain for a while
and become aware of what feelings are inside. The walk back out from the center
is seen as returning to one's life with a new approach toward the question or
concerns that were brought into the labyrinth. Most people feel a sense of empowerment
from the experience. After walking the labyrinth, take time to reflect. Consider
writing about your experience, or telling someone about it in order to widen
your understanding. The benefits of labyrinth walking are believed to be cumulative,
so walk as often as possible.
Though labyrinth walking involves walking in circles, the path takes you to
a destination of stress reduction and relaxation. The labyrinth has been a healing
symbol for over 3,500 years, with the labyrinth’s spiral standing as a universal
symbol for the human soul. Labyrinths are becoming more popular, cropping up
in parks, public places, and private properties, as people discover their ability
to calm the mind and soothe the body. Communities are even encouraging the use
of labyrinths to foster unity, by inviting people to walk the path together.
Labyrinth walking inspires unity by bringing us to the center of our beings.
By the simple act of walking, inner peace is achieved.
Those who are new to labyrinth walking should open their minds to whatever
might happen, and should be sure to follow these rules of “labyrinth etiquette:”
1. Begin only at the entry point.
2. Time your start so that you don’t rush or crowd the people walking ahead
of you.
3. Walk only on the path, and not on the lines or markers.
4. Be sure to set your own pace.
5. Pass others if necessary, and allow others to pass you.
6. When possible, sit quietly at the center of the labyrinth before walking
out.
7. Respect others in the labyrinth and honor any requests.
Labyrinths can be simple or extremely elaborate. The classic seven-circuit
labyrinth existed for more than 4,000 years, with roots from a wide range of
cultures, including Native American, Scandinavian, and Indian. The circular
labyrinth paths have been documented in ancient cave paintings and carved into
the turf of a grassy knoll in England. The second, more elaborate type of labyrinth
was developed during the Middle Ages and is found primarily in churches. The
most famous example is the inlaid floor design of Chartres Cathedral in France.
At the time of the Crusades, cathedrals build in France and Italy often had
the labyrinth design placed on the floor to represent the sacred pilgrimage
to Jerusalem. The pilgrims would come to the cathedral and walk the sacred path
to arrive at the center, called “New Jerusalem.” Over time, the labyrinths popularity
declined and its power came under suspicion. Many were torn out or painted over.
However, in Chartes Cathedral near Paris, France, the labyrinth remains as an
integral part of the cathedral’s design and heightens the sacredness of the
space. The labyrinth’s path is not painted, in fact, the path is comprised of
stones laid out in eleven concentric circles, intricately woven in a geometric
pattern. The Chartes labyrinth has a symmetrical relationship the massive stained
glass Rose Window in the church’s entry, as if the cathedral wall were to fall
flat on the floor, the entire window would exactly cover the labyrinth.
Historically, pilgrims walked labyrinth paths as a symbolic journey to Jerusalem.
Today, labyrinths serve as a metaphor for the spiritual journey through life,
as a source of solace and spiritual introspection, as a setting for religious
ceremonies, and as a tool for everyday focusing. The labyrinth inspires awareness
about how we respond to life on our chosen path. Labyrinth walking gives people
the opportunity to consider what is important and sacred.
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