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Spiritual Strolling: Labyrinth as Metaphor

Linda

Experience the Simple Blessing of Walking the Labyrinth...

Labyrinth--that curious swirling symbol from story and myth is coming of age in all sorts of new places from churches, schools and vacation retreats to hospitals and business centers.  The labyrinth symbol has been evidenced on pottery, drawings, and ancient sites for over 5000 years.  One form familarized by my teacher, Dr. Lauren Artress (her book, Walking the Sacred Path), is the medieval eleven-circuit labyrinth laid in the floor of the Notre Dame cathedral in Chartres, France, around 1201 C.E.  Its exact history is lost but the pattern is duplicated in many medieval cathedrals and served during the Crusades as a safe practice of pilgrimage to a symbolic New Jerusalem; the center is a six petal rosette, the half-moon shapes on the perimeter mark the calendar between Christmas and Easter.

 

In form, the labyrinth is a 3-D mandala (Sanskrit word for sacred circle); the design is unicursal, meaning there is only one path to the center and one follows the same path out.  Seamless.  And the center is not the goal, it is part of the journey.  Like God-in-you.

 

When walked as a tool for meditation and prayer, the labyrinth can offer insight into one's own spiritual journey through three phases:

1.  Enter (releasing, perseverance)

2.  Center (reflection, prayer)

3.  Re-enter (restoration, preparation)

Moving toward the exit you prepare to bring out to the world what you receive in the center.

 

There is no right way or wrong way to walk the path.  Remember to experience YOUR experience; let what happens during your walk present as a metaphor.   Expect happy surprises on your journey.  The path is actually a two-way street; others who walk with you may be coming out as you enter.  Do what comes naturally as you may gently walk around another person or have them walk around you so each may walk at his own pace.  Let Spirit guide you all ways.

 

A beautiful scripture presents a wondrous meditation:  The River of Your Life

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of Jesus through the middle of the street of the city.  On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruits, producing its fruits each month, and the leaves are for the healing of the nations."  Revelation 22:1, 2

 

Linda Hurley, Veriditas Certified Labyrith Facilitator

veriditas.org

Replies to this Topic

Jo

I found this so interesting, thank you. I certainly know of the existance of labyrinths and have seen them in some of the great churches in Europe, but I guess I never took the time to understand the mystical signifigance.

Are there some well known labyrinths in the U.S.?

Linda

My teacher, Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress originally had two labyrinths installed in Grace Cathedral  in San Francisco; if you enter veriditas.org you will find a labyrinth locator which you can use to locate labyrinths in your area.  In Delray Beach, FL most are familiar with the indoor and outdoor labyrinths at the Duncan Center.  Unity Village, MO has a very large accessible labyrinth painted in one of the parking lots.

 

Jo

I recently walked both the indoor labyrinth as well as the out door one at Duncan Center with a friend and did find it a wonderful tool for reflection and meditation. Removing my shoes and walking barefoot increased the vibration of the energy I felt. My friend said that everytime we passed in close proximity to one another she was totally amazed at the strong energy she felt radiating from me. And I could feel the energy from the labyrinth.

I am looking forward to walking the labyrinth periodically and making it a part of my spiritual life. Thank you Linda.

Linda

As part of group work with Walter and Eron Starcke in early May we walked a seven circuit modified Cretan labyrinth at Namaste retreat center.  What came to my mind was that a study called "Cymatics" describes the effect of sound on a membrane:  if you place sand on a drum and tone a sound through it, the sand will disperse into a pattern unique to the frequency of the sound...key here is that the form is created around the sound.  The pattern scribed by the labyrinth may be seen as a cymatic diagram--it is not necessary to pay attention to the lines, they are the form, but notice that you are walking in the channel of a great sound.

"Come, let us stand in our channel of Grace that we may see Creation's face. "

~ Linda Hurley

Edited: May 14, 2010 07:18PM

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