Walking and Making Labyrinths

I saw the advertisement in my Baptist Church for a Labyrinth Seminar at a Lutheran Church given by an Episcopalian Priest. I had no idea what it was, but I liked the Ecumenical sense of the thing.

I listened at the Seminar and learned that there is a three step process. Walking in one sheds one's cares and ego, in the center one communes with God and walking out one prepares to reenter the world.

It is suggested that one go in with some intention and draw or journal at the center or after leaving.

The Labyrinth itself was a massive piece of canvas with a Medieval representation. I admit to wondering what the big deal was. I couldn't imagine how one could lose anything following a path that was preordained.

Then I walked. I was taken in very quickly, noticing that at first I came very close to the center, but then was taken away by the path, forces I had no control over. My God, that was something. I walked near the outside, the inside, I came across people going faster or slower than I or people leaving as I was coming in. And I was getting lost and shedding.

By the time I got to the middle I was in an emotional state. I sat down and felt a powerful energy. I stayed and prayed, meditated or just sat. There were tears and a calmness. People came and went, I acknowledged them, but was still in my own world.

At some point I got up to repeat the process, backward, and did feel a building. However, suddenly I was standing a few feet away from the exit. I felt a sudden rebellion and didn't want to continue, but there I was. I stood for a while and then left.

I couldn't have told you how long it took. It could have been a half hour, it could have been three. But I did know more 'what it was all about'.

The picture above is a slice of the Labyrinth at Chartre that I took in 2005. I remember marveling at how old it was. I knew it was ancient, but it was quite striking to be there.

I have walked fewer of these, mostly because there just aren't as many of them. However, if you want to put one on your property, and you want to do it yourself, this is probably the easiest way. It is also the most organic. It is the same must follow path, with the same in and out, and the same sacred geometry, but it does not have the same precision.

The first one I walked was out side of Asheville, NC. Two women had set one up on their country property using large rocks that they found. They say that the experience was that they were guided as to which stones to use at which places. They have it open for anyone who wants to walk. As one goes through it one notices trinkets and small pieces of jewelry that people have felt moved to leave behind.

The second one was on St Columba Bay on Iona to the Northwest of Scotland, where St. Columba first landed to start his Christian ministry and the Iona Abby. It is also made out of stone by members of the Iona Community. I was told that each year the residents make a new one. The energy of that area, one of the 'thin places' is very powerful. Of course, walking it on the Summer Solstice, which I did, added to the experience.

There are many ways to walk a Labyrinth and your fingers can also do the job.

I own a finger Labyrinth like the one pictured. You can use it with eyes closed or open focusing on the movement. It is a great meditation vehicle.

There are many companies that sell these and other finger Labyrinths.