Suggestions for Walking a Labyrinth

WALKING A LABYRINTH

Please feel free to copy this page for a walk guideline.

THE ROAD AHEAD
by
Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore, I will trust you always
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will fear not, for you are with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Labyrinths are spiritual tools that can be used as paths of prayer or as walking meditations for petitioning, thanking, and praising the Divine Spirit. They are places for communing with God in the solitude of one's heart, mind and soul. Some people walk labyrinths to search for a deeper meaning of self while others walk labyrinths request guidance or help in their lives.

Walking the labyrinth is an ancient method of immersing oneself in God's loving energy. It can be a tool for becoming more aware of the Divinity within one's soul and all creation. Labyrinths can help a person obtain a sense of connectiveness, peace and happiness by allowing a "time-out" from the stresses of daily life.

Labyrinths help quiet the mind:

· through the consciousness of "walking" and noticing the repetition of our steps
· through the balancing of the right and left brain functions from the path's ever
changing direction
· through the focusing of the mind and the blocking out of outer and inner
disturbances
· through the discharge of excess psychic energy through the body's movement and
grounding
· through the creation of a "sacred place" where the psyche can meet the soul

It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth…your walk will be absolutely perfect for you.

The best advice is to enter the labyrinth without any expectations because everyone has different experiences (physically and spiritually) and your experience will be exactly what God wants for you.

It is also important to honor each person's space and mutual time for prayer and meditation. The objective is to walk your walk while being courteous to others. When encountering others on their journeys in or out of the labyrinth, respectively move to the outside edge of your path to provide room to pass each other and feel free to cross over lines to gently move ahead of or around others if necessary.

There are four stages in walking a labyrinth:

1. Consecration: Prior to beginning your walk, slow your breathing, relax and mentally dedicate this time to the glory of God. Bring your intentions and requests to mind but then let them go.

2. Purgation: (releasing) Start your walk at your own pace. Quiet your mind and release the burdens of life. You may want to use a centering prayer or mantra (a short repeated phrase) while walking to the center. Open your heart and trust that God will be at your side during your walk.

3. Illumination: Upon entering the center of the labyrinth, feel free to stand or sit and to spend as much time as you want or need in the center. This is the time to quiet your mind and to just listen. You may not "hear" a voice in your ears or in your mind, but trust that God's message for you will be planted deeply within your heart. Open your soul to God's unconditional love and you shall receive it.

4. Union: Your journey out of the labyrinth is the time to integrate the experience of your walk and God's message into your soul and life. You may again want to use a personal centering prayer or mantra as you walk back out into the world. Walk at a pace that feels good to you and return as often as possible to commune with God in this special way.

Some Prayerful Ways of Approaching Your Labyrinth Experience
by Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoggrion

Jill first walked the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in 1979 and has been involved with its growth as a spiritual tool ever since. She has worked closely with Rev. Lauren Artriss over the years in bringing this to the public's attention as lecturer, facilitator and published author.

Below is a link to Jill's webpage on some ways to use the labyrinth as a prayer tool.

Labyrinth Praying

VIRTUAL LABYRINTH WALKS

by Vicki Keiser
WEBSITE - LABYRINTH ONLINE
Reiki Master
Clay Artist
Webmaster, Graphic Designer
Labyrinth Facilitator

The above animated walks are programmed in FLASH. If they don't work after a few minutes, go to Vicki's website
and at the bottom of her home page you'll see links for downloading the latest version of FLASH to your PC.