Labyrinth

Did you know there is a Labyrinth at the Veterans Park at Pontiac Point?

This internationally recognized Labyrinth was installed in 2008. It is patterned after the 13^th century Notre’ Dame des Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth in France, which is still in use today.

The Labyrinth (not a maze, there are no dead ends!) is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness and combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering path which lends itself to meaningful mediation. The Labyrinth was seen as a metaphor for the journey to the center of our deepest selves and back into the world with a broadened understanding of who we are and our direction in life.   

The purposes of the Labyrinth have varied over the centuries from platforms for dance, games and prayer. A Labyrinth has only one unicursal path – the way in is the way out. The walk is a right brain task that involves intuition, creativity, and imagery. There is no right or wrong while walking a labyrinth.

Enjoy your journey on the sacred path. Here are some suggestions for your labyrinth experience: 

1. Stand at the entrance, say a prayer/state an intention/ask a question, as long as the question does not require a “yes” or “no” answer, leaving space for Spirit to answer.

2. Walk the Labyrinth, looking through your eyelashes, to avoid distractions and to quiet your mind. (Focus on your breath.) When disruptive thoughts surface, gently invite them to leave.

3. When you reach the center, stand, for a few moments/minutes, within each of the six “petals”. The petals represent different realms of God’s/Higher Power’s cosmos. From left to right, the petals are minerals, plants, animals, humans, angelic realm, Great Mystery. I have found it beneficial to stand in the center before leaving it.

4. Return to the entrance. The five R’s of a labyrinth walk: Reason, Release, Receive, Return, Reflect. While walking out, meditate on the guidance or answer that you may have received while in the center. Even if it feels as though “nothing has happened”, something has shifted within yourself. Journaling about your experience is encouraged.