Our Labyrinth

On our property, we have a labyrinth constructed by volunteers. Our labyrinth, one expression of an ancient form of prayer, is outdoors under the majestic oak trees that line 45th Avenue North between Fourth and Fifth streets. All are welcome to use our labyrinth. Here is some information you may find both interesting and helpful if you want to use the labyrinth:

What is a labyrinth?

A labyrinth is a meandering path leading to a central area. Once at the center, the path reverses to exit. One-way in… one-way out. How simple, you might think! Such is the beauty and mystery of the labyrinth. People come to the labyrinth for a multitude of reasons.  Most find walking a labyrinth to be a transforming experience. Traveling the turns and counter turns of the labyrinth, the world begins to drop away. Walking, breathing and being become conscious and deliberate. The spiritual and the physical merge into a walking meditation. Your pace becomes a background rhythm against which your mind clears.  Moving toward the center, one senses approaching a spiritual center as well. Intuition deepens. Healing occurs. Some say they hear the voice of their own truth, experience guidance, or feel a sense of grace or transcendence. Some feel they have brushed against the Eternal or touched the Divine.

History of the labyrinth…

The varied forms of the labyrinth have been found the world over and draw upon a spiritual practice thousands of years old. The practice spans the world’s religions, cultures, historical epochs and geographic boundaries. Labyrinths have been found in ancient cultures from Greece and Crete to Egypt, China, Peru, Ireland, North America and Scandinavia.

In recent times…

People from across the globe have rediscovered the tradition of labyrinth walking. They have carved labyrinths into hillsides, meadows, beaches and back yards from natural materials such as stone or earth. Portable labyrinth designs have been recreated and taken to churches, colleges and playgrounds. There are more than 1000 recently created labyrinths in the United States in at least 42 states. The number of labyrinths and labyrinth walkers has expanded rapidly in the past decade. Hospitals, schools, churches and corporations are building labyrinths as respite and recreation for their patients, students, congregation members, employees and clients.

Guidelines for walking the labyrinth…

Clear your mind. You may find it helpful to become aware of your breathing. Make an intention for your walk, such as a prayer to forgive or to obtain a solution to a problem. As you walk, allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. Some people walk slowly; some find themselves skipping. You may pass people or let others step around you. Be open to the gentle guiding of Spirit. You are in prayer. Take the space you need to hear God speak to you and give that space to others on the path. Take time in the center.  You may choose to sit, stand or kneel… there is no need for hurry. When you have finished, take a few minutes to reflect on your walk. You may want to write down some of your reflections or share your experience with others.

Stages of your walk…

As you experience the labyrinth, your walk flows into three aspects of being:

Release…  The walk into the labyrinth is a time to let go of the details of life and to    clear the mind, releasing that which is not necessary for healing or guidance.

Receive…  Upon arriving at the center; be still, listen, receive and accept peace and guidance.

Integrate…  As you walk out in union with God, you are nourished and empowered  to know and take right action in the world.  

The metaphysics of our seven-circuit labyrinth…

Sig Lonegren offers a problem-solving technique that can be used effectively while walking a 7-circuit labyrinth. The 7 circuits can correspond to the 7 power centers, or chakras, of the body. Starting from the outermost path to the center of the labyrinth corresponds from the lowest to the highest energy chakras of our body. With each chakra, tying to both a path on the labyrinth as well as a modality of experience in the world, a problem may be considered in light of each modality as one walks on that part of the path. 

This involves walking the path of the 7-circuit labyrinth consciously examining the problem from different perspectives while simultaneously feeling the body’s response at each of the body’s chakras.  Recognize that you traverse the paths in a specific order: 3-2-1-4-7-6-5-center, and then back out from center: 5-6-7-4-1-2-3. 

You enter the labyrinth on the third path that corresponds to the solar plexus. This is the rational thinking modality with the energy of yellow, consider: What do I think about the problem? 

As you turn to enter the second path, you enter the realm of feeling and emotion, associated with your sacral center and with the color orange, ask: How do I feel about the problem?

 As you round the turn to the first or outermost path, you enter the realm of the root or base energy center aligned with the physical realm and the color red. Ask yourself:  What are the physical repercussions of this problem? What practical issues such as money are related to the problem? 

From the outermost path, you move to the fourth path, connected with the heart center. This reflects the energy of your personal spirituality and of the color green. Ask yourself:  How will this problem affect my spiritual life? 

From the fourth path, you walk to path seven. This path connects with your highest center, the crown. It reflects the energy of violet. This path relates to union with the divine. It is along this path that you can open yourself to divine guidance from your highest self. 

Moving from the lofty seventh path, you spiral outward to path six, connected with the energy center of the third eye and the color purple. This path connects you with your vision of the truth as it is related to your problem. It is on this path that the message will come to you or that you will see the truth and will know what the answer to the problem might be for you. You receive the guidance of your intuition.  

As you round the turn to path five, you will connect with the energy center of the throat and the color blue. It is the realm of communication with and manifestation from higher spiritual energies. On this path you ask yourself: What is the first step now that I have my answer? 

From path five, you move into the center. Be still and clear your mind of all thought. As you turn and begin the journey out, the process is reversed as you review each aspect of the problem. 

On the fifth path, review what your first step will be now that you have the answer.

On the sixth path review the answer, message or vision. 

On the seventh path thank your deity of choice. 

On the fourth path review how the answer will affect your spiritual life. On the first path review the practical aspects of the answer. 

On the second path ask yourself:  How do I feel about the answer? 

Finally, on the third path, ask yourself:  What do I think about the answer?