What is it?
A labyrinth is an ancient pattern found in cultures all over the world. The labyrinth has only one path; there are no tricks and no dead ends.
The labyrinth is a tool for meditation, reflection or prayer. People walk it as a way to connect to the Divine, as a way of centering, or seeking insight or discernment. It is used for prayer, healing, unleashing creativity, stress relief, discernment and for fun. The labyrinth is a metaphor for life’s journey, with its twists and turns on the way to the center. Labyrinth walking has been shown to have stress relieving and healing effects.
The labyrinth at Good News Moravian Church is a 7 circuit mini Chartres like pattern made of pavers. It was hand built by volunteers and is located in the midst of the community garden. The labyrinth is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for walking.
Guidelines for Walking
There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth; the following are just suggestions that may make your walk more meaningful.
It may be helpful to think of the walk as having three stages:
- 1. Entering. Pause before you enter. The walk toward the center is a time of releasing, of letting go, of emptying and preparation.
- 2. Illumination. The centre is a place of receiving, of peacefulness and openness, of discernment and insights, of meditation and prayer. Stay as long as you like.
- 3. Union. The journey back out of the labyrinth is return to daily life while integrating what you have received.
Other ways to walk the labyrinth include:
- Walking to address a particular question or intention
- Walking as a form of intercessory prayer
- Walking to meditate – on a specific word, thought, or prayer
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