Labyrinths

Overview

A labyrinth is a guided symbolic, meditative “journey” into the “centre” of ourselves. Labyrinths can be “walked”, or the journey can be traced with a finger or coloured pen, even traced in sand. It can also be travelled mentally, with no body movement.

Labyrinths are complex, geometric designs which follow one long path that leads to the centre and always leads back out to the beginning. They have no wrong way and are not intended to trick or confuse like a maze! They cause us to stop the daily routine, slow down and walk unfamiliar ways so that we can think about who we really are and what life is about.

We can trust labyrinths: when we get to the centre, we stop and ponder the great mysteries of the universe: it is a still point in our turning world. It is a quiet moment when all the complex paths of life are “out there” and we have “time out” to rest awhile. Then we re-enter the fray and make our way out again! Before we begin, let’s centre ourselves with centred breathing and relaxing our bodies.

After strolling through our labyrinth and returning to the start (with our finger and then a coloured texta), we stop and reflect on the experience.

How calming an experience was it? Would you like to actually walk a large labyrinth? Could you imagine the stillness of being stopped at the centre, surrounded by the long and winding path?

Labyrinth Prayer Options

1. The labyrinth can be used as a mindful, meditative walk- where you call to mind your life, people, events, or scenes and repeat mantras of thanks, penance or petition in time with your steps:

Thankfulness- For your life; your family members; for the earth and the universe

Penance - Think of a situation where you have failed to live up to the mark Jesus has set us. The traditional Jesus Prayer is as old as Christian Meditation: Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Have mercy on me, a sinner. Pause in your walking at the end of the prayer; recall another slip and then start again.

Petition -View the path of the labyrinth as a symbol of how life events have taken you close to, and far from, your goals in life, or the centre of core of who you consider yourself to be. Pause in your walk at key points close to and far from the centre and ask God’s help to avoid that situation again, or to repeat it.

2. The Labyrinth as a symbol of your life journey.

Decide, before you begin, what the centre represents for you this journey. Is it closeness to God? Is it acceptance of your life? Is it the “letting go” of the spirituality of the second stage of life? Is it release from wounded-ness, or anger, or lack of forgiveness?

Walking In

Take a pilgrim stone with you as you start the walk. The walk “in” could be your reflection on your first stage of life. Of leaving “home” for the first time to make your mark on the world. The walk out can be a reflection on the second stage of life- or your leaving “home” for the second time, for the journey to your final “home”.

For the walk “in” recall your goals in life; what towers you wanted to build; what self-image was important; what quests you went on; what you wanted to get, to be, to build, to create. Recall your struggles against diabolos-chaos.

As you walk, picture yourself from a bird’s eye view. Reflect when you are far from the centre in the outer rings, on what is kept/is keeping you far from that goal. Place the stone at the edge of the path as you do so. Pause. When you are ready, pick up the stone and continue.

When you have turned a corner and moved closer to the centre, pause and think what event, action or change caused you to “turn” or move closer to forgiveness, acceptance etc. Place the stone on the line of the path. Pause. When you are ready, pick up the stone and continue.

When a turn takes you further away again, think on what happened to cause this. Place the stone, pause, pick it up, and continue.

The Centre

Having reached the centre, pause and think of the times in life when you have felt you reached “the centre” whatever it was. Can you remember what that felt like? Is “building up” still your centre, or have you begun to “let go”?

If you are believe you are in the second stage of life, can you remember the event/s in your 30’s which challenged you to face your woundedness, your frailty, your imperfection? That prompted your Dark Night of the Soul?

Wait in the centre until you know it is time to begin the outward journey. Pick up your pilgrim stone and begin the walk out.

The Walk Out

If you feel you have entered the second stage of life, then reflect on your actions/feelings as they have brought you closer to detachment and freedom from fear and when you were tempted to turn back to certainty, to tradition, to order and control of your life.

Think of your struggles with God- of ceasing to try to love God and to let God love you instead. Of letting go and falling into mercy and presence. Of shedding self-image based on achievement and adopting self-image based on simplicity, detachment, and acceptance.

Again, as you swing close to and far from the centre, do you recall events, experiences which draw you back, or tempt you to turn back; and which experiences are freeing you from the first stage of life.

As you approach the exit, reflect on what you consider your final destiny to be- your final home. Do you know where you are going to, or is it yet another journey into the unknown- another great adventure?

Replace your pilgrim stone and return another day to repeat the experience.

Resource

Praying with labyrinths