Speakers: Rev. Joan Gelbein
Jane McKeel

An ancient mystical tool, the labyrinth is being revived for contemporary spirituality; it aims to integrate people's psyche and soul. Minister and members of the UU Church of Arlington, Virginia talk about labyrinths, the Arlington experience, and offer help to get you started in your own labyrinth program.

The Labyrinth Project of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA
Church's Web Page: http://www.uucava.org -- E-Mail: labyrinthuuca@wizard.net

Welcome to the Labyrinth

Walking the labyrinth puts contemporary people in touch with a ritual which dates back thousands of years and has appeared in diverse cultures across the globe from Crete to native America. Our labyrinth is a replica of one created by 1220 as part of the stone floor of the cathedral at Chartres, France. This eleven-circuit spiral was used as a pilgrim path before falling into disuse several centuries ago. Its origins are unknown.

A Single Path
Unlike a maze, there are no false trails on a labyrinth. One path leads you to the center and back out; the entrance is also the exit. This distance from entrance to exit is approximately one-third of a mile. Entering the labyrinth, one steps out of clock time and into "dreamtime" [out of "kronos" into "liminal" time].

A Walk and a Meditation in Three Stages
This meditative walk can be viewed as a three-step process. First, moving toward the center, walkers release, or let go of, cares and concerns which distract them from Essence; in the center, they pause, perhaps for several minutes, to receive clarity or illumination; on the way out walkers may perceive a sense of unity, bring back to the world a renewed vision, and experience a refreshed spirit.

As you enter this experience, we make these requests and suggestions:

1. Take some time before you begin. Disengage from the rest of your day and relax. Sit down or walk around the outside of the labyrinth; and think about issues, concerns questions, or wishes you will reflect upon during this journey Or you may simply decide to clear and. quiet your mind and put yourself into a receptive state.

2. Please remove your shoes (unless you need them for special therapeutic support].

3. If your feet are bare, use a pair of socks, available near the entrance Afterwards, leave them in the container nearby [they are washed and recycled].

4. Maintain silence throughout your walk, for your own and others' reflection.

5. Proceed at your own pace. Some walk at one speed, some vary their steps and pace along the way, some even dance! You may pause at the turns or at any place where a delay feels right You may pass others who are moving at a slower rate. Be aware of your process and feelings about speed, passing others, etc., while on the labyrinth: everything instructs!

6. In the center you may sit, kneel, stand, meditate, face several directions, or silently read a poem or other piece you may have brought along,

7. As you meet other walkers moving in the opposite direction, feel free to step to one side, if necessary, to provide space for meeting and passing.

8. As you leave the labyrinth, you may wish to turn and pause to express silently your gratitude for its gifts.

9. We invite you to take some time after your walk to remain in the labyrinth vicinity for further reflection and meditation.

How To Walk the Labyrinth

The labyrinth is only one path. It differs from a maze in that there are no tricks to it. As you follow the winding path to the center and back out again, surrender to the journey with an open heart and an open mind.

There are three stages to the walk

Purgation begins when you enter the labyrinth. There is a releasing, a letting go of the details of your life. The act of walking quiets and empties the mind.

Illumination in the center, is the place where you allow yourself to receive guidance. It is a place of prayer and meditation. Sit or stand there as long as you like.

Union begins as you follow the path out. Each time you walk the labyrinth you may become healed and strengthened for your work in the world.

Guidelines for the Walk

1. Please remove your shoes unless you need them for medical-orthotic reasons.

2. Clear your mind and become aware of your breathing.

3. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. Your pace may change throughout the walk. You may "pass" people or let others step around you. Reflect on your behaviors and feelings while walking with others on the labyrinth; everything instructs!

4. The path is two ways. Those entering will meet those coming out.

5. Often, when leaving the labyrinth, walkers turn back towards the center and make a gesture of gratitude. Also, you may want to continue walking around the -outside circumference of the labyrinth for a few turns after you have left the labyrinth, or remain in the room, standing or sitting, to meditate, reflect on your walking experience, and/or observe the walking from the "outside" as a meditative experience.

6. Please write down some of your thoughts and feelings from your walk in our Impressions Book, or on sheets of paper to take with you to save.

…..more about labyrinths……

"Labyrinths are usually in the form of a circle with a meandering but purposeful path from the edge to the center and back out again. Each has only one path, and once we make the choice to enter it, the path becomes a metaphor for our journey through life. The labyrinth is a spiritual tool meant to awaken us to the deep rhythm that unites us to ourselves and to the Light that calls from within. In surrendering to the winding path, the soul finds heating and wholeness. the Labyrinth is a sacred place and can give us firsthand experience of the Divine." --The Reverend Dr. Lauren Artress, Walking a Sacred Path

The 11-circuit labyrinth pattern painted on our awning-weight canvas floor cloth is a replica of the one found in Chartres Cathedral in France that was laid in stone around 1200. When you walk, especially for the first time, don't expect anything to happen. The experience may have immediate impact on you or it may seem remote. Spiritual practices are disciplines; rewards follow preparation, repitition, and reflection.

The labyrinth is a path of prayer and meditation for all those seeking healing and insight. It also may serve as an experience of the Connecting Principle of the Universe, or the Divine, regardless of the tradition in which we stand. Labyrinths are designed to help foster spiritual growth. The winding path leading to the center serves as a mirror to reflect the movement of the Spirit in our lives. As a tool for meditation, an experience for prayer, a trigger for growth, and opportunity for new questions, the labyrinth should be approached with reverence and respect for the journey toward the center.

Lineage Labyrinths are found in various cultures and religious traditions throughout the world. The Cretan Labyrinth is the oldest known on the planet. It is 4000 to 5000 years old. The Celtic Knot or Never-Ending Path is a Labyrinth. The Kabbala, based on the Tree of Life, is a Labyrinth found in the Jewish mystical tradition. The Hopi Medicine Wheel and Man in the Maze are two Native American forms of the labyrinth.

Pilgrimage and the Labyrinth Traveling to the sacred places on the earth is a universal activity found in many religious traditions. Early Christians made a once-in-a-lifetime commitment to journey to Jerusalem. During the Middle Ages, the Crusades made travel to the Holy Land dangerous and the Labyrinth served as a central symbol for Christian pilgrimage. When the pilgrims reached the appointed cathedrals, they walked the Labyrinth as a symbolic completion of this commitment. The center of the Labyrinth in the pilgrimage tradition is called "The New Jerusalem" and the path, "The Road to Jerusalem."

Today walking the labyrinth invites us to experience our gratitude for life and meets our longing for a change of heart. it challenges us to refine the way we live together on this fragile island home and provides the energy, vision, and courage to meet the demands of the 21-'t century.

Walking the labyrinth provides an opportunity to pay attention. Solvitur ambulando – "It is solved by walking"

Formatted for the web by Kasey Melski.