The labyrinth walk is a popular spiritual experience that had its beginnings at least 5,000 years ago. The word, labyrinth, was used by the ancient Greeks, and images of labyrinths have been found in many cultures including Hindu, American Indian, Christian, and Judaism.
In 1994, a design of the labyrinth uncovered in the Chartres Cathedral in France (built around 1200 A.D.) was brought to Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and a labyrinth was created there. Since that time, labyrinths have been built throughout the United States. In San Diego County, there are also many labyrinths including those at The All Faith Center in Poway allfaithcenter.org Blue Sky Ranch in Lakeside www.blueskyranch.org, First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego firstuusandiego.org, Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association in Escondido www.harmonygrovespiritual.org, and Seaside Center for Spiritual Living in Encinitas www.seasidecenter.org.
The labyrinth is a large circle with a path that leads into the center. That same path is taken to exit.
In early Christian days, the labyrinth was walked to repent sins or to symbolize a journey to the Holy Land. Today, there are no set rules for walking the labyrinth. Usually, participants reflect on something on which to meditate or pray, such as asking for solace in times of grief, solving a problem, quieting the mind, or focusing on a specific topic. Most enter the labyrinth slowly, continuing to reflect, pausing to receive insights in the center, and then returning meditatively to the outside.
In the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living’s August 4, 2019 newsletter, Inside Seaside, is this description of the labyrinth: “In its simplest form the labyrinth is a walking meditative path. We may walk, dance, or crawl the path, doing what the body calls forth; there are no rules. Stones outline the labyrinth pattern evoking thoughts of our interactions with each other on life’s journey. It becomes a metaphor for life.”
When you complete your labyrinth walk, you may find yourself relaxed, peaceful, and eager to share the insights you have found with others.
