Thurs, June 22, 2017, VBS Day 4 (full size gallery)
"Today, I serve in a parish with a grass labyrinth. As I walk and pray there, I recall the woman from that day who reminded me that we are not alone, that God is here and that if we listen for the Spirit, we can find our way out of the tragedy." – Elizabeth Jay Jordan March 14, a Lenten medication
As part of Vacation Bible School, Catherine borrowed St. George’s Episcopal’s labyrinth. The children seemed to enjoy learning about it and walking it. This labyrinth is mobile and designed to be outside or inside. In relationship to Harry Potter, the kids were taught that if you stay on the path you would stay out of danger and avoid obstacles like the "forbidden forest."
We covered this subject as part of a "Emergence Christianty" in 2012-13, looking at alternative spiritual practices.
The Sacred Labyrinth Walk, Illuminating the Inner Path, is the ancient practice of "Circling to the Center" by walking the labyrinth. The rediscovery of this self alignment tool to put our lives in perspective is one of the most important spiritual movements of our day. People, formal cultures, and traditions have used the spiral and labyrinth designs as a symbol of their search for meaning and guidance.
A labyrinth is not a maze. It has only one path to the center and back out, which is the meaning of the term unicursal (one line). Our only decision is to choose spirit/God and surrender to divine guidance. It has no blind alleys or dead ends. The path twists and turns back on itself many times before reaching the center. Once at the center, there is only one way back out. In this way, it symbolizes a journey to a predetermined destination (such as a pilgrimage to a holy site), or the journey through life from birth to spiritual awakening to death. They are ancient, going back to Greece 2000BC. Thus the tradition is over 4,000 years old.
In many ways, the labyrinth can be seen as a call to action, a transformation spiritual tool for people. It can aid healing, help in releasing grief, (people often shed tears during the "letting go"), help guide through troubled times, aid in decision making, illuminate our purpose in life, and act as a tool of celebration and thanks. Its work is our commitment to enter into the sacred spiritual walk, not merely once, but to use it as part of an ongoing spiritual practice.
How do you walk a labyrinth ?
1. Prepare to walk. Take some time to transition from your everyday life to the labyrinth experience. Remove your watch. Slow your breathing. Still your mind. Open yourself to possibilities.
2. Begin your journey. Pause at the entrance to the labyrinth to take a cleansing breath and focus your attention. It is a place to stop and reflect. You may ask a question, say a prayer or recite an affirmation. Some people choose to bow or make another ritual gesture to signal the beginning of their walk.
3. Walk the inward path. The walk around the design to the center can be a "letting go" – a quieting of the thoughts, worries, lists of tasks to do, a letting go unto the experience of being present in the body.
Put one foot in front of the other, and walk at a measured pace that is comfortable for you. On the way in, focus on letting go of things you want to leave behind and releasing things that stand in the way of your spiritual journey. Pause when you need to. Don’t focus on the center as a goal; be present in each step of the inward path.
4. Spend time in the center. Take as long as you wish. You may stand, sit, kneel or lie down. This part of the journey is about being present to your inmost self and to the power of the divine. You may pray, journal or simply be open to the stillness. Respect the boundaries of others with whom you share this sacred space.
5. Take the return path. When you are ready to leave the center, begin walking back the way you came. On this part of the journey, focus on what you will bring out from the center and back into your life. As before, pause when you need to. Resist the temptation to sprint to the finish line: the return journey is as important as every other part of the labyrinth.
6. Reflect on the journey. When you leave the labyrinth, you may pause make another gesture or say a prayer. Before leaving the area, take some time to reflect on insights you’ve gained