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Labyrinth walk....
Nov. 7th, 2010 09:50 pmLast night, I participated in a candle-lit labyrinth walk held at my local UU fellowship.
I've walked labyrinths before, but it's been a while. It's not so much moving from the outside to the center and back again. It's the journey in between.
The chairs were cleared and stacked on both sides of the sanctuary. I'd estimate about 200 tea lights inside glass votives marked the spiral path inside the sanctuary. At the center was an altar with a stick of incense, a cast iron cauldron, and some note paper. When we reached the center, we were to write down our concerns on the paper, and burn the paper inside the cauldron. (I forgot to burn my paper the first time, so I went back in. By the time I reached the center, there were other notes folded up beside the cauldron.)
I find labyrinths to be very peaceful and meditative. As I walk inward, my mind is focused on what is going on in my life -- the questions to which I'm searching for answers, the problems to which I'm searching for solutions. I don't hurry towards the center. I take my time, walking slowly or stopping along the path. I allow my subconscious to come up with the solution or the answer. As I reach the center, I stop to meditate. I exit the labyrinth the same way I entered -- slowly, with a renewed intention.
Thanks go to Shannon, who planned this event and created the sacred space ncessary for the labyrinth.
I've walked labyrinths before, but it's been a while. It's not so much moving from the outside to the center and back again. It's the journey in between.
The chairs were cleared and stacked on both sides of the sanctuary. I'd estimate about 200 tea lights inside glass votives marked the spiral path inside the sanctuary. At the center was an altar with a stick of incense, a cast iron cauldron, and some note paper. When we reached the center, we were to write down our concerns on the paper, and burn the paper inside the cauldron. (I forgot to burn my paper the first time, so I went back in. By the time I reached the center, there were other notes folded up beside the cauldron.)
I find labyrinths to be very peaceful and meditative. As I walk inward, my mind is focused on what is going on in my life -- the questions to which I'm searching for answers, the problems to which I'm searching for solutions. I don't hurry towards the center. I take my time, walking slowly or stopping along the path. I allow my subconscious to come up with the solution or the answer. As I reach the center, I stop to meditate. I exit the labyrinth the same way I entered -- slowly, with a renewed intention.
Thanks go to Shannon, who planned this event and created the sacred space ncessary for the labyrinth.
