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The Labyrinth

The labyrinth is over 4000 years old. The Cretan labyrinth dates back to 1500 BC. The Classic -7 Labyrinth is seen on early Cretan coins. Many cultures have utilized the labyrinth to create sacred space: the Greeks, Jews, Muslims, and Hopi to name only a few.

Probably the best known is the Chartres Labyrinth built in 1220 AD. Our labyrinth is a replica of the Chartres Labyrinth, a symbol of life's journey.

The petals at the center, beginning on the left as you enter: Petal l represents the mineral kingdom, 2 represents the vegetable kingdom,

3 the animal kingdom, 4 human beings, 5 the angelic realm and 6 the divine.

The circles forming the halo around the outside of the labyrinth are called lunations because they are believed to comprise a lunar calendar. One can determine the date for Easter (the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox) .

The labyrinth is not a trick. The labyrinth is not a maze. A maze is designed for you to loose your way. The labyrinth, on the other hand, is a tool designed to help you find your way. It can become the mirror of the soul.

How does that happen? Well, we're all on the journey of our life and the labyrinth can illuminate that journey if we will take the first step. That's all you need to begin. Simply take the first step. Someone said walking a labyrinth is like teaching ducks to swim. . . just put 'em in water.

As you make your labyrinth journey you may nourish your creative urges, find holy spaces in your life, walk a dream or a memory, you may even connect with loved ones who have made their transition. For me it has been a path of spiritual growth.

The California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco offers a courtyard labyrinth to patients, family

members and hospital staff. It has been so successful in stress reduction other hospitals are following suit.

Melissa G. West in her book Exploring the Labyrinth says: "Whoever you are, walking the labyrinth has something to offer you. If a creative or work project is challenging you, walking can get your creative juices flowing. When you are struggling with grief or anger or a physical challenge or illness, walking the labyrinth can point the way to healing and wholeness. If you're wanting a way to meditate or pray that engages your body as well as your soul, the labyrinth can be such a way.

When you just want reflective time away from a busy life, the labyrinth can offer you time out. The labyrinth, as you will learn, holds up a mirror reflecting back to you not only the light of our finest selves but also whatever restrains us from shining forth. . . It is unicursal, offering only one route to the center and back out again. Since the destination is assured, there are no obstacles to overcome, no muddles to figure out, no dead ends to retrace.

What remains for the labyrinth walker is simply the deeply meditative and symbolic discipline of setting one foot in front of the other, of honoring the journey itself and what it has to teach. The mind can be stilled and attention paid to the body, the wisdom of the heart and the grace of being rather than doing."

You find your body's natural pace. Some walk slowly, others faster. Often children run. Adults and children skip or dance. Some add arm or hand movement to their walk.

Let there be some space between walkers. If you meet people coming out as you journey in, simply step aside and let them pass. You may touch hands if you wish but do honor the quiet both of you are in.