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A maze is
one-directional, leading you in at one end and out at the other, with false
paths and dead ends to confuse you along the way. A labyrinth has
only one path, leading to the center, which must be followed out again.
A maze is a test of intellect; the labyrinth, a spiritual journey.
To many, the
labyrinth seems like just another fad of New Age spirituality. In fact,
the Cathedral staff were amused to find that some of the bricklayers assumed
it was supposed to be a landing pad for alien spaceships! In fact,
the labyrinth is a tool for meditation that developed during the Middle
Ages, a new take on the many, often-forgotten ancient expressions of “sacred
geometry” that utilize both form and physical activity to enhance meditation.
Originally
built as a symbol of unity and spiritual journey for those who could not
make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, today’s labyrinths are used in as many
ways as there are individuals who walk them. Some begin by walking
the twists and turns of the path with no expectations, allowing the experience
to speak for itself. Others bring a problem they wish to work on,
finding that the physical discipline allows the subconscious to bring forward
the answers within.
Still others
use the labyrinth as a tool for meditation, using a simple phrase like
the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy
on me, a sinner) to center themselves and listen to the still, small voice
of God.
However the
individual chooses to approach it, there is no denying that the labyrinth
is a powerful metaphor of our human existence and spiritual journey.
We begin on a straight line that, in our limited vision, at first appears
to go immediately to the center - but then there is a turn! The path
seems narrow and may be a struggle to follow; we adjust our steps to it
and make the turns carefully - at some time later, however, we may realize
that we are no longer uncomfortable, and may even have further streamlined
our steps by placing one foot in front of the other.
When we reach
a long stretch of path, we can lift our heads and see the “big picture”,
reassuring ourselves that we’re headed in the right direction and that
we will eventually reach our goal. At other times, we must pay strict attention
to the path so as not to lose our way. When we reach the center,
there is peace and rest; we enjoy the moments and reflect on the journey.
Then the pull of the world may be felt, and we know that we must journey
outward - yet, the journey is lighter, shorter, as we make our return,
because we take with us the peace that passes all understanding.
The labyrinth
speaks to all of us in different ways at different times. We hope
that you will allow it to speak to you, and often!
Visit
PAXworks for more labyrinth information. |
