24 Mar The Labyrinth – a tool for personal growth

Labyrinths are like sacred temples that enhance and balance and bring a sense of safety and comfort – a place where we can confirm our unity with the cosmos, awaken our vital force, elevate our consciousness and behold realities that transcend space, time and dimensions.

The orientation, form and geometry of a labyrinth have symbolic as well as spatial importance. It is a mirror for the divine, a place to behold the beauty in nature.
Spiraling inward and out, this serpentine flow is the most generative form of subtle energy. The process of moving through the pathway unwinds this stored energy, releasing, magnifying, and ultimately harnessing the flow. Working directly in conjunction with the human energy fields this spiraling flow interacts with the kundalini energy coiled at the base of our spine converting the subtle energy into life force (Ki, Chi) itself. This uncoiling of the kundalini vitalizes us through a process of unfolding both upwards and inwards, an exhalation and ingathering of energies known as the dance of creation.

Labyrinths are known as sacred gateways and have been found at the entrance of ancient sites around the world. Often located at the center of subtle ‘earth energies’ these temples enhance, balance, regenerate and confirm our unity with the cosmos.

Walking the Labyrinth

In a labyrinth, let your walk unfold on its own. Don’t try to make something happen. If you are seeking a more structured experience, there are three stages of walking the labyrinth:

• Stage 1: Releasing. As you start your journey toward the center of the labyrinth, begin to release your thoughts and concerns, emptying your mind for the second stage.
• Stage 2: Receiving. When you reach the center, stay there as long as you wish, meditating and asking for answers to life questions, guidance for dealing with a life-changing event or just some relaxation before returning to your chores.
• Stage 3: Thanksgiving. Once you return from the center and leave the labyrinth, you are ready to integrate back into everyday life with heightened spiritual awareness. Give thanks for the insight and the wisdom you received in the center.

Whether you walk a labyrinth for stress reduction, problem-solving, or spiritual transformation, remember that there is no right or wrong way to journey on this path. The opportunities and possibilities are endless.

A very simple walk that is appropriate for any spiritual tradition and can be done with no preparation other than the parts of releasing, receiving, and thanksgiving. The first half of the labyrinth is walked as the letting go of worries, concerns, and fears. This is symbolized by walking with the hands palm down in a gesture of release. At the center of the labyrinth the palms are turned up in a gesture of receiving whatever gifts of insight and peace are offered. Leaving the labyrinth, the palms are placed together in a gesture of prayer and thanksgiving as you walk towards the exit.

‘As you start on the Way, the Way appears.’ Rumi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37MPvQWZYEA