By Nancy Rynes, author of Awakenings from the Light
Article copyright Nancy Rynes
"In every walk with Nature, one receives far more than he seeks." ~John Muir
"Walking is the exact balance between spirit and humility." ~Gary Snyder
Goal: Ease stress with a contemplative walk in a labyrinth.
How Often: It’s up to you.
One August day a few years ago, my lunchtime walk led me to a part of town unfamiliar to me. Strolling along the creek, I passed a churchyard situated on the other side of the road. Since my mind was focused on the path directly in front of me, I didn't notice what the churchyard held until my return trip. On my way back, though, I stopped and stared at the open lot and what it contained: a full-sized labyrinth.
I had never seen a walking-sized labyrinth in person before, only in photos. Someone new to labyrinths might mistake them for mazes, but these are not mazes. What's the difference? A labyrinth holds no dead-ends to frustrate the walker and it's impossible to get lost. One very twisty path leads into the center and one path meanders back out. You simply walk, letting the path guide you back and forth. All you need to do is to place one foot in front of the other.
In the churchyard labyrinth in front of me, large stones defined the twisting path toward the center while crushed limestone gravel formed the surface of its walkways. I was due back soon but the pull of the labyrinth was too strong to resist. I crossed the street and stepped into the churchyard.
I paused at the entrance. Should I go in? Was there time?
The winding path called. I entered.
My first steps were quick and sure but I soon changed the rhythm of my walking. My steps slowed, and as they did, my mind quieted. At first it seemed the path led me directly to my destination in the center, but soon the way twisted and I found myself heading in a completely different direction.
The labyrinth seemed to be a metaphor for life.
At one point, my mind wanted to take over and tried to scan several turns ahead to "figure it out." But I noticed that if I tried to anticipate where the path led my mind became confused and I started to feel a little dizzy. While I could see the center, my brain couldn't get a clear idea of how I would get there given the apparent confusion of the path ahead. Trying to anticipate the twists and turns got in the way of simply focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. I found that the best way for me to proceed was to simply focus on where I was right now and maybe a few steps just ahead of me, then I could let my mind relax and trust that the path would lead me to the center, my destination.
Walking the labyrinth isn't exactly straightforward, at least from the point of view of our logical brains. My mind thought I would neatly finish one quadrant before moving on to the next, but that doesn't happen in a labyrinth. My steps led me into the first quadrant, then I found myself leaving before finishing it, proceeding to the next quadrant for a bit then back to the first. From there, I moved on to the third.
In a way, walking this labyrinth reminded me of life: twists and turns were normal. The path often led me five steps forward, two back, then three ahead again followed by four in a direction I didn't expect.
Finally, my feet stepped into the center and I stopped, realizing that what I thought was my destination was actually just a wide spot in the road. The center simply gave me time and space to pause and reflect before continuing on...back out.
I've heard from others that they have different insights each time they walk the labyrinth, that it's often best to simply go in with a quiet mind and let the insights come.
How To
Find (or make) a walkable labyrinth. Many cities and large towns have at least one walking-sized labyrinth that is available to the public. Many of the ones that I have seen are created by religious or spiritual institutions, but they usually make their labyrinth available to the non-members. But make sure by checking with them first.
If you're a first-timer, enter the labyrinth and slowly walk. Look down, watching where you put your feet and simply paying attention to the path right in front of you. Focus on your feet as they each, in turn, touch the ground. Continue to slowly walk, simply focusing on the now moment of the feeling of your feet touching the ground.
You could also decide to enter the labyrinth with a question on which you need clarity. Ask the question aloud or silently before you start on the path, then enter in a slow walk, focusing again on the "now" moment of your feet on the path. Answers or clarity may come as you walk the twisting path.
If you decide to walk a labyrinth, try it several times before deciding if it's right for you.
As always, take care and many blessings to you,
Nancy
Archive: Past Newsletter Issues
TODAY Show: Nancy's Interview on NBC TV's TODAY
Messages of Hope with Suzanne Giesemann: Exploring NDEs with Nancy Rynes
Article: Seven Lessons That Dying Taught Me About Truly Living (Aspire Magazine)
Article: Lives Changed by NDEs (Boulder Daily Camera)
Article: Awakening to Life(Pages 6-10, Journal of Exceptional Experiences and Psychology, Summer 2016)
Article: The Meaning of Life (Excellence Reporter)
Simply Peace Part 1
Simply Peace Part 2
Downloadable, Audio-only versions of the webinar are available on my SoundCloud site: https://soundcloud.com/nancy-rynes
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