Walking the Outdoor
Meditation Labyrinth
Autumn is such a great time to get out doors, experience the wonders of quiet cool mornings and colourful foliage. It is also a good time to engage in personal reflection and spiritual discernment as we observe the changing creation around us. Give yourself the opportunity to do just these things by walking the labyrinth. Here is how:
Got to the entrance, breath deeply and pray that God will bless your journey to the centre. The place where we are held steady in the unconditional love of Christ. Slowly follow the path, winding closer, further away and finally to the centre where you can sit for a moment and feel God’s love for you. When you are ready start your journey back to your life, with the sense that your walk with God will continue back in to your everyday life, and give you peace, new energy, new hope.
Got to the entrance, breath deeply and pray that God will bless your journey to the centre. The place where we are held steady in the unconditional love of Christ. Slowly follow the path, winding closer, further away and finally to the centre where you can sit for a moment and feel God’s love for you. When you are ready start your journey back to your life, with the sense that your walk with God will continue back in to your everyday life, and give you peace, new energy, new hope.
The Winding Way Of The Labyrinth
During the 2008 50th anniversary celebration, Lynda Appleby donated the funds for a meditation labyrinth to be included as a part of the building campaign. Below is some of her labyrinth story:
When I was doing my theological training to become a United Church Diaconal Minister I had the opportunity to walk a labyrinth at a retreat my class went on. The experience was very spiritual and meaningful and it stayed with me a long time. When I was on staff at Westminster United Church I made a labyrinth out of 2 blue tarpaulins and a lot of white masking tape and paint. We used it a few times for women’s retreats and such. I made another one here, after I retired and began to worship here. I remember we used it for a weekend retreat we had here.
A labyrinth is a graphic figure constructed according to a definite rule or pattern. It is usually circular with many paths, or circuits. A single path leads from the entrance to the centre. The path encircles the centre usually 7 or more times. The path has neither dead ends nor turnoffs. You can’t get lost like in a maze!
Labyrinths have been laid out in churches and cathedrals for many centuries. They are used as a path for meditation and were popularly known as the “Way to Jerusalem”. Those who couldn’t afford the grand pilgrimage to Jerusalem walking a labyrinth was used as a substitute, a sort of pilgrimage in miniature. In my research I read that the oldest walking labyrinth is found in Pavia, Italy, likely created in the first half of the eleventh century. Apparently back then the people walked the labyrinth at Easter, remembering the life and teachings of Jesus. When they reached the centre it represented His death. Walking out of the labyrinth the path to new life was imaged.
Many labyrinths are laid out on hospital or specialized rehabilitation properties to enable patients and families to walk the labyrinth, praying for their healing or the healing of their loved. During my diagnosis with breast cancer in 2004 and during my recovery from a mastectomy, radiation treatments and recovery I would have loved to have been able to walk a labyrinth doing a focused meditation as I walked. I would have felt I was more actively participating in my recovery and in my long term survival from breast cancer. During the early planning meetings in 2008, to decide what the congregation might take on as a project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this congregation, I began to dream about building a labyrinth on this church property and offering this sacred space to folks in Mississauga that would perhaps use a labyrinth for their personal needs.
While the patio and garden area were being constructed in the fall of 2008 Susanne Sweatman and I began to look at designs and we chose the classical labyrinth that we have today. It does not have as many turns as many others and I thought it would be easier to pray, or meditate, while you walk, without so many turns. The council agreed to the idea and the contractor that built the beautiful patio area got very excited about being part of this very specialized contract. He shows pictures of it to anyone who wants to see his work I understand!
People do come from the area to walk the labyrinth and it is listed on the Ontario labyrinth website. Early last spring I was tending the garden that I have laid out around the exterior of the labyrinth and 4 young women came walking across the grass. One was obviously very ill. Three of them proceeded to begin to walk the circuits and the 4thwoman quietly told me that her sick friend had a wish to walk a labyrinth and they found ours listed on the labyrinth website. She was very grateful to be able to give her friend her wish!
Some people pray as they walk. Some people just open themselves to hear what God may be saying to them about difficult issues. Others may use the labyrinth walk to simply quiet themselves during a time of busyness. If I am praying for someone I try to envision them walking with me to the centre where Jesus waits for us with His arms open to us. Then I envision healing while we walk out of the centre back to the entrance. As I said in the brochure I once made up, I offer this sacred space for all who may find healing, hope, insight and inspiration there. God will be with you, as you walk the labyrinth.
When I was doing my theological training to become a United Church Diaconal Minister I had the opportunity to walk a labyrinth at a retreat my class went on. The experience was very spiritual and meaningful and it stayed with me a long time. When I was on staff at Westminster United Church I made a labyrinth out of 2 blue tarpaulins and a lot of white masking tape and paint. We used it a few times for women’s retreats and such. I made another one here, after I retired and began to worship here. I remember we used it for a weekend retreat we had here.
A labyrinth is a graphic figure constructed according to a definite rule or pattern. It is usually circular with many paths, or circuits. A single path leads from the entrance to the centre. The path encircles the centre usually 7 or more times. The path has neither dead ends nor turnoffs. You can’t get lost like in a maze!
Labyrinths have been laid out in churches and cathedrals for many centuries. They are used as a path for meditation and were popularly known as the “Way to Jerusalem”. Those who couldn’t afford the grand pilgrimage to Jerusalem walking a labyrinth was used as a substitute, a sort of pilgrimage in miniature. In my research I read that the oldest walking labyrinth is found in Pavia, Italy, likely created in the first half of the eleventh century. Apparently back then the people walked the labyrinth at Easter, remembering the life and teachings of Jesus. When they reached the centre it represented His death. Walking out of the labyrinth the path to new life was imaged.
Many labyrinths are laid out on hospital or specialized rehabilitation properties to enable patients and families to walk the labyrinth, praying for their healing or the healing of their loved. During my diagnosis with breast cancer in 2004 and during my recovery from a mastectomy, radiation treatments and recovery I would have loved to have been able to walk a labyrinth doing a focused meditation as I walked. I would have felt I was more actively participating in my recovery and in my long term survival from breast cancer. During the early planning meetings in 2008, to decide what the congregation might take on as a project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this congregation, I began to dream about building a labyrinth on this church property and offering this sacred space to folks in Mississauga that would perhaps use a labyrinth for their personal needs.
While the patio and garden area were being constructed in the fall of 2008 Susanne Sweatman and I began to look at designs and we chose the classical labyrinth that we have today. It does not have as many turns as many others and I thought it would be easier to pray, or meditate, while you walk, without so many turns. The council agreed to the idea and the contractor that built the beautiful patio area got very excited about being part of this very specialized contract. He shows pictures of it to anyone who wants to see his work I understand!
People do come from the area to walk the labyrinth and it is listed on the Ontario labyrinth website. Early last spring I was tending the garden that I have laid out around the exterior of the labyrinth and 4 young women came walking across the grass. One was obviously very ill. Three of them proceeded to begin to walk the circuits and the 4thwoman quietly told me that her sick friend had a wish to walk a labyrinth and they found ours listed on the labyrinth website. She was very grateful to be able to give her friend her wish!
Some people pray as they walk. Some people just open themselves to hear what God may be saying to them about difficult issues. Others may use the labyrinth walk to simply quiet themselves during a time of busyness. If I am praying for someone I try to envision them walking with me to the centre where Jesus waits for us with His arms open to us. Then I envision healing while we walk out of the centre back to the entrance. As I said in the brochure I once made up, I offer this sacred space for all who may find healing, hope, insight and inspiration there. God will be with you, as you walk the labyrinth.
DESKTOP FINGER LABYRINTH
Keep this labyrinth on your desk. When you are stressed and need to relax,use your finger to slowly trace the path into the center and then out to the entrance. The spiraling path of the labyrinth teaches us to slow down and refocus as we become more centered and balanced on the peace of Christ that is in our midst.