Thoughts  in  Solitude,     • Thomas Merton, 1954 Greek  Legend  

In Greek legend, Daedelus designed a labyrinth for King Minos to hold the Minotaur. Any great warrior who could navigate and slay the Minotaur was to wed Ariadne, the King’s daughter. When Theseus, a young hero of Athens attempted the ‘maze.’ Ariadne gave him a giant ball of string to lead the way out of the labyrinth.

And  what  does  the  Lord  require  of  you  but  to  do  justice,  and  to  

love  kindness,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  your  God.      

•    Micha  6:8  A sacred path…

Labyrinth  

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself; and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

It  is  solved  by  walking.    

      •    St.  Augustine  

The labyrinth is an opportunity to walk and reflect; a spiritual tool for the heart, mind, and soul.

It has a single purposeful path that resembles the indirect path of our lives. It leads to a central, focal point that can be for some a place of understanding, the examination of pain, or even the heart of God.

While it looks like a puzzle and has become synonymous with an unsolvable maze, one cannot get lost in a labyrinth as the path in is also the path out.

How  to  walk…  1. Prepare to walk. Give yourself time, think about your intention for the walk, remove your shoes.

2. Begin your journey. At the entrance, pause, breathe, focus, perhaps the sign of the cross or prayer.

3. Walk the inward path. Choose your own pace, pause when needed. Focus on your steps rather than the center of the labyrinth.

4. Spend time in the center. Stand, sit, kneel…be present to your inmost self.

5. Take the return path. Return on the same path. Focus on what you will take from the center back to your life. Resist the desire to ‘finish’ quickly. All aspects of the journey are important.

6. Reflect on the journey. As you exit, pause and make a gesture of prayer. Give yourself time to journal, meditate, process your experience.

Want  to  walk  more?  The Labyrinth Society at http://labyrinthsociety.org/home has a labyrinth locator to assist in finding a labyrinth around the world. They have labyrinths to download, connections to purchase a labyrinth, and a virtual labyrinth!

Respect the space of others walking: • step to the side for passing, • remain quiet, • allow space between walkers upon entering • remove your shoes

Resources…

What  is  the  labyrinth?  

www.labyrinthlocator.com

www.veritas.com

www.labyrinth-enterprises.com

www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm

www.jillgeoffrion.com

Teach  me  your  ways,  Lord,  

show  me  your  path.    

      •    Psalm  25:4