Introduction: How to De-stress – Walk the Labyrinth
In a world where many are running ragged, we all need techniques to slow us down and connect our inner and outer self. One such way to slowdown and de-stress is to walk the labyrinth. Moving through a labyrinth is a form of walking meditation, and your body slows down when you reach a turn on the path. Walking to the centre of a labyrinth is walking to your centre.
“The labyrinth is not a maze. It is uni-cultural. There is one well defined path to the centre and the same path out again. There are no tricks, no dead ends or interesting paths. A maze is designed for you to get lost, a labyrinth is designed to help you find yourself. A maze challenges the choice-making part of ourselves. The labyrinth on the other hand does not engage our thinking minds. It invites our intuitive, pattern-seeking, symbolic mind to come forth.” Karen Marks, July 1, 2001
Walk the Labyrinth: Brief History of the Labyrinth
In Greek Mythology, Daedalus designed and constructed a Labyrinth to hold the Minotaur, a mythical creature that was half man and half bull. The Classic 7-circuit Cretan Labyrinth appeared on coins as early as 430 BC. Labyrinths have appeared as designs on pottery or basketry, as body art, and etched on walls of caves or churches. Today, the three main types of labyrinths that can be found are the Classic 7-circuit Cretan Labyrinth, Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth and Santa Rosa Labyrinth.
Walking the Labyrinth
For people who reside in the United States who want to experience walking a labyrinth, can look at the events calendar for The Labyrinth Society by clicking here. You can also find Labyrinth walks at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco. A simple search on Google allows you to find labyrinths in your area. For those who live in Toronto where I live, there is a labyrinth at High Park, and you can locate a labyrinth in Ontario, Canada by clicking here. I walked the labyrinth that is by the Toronto Eaton Centre, and it was a good experience for me to find my centre.
Finding a real life labyrinth to walk may not be doable for some, but taking a virtual walk can be just as gratifying. Labyrinth Online is a website where you can take a breather, and virtually walk a labyrinth.
World Labyrinth Day will be celebrated on May 7th, 2011. Are you willing to walk to your centre by walking the path of a labyrinth? Have you ever walked a labyrinth, what was your experience?
Image Credit: Wikipedia
