The Labyrinth - A Tool for Peace and Guidance
The Labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool, used for the purpose of prayer, meditation, reflection, and contemplation. It is a universal image representing the path of Life, and its winding walk in toward the center and out again; a symbolic journey in the form of a walking meditation. Walking the path is a sacred ritual that can provide insights, courage, and understanding in facing life's challenges.
The meander pattern, perhaps the origin for the labyrinth, appeared in Ukraine and Siberia 20,000 BCE. The seven circuit pattern for the labyrinth appeared during the Bronze Age, 4,000 years ago. They appear in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, Indonesia, Australia, Turkey, India, Asia and North & South America. Their meaning is still a mystery. In the past 10 to 15 years there has been a resurgence of labryrinth building in churches, schools, hospitals, retreat centers, corporation, prisons, public squares and parks. Various models appear on paved surfaces, floor cloths, as well as outdoor settings all over the world.
The labyrinth is found in various forms in all traditions around the world and throughout history. The labyrinth is not a maze; there are no tricks to it, and no dead ends. The labyrinth has only one path which leads to the center and out again. If you make a misstep, you will simply end up at the center or at the beginning. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror of the way we live our lives; it touches our sorrows and releases our joy. So walk it with an open heart and mind.
Those who walk the labyrinth find that it helps integrate mind, body and spirit to achieve peace, health and well being. Physicians recommend them to enhance healing, reduce stress and calm the mind to promote problem solving and revitalize the spirit. Recent success in these fields of human experience have been reported from the John Hopkins Medical Center, the Harvard Medical School (see below), the California Pacific Medical Center and other prestigious hospitals in California (Long Beach), Louisiana (Shreveport) and Maryland (Baltimore).
What is a Labyrinth?
A labyrinth is a single path or universal tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. Labyrinths are thought to enhance right brain activity.
The Classical Seven Circuit Labyrinth in the example above, shows that you enter a labyrinth through the mouth at the top and then walk on the paths or circuits. The goal is in the center of the labyrinth. When you reach it, you have gone half the distance - you now need to turn around and walk back out.
These planned geometric paths lead one into as many right hand turns as left hand turns, helping to balance the body. This is said to be especially beneficial to stroke patients and those with high blood pressure. This awakening walk in nature is a walk away from our hurried, crowded lives and can bring peace both interally and externally. It is not one path of belief - but the personal path for anyone who walks it spanning all religious and cultural and belief systems. It can be a gateway to our hearts. In this natural setting we are reminded that the rocks, plants and animals, the air and the person are interrelated energies, thus fostering a deep sense of connection.
Benefits of Labyrinth Walking
Research conducted by Dr. Herbert Benson at Harvard Medical School's Mind/Body Medical Institute has found focused walking meditations are highly efficient at reducing anxiety and eliciting what Dr. Benson calls the 'relaxation response'. This effect has significant long term health benefits, including lower blood pressure and breathing rates, reduced incidents of chronic pain, reduction of insomnia, improved fertility, and many other benefits. Regular meditative practice leads to greater powers of concentration and a sense of control and efficiency in one's life. Labyrinth walking is among the simplest forms of focused walking meditation, and the demonstrated health benefits have led hundreds of hospitals, health care facilities, and spas to install labyrinths in recent years.
Location of the Labyrinth
Our Labyrinth is located in the North East corner of the park adjacent to Mittry Avenue. It may be accessed via the walking path or the closest Portal off Mittry.
The site at the Peace Park will be caressed on the north by a stepped-in seating arrangement into the natural hillside. This staging ground will also be the venue for talks about the natural features; the history of 8 Mile Creek, the sage, rabbit brush and natural habitat that surrounds those who visit this trail. It can become the location for drumming circles as well as a performance area for re-enactment of local Indian history, pioneers, or a place for music and story telling. The prime purpose is to reconnect the individual to the natural world, to the vital streams of energy contained in all nature. A labyrinth walker can be anyone seeking transformation or a reawakening of the spirit, supported within this natural environment.
