Why Walk a Labyrinth?
A question with a multitude of answers
Dear Friends,
Happy Imbolc/Candlemas!
We are now cruising toward Spring, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves! :) There are 6 more weeks of Winter available to us, here in the Northern Hemisphere, and we still have some time to continue our practices of self-compassion that this seasonal time of rest and reflection offers to us. I gently encourage you to be kind to yourself. Do not judge yourself if you fail one day to give yourself the time you intended. Take a deep breath, hug yourself, and start over. Notice the good you do each day. Decide for yourself when you’ve done enough and can give yourself time to rest and reflect. Practice pausing in the middle of the busyness, the messiness, and breathe.
Have you ever walked a labyrinth? If so, what gifts did you receive from it?
If you walk labyrinths regularly, why and how do you walk a labyrinth path? What purpose does it hold in your life?
What is your favorite way to spend time on the labyrinth path?
Why Walk a Labyrinth Path?
The labyrinth path welcomes us as we are whenever we walk the path, and whatever we bring with us is the material the labyrinth will help us process. There are no coincidences on this type of meditative meander. Whatever we experience as we walk the path is the medicine we are meant to receive from our walk. This is why journaling and/or creative expression after a walk facilitates integration of our experiences on the path into our psyches, so that it becomes part of who we are moving forward.
You can walk a labyrinth for any reason in the world. The possibilities are endless!
Walk the path to support your:
* Creativity/Creative process
* Decision-making
* Listening to yourself
* Boundaries
* Letting go
* Grief
* Healing
* Reiki practice
* Mental Health
* Navigating a transitional time in your life
* Connection with Earth and other Creatures
* Quest for bringing more Peace to the World
* Community ~ walk together with a group of friends, colleagues, etc.
How do you walk a labyrinth path?
The possibilities are endless here, as well:
* Without any expectations
* Slowly, step by step
* Barefoot
* With inspired movement - freestyle
* Blowing bubbles
* Dancing (with a scarf for extra fun)
* Singing
* Chanting
* Silly walking
My relationship to the labyrinth looks like this:
*I walk every day whether it is the path among trees or a handheld labyrinth meditation tool.
*I often walk accompanied by music if I am walking a handheld labyrinth.
*I walk to quiet my mind and connect with my body. I often touch the
trees when I walk the tree-hugged path. When the weather is warm, I walk the path barefoot.
*I walk to soften life’s impact on my nervous system and to breathe deeply.
*I walk to listen to my intuition, my muse, who speaks softly and invites me into stillness.
*I walk to make space for my Shadow to tell me what needs my attention most.
*At the center of the tree-hugged labyrinth, I use the turtle-shaped rattle on the altar to connect with and thank the 4 directions/elements for their energies and blessings.
*I’ll walk a labyrinth when I am on retreat, if one is available.
*I walk the labyrinth path both in groups and solo.
*I walk labyrinths for my Reiki practice. As part of this, I send love out into the sacred space of the labyrinth, onto the path and into the world. It is part of what I do as a Facilitator of labyrinth walks.
You are invited to share about your own labyrinth walk practice, what you’ve received from it, and how you intend to walk the path as the seasons change.
If you’d like to join in community by participating in a virtual/online group labyrinth walk on a Friday afternoon, visit the Veriditas website and scroll down to “Upcoming Handheld Labyrinth Meditations” to register, and you will receive the Zoom link. This organization also has a presence on Substack.
If you do not yet have a handheld labyrinth to use, here’s a link to a labyrinth path I’ve drawn with Zentangle patterns for you to download, color, and glue onto a firm base, such as cardboard.
May your path be blessed with light and peace!
Love,
Karen XO
Thank you Karen for sharing your passion for the Labyrinth path and for the introduction to hand held labyrinths. I like the sound of the virtual meditations.. 🙏✨
Oh this is inspiring! Greetings from the northern hemisphere as well! 💙🙌