Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church is committed to helping people grow in their faith and develop a closer relationship with God. Our contemplative life ministry offers many ways in which to foster an awareness of God’s presence and action within, one of which is the Saint Barnabas Labyrinth.
By freeing the mind and offering insight through meditation, the Labyrinth walk can be a spiritual tool of transformation. It can foster healing, be a source of solace in grief, guide people in the midst of life transitions, and illumine one’s life purpose. An ancient spiritual practice, people of all faiths who long to re-connect to their faith and open themselves to God’s presence choose to walk labyrinths.
The entrance of the labyrinth can be a place to pause, ponder, and ask for guidance. The walk toward the center twists and turns back on itself many times (as does our path in life). This part of the walk can be a “letting go” of life’s troubles and distractions, an opening to God’s presence, and a welcoming of the gift of the present moment. Arrival at the center can be a time of prayer/meditation, accepting God’s guidance, and receiving the divine into our lives. The walk out of the labyrinth takes us back into our daily lives, newly empowered with the calmness of God’s presence.
Unlike a maze where you lose your way, the labyrinth is a spiritual tool that can help you find your way. The Saint Barnabas Labyrinth is a place for people to enter into this sacred walk not merely once but to use it as part of an enduring spiritual practice.
Walking the Labyrinth
Remember, Release, Receive and Return.
REMEMBER. At the Threshold of the Labyrinth Take time to offer gratitude. You are invited to count your blessings and be thankful for people who support you and places that nourish you. You may choose to focus on a prayer or intention. If there’s a specific situation challenging you, bring it to mind and form a healing question if possible.
RELEASE. Entering the Labyrinth This is the time to quiet the mind, let go of the mental chatter and release your burdens. Open your heart to feel whatever it might feel. You may want to connect with your breath or your footsteps. Relax and move at your own pace. If you meet someone on the path, do what feels natural. You may move ahead of others and they may pass you by. Follow your intuition and experience your experience.
RECEIVE. Pausing in the Center This is a place of reflection. Pause and stay for as long as you like. Open yourself to your higher power. Listen to that still, small inner voice. In the safety of the labyrinth have a heart-to-heart talk with yourself and your God.
RETURN. Outward through the Labyrinth When you are ready, retrace your steps. On the return journey, the integration of your experience happens. You may feel a sense of well-being, healing, excitement, calm, or peace. You may also reclaim, restore, and renew some aspect of your life.
Each labyrinth experience is different. You may remember, release, receive, and return anywhere and in any order on the labyrinth. You may not notice anything or have an insightful, transformative journey. Whatever occurs, listen to your heart and take your time. See what happens on a different day or at another location. The above description is only a small sketch. You provide the bigger picture.
A Guide for Beginners
Our lives are a sacred journey. We are not always sure where we are going. There is beauty and grace. There is grief, sorrow, and trouble.
The labyrinth is a way to tap into some voices that come from deep within. Not that we are going to figure everything out – but that we give ourselves time to ponder. There is no one correct way to walk the labyrinth.
You start at the entrance and follow the path to its center. Go at your own pace – it’s ok to pass others and do what feels natural when you meet someone on the path. There are many ways to explore the labyrinth journey.
Once in the center, take some time to see where you are along the path of life. Maybe the Spirit of God will deeply touch you, but you must give yourself a bit of time to listen.
After you have listened, make your way back the same way you came in. The labyrinth is a reminder that though we may be in different places in our lives, we walk a shared path.
(Adapted from Redemptorist Renewal Center, Tucson, AZ)