Labyrinth pathways to ease

Have you ever walked a labyrinth? Perhaps you’ve done one of those twisty-turny mazes with lots of dead-ends that children love to get lost in. Well, that’s a maze, not a labyrinth.

Photo of labyrinth

Labyrinth in East Hardwick, Vermont

A labyrinth has only one path, so you can’t get lost. It provides a way of walking meditation, taking you into the center, then back out again. You could think of it as simulating the spiritual journey of going into your self, then back out into the world.

Labyrinths have been found in a wide variety of places throughout the world. Many were built centuries ago. The structure or pattern to the labyrinth enables the walker to enter into a quiet space of relaxation and reflection, or to concentrate on an issue for problem solving.

You can walk the path with a simple attitude of empty-minded meditation, or you can pose a question at the beginning of the walk and allow an answer to bubble up from the experience.

As a longtime labyrinth lover, I’ve walked dozens of labyrinths throughout the U.S. and in Canada, and have even designed and built a few myself. I also offer workshops and coaching using the labyrinth as an easeful tool for self-understanding, creativity, meditation and problem solving.

Try finding a labyrinth in your area, then walk it yourself — alone or with a friend. You might be surprised to find one in a nearby public park, wellness center, church or neighbor’s backyard.

The World-wide Labyrinth Locator helps you search for labyrinths of many types all over the world. I always check the Locator before my travels in order to explore labyrinths in diverse places.

For more information, The Labyrinth Society offers educational content about labyrinths to help you learn more.

Whether you’re a newbie or logged a lot of labyrinth miles, please comment and share your own experiences with labyrinths.

To your ease!

Pat Daniel, Ph.D.

© Pat Daniel, Ph.D. and wizardofease.com, 2011.
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