Labyrinth Walking
Calming Your Mind through Labyrinth Walking
by Counselor Kathy Brown, MS, NCC
Are you looking for a practical way to reduce stress? Have you ever desired to meditate but find you simply cannot sit still? Do you feel that your prayer practice is a bit stale? Perhaps walking a labyrinth is the answer for you.
As we emerge from over a yearlong pandemic, we may find our lives shifting once again into different normal - one that is neither pandemic driven nor a pre-pandemic carefree style. This situation directs us to address the uneasiness we may be experiencing. A team of researchers at Harvard have found that walking a labyrinth quiets the mind, opens the heart, and grounds the body. (Benson & Klipper. 1975)
A labyrinth, often described as a rosette, provides a walking meditation along a singular, circular path, with only one way into the center and one way out. Think of it as a journey to your own center. Labyrinths can be calming as they slow you down while you wind your way through the path. It is important to note that a labyrinth is not to be confused with a maze, which is a puzzle to be solved. Mazes have twists and turns and blind alleys. Labyrinths, on the other hand, do not require thought engagement. Rather labyrinth walking is a task that is a passive mindset.
Are you now curious how labyrinth walking works? While there are numerous suggestions, I prefer to keep my practice simple. Begin by walking the path slowly inward to calm and clear you mind. Open your senses and focus on the process of deliberate steps. Call on a prayer or a question to contemplate during your walk to the center. Pause at the center to reflect, pray, and listen for a deeper revelation. Return just as slowly and deliberately as entering to absorb the experience. Walking a labyrinth in this way can be a surprising calming and clarifying experience. Even if you don’t have a spiritual proclivity, the slow intentional walking in a quiet place on a set path allows for a level of focus that can provide a respite amid stress.
Although not plentiful, labyrinths can be found in various areas throughout the world. In fact, there are a number right here in the Lancaster region. Simply enter https://labyrinthlocator.com in your search bar. This tool allows you to search by country, city, state, or zip code. The listings include descriptions, directions, hours, and photos. By the way most labyrinths are at churches or universities. Therefore, no cost is involved to access a labyrinth.
If you do not have ready access to travel for a full-size labyrinth, or if you just want a labyrinth practice that is portable and available to you anywhere at any time, you can try a finger labyrinth. Download and print out a finger labyrinth at http://relax4life.com/. Then simply trace the path to the center using your finger rather than your feet.
Whatever your preference labyrinths can serve a purpose for anyone regardless of situation or religious beliefs. If you are still on the fence, find one near you and take a stroll. You just might leave feeling recharged and focused. If nothing else, you’ll have gotten a little peace and quiet.
Benson, H., & Klipper, M. Z. (1975). The relaxation response. New York: Avon.