There are numerous basic approaches to the Labyrinth. As a matter of fact, there are as many different ways to walk the Labyrinth as there are people in the world.
Some suggestions:
- Just walk the Labyrinth aware of God's presence, listening for God's word for you at this point in your life. Let go of all thoughts that present themselves and receive whatever it is that God wants to reveal to you.
- Enter the Labyrinth with a persistent issue that has been uppermost in your mind and heart in recent weeks or months. Ask God to reveal to you light or illumination concerning this burning issue. Ask for wisdom and guidance, not for a "yes" or "no."
- Walk the Labyrinth with a word or phrase repeating it over and over to yourself. Examples: "Come Holy Spirit," or "Guide me Holy One," or "Send your light.."
- Read scripture ... especially a Psalm of your choice.
- Pray your way through the Labyrinth. (Prayers of petition or intercession.)
- Praise your way through the Labyrinth. Thank God for some blessing at each turn of the Labyrinth. Reflect on your own response to God's goodness in your life. How much of my time, money and energy do I give to God?
- Honor a special day. The beginning of a new year, a new decade, a new century, a new millennium; or the anniversary of a special day like a birthday, wedding anniversary, death of a loved one, etc.
These are just a few of the basic approaches to walking the Labyrinth. You will discover others. You might want to walk the Labyrinth with the members of your small group, your Sunday school class, your family, or a few close friends.
This Labyrinth has only one path so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives; it touches our sorrows and releases our joys. So walk it with an open mind and an open heart.
There are three phases of the walk:
Surrender - a releasing, a letting go of the details of your life. This is an act of shedding thoughts and emotions. It quiets and empties the mind.
Illumination - is when you reach the center. Stay there as long as you like. It is a place of meditation and prayer. Receive what is there for you to receive.
Union - Which is to join God and the healing forces at work in the world. Each time you walk the labyrinth you become more empowered to find and do the work you feel your soul reaching for.
Some basic guidelines for this walk: Clear your mind and become aware of your breath. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. You may "pass" people or let others step around you, whichever is easiest at the turns. The path is two-way. Those going in will meet those coming out. Do what feels natural.
Four Medition Gardens
Located on the labyrinth canvass are four meditation gardens representing the seasons of the year and the seasons of our life. The Butterfly Garden symbolized the time of birth or our rebirth as Christians. The butterfly is a traditional symbol of the spiritual rebirth which Christians experience when they confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their life.
The Sculpture Garden depicts the summer of Life. "The Boulder" was envisioned by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and sculptor Richard Bock. This solid, crouching figure of a man symbolized the suppressed and shackled soul straining to break its bonds and find self expression.
The Sundial Garden speaks to the fall of life when we have the greatest capacity to give personally and generously of ourselves and our resources to make a difference in the world while we still have the ability to do so.
The Garden of Lights expresses that wintertime in our life when we look once again to the stars in heaven and imagine our reunion with the God of eternity. The flame is a symbol of His energy and guiding light in our life.