Labyrinth
Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying: “This is the way, walk it.” —Isaiah 30:21
Come, walk on First United’s labyrinth, which is located on our lawn just west of your church house at the corner of Lake Street and Kenilworth Avenue. Come, walk in the presence of the Lord.
A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It is a circle and spiral combined into a meandering but purposeful path..
The labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back out again into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools. It is an archetype with which we can have a direct experience.
We can walk it. It is a metaphor for life’s journey. It is a symbol that creates a sacred space and place and takes us out of our ego to “That Which Is Within.”
The First United Memorial Labyrinth is a seven circuit interpretation of the medieval labyrinths in the great cathedrals of Europe.
The Path is 45 feet diameter and is constructed of paving, stone and crushed granite. Located beside the Memorial Garden of First United Church, the labyrinth offers a quiet retreat from the hurry-up pace of daily life.
The labyrinth is open to all, any day of the year, for quiet meditation and reflection.
People of all ages are invited, including those with disabilities.
Guidelines for the walk:
Quiet your mind and become aware of your breath. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. The path is two ways. Those going in will meet those coming out. You may “pass” people or let others step around you. Do what feels natural.
There is no single “right” way to walk the labyrinth.
Releasing – A releasing, a letting go of the details of your life. This is the act of shedding thoughts and distractions. A time to open the heart and quiet the mind.
Receiving – 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.
Returning – As you leave, following the same path out of the center as you came in, you enter the third state, which is joining God, your Higher Power, or 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.