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"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
Little Gidding
From Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot
The labyrinth, found world-wide in many religious traditions, suggests pilgrimage and discovery. In Jungian terms, it is an archetype, a divine imprint.
Take that first step.
Follow the winding path into the center.
Pause, reflect and return bringing out a new-found perspective.
My first labyrinth walk was during a training weekend of the Haden Institute's Dream Group Leadership. I helped lay out the canvas replica of the Chartres Labyrinth for our group to walk between sundown and dawn.
Just before daybreak I returned, this time alone, to experience the labyrinth once more. As I moved slowly into the center, then even more slowly out, I experienced anew my earliest childhood dream, vivid in detail and emotion, and a new understanding of myself – a new awakening – from that very old, formative place within.
I have walked many labyrinths since including Chartres Cathedral in France and Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, the outdoor labyrinths in Santa Fe, NM, Columbia, SC and others.
"In my beginning is my end... East Coker |
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An Alternative to Walking
Twenty-first century multitasking hinders meditation.
Stress complicates contemplation.
We can choose otherwise.
The labyrinth is an option.
Sitting quietly, moving hand, finger, pencil or crayon over a lap-held labyrinth helps to focus attention while calming and centering the mind and body.
Some Labyrinths that I use in my work include:
- Wooden Chartres Rose
- Metal Chartres Rose
- Soapstone Cretin Seven-Circuit
- Ceramic
- Sand Chartres Rose and Cretin Seven-Circuit
- Paper copies of both Chartres Rose and Cretin Seven-Circuit Labyrinth
- Insert printed page in plastic page cover or paste to cardboard:
- Color
- Trace path in with one color and out with a different color
- Cover with sand for tactile sensation
- Paper Labyrinths are
- Versatile
- Very inexpensive
- Portable.
- Draw free-hand using starter points creating a labyrinth anytime, anywhere.
As a Hypnotic Tool
Centering and slowing down, both critical to trance induction, becomes easier for patients when there is both a visual focus and slow coordinated physical movement.
Labyrinth use can be successfully incorporated into interdisciplinary treatment of individuals and groups for:
- Anxiety of any kind
- Chronic pain
- Infertility
- Patients with physical limitations including blindness
- Patients averse to hypnosis or afraid
Thanks for these suggestions from fellow members of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis: Wayne Martin, LISW, BCIAC, Fort Worth, TX, Martin Center for Pain Control; Helen Adrienne, LCSW, BCD, New York City Mind/Body Medicine practitioner; and Susan Dowell, LCSW, New York City, Clinical Hypnosis trainer and practitioner.
Web Resources World-wide organization of interested people and groups -- http://labyrinthsociety.org/ World-wide Labyrinth Project -- http://www.veriditas.net/ Psychotherapy and the Labyrinth articles, plus extensive resources -- http://www.relax4life.com/articles.html Send a greeting card, directions for drawing free-hand and much more -- http://www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm Trace or Dance the Cretin Labyrinth and much, much more -- http://www.labyreims.com On-line Design & Planning Book -- http://www.labyrinth-enterprises.com/planning.pdf How to build your labyrinth -- http://www.geomancy.org/sacred-space/labyrinths/about-labyrinths/construction/index.html Designer & builder portable & permanent meditation spaces -- http://www.labyrinthcompany.com Exhaustive Links Lists -- http://www.labyrinth-enterprises.com/links.html The Labyrinth Resource Centre Photo Library & Archive -- http://www.labyrinthos.net/ Labyrinth Related Books -- http://www.paxworks.com/books.html Labyrinth Blog -- http://joachimbecker.wordpress.com/walking-tips-for-the-labyrinth-in-the-sand/ Many Resources -- http://www.labyrinth-enterprises.com/ Mazes and Labyrinths with link to movies -- http://www.astrolog.org/labyrnth.htm Ceramic Labyrinths (pocket and larger) -- http://www.goldenlightceramics.com/labyrinths.html Labyrinths as path of healing, inspiration and peace, Santa Fe, NM -- http://www.LabyrinthResourceGroup.org Grace Cathedral -- http://www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth/ Indiana Women's Prison Labyrinth
-- http://www.humanityinunity.org/HIUnew/servinghumanity/indianawomensprison-labyrinth/ |