The How and Why of Walking a Labyrinth

by Barbara Z. Kodlubanski

The mystery and mystical aspects of a labyrinth are what make it appealing and yet also daunting to some people. The truth is there is no right or wrong way to walk this meandering path that leads to the center of itself and then back out.

However, the first experience many have using the labyrinth is as a form of meditation or prayer. The slow, rhythmic walking on a unicursal path is conducive to quieting the mind and allowing a person to focus on the moment or get in touch with a higher power. During the middle ages, labyrinths were substitutes for pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Today, Christians may use it as a way to reflect on Christ’s passion.

Some people view the labyrinth as a tool for healing and pain relief, Cassandra Eason noted in her article Labyrinths for Healing that that labyrinth walking induces the brain to produce slower alpha and theta waves, which releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller.

Many times labyrinths are used in rituals to mark an event in a person’s life or as an oracle to provide personal insights. The pattern and the four distinct stages of walking a labyrinth often lend itself to self-analysis. The following is one example of the process of using the labyrinth as an oracle:

  1. Approaching the Labyrinth – Take a moment to relax and focus. It is at this point that you can bring to mind a question. Once you have opened yourself to the experience, step onto the path.
  2. Moving to the Center – As you walk, hold the question in the back of your mind. Pay attention to how you feel and the sights and sounds around you. Consider all your experiences in the labyrinth in relations to your life’s journey.
  3. Being in the Center – It is in the center where you may receive your answer. You can remain there until you receive it or use multiple trips back in and out until it is revealed to you.
  4. Walking Back – Follow the path out that you took to get to the center. During this part of the walk is when you can reflect on how you feel. Pause if you need to and resist the desire to rush out of the labyrinth. The return journey is just as essential as the beginning and middle.

Now that you have an idea of what the experience of walking a labyrinth is like, the next article in the series will offer some suggestions on various public labyrinths around Chicagoland that you can put that knowledge to practice.