North Bay Woman

46 NORTH BAY WOMAN S P R I N G | S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 Labyrinths enable spiritual journeys Finding your way By Lori Pearce W holeness. Purposeful path. Journey to our center. Prayer or medi- tation tool. Serpentine walk-way. Single fo- cused maze. All are labyrinth descriptions in the spiritual and literal sense. Labyrinths are believed to have originat- ed in Egypt, and for centuries they have shown up in various cultures with meaning in both Eastern and Western philosophies. Whether it be for prayer, to focus on a personal dilemma, or to clear the mind, a labyrinth can be a guide. The traditional labyrinth quest is to enter and walk very slowly while clearing the mind to focus on one thought, goal, intention or problem. The next step is to follow the winding path concentrating on your thought. Ideally you will go deeply inward as you reach the center which is often referred to as the heart. Then, as you unwind, you are entering back into the world with a calmer spirit and more purposeful mind. A lightness is often ex- perienced upon completing the labyrinth. Getting outside to walk a labyrinth is optimal, however a finger labyrinth can Above: A stroll through the lavender labyrinth at Bees N Blooms helps to clear the mind's path toward clarity and light. Below: Peace and power can be gained individually or as a group at the seven-circuit modified Chartres style Geneva Terrace Labyrinth at University of Redlands Marin campus. – Photo courtesy of Bees N Blooms, University of Redlands Marin campus

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