It's Simple, Really!

OK, But What Is It?

It’s been a busy three weeks for me, having been out of town for two of them. While both trips were business-related, I always manage to get in a few moments of just flat-out fun.

That was especially true this past week, when I attended a week long class in labyrinth facilitation, design and building. New to labyrinths? Not sure what one is? More on that later.

So back to my week. The training took place at the Earthrise campus in Petaluma, home of the Institute of Noetic Sciences.  I arrived Thursday afternoon, a few hours before the training was to begin. I had arranged to meet with Philip Helmich of the Shift Network, an organization that is focused on bridging inner peace with international peace. I had met Philip at a Rotary conference and found out his office was on the grounds of Earthrise (how’s that for synchronicity). Philip and I spent about an hour and half together, while I picked his brain on how I could do my part to help promote a more peaceful world. It was an insightful time spent with Philip and brought many things to clarity for me. He sent me on my way with a small vile of water from the Ganges River that he brought back from one of his many trips to India.

Yoga on the Labyrinth at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

The facilitator training was through Veriditas, an organization dedicated to inspiring personal and planetary change and renewal through the labyrinth experience. My Training began that evening and was taught by the Reverend Dr. Lauren Artress, who is widely regarded as the person responsible for the modern labyrinth movement. Dr. Artress is a priest of the Episcopal Church, and her home parish is Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. After walking the medieval labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France (built around 1220), she felt compelled to build a replica in Grace Cathedral. Grace is now home to two labyrinths, one inside and one outside. Both are used regularly and it’s not unusual to see a long line of those waiting to experience the labyrinth, especially for their Friday peace walks and monthly special programs. Dr. Artress is an amazing, warm, humorous, compelling facilitator, and I felt honored to receive the training from her.

After quick introductions we enjoyed dinner at the campus dining hall. I can’t say enough about the food there and they were happy to cater to my vegan request – I wasn’t the only one in the group. It quickly became apparent that this class I was a part of, this group of people, had a special energy all it’s own and as the week went on that energy grew.

Labyrinth at
Chartres Cathedral in France

But this week was about learning labyrinths. So, what is a labyrinth? At first glance, many might compare it to a maze, but while a maze is designed to get you lost, it can be said that a labyrinth helps you to find yourself. Most labyrinths have only one way in to a center area and one way back out again, and regardless of the design, much like life, if you stay on the path you can’t get lost. The labyrinth has been around for thousands of years, has been a part of all cultures and has even been found in the form of ancient cave drawings.

Labyrinths are a tool to facilitate walking meditation. It quiets the mind, opens the heart and grounds the body. Just as in mindfulness meditation, there is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth. Each person will have a different experience on the labyrinth, and each person will have a different experience each time they walk it. The fact that you can’t get lost on it allows you to let go. Generally speaking, there are three stages to the walk, known as the three “R’s” – Release as you enter, Receive in the center, and Return back out again. All that you experience on your walk can be viewed metaphorically, and that was certainly true in my case. Do you feel like you’re lost? Did you stumble? Are you anxious to get to the center? Do you walk it fast or slow?

By the end of the fourth day my head was full of the possibilities for using the labyrinth in my own practice as well as bringing it to others. Then we switched gears.

Master Labyrinth Guy,
Richard Feather Anderson

Some of our group left after the facilitator training (those first four days), and new people joined for the three day design and construction training and I could feel a definite shift in energy. Our teacher was Lars Howlett, an experienced and well-respected labyrinth designer and builder, and he was joined by special guest Richard Feather Anderson, a master labyrinth builder who has been involved with labyrinths since the 1970s.

We began by going over some of the symbolism surrounding the labyrinth, including sacred geometry - the Seed of Life and the Golden Spiral. Through the next three days, we covered different types of labyrinths – from 3 up to 11 (and more) circuits, Medieval, Classical, Turf, Radial … you get the idea. And then there’s the different shapes – round, square, those with bastions, special shapes and those that just sort of meander. Whew, my head was spinning!

After learning to draw labyrinths, as well as learning different techniques to lay out and build them, the time came for us to build our own 11 circuit Medieval, Chartres-style labyrinth as a team. From choosing the space under a majestic oak tree to placing the lines, we made it our own with very little help from Lars or Richard.

We did this!

The week ended with a ceremonial labyrinth walk, including a beautiful cello accompaniment from one of the class members. What an amazing week it was, from the time I arrived, to the final walk, and I am proud to call myself a Veriditas-trained Labyrinth Facilitator.

What in your life is calling you,

when all the noise is silenced,

the meetings adjourned,

the lists laid aside,

and the wild iris blooms by itself

in the dark forest,

what still pulls on your soul?

~ Rumi