The Frederic & Margaret Wallis Labyrinth

This pamphlet will guide you if you are new to the experience of walking the labyrinth.
Other pamphlets cover An Historic Background To Labyrinths and the story of How We Developed Our Labyrinth.

Guidelines For Walking The Labyrinth

Introduction.
A labyrinth is a pathway walked as a pilgrimage of prayer. It has been used as a spiritual tool by Christians over centuries, representing both a metaphor of our journey through life and an archetype or divine imprint which symbolises our unity and wholeness in God.

There is a single path leading into the centre, and you return by the same route. Our labyrinth is a replica of the medieval ll-circuit labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France. The pattern is complex and full of Christian symbolism. As you walk around the circles you will find that the path twists and turns so that you move towards the centre and out again.

The pathway in and out covers a total distance of nearly half a kilometre, and the walk takes an average of 30-45 minutes to complete. This is just a guide, and everyone should feel free to go at their own pace.

People find that the act of intentionally walking the complex path quietens their minds and helps them to be more in touch with their spiritual nature and more aware of the connection between their inner and outer worlds.

The labyrinth provides one of many forms of prayer, and some people will find it more helpful than others. As with any form of prayer, the experience may be rich, fruitful or dramatic, and at other times quiet, simple or dry.

Everyone is welcome to walk the path. Come with an open mind and heart into this sacred place of meeting and communion with God.

The first time you will probably find yourself concentrating more on the lines and patterns of the path than on meditation and prayer. We encourage you to come back again and again. The experience will be different for every person and on every occasion.

Each one of us is unique, and when we walk the labyrinth we bring our particular personality, relationships, history, hopes, joys, sorrows and celebrations to the experience.

Sometimes you may want to walk the labyrinth simply as a way of spending time in God's presence. At other times you might have a passage from the Bible or some other significant words to meditate on, or a particular prayer. Perhaps you have a question or an issue you are trying to resolve, and at other times there may be a person or situation you wish to horde before God.

You may wish to take off your shoes before you begin.

The process of walking the labyrinth can be described in three stages; walking in, centre and walking out. This mirrors the ancient prayer model of purgation, illumination and union.

Walking In (Purgation)
    Pause at the entrance.
    Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply.
    Be mindful of your surroundings. Step out - take it slowly.
    Be present to each moment. There is no hurry.
    If you are new to the labyrinth it might be helpful to look down and focus on the path. Be aware of your body. Use the natural rhythm of your breathing to guide your pace. Allow your mind to empty of the clutter of everyday thoughts and distractions - this is a time for letting go, shedding, confessing and cleansing.

Centre (Illumination)
    The centre is not the goal but part of the experience. Be still. Stay as long as you like. Sit, stand or kneel. It is a place for meditating, waiting, listening. Take your time. Receive what is there for you. It may be insights into your life or clarity about a problem.

Walking Out (Union)
    When you are ready, begin your journey back. As you retrace the path, think over what you have heard or learned. Reflect on insights. Absorb them. How do they speak to your present situation? As you near the end, prepare to leave your time of quiet, to return to the outer world again.

Encountering Other People
There may be other people walking at the same time. If you meet someone on the path, going in the same or opposite direction to you, simply step aside or gently pass each other.

If a person ahead of you is walking more slowly than is comfortable for you, step across to the adjacent path as they reach a turn, and in that way move ahead of them. Try not to step over other lines or you may find you have reversed directions!

You may remain silent as you pass other people, or it might be appropriate to smile, gesture or speak. The way you encounter other people as you walk can be a significant part of your reflection.

Afterwards
Some people find it helpful to write about the experiences afterwards, either in a personal Journal or in our Reflections Book which is kept in the House. We invite you to come and read our Reflections Book and add your comments if you wish. Here are a selection:

"I entered the labyrinth self-consciously, the cold underfoot penetrating my thick woollen socks. I walked slowly, frequently pausing as other people passed close by..... The whole experience left me with an unexpected sense of stillness and affirmation".

"When I came to walk the labyrinth I felt apprehensive, what was it going to be like? As I met and observed other people on the walk I thought that, yes, we are all on a journey and not everyone is at the same place as me".

"The general feeling was that it didn't seem to have anything to do with prayer! Further discussion showed that most had been so concentrating on where they were going and where the path would lead that prayer was the last thing on their minds.................. Many chose to try it again, and this time expressed feelings of an inner calm and peace.................. all agreed that using the labyrinth was a learning process in itself.

Further Ideas
We encourage you to return to the labyrinth again and again, making it part of your prayer life. Some people dance, run, skip or sing, and music can also be helpful, particularly simple and repetitive music such as Baroque or Taize chants. Walk at different times of the day, and at night by candle or moonlight - the area also has floodlighting.

Labyrinth walking is readily incorporated into a wider programme or retreat, or integrated into a time of worship. In the United States a range of projects have been initiated to use labyrinths in hospitals, schools and prisons with encouraging results.

The labyrinth is a metaphor of our walk with God and our journey through life. For those who don't see or think in metaphors it may be a more literal experience, in which case music can be particularly helpful.

The Community at Wallis House would be glad to discuss questions you might have, and to talk further about possibilities and resources we can offer.