The Center for Spiritual Growth has built a labyrinth at our site near Mt. Shasta, Ca. A labyrinth is not a maze, which has many blocked paths. As with all labyrinths, our Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth has one path into the center and one path back to the external world. Older than Christianity, humanity discovered a calming presence when walking it mindfully. More recently, the scientific discovery of the non-local energy field containing all humanity, has brought back this mindful walk. Churches, hospices, war memorial sites and retreats, to name a few, are building labyrinths to bring peace, especially during trauma or crisis.
On the west coast, probably San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral on Knob Hill has both the most elaborate and the most well-known—both an indoor and outdoor labyrinth. People of all faiths, non believers, and business people frequently walk the labyrinth on their lunch hour, moving together in a pattern of wholeness.
I’ve been walking our 45 foot labyrinth almost daily, and have discovered some interesting awarenesses. Staying in the present moment, walking mindfully and noticing what the body does or sees gives me deep peace. Also, as I expand my awareness of “body-walking-path” to include the surrounding trees and sky, I am able to raise my consciousness to one of unconditional love and appreciation for all. I acknowledge the Field, which contains all things.
The morphic Field of the labyrinth envelops me as I leave the outer world and wind my way into the center, Insights frequently appear, which I treasure in my heart. On the path back out to the world, these insights take form in my awareness as beautiful expressions yet to be manifest.
Rev. Eleanor Richard is a minister of Religious Science & the Present Moment. She is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, a Lomi Bodywork practitioner, a certified Natural Vision Instructor, and performs Mt. Shasta weddings. She invites you to visit http://www.AwakePath.com for personal coaching, Science of Mind jewelry, and books of insight.
