Walking a labyrinth

Very seldom do you come upon a space… when you may stop and simply be. Or wonder who, after all, you are.’

                                                                                            Ursula LeGuin

Like the mandala, the labyrinth is a universal spiritual symbol. It is a sacred geometric form which draws on two images: the circle, a universal symbol of wholeness and the spiral, a symbol of growth and change. At first sight, it seems like a form of maze. In reality, however, there is only one path, one which leads you on a circuitous route to the centre and back out again. Consequently, there is no puzzle to be solved in walking a labyrinth. There are no blind alleys or dead ends. There is no fear of taking the wrong path or of failing to find the way out. And so we can enter into our experience of the walk much more fully and attentively.

The origins of the this sacred symbol lie in ancient history. While 'labyrinth' is an ancient Greek word, we have been creating labyrinths in many different cultures and civilisations all over the world for much longer than that. They have been found in rock, stone, turf and hedges, in ceramics, clay tablets and coins, in tiles and mosaics and in paintings and manuscripts. The image of the labyrinth can also be found in virtually every religious tradition in the world. For example, the Tree of Life found in Jewish mysticism is essentially a form of labyrinth as is the Native American Hopi Medicine Wheel. Furthermore, the image of the labyrinth has long been used as a meditation tool in a variety of spiritual traditions.

Walking a labyrinth

‘To step into a labyrinth is a kind of homecoming.’

                                                                                Di Williams

From time immemorial, people from many different spiritual traditions have been walking a labyrinth as a form of spiritual practice. We do this for many reasons. Some of us walk the labyrinth to help us quieten our minds, to develop a sense of inner spaciousness and calm or to find our way to a deeper sense of peace and comfort. Some of us do it to become more attuned to our bodies, to feel more comfortable in our own skin. Some of us are in search of new insights or realisations which enable us to find a way forward in the midst of life's challenges. And some of us are seeking a deeper sense of connectedness with what is most sacred in our lives, with our spiritual self or with the More.

The labyrinth's greatest gift, however, is its ability to draw our attention towards the inner landscape of our being and to bring us home to our soul. The image of the labyrinth is in a sense a metaphor for the journey we all have to make in order to re-connect with our innermost self and to reach a deeper understanding of who we really are. As we wend our way slowly around the spiraling path, there are times when we find ourselves drawing closer to the centre and times when it seems that we are moving further away. It is an experience which is very much like the oft repeated experience of diving deep and re-surfacing that is the soul journey. When we finally reach the centre, we come to a place of rest and stillness, a place of silent waiting, a place where we may listen for the inner voice of our soul and open ourselves up to hear whatever it may be saying to us. And then when it is time, we retrace our steps to return to the world, taking with us whatever gifts we have received along the way.

Some basic guidelines

If you are walking a labyrinth to deepen your connectedness with your innermost self, begin by approaching it with this intention. Before beginning to walk, pause at the entrance for a few minutes. Where possible, you may want to take off your shoes and walk barefoot. Close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply. Bring yourself into the present moment, focusing your awareness on the fact that you are responding to the call of your soul and that you are about to step onto a path that was created to take you where your soul needs you to go.

When you feel ready to set off on your journey, begin walking in silence, slowly and meditatively. Let your breath flow easily in and out and allow your body to find its own natural pace. As you walk, avoid looking too far ahead. You may find it helpful to look at the path as it unfolds beneath you or to focus on your feet as you take each step. Remind yourself that the path is really easy to follow, that not needing to work out where to go leaves you free to pay attention to your inner journey. If you experience thoughts or feelings that distract you from the walk, acknowledge them and then simply let them go, returning your focus to the present moment.

Once you have arrived at the centre of the labyrinth, stay there as long as you feel drawn to. You may want to to sit or kneel down for a while or to close your eyes to help you focus on what is happening within you. Some people find it helpful to take their soul journal with them and to spend a little time journaling while in the centre.

When you feel ready to return, retrace your steps slowly and attentively, maintaining your focus on your inner world as you walk. When you arrive at the exit, pause for a few seconds in order to honour your experience and to become fully conscious of your return to the world.

Finding a labyrinth near you

If you do not know of a labyrinth near you, www.labyrinthlocator.org allows you to search for public labyrinths in your area. Alternatively, you can create your own in a large garden or field or on a beach (free labyrinth patterns are available on-line). Or you can buy a small finger labyrinth which you can 'walk' with your finger. These are also readily available on-line. They come in a variety of forms and are made from many different materials.

©Copyright Kaitlyn Steele 2025

Kaitlyn Steele

www.insearchofsoul.co.uk

kaitlynsteele16@gmail.com