Sacred pattern,
Sacred path
In 1991, the Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress, canon pastor at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, attended a workshop at which she was introduced to walking the labyrinth. It was a very powerful experience and led her into a new ministry. The result of her exploring the history of the labyrinth and visiting the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres, France, is that the labyrinth now lives in the nave of Grace Cathedral as well as outdoors on the plaza.
Labyrinths are divine imprints. They are mysterious because we don't really know the origins of their designs. They are different from a maze, because they have one well-defined path that leads into the center and back again. Unlike a maze, there are no tricks, no dead ends, no intersecting paths, no getting lost.
Labyrinths have been known to the human race for over 4,000 years. The oldest for on record is the Cretan Labyrinth, also called the classical seven-circuit labyrinth. They are made of many materials. Some have paths outlined in stone, others are carved into stone. Early Roman-style labyrinths usually were made of mosaic tile. Turf labyrinths, found throughout England, Scandinavia, and Germany, are made from mounds of earth covered with grass.
There are many indirect references to the labyrinth as a spiritual tool. Abbess Hildegard of Bingen defined divinity as "a circle, a wheel, a whole." In The Divine Comedy, Dante uses both the metaphor and the image of the labyrinth. The winding path through Purgatory is a labyrinthine journey.
The labyrinth at Chartres and Grace Cathedral are fashioned after the classical eleven-circuit labyrinth found at Chartres. It is from the tradition of the Knights Templar. Legend says that the design was part of King Solomon's temple and was carried to France by the Templars. This style of labyrinth is also associated with the Freemasons, the guilds that provided the expertise and labor for the building of the Gothic cathedrals throughout Europe.
The Labyrinth at St. John's is an eight circuit labyrinth, The path enters on the East, and will take you to the center and out again if you remain on the path.
Pilgrimage often involves an honest assessment of life. Confronted with the truth of the past and present, pilgrims often feel a desire to change. The concept of making a 180-degree turn is embedded in the Greek word for repentance in the New Testament and in the structure of the labyrinth. Opportunities for practicing the art of changing abound as one moves on the labyrinth. There are twenty-eight u-turns on the way from the threshold to the center and the same number as one moves from the center back to the threshold.
Experiment with embodying prayers of repentance as you turn on the path.
Pilgrims' prayers take a multitude of forms. The content of these prayers is as varied as the complexities of life. Often prayers are short, a word or two expressing the desire of an entire heart. Here are a few examples to help you on your journey.
May my heart and mind become more open.
May my prayers water the soil of this pilgrimage site to that the seeds of hope that others plant here grow and blossom. May it be so!
God, may the gratitude I feel be the origin of much grace for others. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
May I trust the earth below my feet to support me. May I trust the Holy beyond and within me to hold me securely.
Walking the Labyrinth
By walking the path of the labyrinth, we are rediscovering a long-forgotten ritual used as a walking meditation and a spiritual tool. The labyrinth is a tool of meditation that helps us to look with in for the answers we need. It teaches us to recognize the wider pattern of our lives and to work in harmony with each other. The winding path becomes a mirror for our lives: each of us is a a unique spiritual journey with our separate joys, sorrows, twists and turns.
Your meditative walk may be viewed as a three-stage process, The first is moving to the center of the labyrinth, releasing and letting go f the details of your life, bringing quiet to the mind. The second is when you reach the center. This is the place of meditation, illumination and prayer. As you leave the center, you begin the third state - union, which is joining God, your Higher Power or the healing forces at work in the world.
Guidelines
- Maintain silence for your reflection and that of others.
- Take sometime before you walk to clear your mind and become aware of your breathing.
- Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. Walk skip or dance. As you meet other walkers, gently give way to your meeting and passing.
- Be aware of your process and feelings and know that you are sharing this with others. Remember, all things on your walk instruct. Your walk is uniquely yours.
- Take time after your walk to reflect and meditate. Repeat.
If you would like to learn more about our ministry at the Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole or would like to support our programs please contact us at:
St. John's Episcopal Church
170 North Glenwood
P. O. Box 1690
Jackson, WY 83001
info@stjohnsjackson.org
Communion
Wednesday 12:00 at St. John's Chapel
Sunday 8:00 at St John's Chapel
& 10:00 at St John's Church
