LABYRINTH - THE INNER TIME OUT

By: Cynthia Litman


Pearl of the Day: Winding Inward

Sometimes when you feel lost you need to follow this age old Buddhist pearl and “circle back to center.”

When we set off on our yellow brick roads in life, we can never be certain that we’ll find the answers we seek, actually reach Oz, meet the Wizard or find our way home. Yet we take it step by step and perhaps the path will lead you into an entirely new direction.

On a recent adventure with my dear friend, Macha, who is spiritual activist, she introduced me to a new retreat replete with walking trails, streams and a labyrinth. A retreat, it is aptly called.

I opted for the Labyrinth. Unlike a maze which you can opt for choices and make turns and has dead ends, the Labyrinth is one winding pathway to the center and out.

We stood at the start and Macha said for me to close my eyes and set my intention or ask a question to which I seek an answer. I would work my way through the many levels of the question and myself so by the time I reach the center I’d gain clarity. She affirmed that all of my guides were present and this was in fact their resident address.

Intention, question, intention, question, oy, too much pressure for what do I ask this day, is there a wrong question, did I have to choose just one, I have millions. Alas that first step is indeed the hardest.

Somewhere between the pendulums of my mind, I felt the comfort of my friend, trusted the hand of my spirit guides and I took a breath, released and put my “best” foot forward. I looked ahead at the seemingly endless winding path.

I was curious how the Labyrinth charted its course to the center and then back out again to an exit parallel to the beginning.  I'm not sure if I would’ve set it up the same way. My mind was busy redesigning the stepping stones and I pictured the many different ways one could walk the Labyrinth.

Right on cue, Macha’s daughter toddled her way over and straight on up the middle to the center of the Labyrinth. She then began playing with the pebbles that bordered the path, laughing and smiling. Only a child can chart such a simple course straight to the center.

The rest of us it seems must follow the path that is laid in stone before us. I winded around and finding my footing. My thoughts were coming and going and coming again. My mind was more on a meditation run than a mind walk. I breathed deeply, tried to let go and pressed on one foot in front of the other.

No doubt, I need quite a few turns around the Labyrinth. I think I only cleared about 1/1000000000 of my thoughts. Yet I did feel deeply entranced by the process and it was a most beautiful day.

So much of my time and energy during the day is focused on managing my external world (e.g. family, house, work, social, etc.) that I just need a respite. A walk is always a good antidote.  In the morning, I take my usual walk around the block - it's a clear path out my door, round the block, up the hill and down again. Sometimes I get real crazy and vary it by heading a different direction or  up to the water. It is one of my time outs where I journey inward (plus the hill is good for my butt).

If there’s no wrong way to center, why does it seem so difficult to get there?

A few weeks later I took my daughter to the Labyrinth. She was excited to be in a new setting and I was excited to share this spiritual adventure with her. I asked her to set an intention and she quizzingly looked at me and I said, “ask a question honey.” To which she asked “why?” Perfect question.

My daughter’s super spiritual.

It’s amazing how much easier it was for me to step into the Labyrinth this second time around. This time I just wanted to enjoy the experience with my daughter. It's amazing how easy it is when you go forth and not focus on yourself.


Sure we only got around the outer edge before she had to go potty and we had to leave but I realized that guiding your children on a path prepares them for whatever comes into their space. Whether they jump off of it, zig-zag or start at the end and circle out to the beginning, we just have to watch and see while we walk our own unique path. All the while we must mind our own steps, intentions and our pathway to center.

Each pathway you take leads you deeper into yourself and through your mind.

So on your next time out excursion, make like Dorothy Gale, and take a journey inward and see just how magical and colorful your world is.

Copyright © 2010 Cynthia Litman d/b/a Tigris Imprints. All Rights Reserved.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

About Labyrinths: visit these websites:
The Labyrinth Society (people who walk, build, write about and study labyrinths) (http://www.labyrinthsociety.org/)
http://www.sacredwalk.com
http://www.angelfire.com

Macha, Macha, Macha - Want to get to know Macha? Visit www.spiritualmakeoverartist.com and Visit Gabrielle Bernstein’s website http://www.herfuture.com