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The Labyrinth was planned and built by Kenilworth
Presbyterian Church. Walking the Labyrinth is an offering to
members, friends and neighbors whenever you feel the need for
spiritual guidance and centering. The Labyrinth is our gift to
you. An opportunity for respite in the midst of a busy life and a busy
city. The Labyrinth is located in front of our building at
the corner of 34th and Gladstone. It is open and available
for you on a 24/7 basis.
A labyrinth is a path of prayer and meditation for all
seeking God. It is an ancient pattern, a path of pilgrimage,
found in many religious traditions in various forms around the
world. The oldest known example dates back five thousand years.
The Labyrinth entered Christian prayer life during the middle
ages, when they were incorporated into cathedrals in Europe. Of
the eighty Gothic cathedrals built in the Middle Ages,
twenty‑two of them had Labyrinths. Now, the only one remaining
in its original form is at Chartres Cathedral in France.
Labyrinths come in many forms. The one at Kenilworth Church
has seven circuits which lead to the center.
Think of a Labyrinth as a way to experience a spiritual
walk. By walking we rediscover a spiritual tradition that is
only now beginning to surface as people seek the Spirit.
Today, people around the world use the Labyrinth to quiet the
mind, find balance, gain insight, encourage meditation, and
experience celebration.
The Rev. Victoria Curtiss has written:
"The labyrinth has only one path, so there are no tricks or
dead ends to it as in a maze. The path winds throughout and
becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. It touches our
sorrows and releases our joys and creativity."
"The labyrinth is a place of presence; allow yourself to be
present to yourself and to God. The labyrinth is a teacher; let
it help you listen to inner wisdom and gain new understandings.
Walk it with an open mind and an open heart."
Each time you walk the labyrinth you may be led
further to discover and do that toward which your soul is
drawn. You may become more empowered to find and do the work
you feel your soul is calling for.
People have experienced a strange sense of
strengthening and clarity.
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I. Releasing (Shedding)
The first stage is the act of releasing thoughts and letting go of
distractions. This is a time to open the mind and quiet the
heart, to put aside the details of life.
II. Receiving (Illumination)
Second, upon reaching the center, you may stay
there as long as you wish. The center is a place of meditation
and prayer, and you may stand or sit. Receive what is there for
you to receive.
III. Returning (Union)
As you leave, follow the same path out from the center
as you used coming in. The third stage is joining with God who
is the healing force at work in the world and in our lives.
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The following material is from the Collegiate Presbyterian Church in Ames, Iowa.
The material was developed by the Rev. Victoria Curtiss for
that congregation's Labyrinth.
There is no "right way." The experience of Labyrinth walking
is different for each person, and it is different at different
times. You will grow and deepen the more you do it.
Quiet your mind and become aware of your breath. Allow
yourself to find a pace your body wants to go. If others are
walking the labyrinth at the same time, please be thoughtful of
them.
The path is two ways: those going in will meet those coming
out. You may "pass" or let others step around you. This is
easiest at the turns. Do what feels natural when you meet.
It is often appropriate to allow some space between you and
other walkers.
If you should lose track of the direction you are going, just
start over again. When you reach the center, you may want to
stand, sit, or kneel, for a period of time.
When you leave the labyrinth you may want to write about or
draw images, words, or feelings that surfaced on your walk.
Otherwise the details sometimes fade from memory, just as the
particulars of a dream.
Walk it with an open mind and an open heart. Explore and
pray with the images or words you receive in this experience.
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