To prepare for your walk, begin by taking a few moments to quiet yourself. You might want to sit in reflection, do some journaling, trace a finger labyrinth, or stroll around the perimeter of the labyrinth until you feel ready to walk it.

Walking the Labyrinth

There is only one entrance/exit and only one path, which will lead you to the center and back out again. Rest assured that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to walk the labyrinth. In fact, there are as many ways to walk the labyrinth as there are people who walk it. However you choose to walk the labyrinth is the “right” way for you, so proceed at your own pace and feel free to pass. The turns are good places to stop for rest or reflection, to pass or be passed.  If you meet someone on the path either coming or going, do what feels natural to allow the other person by.  If you get “lost,” consider your journey a metaphor for your life at this time.  Trust that where you end up—either the center or the entrance—is where you are meant to be. If you end up at the entrance, feel free to walk the labyrinth again. The key to getting the most out of your walk is to remain open to the experience. Suggestions for walking the labyrinth include:

• Simply put one foot in front of the other, allowing the path to guide or lead you. If you are tempted by distractions (e.g., annoying sounds or behaviors of others), consider how they prevent you from remaining focused on your own intention and life path.

• Choose a river stone from the basket at the entrance, and allow it to carry your burdens (yours or those of others) as you walk. Leave the stone in the center as a symbolic way of unburdening yourself.

• Resource yourself with seeds of inspiration, hope, faith, trust, patience, love—whatever you need on the path of life. (These seeds can be beans, nuts, or corn kernals.) Plant the seeds in the center, and see what sprouts in your life. Or take them home as a reminder that you are fully resourced at all times.

• Use a battery-operated tealight or flashlight to illuminate your path. Ask a question (e.g., What is my path in life? What is the wisest choice at this time?) and trust that the path will lead you to the heart of the question. Turn on the light when you are ready to receive the answer and know that it will reveal itself to you with perfect wisdom, order, and timing.

• Wear a scarf or shawl for instant privacy, as a symbol of a burden (a loss, a problem, a health challenge), or the embrace of a loved one. The walk to the center can be a time for releasing whatever is weighing on you; the time in the center for resting and offering up the burden; and the walk out for integrating the gifts of acceptance, release, or healing.

Reflecting on Your Experience

When you are finished walking, take time to sit quietly and reflect on your labyrinth experience. If writing and art materials are available, you may wish to journal or draw to express your experience. Did you explore any thoughts or feelings while you were walking? Did they change as you walked? Was a message, answer, or solution communicated to you? Thank yourself for the gift of self-care you have given yourself. Be aware of your labyrinth experience after you leave and continue on your life path.