Guidelines for Walking the Labyrinth

We invite you to walk the labyrinth with an open mind and an open heart. There is no right or wrong way to walk. Simply enter and follow the path, and watch where it leads you. Open yourself to the experience with gracious attention.

Walk with your eyes downward.
Allow some space between you and the person in front of you.
Step to the side to let people pass.

Suggestions

Focus:
Pause and wait for a moment at the entrance. Become quiet and centered. Let your breathing calm and deepen. Give acknowledgment through a bow, nod, or other gesture, and then enter.

Experience:
Walk purposefully. Go at your own pace. Observe the process. When you reach the center, stay there and focus several moments. Leave the center when it seems appropriate, and be attentive on the way out.

Exit:
Turn and face the entrance. Give an acknowledgment of ending, such as “amen” or a nod or bow.

Reflect:
Take time after your walk to reflect on your experience. You may want to write down your thoughts in a journal or draw a picture.

Stages of the Walk

You may find that your meditative walk has three stages:

Going In – Entering, releasing: You move to the center, releasing details and concerns of your daily life, and bringing quiet to your mind. Focus on your breathing. Simply place one foot in front of the other.
At the Center – Illumination, receiving: Reaching the center, you experience insight, clarity, focus. The center is a place of meditation, prayer, illumination, inspiration, comfort. Stay as long as you need to. Listen.
Going Out – Union, integration: On the journey outward, you leave the center and return to your life, with new insights and healing that are empowering, grounding.