This document discusses labyrinths and their use for meditation. It provides background on labyrinths in Greek mythology and their design. A labyrinth contains a single, winding path that leads to the center and back out. Walking a labyrinth slowly is a form of meditation where one focuses on each step and clears the mind. Research has shown that labyrinth walking meditation reduces anxiety and elicits relaxation. Upon reaching the center, one can pause for reflection before returning. Labyrinths can be found in nature or drawn and are open to all as a spiritual exercise.

1. Lesson 5

2.  Would you consider walking to be a
meditative exercise?
 How mindful are you – i.e. How
present and aware are you in your
daily life?
 Are you easily distracted?
 What insights have you
had since starting to meditate?

3.  In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth (Greek
λαβύρινθος labyrinthos) was an elaborate
structure, designed and built by the legendary
artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at
Knossos.
 A labyrinth is a single path or universal tool for
personal, psychological and spiritual
transformation. Labyrinths are thought to
enhance right brain activity.
 You enter a labyrinth through the mouth and
then walk on the paths or circuits. The walls
keep you on the path. The goal is in the centre
of the labyrinth. When you reach it, you have
gone half the distance – you now need to turn
around and walk back out

4.  The terms maze and labyrinth are
often used interchangeably. Many
historians and enthusiasts are passionate about which
is which. If you were to look up the words in a good
dictionary, you might well conclude that a maze is a
labyrinth, and a labyrinth is a maze.
 However, in the English-speaking world it is often
considered that to qualify as a maze, a design must
have choices in the pathway. Obviously, if choice of
route exists, this will include many of the modern
installations in entertainment parks, and tourist
attractions, which exist solely for the purpose of
perplexing visitors, as well as the traditional hedge
mazes in public parks, and private gardens around
the world. A classic example is the famous maze at
Hampton Court.

5.  Meditation is more than just sitting chanting
or focusing on the breath
 You can walk in a focused manner – whereby
you focus entirely on each step and become
totally mindful and present of your action
 It is a total body meditation and is a
wonderful way to bring meditation into your
life – particularly if you can do it outdoors in
nature and benefit from fresh air too!

6.  People walk the labyrinth slowly, as an aid to contemplative
reflection or as a spiritual exercise.
 Regular meditative practice, leads to greater powers of
concentration and a sense of control and efficiency in one's life.
 Labyrinth walking is among the simplest forms of focused walking
meditation, and the demonstrated health benefits, have led
hundreds of hospitals, health care facilities, and spas to install
labyrinths in recent years.
 Research conducted at the Harvard Medical School’s Mind/Body
Medical Institute by Dr. Herbert Benson has found that focused
walking meditations are highly efficient at reducing anxiety, and
eliciting what Dr. Benson calls the ‘relaxation response’.

7.  There is no set ritual for walking a labyrinth, but there are books
and lectures to assist you in performing a labyrinth walk. The
basic advice is to enter the labyrinth slowly, calming and clearing
your mind. This may be done by repeating a prayer, chant, or
mantra.
 Labyrinths, although found in Christian settings, are not
exclusively Christian. Walking the labyrinth is a meditation open
to all.
 Open your senses, and focus on the process of taking slow and
deliberate steps. Bring to mind a prayer or spiritual question to
contemplate during the walk to the centre. Reaching the centre,
pause to reflect, pray, listen for an answer or for deeper
revelation. Now begin the return journey. Pray or reflect further.
Upon exiting, use further reflection, or prayer, to absorb the
experience. When walking a labyrinth as a meditation, each
circuit that you make within the labyrinth, may be assigned
meaning.

8.  Use the template provided in the course
documentation to “finger walk” and mentally
walk the labyrinth.
 Find a Labyrinth near you where you can
walk and meditate.
 Build your own labyrinth using stones or
markers in your garden or outside space –
why not draw one on a beach?

9. Thank you for completing Lesson 5.
Debi Barr is a Reiki Master Teacher who
specialises Reiki Training, Life Coaching,
Crystal Healing & Meditation.
Visit www.rocksnrituals.co.uk for more
information about Debi and the services
she provides.