Labyrinth

“Solvitur ambulando – It is solved by walking.”

- St. Augustine of Hippo 

Did you ever walk the path of a labyrinth? A labyrinth is a single path, or unicursal tool, for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. It is also thought to enhance right brain activity. Walking a labyrinth can be a way to meditate, pray, or concentrate on the present moment and one's innermost thoughts.
Walking the labyrinth is symbolic of the journey of life. Reaching the center is our goal, but along the journey, there are many twists and turns which lead us forward, and then return us back to the beginning.
Labyrinths can be thought of as symbolic forms of pilgrimage. Various forms have been found throughout the world from the beginnings of civilization, and today they exist in many locations.
To find a labyrinth near to you go to the World Wide Labyrinth Locator.
In the picture above, I am standing in the outdoor labyrinth of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. There is also a labyrinth in the nave inside the cathedral.
Information from the Labyrinth website of Grace Cathedral:

"The Labyrinth is an archetype, a divine imprint, found
in all religious traditions in various forms around the world. By walking a
replica of the Chartres labyrinth, laid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral in
France around 1220, we are rediscovering a long-forgotten mystical tradition
that is insisting to be reborn.
The labyrinth has only one path so there are no
tricks to it and no dead ends. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror
for where we are in our lives. It touches our sorrows and releases our joys.
Walk it with an open mind and an open heart.
There are three stages of the walk:
Purgation (Releasing) ~ A releasing, a letting go of the
details of your life. This is the act of shedding thoughts and distractions. A
time to open the heart and quiet the mind.
Illumination (Receiving) ~ When you reach the center, stay there as
long as you like. It is a place of meditation and prayer. Receive what is there
for you to receive.
Union (Returning) ~ As you leave, following the same path out of the
center as you came in, you enter the third stage, which is joining God, your
Higher Power, or the healing forces at work in the world. Each time you walk the
labyrinth you become more empowered to find and do the work you feel your soul
reaching for.
Guidelines for the walk: Quiet your mind and become aware of your
breath. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. The path is two
ways. Those going in will meet those coming out. You may "pass" people or let
others step around you. Do what feels natural."

Walking, anywhere, is a stress reliever and good for the health. I hope you will take a walk today and enjoy the journey!

"Each step we take creates a cool breeze, refreshing our body and mind. Every step makes a flower bloom under our feet." - Thich Nhat Hahn

John Lennon Memorial Central Park, NYC