The Spiritual Practice of the Labyrinth
The labyrinth at Lynn Valley United Church is the North Shore's only indoor labyrinth. It is open to the public for individual or small group use during office hours (typically Monday to Thursday). Arrangements for facilitated group sessions can be scheduled at a mutually convenient time.
"Sacred Music on the Labyrinth" is a live music session offered from 2-3pm on the second Wednesday of each month (September to June), featuring traditional and contemporary hymns and praise songs. All are welcome to walk, or to sit and listen, basking in familiar tunes that invoke a collective memory of written prayers set to music.
The labyrinth is also open on Spiritual Practice Mondays 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (except when closed for holidays).
Should the sanctuary(where the labyrinth is located) be booked for an event, group or program, the Sacred Space is a separate intentional area for individual/ small group prayer, meditation and reflection and is open during church office hours. A variety of finger labyrinths are available if you need.
At this time it is requested that shoes, slippers or socks be worn at all times within the building, and on the labyrinth specifically.
So What is a Labyrinth?
Unlike a maze, which has paths that lead to dead-ends and are designed to trick and trap or have participants lose their way, a labyrinth has a single, meandering path leading to a center point. Every ancient culture around the globe designed some sort of labyrinth, which over the several thousands of years since, have been and continue to be used as a tool for meditation, ritual, ceremony, entertainment or connection to the natural world. Growing research shows that labyrinths contribute to personal, psychological, and spiritual insight and transformation due to how it engages the whole brain, sparking synapses in both the hemispheres of the brain with each change in direction, while physically moving forward sparks introspection and self reflection. Labyrinths also evoke connection to ancient cultural practice, personal and spiritual pilgrimage, mindfulness while expressing metaphor, sacred geometry, spirituality, artistry, innate and divine wisdom and community building.
How to Use a Labyrinth
There is no "right or wrong way” to use a labyrinth. Mostly it is a metaphor for life - giving a physical structure to support one's symbolic journey of self discovery or connection to innate wisdom or divine energy Whether walking or using a finger labyrinth, it usually begins by setting an intention (an inquiry or request for connection, wisdom, release, clarity, compassion, joy, etc…). Take a deep, cleansing breath and step onto the path, traveling at whatever pace feels comfortable and if desired, restate the intention throughout the walk- as often as every turn for some. In the center, spend as much time as feels appropriate and walk out of the labyrinth along the same path. At the exit, stop to acknowledge the completion of the experience, perhaps with another deep, cleasing breath. There are times when one may feel like dancing, some may get lost or feel disoriented, there may be times when unexpected emotions emerge. The labyrinth is simply a framework for intentional communication between concious and subconsious thinking.
Online Resources for Home Labyrinth Exploration
The Labyrinth Society https://labyrinthsociety.org/
How to Draw a “Classical Labyrinth” https://art.tfl.gov.uk/labyrinth/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Worksheet_How-to-draw-a-labyrinth.pdf
11-Circuit Chartres Labyrinth https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Labyrinthus.svg
If you have any questions, please contact the Church office at office@lynnvalleychurch.com