The Labyrinth is an outdoor experience for silence and prayer. A brochure is available to help assist groups and individuals though their Labyrinth experience. Walking the Labyrinth is free, however, if your group would like an intentional experience facilitators are available to lead an one hour ($25) or two hour ($50) encounter.
What is the Labyrinth?
- The labyrinth is an ancient tool for reflection on one’ life and one’s spiritual journey. The earliest labyrinth still in existence is on the island of Crete, and is believed to have been built around 2500BC. The labyrinth at Hollis is composed of gravel poured on the ground and is believed to have been built around 2000AD.
- The Labyrinth is a pattern, which creates “sacred space”: a mysterious archetype of wholeness. It can be found in almost every religious tradition in the world in some form. Many who walk this sacred space experience healing, clarity, or transformation.
- The pattern of the labyrinth is based on the system of sacred geometry (a lost art which emphasizes proportion, placement and position, determined by a complementary system of numbers, angles and design), which can bring to the human mind and psyche rest, comfort and harmony.
Walking a Sacred Path ...Why walk the Labyrinth?
- The labyrinth is an active way of praying! It uses our whole selves-our minds, our bodies, and our spirits - and invites our imangination and intuition and creativity into prayer!
- The path of the labyrinth imitates the journey of our lives with many twists and turns and returns – and always brings us “home” – to the center of our being, into the heart of God.
- The labyrinth introduces us to the idea or wide and gracious path to God, one that is horizontal instead of vertical, where there is room for error and forgiveness and where we are all walking together.
- Walking this path may bring your peace, comfort, clarity, relief from stress, a sense of closeness to God, new insights and perspective on problems or questions in your life.
- Walking the labyrinth may you a greater sense of connection and community with your fellow travelers, with the Earth and the univers, and with God, the creator, redeemer and sustainer of all.
How to walk the Labyrinth?
- Focus – Pause and wait at the entrance. Become quiet and centered. Give acknowledgement through a bow, nod or other gesture and then enter.
- Mechanics – Walk purposefully, slowing and in silence. Take a step, take a breath. Take a step, take a breath… Just put one foot in front of the other.
- Exit – Turn and face the entrance. Give and acknowledgement of ending, such as “Amen”.
- Reflect – After walking the labyrinth, reflect on your experience. Journaling or drawing may help capture your experience.
- Walk Often.
The three-fold path ...
- Walking in – RELEASE – Allow for letting go, quieting the mind, surrender, opening. Be attentive to whatever may come up for you.
- In Center – ILLUMINATION – Stay in center until you are satisfied. You may stand, kneel, sit, lie down. Be open to receive whatever is there for you: peace, clarity, awakening, insight, guidance.
- Walking Out – UNION – A time for communion, reunion, remembering. Allow yourself to take back into the world whatever experience this labyrinth walk held for you.
Do you want more information?
If you have any questions about these programs or would like to create a program for Hollis please do not hesitate to contact the Hollis staff!
