photo by Barclay McMillan
Guided Labyrinth Meditation
(The first Friday of the month at 7:00 in Lindsay Hall.)
Though the
meditation is normally held on the first Friday of the month,
September's meditation will be held on,
Friday, September 10th at 7:00 p.m.
The seven circuit Petite Chartres Labyrinth at St Luke’s.
The classical seven circuit
The Chartres cathedral eleven circuit labyrinth
About the labyrinth
The labyrinth is a pattern of lines laid in concentric circles, called circuits, making up a single path going back and forth all the way to the centre and back out the same way. Unlike a maze, there are no wrong turns, and it is not a puzzle!
There are several different forms. The earliest were scribed in rock thousands of years ago and developed into the Classical seven circuit pattern, seen all over the world in many different cultures. This evolved into the more complex eleven circuit design, first installed in the floor at Chartres Cathedral in France in the 12th century. Church records suggest that the cathedral labyrinths served as pilgrimage sites, when travelling to the Holy Land became too dangerous. After falling into disuse in the 18th century, labyrinths were rediscovered in the past twenty years, when our society began to appreciate the wisdom to be found in ancient knowledge.
Labyrinths are valued for the gentle way that walking them (or tracing out the path in a little “finger labyrinth”) restores calmness and balance to human consciousness. Labyrinths are being installed in hospitals, schools, parks, retreat centres, and churches all around the world, as a way to reduce the toll that our stressed and hurried modern culture is taking on us.
About St Luke’s Labyrinth
St Luke’s is one of the few permanent indoor labyrinths in the Ottawa region. We share this beautiful space by hosting public guided labyrinth walks from 7 to 9 p.m., the first Friday of the month, from September through June. A trained facilitator is on hand to open the event with an introduction to intentional labyrinth practice, to answer any questions, and to “hold the space” with inner prayer and focus, so that all participants can concentrate on their inner journey. No previous experience is necessary! Tea and fellowship follow the walk. A free will offering of $5-10 is suggested.
Click on EVENTS / Ongoing events
Please come in by the Somerset Street doors, and follow the signs downstairs to Lindsay Hall.
Groups who wish to arrange for a guided walk at other times are welcome to call the office at St Luke’s to arrange for a facilitator. (613) 235-3416
The Labyrinth is a kind of walking meditation
Like all forms of meditation, it provides many things:
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a quiet place to pray
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an opportunity to experience a sense of calm and solace
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a way to evoke insight and intuition
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a place to free the imagination to assist in creative problem-solving
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a sense of connection to others
The labyrinth is best experienced in an unhurried, contemplative approach. Collect yourself before you step in, by taking a few deep breaths and composing your thoughts to be present and to welcome whatever arises. Some people prefer to go in with a specific question, a request for guidance about a situation, a prayer or sacred “centering” word. The most important thing is to find and honour your own pace, and to attend to your breathing.
About the pattern
At St Luke’s we have a new form of the seven circuit labyrinth, designed by the American labyrinth builder and sacred geometer Robert Ferré, called the Petite Chartres. It includes elements characteristic of the original 12th century eleven circuit Chartres cathedral pattern. The path has been designed to move back and forth among the four quadrants of the circle, turning at the hour glass shaped dividers, called labryses, which give the labyrinth the Christian cross shape superimposed on the circuits. Moving between quadrants adds to the experience by providing an opportunity to focus on the path and become more aware of the centre during the walk. The Chartres-type design has the central six petal rosette, with each petal associated with a different realm or “kingdom.” Around the outside is a ring of “lunations”, which served as a form of calendar in the original design, and adds visually to the sense of sacred space. Many people enjoy walking around the lunations before or after going into the labyrinth, to extend the feeling of being on a pilgrimage.
Links
There is a wealth of information about every aspect of labyrinths, and their locations around the world.
Here are a few.
Vanessa Compton's site: http://www.labyrinthed.com
· Robert Ferré’s site: http://www.labyrinth-enterprises.com/
· The Labyrinth Society: http://www.labyrinthsociety.org/
· The Toronto Labyrinth Network has a locator for labyrinths and facilitators: http://www.labyrinthnetwork.ca/