WALKING THE PATH OF THE SOUL: The Healing Labyrinth
by Christine McCullough  

On this beautiful Summer Solstice evening, thirty very different individuals have gathered to mindfully walk an ancient pathway. They are joined only by their curiosity; many have never participated in a “walk” before. Some have walked but not in a facilitated experience.

The gentle strands of Jennifer Berenson’s Returning hauntingly play in the background.  Candles glow ephemerally in the drawing dusk. To the observer holding the space on the outside of the circle, the walkers seem to be engaged in a type of  cosmic “dance”; meeting, passing, going in different directions, at times on parallel paths as they move rhythmically towards the heart of the labyrinth. The Labyrinth experience is powerful because it mirrors the dance of life we all experience. We set our goals or intentions and, as we move towards them, it may seem that they are sometimes unattainable and sometimes deliciously close. We have to persevere. We meet others on the path, coming or going. How do we interact with them?  The Labyrinth is both a private act and a communal event. When participants complete a walk they describe their experiences as feeling connected, gaining flashes of insight and clarity, and finally “feeling I can feel again.”.        

For each of us the search is different. Some seek the healing of the body, a release from physical pain or at least an understanding of the why of it. Others seek a release from emotional trauma including abuse, the pain of abandonment, anger, and fear. There are those on the path of forgiveness, for themselves or towards others. There are those on the path of prayer for others or for the world. There are many reasons to walk the sacred path. What is the magic that binds these souls together on this path? How does the labyrinth work to open hearts, minds and souls?   One line of exploration takes us deep into our collective past. The Labyrinth form in its most simple manifestation is reflected in our organic surroundings. The curves of the nautilus shell or the simple spiral of a fiddlehead fern, the gentle curve of the ear and more complex pattern of our brains all reflect the turning labyrinthian path. A more scientific exploration leads us through the various frequencies of our brain as it cycles through stages of awareness.

The Labyrinth is an ancient pattern which seems to have arisen spontaneously the world over during the cultural shift from hunter/gatherer society to agriculturalist society. Interestingly, we can trace the beginnings of this pattern back through time, to inscribed meander patterns which are found on many artifacts that represent the Great Mother or Goddess. The association  of the Labyrinth symbol to the symbol for water, the sacred feminine and a concept of a peace- oriented matrilineal societies are concepts put forth by such noted archeologists such as Maria Gimbutus. You may be most familiar with the term “labyrinth” as describing the underground lair of the Minotaur, a bull headed beast slain by the ancient Greek hero, Theseus.

Through the passage of time, one can find the form represented on coins in Crete, as decorations on pottery in ancient Italy, woven into baskets by the Hopi and as illustrative carvings in India, to name just a few of its appearances. Eventually the pattern evolved into the complex eleven circuit labyrinth  pattern found on the floor of Chatres Cathedral in France during the Middle Ages. Chatres was part of a complex of great churches erected during the Middle ages and dedicated to the Great Mother, Mary, all of which had labyrinths inlaid in their floors or inscribed on their walls. During the Middle Ages, pilgrims flocked to these churches to walk the path on their knees as part of a symbolic journey to Jerusalem.

Interest in the labyrinth and its use for healing began in the early 1990’s when the Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress, from San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, began leading pilgrimages to these sacred sites in order to explore the healing powers of the Labyrinth form.  It is now beginning to make its revival in hospitals, churches, hospices, schools and other places of healing. The Labyrinth can be used for team building and focus in corporations, to promote non-violence in schools, to assist in healing when used by therapists, and as a way of connecting to Spirit.

The Labyrinth is a simple unicursal walk towards a center of stillness. One travels a winding path drawn on a floor or on Mother Earth, in and back again.  Unlike a maze, which is a puzzle meant to confound and challenge the individual for fun, the labyrinthian path has only one way in and one way out…you can never get lost. The journey itself becomes a living metaphor representing all the paths towards healing and wholeness: physical, emotional and spiritual.

From a scientific standpoint, walking the Labyrinth seems to invoke brain synchrony--a balance between the right and left hemispheres of the brain (the intuitive and logical sides respectively). As one walks the Labyrinth, the brain cycles from Beta to Theta states, moving from calm into a type of trance that allows participation in a deep sense of stillness and centeredness, where clarity, peace and insight is accessible. In order to heal fully, to begin a process of personal meaning, one must embody each experience.

Walks can have different themes or intents, held singly or communally, dedicated to celebrate Earth changes or personal growth. The Labyrinth has made its resurgence during a difficult time in our history. Perhaps its re-emergence has been offered as a guide for human beings to reconnect to the Universal Source and assist us in our next stage of Spiritual evolution.

As The Labyrinth Ladies, my colleague, Vici Williams, and myself, have led numerous labyrinth walks since 1992, offering teachings on the historical background of the form, how to build it, and guiding seekers through exploring their needs and intentions. Because of the Labyrinth’s innate power to reveal emotional experiences to the seeker, we offer support by guiding the process before and after an event. The Labyrinth offers a powerful process for integration, healing and awareness. It is a creative process which moves the individual to explore their own personal soul map and can become a bridge to greater awareness.

Christine McCullough, an integrative holistic counselor, certified expressive arts therapist, certified body-talk practitioner, and labyrinth facilitator is at Essential Healing in Middletown, Rhode Island. www.thelabyrinthladies.com  and www.thehealnetwork.com

First appeared in the Feb/Mar 07 issue of aspire…Magazine.