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Music and Meditation at the Labyrinth | |
Background A labyrinth is a sacred pattern that leads you on a prescribed path to its center and back out again. Although the labyrinth may be new to many people today, its use as a spiritual tool can be traced back to several ancient cultures. The earliest known Christian labyrinth is located in a church in Algeria, with the words “Sancta Eclesia” (holy church) inscribed in its center. As early as A.D. 350 worshipers entering the church would trace the labyrinth with their finger in order to focus their thoughts and open themselves up to the presence of God. 
In the Middle Ages many cathedrals in Europe began to construct larger labyrinths. Christians who could not make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem would instead travel to these cathedrals to walk the labyrinth as a spiritual pilgrimage, symbolizing the journey to the Holy Land. The labyrinth in the floor of the nave at Chartres Cathedral in France is the most well known of the medieval designs and is the pattern used in the canvas replica at Washington National Cathedral. It is composed of eleven circuits and is divided into four quadrants, clearly defined by a cross. The center of the labyrinth is a rose-shaped area for resting, prayer, or meditation. Walking the labyrinth is a way of praying with the body that invites the divine presence into an active conversation with the heart and soul. By engaging in this walking meditation, we are fully engaging our minds, bodies, and spirits at the same time. A Brief Guide to Walking the Labyrinth There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth, since it is an activity that becomes a metaphor for your own spiritual journey in life. Some people walk with the intention to address an issue in their lives, others to pray and meditate. It is helpful to pause before you enter to center your thoughts on your intention. Walk between the lines of the circuit, being aware that you are sharing the labyrinth with others. You may pass other walkers or let them step around you, whichever is easiest. When you reach the center you have entered the most sacred space in the labyrinth. Allow yourself time to contemplate what it means for you to be there; honor this space in your life. The center is a place to pause, reflect and receive insight. Walking the path back out of the labyrinth is a time for deep reflection and a chance to consider what it might mean for your daily living. For many, it is the most fruitful part of the walk. It can lead to action and renewal. Once you have completed your labyrinth walk, you may want to find a quiet place in the nave or Cathedral chapels to sit and reflect. Our hope is that you will leave with renewed vision and a refreshed spirit. If you would like to volunteer for our labyrinth program, please call (202) 537-5246, or e-mail tsimpson@cathedral.org.
You are also invited to attend Evening Prayer or the service of Evensong at 5:30 pm, and the service of Compline (night prayers) at 8:45 pm on Cathedral Crossroads evenings. |
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