Inside The Labyrinth

 Wow!!... This was a whole experience. A lesson… but first, a story. I had an assignment back in the summer of 2020 to visit a labyrinth and mindfully complete a labyrinth walk. And here is what happened...

Before I begin, I just want to state that I began this day feeling somewhat heavy in my spirit. The state of the nation, the state of the world, this COVID19 pandemic, missing my family… all seemed to be weighing me down a little.

I chose a 25 mile radius from my home on Labyrinth Locator. Although there were a couple of outdoor locations in the city, close to my home, I chose a location in beautiful Bay Village, Ohio. I arrive at the church whose grounds were adjacent to a large field and walking path belonging to a school. I set out to find the Labyrinth, uncertain of where to go, as the instructions from the website seemed to not agree with what I was seeing. A grounds keeper of the field was nice enough to steer me in the right direction. As I approached a whiteboard posted off to one side of the field, I could clearly see the message on the board that read… ‘BLM is a hate group.’ Lovely, I thought, facetiously. I continued to the church parking lot but found no labyrinth anywhere on the property.

I went back to my car and searched for another location on the website. I chose a location in beautiful Avon Lake, Ohio; about ten minutes further out of town. I arrived at the church just in time to meet up with a church worker, also arriving. I explained to her my assignment and mission and asked permission to walk their labyrinth. She apologized profusely, while telling me that their back woody area was a mess. Due to COVID19 and bad weather, no one had been on the grounds to upkeep the nature walk and outdoor labyrinth. But, she added, we could go back and investigate. When we arrived to the Nature Walk sign, just beyond the cut grass behind the church, we found that there was no longer a path. There was only thick, overgrown brush and woods as far we could see. There was no working labyrinth to be found. I thanked her, blessed her and left the property.

At this point, I’m a little frustrated and ready to give up for the day. But, I decide to give it one more try. There is no way that I’m going to chance going further away from town, so I choose a location in the city... Cleveland, Ohio. Close to home. I choose a location in the heart of the city; the West 25^th Street area. I start my car and begin my descent back to the city. As I drive along beautiful Lake Ave, headed for downtown Cleveland, I am astonished at the beautiful homes, lush front yards and amazing Lake Erie views that can be seen just beyond the back yards of the homes. I wonder what life and living must be like out here. It’s breathtaking.

Back in the City, I get off of the freeway, greeted by orange construction barrels, detour signs, dust, dirt and the hustle and bustle of West 25^th street traffic. I arrive at the church on Columbus Ave. I am frazzled. I pull into the parking lot, surrounded by brick buildings and a few large trees dotting the property; clean, urban and unpretentious. I notice a small garden area nestled between a square brown brick building and a brown brick garage. There are brown wrought steel benches surrounding a circular stone center. I found it! The labyrinth.

 I follow the small path into the garden. It’s simple, beautiful. I sit on a bench in the shade, I need to calm my mind and spirit. A gentleman and I greet each other as he moves past the garden and enters the smallish brick building. A neighbor, on the property directly behind me talks loudly on his phone as he sits in his car in the driveway. A large, refuse truck pulls into the church parking lot in front of me. It drives out of my line of vision and noisily empties the trash from a dumpster. It leaves the property. Meanwhile, the sounds of traffic from the street and the freeway can be heard in the distance. The sounds of the City. Thankfully, I have music with me. I put on my earphones and plug into my Native American Wind Flutes, album. The peaceful, beautiful sounds of nature and flute melodies flow into my ears. I adjust myself into Seated Mountain Pose and close my eyes. The sounds of the city commingle with the sounds of Native Flutes. The loud talking man, drives out of the driveway. The sounds of the city fade to the background. I open my eyes and observe my surroundings. There is hard, but clean, urban life surrounding me in this peaceful little garden; simple, well maintained brick buildings and asphalt. Huge, wise old trees are here, reaching toward the heavens, providing welcome shade for this hot, sunny day. I gaze at the vastness of the sky above and see two birds soaring high among the milky clouds. I bring my attention back into the garden. I am sitting in front of the clean, compact, paved labyrinth… maybe 12 to 14 feet in diameter. There are well manicured plants, shrubs and stone beds landscaped into the grounds of the garden. At the wall side of the garage are three brown standing metal screens with vines and flowers clinging to them. In the center of the screen structures stand a bronze statue of a patron saint, overlooking the garden.  The melodious flutes play in my ears. I am surrounded by beauty. I breath deeply, taking it all in. My mind is relaxed. I am at peace.

I stand and move to the entrance of the labyrinth. Slowly, I enter, mindful of the heel, ball, and toe movement of my feet. I feel a sense of determination to receive whatever it is that this experience is supposed to bring. As I slowly coil the pattern, a still small voice speaks to my mind and heart and tell me this:

You are where you are supposed to be.

You have found beauty in simplicity.

You have found peace in chaos.

You have found abundance in minimalism.

You have found joy, within… the center... of the labyrinth.

I am a little overwhelmed with amazement at the profoundness of this experience. I am in the center of the labyrinth. I walk back out of the center and follow the path to its exit. The revelation continues, and this is what is revealed…

You went outside of yourself in search of a safe, “better”, esthetically pleasing atmosphere to experience your journey. You went looking for a fantasy. In reality, there is chaos and turmoil all around. However; beauty, peace, joy, kindness, compassion, patience and goodness can be found within. Look Inside.

I exit the labyrinth in tears.