Unity of Dayton DoveLabyrinth

Come, walk the Labyrinth at Unity of Dayton.

The labyrinth is an ancient practice of walking meditation. All are welcome, any time, as individuals, or in groups. A walk on the labyrinth can help bring solace and strength, heal inner wounds, clarify understanding of a situation, facilitate the grieving process, and deepen one's sense of the Divine presence.

Walking our Labyrinth

Unity of Dayton Labyrinth

While there is no "right way" to walk the path, you might find these guidelines helpful:

1. Follow the pace that feels right and natural for you. If your pace is more rapid than the person's in front of you, feel free to gently pass around that person. It is important to respect the prayerful, meditative state of others.

2. As you meet others along the path, please step aside.

3. If there are children playing on the labyrinth, play with them!

4. Allow about a minute to pass between you and the person in front of you before entering the labyrinth. Quiet your mind, become aware of your breathing, and enter with an open heart. You may want to offer a prayer, ask for spiritual guidance or use some other ritual act as you enter this sacred space.

Letting Go

As you walk toward the center, you have the opportunity to let go of the things that interfere with your ability to connect with the Divine. As you notice thoughts entering your mind, simply let them go and allow them to evaporate. You may feel sadness, peace, or just a sense of quiet. Honor your feelings by being present in the moment and attentive to how you feel.

Moving Through Sacred Space

As you walk, let go and trust the path to guide you to the center. How do you feel as you walk the path? What can you leave behind as you walk the labyrinth? You may want to take a small object with you into the labyrinth and leave it in the center as you leave as your symbolic act of letting go.

Awakening

You may be surprised to find you have suddenly arrived in the center! You are invited to remain there as long as you need. It is a time for silent meditation, focus or prayer.

Rebirth

When you are ready to leave the center, retrace your steps through the same path you entered. This is an important reminder that one does not remain in the center, but returns to live one's life in the everyday world. Think about any insights that you have gained during your experience. How can you integrate these insights into your daily life? After you leave the labyrinth, you may want to take some time for personal reflection, journaling, artistic expression, or discussion with friends as a way to integrate your experience into your life.

Remember

Though the labyrinth always remains the same, your experience may be different each time you walk. You are invited to come and walk the sacred path again and again.

 

 

Unity of Dayton Labyrinth

About the Unity of Dayton Labyrinth

Our labyrinth is a Cretan labyrinth. It is unicursal, which means there is only one path from the outside to the center, and one path from the center to the outside. The name comes from 2,500-year-old coins discovered by archaeologists off the island of Crete at the beginning of this century and imprinted with a seven-circuit labyrinth. These ancient patterns, which date back to 4500 BC are found in Northern Europe, India, Peru, Greece, and the American Southwest, and many other cultures.

Here's the satellite view of our labyrinth from Google Maps:


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