Where Are We Going?

This essay discusses the practice of walking a labyrinth as a form of meditation. Once in a labyrinth, we are no longer sure where we are going or how we will reach the center. Labyrinths are excellent metaphors for how we walk through our own lives. Where ARE we going?

Transcript

This is an essay written by Maggie Stevens entitled, Where Are We Going? I love to walk labyrinths. I've been fortunate enough to walk them in the woods in Virginia, At a Florida retreat center, At the Chartres Cathedral. Recently, I had an opportunity to walk a labyrinth at the famed Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico. If you've never walked a labyrinth, I can share that it's an interesting exercise. Labyrinths can be laid out in a number of designs, Like the classic seven circuits or the Chartres pattern. Even though I'm aware of the overall layout before I enter, That information does me little good once I step into the labyrinth. As I begin to walk, I follow the path, At first close to the center, And the next step takes me towards the outer ring. One moment, I'm at the lower right-hand quadrant, And then suddenly in the upper left. In the beginning, This feeling of not knowing where I'm going is disconcerting. I try to imagine myself as a raven, Looking down and seeing the whole pattern. Sadly, I am not a raven. As time passes, I begin to settle down and bring my awareness to my feet. The grandeur of the landscape fades away from my attention. I can feel the shift of my weight from one foot to the other. First, My heel touches the ground, Then my step places the ball and toes down. The rhythm is steady and calming. Suddenly, Before me are the blue-black stones that make up the curve in the path. I'm surprised at how blue they are compared to the red-brown pathway stones and soil beneath them. An unexpected wave of joy and gratitude bubbles up and brings a smile to my face. I no longer care where I am in the labyrinth. I'm just walking. All at once, I'm in the center. I'd forgotten I was heading there all along. I take a moment to breathe in the hot, Dry air and take in the spectacular view of red and yellow mesas and spires. Slowly, I turn and retrace my steps in reverse, The path as unfathomable as it was on the way in. Our lives resemble labyrinths. We didn't know that choosing one path would lead us unexpectedly to a different place. While we may have had a goal in mind, We are often lost or off the trail a good deal of the time. It is only when we tune into the present moment that we may experience moments of peace and clarity. Part of the human experience is navigating both time and space. We remember and we plan, Placing our minds forward and back in time. Yet, Our bodies can only be in the present. What would happen if we brought our minds and our hearts into the present with our bodies? I had this opportunity when I was again in a labyrinth, Albeit a functional one. We were preparing to fly out of Denver International Airport. The security queue snaked from the baggage claim down the hall until it reached the very ends of the security line. At first, I was jumping to the future. How long will this take? What if I miss my flight? And then something clicked. I touched the memory of the Ghost Ranch Labyrinth. I felt my feet and the slow rhythm of my walking. I looked into the faces of my fellow travelers walking the labyrinth with me. We were all traveling together in both the relative and universal sense. Suddenly, I was right where I needed to be in the present moment. I appreciate that you took the time to listen. If you like, You can follow me on Insight Timer and then you'll be notified when I post additional meditations and talks. If you like, You can also check out my blog on my website at www. Metta. Com. Thanks again for listening, And I hope you can enjoy your present moment.