About one year ago, I met a lovely lady named Diana Ng, aka,
The Labyrinth Lady, at a women’s networking event. I remember her telling us about the Labyrinth
that she had built in conjunction with the city of Surrey, BC, and I knew
afterwards that it was some place I wanted to visit, but just never got around
to it.
Most recently, I have been going through some major personal
stresses, and I was really feeling the effects on my body and my mind. Each day was a struggle to keep myself in a
positive mindset and a lot of the days, I failed at it.
I happened to be in Surrey one day last week, and had some
time to kill between appointments in the area, so I was trying to figure out
what I was going to do with the 3 hours that I had to fill. I knew I wanted to
find somewhere to go and read my book, but I just didn’t want to sit inside in
a coffee shop. I just knew I wanted to
be somewhere outside. Then the thought
came back to me, the Labyrinth. I remembered that I kept saying that I wanted
to go, and here was the perfect time for me to go and find it.
So that afternoon, I made my way to Fleetwood Gardens at 160th
and 80th, got parked and then started the search of the gardens to
find the Labyrinth. Luckily it didn’t take me long, as I noticed a man walking
a pattern in the distance and knew that is where I was headed. Honestly, I had no idea what I was looking
for. The picture I had made in my head
was actually of a Maze done up with shrubs that you see in some English
gardens. At that point, I didn’t realize
that there was actually a
difference between a Maze and a Labyrinth, so I was
surprised to see that it was just a rock pattern in the ground. Have a look at the clips I put together below
of an interview that Diana did where she explains the difference between a Maze
and a Labyrinth, the significance of the switchbacks and some feedback that she
has received from people who have walked it.
From Diana’s website, she states “Labyrinths are ancient, transformative tools
found in cultures all over the world dating back 4000 – 5000 years. Its circles
and spirals meander into a purposeful path of centering symbolizing wholeness
and unity, change and growth. A powerful tool for reflection, discernment,
self-discovery, it enhances right brain activity. The labyrinth reduces stress,
quiets the mind, leading to balance and insights. It offers a place for people
to escape their pressures-filled lives, helps them find calm to open up their
hearts.”
At the entrance of the Labyrinth, there is a sign that tells
you more about the history and gives you instructions as to how to walk
it…..”quiet your mind and allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to
go. Become mindful of the sensation of walking. Continuous awareness of these
sensations develops the strong concentration needed in order to gain insight.”
There are also 3 specific stages in walking a Labyrinth. Purgation (releasing): the act of
shedding thoughts and distractions enables you to let you of the details of
your life. This is the time to open your heart and quiet your mind. Illumination (receiving): At the
center, stay there as long as you like, sit or stand, meditate or pray. Allow
yourself to receive guidance. Union (returning):
To leave the center, follow the same path back out. There can be a strange
sense of strengthening and clarity. You become more empowered to find and do
the work you feel your soul calling for.
So, I started walking the Labyrinth, and it honestly didn’t
take long for me to start feeling the sense of calm. The concentration on my
steps and in walking the pattern actually cleared my mind of the troubles that
I have been dealing with lately. Upon noticing this, I actually tried to think
on the issues that had been weighing on me, but I actually couldn’t. It was
like my brain just wanted to rest. When I got to the center, I didn’t feel like
sitting on the ground, so I just stood there and closed my eyes. While standing
there, this big gust of wind came and blew through me, as if blowing my
troubles away. When the gust had stopped, I opened my eyes and walked back out
the Labyrinth. I exited the Labyrinth feeling calmer and more at peace. It was
at this time that I noticed 3 big red chairs directly across from the Labyrinth
and I knew that is where I needed to sit to spend some time reading. My mind was now quieted enough that I knew I
could sit still and just absorb the info in my book.
I definitely enjoyed my time in the Labyrinth, and wish I
lived close enough to it to walk it every day, but being that I know that I
will be somewhat in the area on a weekly basis, I am going to make a point to
visit it as often as I can, as long as the weather holds, and use the time
after wards to sit in the big red chair for some quiet contemplation and some
reading.
I left the gardens that day feeling refreshed and
rejuvenated, with my mind way more at peace. I will however suggest that if you
are planning on going, I would avoid walking the Labyrinth in the late
afternoon/early evening hours. In my
time sitting there, I noticed a ritual that happens with the people that live
in the area, the park turns into a meeting place with the women gathering at
one end by the parking lot, and the men gathering at the benches right by the
Labyrinth, in what my dad would call “hen parties”. The group was way too loud
to enjoy the meditative moment of walking the Labyrinth, in my opinion. So if
you are thinking of visiting the Labyrinth and enjoy the peace and clarity that
it provides, I would do it earlier in the day.
Thank you Diana for sharing the story and the power of the
Labyrinth with the world!
Have you walked the Labyrinth? What was your experience? I would love to read your comments.
Feel free to connect with me in this wonderful world of
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Thanks for sharing your experience! I just heard about the labyrinth recently and have been wanting to go for a walk there myself. I will keep in mind to go earlier in the day.
ReplyDeleteThat's great Jenn......would love to hear what you thought afterwards. :)
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