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The Labyrith at St. Michael's Monastery

The Labyrinth at St. Michael's Monastery

A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that has served in many cultural and religious traditions including Hindu, Hopi, Christian and Pagan Europe, Middle Eastern and Egyptian cultures, just to name a few. The distinguishing feature of a labyrinth is its pathway from the exterior to the center, which is enclosed in a circular outside line with only one entrance/exit. One singular path takes you to the center and also brings you back to the entrance where you began, unlike a maze in which may have multiple entrances/exits and many twists and turns which can lead to dead ends.

The classical labyrinth shape is most frequently understood as a symbol of birth, rebirth, and transformation. In some traditions walking the labyrinth has been used as a form of pilgrimage, as an aid to spiritual growth. To walk a labyrinth is to create sacred space and the more a labyrinth is used, the more powerful it becomes as a symbol of transformation. What happens to the pilgrim as she walks the labyrinth depends on her disposition and each experience is uniquely personal. It is found useful but not essential, to have a particular intention upon entering. As one follows the path towards the center, a reflective or meditative state of mind may be reached. This could also be a time of ‘ letting go’, of emptying oneself of all that one wishes to leave behind. Upon reaching the center of the labyrinth, you may feel the need to stand or sit awhile, allowing yourself time to absorb the sense of spirit or to reflect on your sacred journey experience. It can be meaningful to leave a small stone at the center symbolizing those aspects of our suffering that we wish to leave behind. To walk back out of the labyrinth symbolizes your re-entry into the world.

I’ve just returned from a journey and it happened to include a sacred walk inside a labyrinth.

My journey was a trip to Lumsden, Saskatchewan during which I was presenting the keynote address and a creativity workshop to the biennial gathering of the guilds of the Saskatchewan Spinners and Weavers Association. This was also the first public exhibition of the “artless fabrications” body of work, fifty two little pieces of my soul exposed to the world for the first time. With not one piece of spinning or weaving amongst them, I worried at how well they (or I for that matter)  would be received by this extremely talented group of artists.

Sensing my raw vulnerability, this incredible group of women embraced both me and my work with great enthusiasm and kindness, dissolving any fears I had about acceptance as a fibre artist. They welcomed me into their circle, allowing me a safe place to share a part of my self that I’ve never had the courage to expose before. The entire experience has confirmed in my heart that there is always a place for the creative spirit to be planted, nurtured, and grown unrestrained, until it reaches its full potential.  I only hope that I was able to inspire the spinners and weavers on their path to creativity as much as they inspired me.

Although there was only one path to follow on this particular journey, I feel as though I did not come out at the same place I entered, nor am I the same person as I began. I began with no conscious intentions or expectations but left myself open to become transformed by the time, the place, and the people I encountered along the way. There was so much that I took away from this experience, and yet I feel that I’ve left a little of myself behind, a small blue stone at the center of the labyrinth. But isn’t this true for most of life’s journeys?

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