Labyrinths have been in existence for thousands of years, and appear in one form or another in nearly every culture and religion in the world. They call us to take a meandering path of the spirit, not the "shortest distance between two points."
The outdoor labyrinth, northeast of the parking lot, was built by church members in 2003 and dedicated in May of 2004. It is a Cretan pattern, named for the island of Crete where one such pattern was discovered. The indoor labyrinth is a petite Chartres pattern. It is 22 feet in diameter, and was created for the New Year's Eve celebration in December of 2004. The pattern is named for the Chartres cathedral which has such a labyrinth in the floor. It has been dated to the early 1200's.
The labyrinth is not unique to any particular religion, and in fact welcomes those of all faiths or with no particular religious leanings at all. It is, however, a spiritual experience. When you enter a labyrinth, you are beginning a journey along a path traveled by many before you.
The Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress reintroduced the labyrinth to the United States in the early 1990s.
She says the labyrinth attracts people "because it is a tool to guide healing, deepen self-knowledge, and empower creativity. Walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives insight into the spiritual journey."
(from Lauren Artress, Walking a Sacred Path:Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool, New York, Riverhead Books, 1995.)
How to Walk
There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth. Just as there are many paths to the truth, so each person's walk is unique.
As a sign of respect for this sacred space, please remove your shoes to walk the indoor labyrinth.
You may wish to pause at the entrance to the labyrinth, to mark the beginning of your journey and to center yourself or just to take a deep breath. Seek to be open to whatever the experience will give you. Allow some space between yourself and the person ahead of you.
Walk at a pace that is comfortable for you. The path is unicursal…one path in and out. It is not a maze; there are no dead ends or tricks. The only choice you have to make is to enter. You will meet others on the path; you may step aside to let another pass by. However, pay attention to where you are on the path. You cannot get "lost" as the path will take you only one of two places: either to the center, or back out.
Walking the labyrinth is a deeply personal experience, so please be mindful of others on the path.
You may wish to simply quiet your mind and let all thoughts go. Some may focus on a question or concern.
Others may meditate on a word, a poem, or a prayer.
Pay attention to the interaction of your body and the labyrinth.
We hope you find your labyrinth walk to be a meaningful experience, and we wish you many blessings on the path.
Walking Blessing
That each step
may be a shedding.
That you will let yourself
become lost.
That when it looks
like you're going backwards
you may be making progress.
That progress is not the goal anyway,
but presence
to the feel of the path on your shins
to the way it reshapes you
in each place it makes contact,
to the way you cannot see it
until the moment you have stepped out.
~~In Wisdom's Path, by Jan Richardson
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The Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown
…is a congregation of diverse individuals who choose to gather in community, where exploration of intellectual and spiritual ideas is welcomed and encouraged, without compulsion or fear, in an atmosphere of caring and mutual support of each member's spiritual growth.
By putting these principles into practice through outreach to the larger community and by accepting all people through an understanding and appreciation of their cultures and opinions, we demonstrate respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
