If you’re looking for an alternative form of meditation, you might enjoy labyrinth meditation.
In my online meditation lessons I often recommend that my students walk a labyrinth, because of the way that it symbolises the spiritual path.
When you walk a labyrinth, you give your mind a chance to pause and reflect. It’s a simple practice that is fun and relaxing. And in this guide I’ll teach you everything you need to know.
What is labyrinth meditation?
When you see a meditation labyrinth you might think it’s a maze: a series of circular paths growing outwards from the middle. However, you won’t get lost. You walk the meditation labyrinth in one direction to get to the middle and then to get back out again.
Fascinatingly, labyrinths have existed for millennia, for approximately five thousand years. You can find labyrinth designs on ancient tablets, tiles, and pottery. And they exist in various cultures. Native Americans have the Wheel of Man and the Medicine Wheel, and Celts have the Never Ending Circle. Judaists have the Ka Bala.
One thing most cultures agree with is what a labyrinth represents.
There is a specific spiritual meaning of a labyrinth. They symbolise the journey inwards to our core, to our true selves, and then our return back to the world.
Riding in the tide of meditation, labyrinths have become popular over the past few years as a way to calm the mind and reflect.
As well as traditional labyrinths, you can find Finger Labyrinths on places like Amazon. These Finger Labyrinths are simply smaller versions of the traditional thing. We run a finger around the labyrinth while meditating or reflecting.
Either way, this is a wonderfully relaxing meditation technique. So let me show you how to do it.
How do you do labyrinth meditation?
Your meditation will vary a little depending on whether you are meditating with a finger labyrinth or a walking one. However, here are the general steps.
- Before you start doing your labyrinth meditation, take a few moments to pause and breathe mindfully. Make sure that you are calm and centred before continuing.
- Next, connect with your body. Whether you’re walking or using a finger labyrinth, take a few moments to mindfully observe your body before you start to move.
- Start moving around the labyrinth mindfully. If you’re using a finger labyrinth, meditate on the movement of your finger. If you’re walking, read my guide to meditative walking.
- When you reach the middle of the labyrinth, stop and reflect for a few minutes. One way to do this is with contemplation meditation.
- Continue going in the same direction on the labyrinth, moving mindfully.
- At the end of the labyrinth, spend a few minutes mindful breathing.
What are the benefits of a meditation labyrinth?
You probably already know that there are over a hundred benefits of meditation. But what are the benefits of walking a labyrinth?
The main benefit of labyrinth meditation is that it adds a visual, symbolic representation of the journey we take when we meditate. We start by walking the path of peace towards our core, our innermost selves. Then we pause and reflect in the middle. This time of reflection can lead to many insights about life and about our spiritual development. And finally we return to the world as our true selves.
It’s the same journey we take when we meditate, but with a wonderful visual representation.
On top of this it is a wonderfully relaxing technique that can provide valuable insight.
Paul Harrison is a passionate meditation teacher who believes in genuine, authentic meditation. He has more than 15 years experience in meditation and mindfulness. He studied meditation in beautiful Oxford, UK, and Hamilton Ontario Canada, and earned his degree at Staffordshire University.
“My goal is to provide the most authentic meditation sessions so you can harness the power of your own mind for personal transformation” – Paul Harrison
