Looking for a meditation method? Look no further than a labyrinth as a tool for prayer, contemplation, comfort and meditation. Human beings have difficulty in quieting our minds. We become use to “Monkey Mind” --a constant chatter within ourselves preventing us for hearing what the soul wants. Labyrinth, an ancient tool for meditating, is becoming enormously popular in today’s stress filled world.

A dramatic renewal of an ancient spiritual tool is happening as more people realize the benefits of a labyrinth. Labyrinths are found in spas and retreats, in museums, in churches, in hospitals and in public parks. It is a remarkable instrument allowing a person to quiet his mind, to find balance, and to encourage meditation and insight into one’s soul.

Rev. Lauren Artress, of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, has been instrumental in spreading the use of the labyrinth as a spiritual tool. Why the rebirth of the labyrinth? In her book, Walking a Sacred Path, she writes, “We lost our sense of connection to ourselves and to the vast mystery of creation.” In 1996 she founded Veriditas which is the voice of the Labyrinth movement. Its purpose is to introduce people to the healing meditation powers of the labyrinth.

What is a Labyrinth?

A labyrinth is an aid on a spiritual journey. It is used for comfort, prayer, meditation and reflection. Meditation is an art in which one quiets the mind, lives in the present, and is attentive to listening to one’s soul. As humans, we experience a dilemma about living in the present as we seem to focus on the past and look toward the future. We lose sight of the present. A labyrinth can us help with meditation in order to fully live in the moment.

Some people confuse a labyrinth with a maze which is meant to confuse as it is a puzzle with deceptive turns and dead ends. However, a labyrinth has one path leading to the center and back out. Its aim is not to confuse but to enlighten.