
A Brief History
Labyrinths have offered Christians spiritual solace since they emerged in churches in the twelfth century. After pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other locations in the Holy Land became too dangerous and costly, the people of medieval Europe needed a new way to take a spiritual journey, to work out the strife caused by fearsome wars and plagues. Labyrinths, such as the one on the floor of Chartres Cathedral (opposite), in France, became the answer.
A Prayer in Motion
The shape of the labyrinth makes it a mystical prayer tool. Like a formal prayer, a labyrinth has a distinct beginning and end. Its snaking, circuitous path leads toward a central point, then back out again. When you start a labyrinth, your awareness shifts to your steps; your outside thoughts and distractions fade away. The pathway serves as both a visual and a physical cue, helping you turn your attention inward, toward the prayer, challenge or emotion that you are working on. Walking a labyrinth at an easy, natural pace aligns your mental progression into deep prayer and meditation with the physical movement that mirrors it.
The Labyrinthian Journey
This story is from the December/January 2021 edition of Mysterious Ways.
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This story is from the December/January 2021 edition of Mysterious Ways.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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