For the last few weeks I’ve been exploring the ways in which walking a labyrinth can literally and metaphorically support our spiritual growth, how we can use the physical act of the walk to be a meditative, reflective practice, and how we can use the symbolism of the walk and the path to provide guidance as we seek a deepening awareness of who we are called to be in this world, at this time. Walking the labyrinth, literally, is something that you do alone. There may be other people in that space with you but you are taking the steps, winding around, making your way as your own journey. In the literal walk of the labyrinth no other person holds your hand or stands beside you to provide guidance as you go. But spiritually this does not have to be true, and in deepening faith-awareness you can come to know that it is never true because you are never completely alone.

I provide spiritual direction and spiritual guidance for individuals and in group settings and nine times out of ten when I tell someone who is not already in a faith practice of some kind that I do this the question I get is, “what is that,” or “what does that mean.” What it means, metaphorically, is that you have a companion to walk with you in the labyrinth; it means, literally, that you have someone to ask you the questions that keep you curious enough to take the next step, encouraged enough to stay with the walk, willing enough to trust that the spirit is taking you to something good for, even when it feels like you are very far away.

You may not think of a guiding force in the universe as God, you may not be entirely sure there is a guiding force. Maybe you have read about manifestation, visioning, the power of positive thinking and wonder if there is an energy you can tap into. Maybe you just wonder and have a little feeling that there might be something that has been missing and that you’re not quite sure how to name. For some who grew up in a faith practice that they out-grew, out-questioned, or that stopped nurturing expansion you can feel adrift or angry or simply stunted. Spiritual direction is not a magic pill or incantation to get you what you want, but it is a guiding relationship that can help you find new faith, reclaim lost faith, or develop new ways of looking at your connectedness in the universe that can support you where you find yourself in life right now, right where you are today.

Many times I have found myself walking a labyrinth and wondering what the point of all it is, and many times I have paused and looked up to be awed by the gift of awareness in that moment; many times in my life I have been encouraged with the feeling of being fully embraced by God, fully at one in the universe, and more times than that I have felt utterly alone, too wounded to have anything to offer. My own teachers and spiritual directors over the years have not offered therapy (that is something different), they have offered wisdom for my soul and ways of building the faith needed for trust, for patience, and for the willingness to keep walking, keep practicing; ways of reminding me that there is a center we are moving around not just arriving at.

This all sounds a little (or a lot) esoteric and it is; spiritual direction does not promise seven days to an awakening, a guaranteed meeting with God, or a clear sign for what you should be doing with your life. It promises companionship and curiosity as you grow with intentionality, as you allow yourself to say yes to being changed subtly, as you say I want to find that connection and direction even if I am not quite sure where it is going to take me.

If you want to learn more, if you want to engage in the practice, or if you have a group that you would like facilitated support to do this work with reach out – this is what I do, we can go together.