At the centre of yourself
The labyrinth is an ancient geometrical scheme based on spirals and circles and has been used since the dawn of history (the first traces date back to more than 5 thousand years ago) in many cultures all over the world, from China to Ukraine, from Peru to Brazil and Arizona.
Recently the benefits of the labyrinth on the human psyche have been rediscovered through several clinical studies and since 1980 in the United States alone more than 3,000 labyrinths have been built in companies, schools, hospitals, parks, universities, prisons, churches and wellness centers.
In a time where the ability to stay focused has become more and more of a challenge, this practice has the great advantage of teaching the mind to calm down. Walking the labyrinth demands continuous adjusting of body orientation.
And while the body is busy in movement, the mind, usually restless, can finally calm down. In the same way, while the left hemisphere of the brain is busy following the logical and repetitive progression of the labyrinth path, the right hemisphere is free to think in a creative way.
Walking the labyrinth allows the body to integrate with the mind, and the mind with the spirit. Frequently while moving forward in the labyrinth, people understand how to move forward in their lives.
Depending on the course, we use two kinds of labyrinths. In the garden of BlessYou headquarters there is a Celtic one made with stones. The shape is similar to the coins of the ancient Greece. In England, Germany and Scandinavia there still are similar labyrinths that have been used centuries ago for pagan rituals in honour of the female goddesses and Mother Earth.
The second is a portable one and is a huge medieval labyrinth that comes from the Christian tradition (it is the exact copy of the one in the Chartres Cathedral in France). We constructed it with one of the few surviving real masters in sacred geometry: At almost 300 mt (985 feet circa) of path painted on 50 kilos (110 lb.) of canvas that we had shipped from the U.S.! In he middle ages several labyrinths appeared in numerous cathedrals. The use of the medieval labyrinth, and particularly the one found in Chartres, has always been mystic: according to some trains of thought it looks like the labyrinth was carrying with it the original teachings of Jesus Christ and Magdalene, for others walking the labyrinth simply represents a journey to Christ or God or the Holy womb of the Virgin Mary, and therefore could substitute the journey to Jerusalem.
In any case, walking the Labyrinth represents the rediscovery of a path that leads to the centre of ourselves, our wisdom, our soul, our divine essence.
