Labyrinth brings out inner peace

Found in most major religions, labyrinths date back some 4,000 years.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
VILLA MARIA, Pa. -- A walking meditation, a path of healing, a metaphor for a spiritual journey, an ancient prayer tool -- many phrases can describe a labyrinth. Each person who walks one probably experiences something unique.
Sister Therese Pavilonis, a nun in the Humility of Mary community at Villa Maria Community Center on Evergreen Road, was instrumental in establishing the labyrinth at Villa Maria. The outdoor labyrinth, cut into the grass, is an 11-circuit design patterned after a famous one at the Chartres Cathedral in France that dates to 1221.
Sister Therese serves as the guide for labyrinth walkers, offering a brief history, etiquette and theme for each walk. Villa Maria offers planned labyrinth walks from May through October, but many people walk the labyrinth as a solitary venture. Themes this year have included "Path of Mindfulness," "Path of Light" and "Path of Peace. Two other walks in September and October will conclude the scheduled events.
"The avenue of expression restores a natural rhythm," Sister Therese said. "The activity of walking calls you into the present moment. The pathway leads to the center and back out. It's called an invisible thread to the sacred," she continued. "It does have twists and turns but no dead ends."
History lesson
At the Aug. 16 walk, which had the theme of "Path of Healing," Sister Therese told the group of about 35 people that labyrinths date back some 4,000 years. Found in most major religious traditions, the Jewish kabbalah is an elongated labyrinth and the Tibetan sand patterns evoke the labyrinth design. Medieval labyrinths were associated with pilgrimages, she said, and served as a way to accomplish the pilgrimage without traveling great distances and facing danger. Modern labyrinths take various forms; they may be painted on canvas, outlined in stone or chalk, woven in tapestry or shaped in tiles.
Sister Therese described the Villa Maria labyrinth as "sacred geometry that brings harmony and rest to the human spirit."
The pattern, she explained, uses left and right hemisphere integration. The six-petal center, called the rosette, symbolizes divine and human love. The 11 circuits are the pathways to walk.
A brochure on the labyrinth explains the Christian approach based on a three-fold path. Purgation or releasing is "letting go" of worries and concerns to quiet the mind; illumination or receiving refers to accepting insight or serenity; and union or integrating means joining God by joining the inner and outer worlds. Stages are symbolized by "palms down," which means letting go, or "palms up" to indicate receiving.
"Do what you feel and what you are comfortable doing," advised Sister Therese, and encouraged participants to "open their hearts and minds and set an intention before walking. The center is a place to pause."
Etiquette
Before a recent walk, Sister Therese also offered some points on labyrinth etiquette. Each person is asked to softly ring a bell as he or she enters and exits, remember to keep pleasant spacing but passing or stepping aside is allowed. "It's a dance of give and take ... like life," Sister Therese said.
As each walker entered the labyrinth, each rang the bell. Some walked slowly, others had a bit quicker pace. Everyone concentrated on enjoying the experience, even the youngest walkers. As if on cue, a small flock of Canada geese flew overhead as the last two walkers neared completion. The honking geese offered a natural sort of ending.
After all had walked the labyrinth, Sister Therese asked for reflections. Among comments were:
"At first, people had uncertain looks on their faces then that faded to peacefulness."
"I thought about the theme and wondered if I was open to healing. We love to complain about our ills ... are we open to physical and emotional healing? It's good to be in sync with human and divine healing relationships."
"I thought about personal and global healing."
"I saw my shadow and thought about my shadow-self ... parts of ourselves that we don't want people to see."
"The large group made me think of how it mimicked life ... we're in crowds of people at work, at the store and so on ... where you might feel hurried but here it was calming."
Shared moments
Other participants also shared why they walked the labyrinth.
Cosetta McMillan of Youngstown said, "I've been coming about two years. ... Each time I get something different out of it."
McMillan said she and her mother usually come together but her mother stayed home because she wasn't feeling well. McMillan came because she thought the healing theme was appropriate. "It takes away the stress of life ... negative people," she said. "You're with other people but you're in solitude as well."
Janet McEwing and her daughter, Hayley, both of Boardman, walked for the first time, and for the most part, walked together when possible. "We do a lot of stuff together," the 22-year-old said. "This is something we could share."
"We like unique experiences," Janet McEwing said. "This was so enjoyable ... being close to nature ... and the night was perfect" she said of the balmy evening with a touch of a breeze. Both said they would try the experience again.
Quiet time
Jack Brannan of Warren said, "The walk quieted my mind, which was in a rush. But I wasn't in a rush to get to the center or leave it once I got there.
"I enjoyed the process of focusing and how it quieted my mind. I was looking for something to help control stress and negativity and this does," he said. "It was quite joyous."
For Stacey Pisciuneri-Ferrese of New Castle and her son, Santino, who will be 10 years old next month, this was their second walk. "It was peaceful and clears your head," said Santino.
"There's something educational and spiritual about it," his mother added, noting she had fallen and needed the healing part of it.
She also noted it was a positive experience in a beautiful setting that she and her son could share with their friends, Anna Danglidis of New Castle, and her son, Patrick, 91/2. The single mothers said they try to do things to support each other and that don't cost a lot.