Many walkers experience profound insights while walking the labyrinth. Sometimes they share these meditative thoughts with us...
"We desperately needed to have the labryinth...in light of [recent] stress. I have been struggling a great deal emotionally since Friday, fighting depression and questioning my decision to go to school. After walking the labyrinth today, I feel as if the clouds have almost miraculously lifted. I would like to get the QCLP to visit the campus regularly and possibly get a permanent outdoor labyrinth installed."
- KJ, non-traditional student, following campus shooting scare on the previous Friday. Scott Community College Walk, April 25, 2007
“Tonight I took the darkest stone on my walk. Dark for the longest night.I brought that darkness into the center.It is dark because the earth is furthest from the sun on this day. The circular orbits of the planets mimics the labyrinth.At the beginning of the walk, we are far from the center. But in the center we are farthest from the outside.Perhaps we look to the light to the bright and think, ‘When I arrive, it will be sunny and warm.’But that maybe because we fail to see the brightness all around us. Some people may look at the darkest day as a turning point, or an end. ‘Wow, I made it, not thinks can only get brighter.’On the other hand, the passage of light to dark and back, this cycle is in itself wonderous – which is the other side? Perhaps the darkest day will hold the most joy and learning, yet we are happy for it to end. Lessons can be learned on the walk to the darkness, the center and out again. The judgment of light and dark, right and wrong, nice and cruel are qualities that reflect the light and dark within the person. I brought the darkest stone into the center because that’s where it wanted to go. The center of the darkness.And there we joyfully celebrated the dark side of this solstice. Tomorrow will be brighter.This can allow us a fine contrast to the celebration of this dark day. Thanks for the Labyrinth!"
- Anonymous walker, December 20, 2005 Winter Solstice Walk
“We enter at different times; we exit at different times; but we are all part of the design. Sometimes we meet; then we part.Sometimes we turn our backs on one another, but we are part of the design. Sometimes we walk in opposite directions; but we are part of the design. We leave this room but we carry it with us for we are part of the design.”
-Jean, from an unidentified walk
"The path to spirituality involves unwinding one's snarls and letting go of limited material thinking. Every one is on their own path and every path is different. The path to spirituality is God-centered and involves the termnation of the material body. It means we must let go of self-will, self-justification and self-love adn feel the love of God. We are al on our own individual path and we should never make judgments about how others are progressing spiritually. We are all working out our own life's challenges. And every step toward Spirit, God takes us closer to our real, spiritual selfhood."
-Anonymous walker from an unidentified walk
"Fluffing" The Labyrinth: An observation during set-up
"Two people lift and pop a corner of the canvas labyrinth each, sending a bubble of air rippling beneath the fabric. The air travels visibly under the surface, like waves on the sea, a rising tide tha animates and energizes the pattern. Watching it one can feel the labyrinth come to life, awakened from its dormancy, coming alive to fulfill its purpose for the day. The air continues to move beneath the canvas, breathing for long moments after the people have released their hold, undulating on its own, like a living being."
- A volunteer at Scott Community College Walk, April 25, 2007
Meditations on the Labyrinth