Sunset Meditation: Labyrinth

A Sunset Meditation (MM) from Choose Love to help you cultivate your inner knowing for the week ahead.

In a beautiful sanctuary a town or two away from my home, there is a labyrinth inlaid into the floor. Members of the congregation open the doors to the public every Wednesday and lovingly welcome you into the sanctuary. (I discovered it randomly one day when purchasing concert tickets for one of my favorite bands. Why don't more bands play in sacred places?)

A labyrinth is an ancient form of a walking/moving meditation which come in a variety of forms for different physical abilities. It is a metaphor for our own spiritual journeys which are often filled with twist and turns but ultimately bring us to the center - the Source of Love, Connectedness, Oneness. A labyrinth is an excellent practice in both listening to and cultivating your inner knowing.

For our morning meditation, I'm inviting you to enter my local labyrinth in a visualized meditation. You may listen or read below. It will take just over 10 minutes.

Let's begin by welcoming ourselves fully. Body... mind ... and spirit. Make sure you've given yourself enough time and space for this meditation without interruptions. (By all means, turn off your phones. Heck, put them in another room!) Begin by being still for a few minutes, taking a few deep breaths and relax.

Inhale. Exhale.

Imagine you are outside. Notice the natural world around you. What season is it? Are the leaves changing color? Is snow on the ground? Do you hear new life around you? Is there a warm breeze on your face?

Before you are two big, wooden doors. One door is open, inviting you in. You accept this invitation.

Imagine a person welcoming you into the foyer. What do you notice about the person? What do you experience within you as you are welcomed?

Behind the greeter are doors to the sanctuary. You can see inside. What do you notice about this sacred place? Is it dark like a cave or a forest or an ocean? Are candles twinkling? Is light shining in through the windows? What do you smell? Incense or spices or wood? Are there sounds? The floor creaking or a bell ringing or a flute singing?

Imagine moving into the sanctuary, down the aisle towards the labyrinth. Imagine you are moving towards the center of your being.

Before you is another pilgrim, like you, leaving the labyrinth. Their journey is finished. Their back is facing you. You can see the shoulders expand and contract with each slow breath. You notice that your breath falls into rhythm with theirs. They bow their head toward the labyrinth in reverence, and then, turn to face you. Your eyes meet, only for a second, and the other person moves on.

You are now at the beginning of the labyrinth. The path is before you.

Before entering, imagine placing your hands over your heart. Even if you cannot physically do this, imagine a way of being heart-centered. Take a few deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling.

Take your first step, following the path.

With each step through the labyrinth, silently affirm: "Be still and know that I am Love."

Move forward. Inhale. Affirm: "Be still and know that I am Love."

Move. Exhale. Affirm: "Be still and know that I am Love."

Twist along the labyrinth. Inhale. Affirm: "Be still and know that I am Love."

Stay present in each movement, each breath, each affirmation. If sensations and/or thoughts arise, notice them and release them, like autumn leaves from a tree. Then, return to the movement, the breath and the affirmation.

Move. Exhale. Affirm: "Be still and know that I am Love."

Turn and move a more steps. Inhale. Affirm: "Be still and know that I am Love."

Move. Exhale. Affirm: "Be still and know that I am Love."

As you move through the next turn, you notice that you have arrived at the center of the labyrinth.

Stay still for a few minutes in the center, simply listening.

What do you hear? What sounds are present to you? What do you see? What are you beholding? How does your body feel?

Take a moment to say "thank you" to the center of your being, the Source of Love in your life.

When you are ready, turn your body toward the path, the way you have come. Before you move forward, imagine opening your arms out in a gesture of receiving. Even if you cannot physically do this, imagine a way of being open-hearted.

With each motion back through the labyrinth, silently ask: "How can I be faithful to what Love is asking of me?"

Move forward and fall into the rhythm of the labyrinth.

Move. Inhale. Ask: "How can I be faithful to what Love is asking of me?"

Move forward. Exhale. Ask: "How can I be faithful to what Love is asking of me?"

Twist along the labyrinth. Inhale. Ask: "How can I be faithful to what Love is asking of me?"

Stay present in each movement, each breath, each affirmation. Again, if sensations and/or thoughts arise, notice them and release them, like helium balloons into the sky. Then, return to the movement, the breath and the question.

Move forward. Exhale. Ask: "How can I be faithful to what Love is asking of me?"

Turn and move a few steps. Inhale. Ask: "How can I be faithful to what Love is asking of me?"

Move forward. Exhale. Ask: "How can I be faithful to what Love is asking of me?"

As you move through the next turn, you notice that you have arrived at the end of the labyrinth path. Stay still for a few minutes here at your journey's end, simply listening.

Now slowly open your eyes. Stay still for a few minutes. Hold in your heart whatever inner knowing you received. As you move into the week, listen for your inner knowing. Maybe also discover a labyrinth near you. Or print out your very own finger labyrinth.