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The Labyrinth

The Labyrinth is an archetype, a divine imprint, found in all religious traditions in various forms around the world. It has only one path, so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends. The path winds around and doubles back on itself, becoming a mirror for where we are in our lives, a metaphor for our spiritual journey; it touches our sorrows and releases our joys. The pathway in and the pathway out are the same; only the pilgrim has changed in the process.

One way of understanding the labyrinth is an image of the Three-Fold Mystical Path: Purgation, Illumination, and Union. Purgation, the first stage, is the journey to the center. As we begin the journey, we try to let go of our anger, self-pity, judgmentalism - those things that cut us off from the Divine. Illumination, the second stage, occurs when we reach the center. There, empty and cleansed, we wait with an open heart and an open mind to receive whatever the Spirit has for us. It may be a sudden insight, or simply a feeling of quiet peacefulness. Union, the third stage, is the journey outward, following the same path by which we entered. Now we integrate our experience and move out into the world with renewed energy and strength to do the work to which we have been called. Walking the labyrinth is a kind of body prayer that quiets the chattering of the mind so that the spirit can be more receptive.

Holy Trinity's outdoor labyrinth is located in the courtyard at the lower end of the columbarium. It is well-lit and open to walkers 24 hours a day. Instructions for walking can be found on the covered walkway in front of the labyrinth near Greene Street.