Welcome to the Georgetown Waterfront Park labyrinth. We invite you to use this guided meditation while walking the path on foot. To prepare, you might want to take a moment to reflect. There are three stages to walking the labyrinth. "Release" as you enter, "receive" as you stand at the center and "return" where you bring the peace or insight gained from this contemplation back with you as you walk out.
Some people come to the labyrinth with questions to ponder. Some come during times of loss or change, others just to slow down and take time out from a busy life.
Perhaps you're just drawn to walk it, and a purpose may reveal itself to you as you walk. Whatever draws you here today, know that walking the labyrinth is a benefit to you.
Near the entrance to the labyrinth, stand still and tall, with your arms hanging loose at your sides, or with your hands clasped in front of or behind you.
Let your eyes focus downward--about 3-feet in front of you--feel your feet on the ground and the air on your skin. Take a few deep breaths and sense the air moving in and out through the nose or mouth, traveling through the throat, your jaw to soften, and any tension that you notice. Just letting it go.
There are no obstacles or barriers on this path, so you're free to walk just one step at a time. You can feel or imagine that the air you breathe is helping your muscles to release. Feel the sensations in your whole body, from the soles of your feet up through the legs, the torso and chest, even the sensations down into the arms and hands, and up into the head. Just allowing whatever sensations arise to be held in awareness. With each turn of the path, letting go a little bit more. With each step, there's an invitation to notice what might want to come through in the heart space. A wish, a longing, an aspiration--So not searching for something, just having an open receptivity to whatever arises. Breathing in and out, continue walking slowly, with each step coming back to the sensations in your body and heart. Each turn a reminder to let go and release any mundane thoughts, stories, or judgements. Take your time reaching the center, keeping your attention and the soles of the feet, the movement of the legs, the breath moving in and out.
When you arrive at the center, standing quietly, resting your attention lightly in the heart space, relaxing the body. With each in breath, feel, experience, or imagine that you're receiving the blessings of your intention, longing, or aspiration today.
You may wish to pause this recording for as long as you like while standing at the center receiving this blessing, and restart it when you're ready to return.
As you leave the center of the labyrinth and step back onto the path of return, allow your mind, body, and heart to be infused with a deep sense of peace and connection. Walking the return path slowly with ease, each step grounded in gratitude.
As you breathe in and out, you might continue to feel or imagine the heart space, Infused with that sense of peace and connection.
Feeling the air on your skin, make contact with the earth, sounds coming and going in the background. Each turn of the path brings you closer to the starting point, returning with any insights or understandings you may have received during this walk.
Taking your time, with each breath and step, just allow these gifts to inspire and fortify you in the days and months ahead.
And exiting the labyrinth at your own pace.
This is Trisha Stotler of the Insight Meditation community of Washington, and this meditation includes the bamboo flute piece "A Touch of Grace" by Jonathan Foust.
Wishing you peace on your journey.
