Last summer, St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Shawville, Quebec unveiled its new labyrinth path painted on the floor of its hall. On May 3, the church hosted its first official labyrinth walk.
The event was organized by church warden Jean Macnab to coincide with World Labyrinth Day, when people around the world walk labyrinths at 1 pm local time as an international meditation for world peace.
There are many reasons to walk a labyrinth — to find solace, strength, clarity, celebration, insight, to quiet the mind or to solve a problem. The labyrinth is designed to help you find your way.
Participants were introduced to the concept of the labyrinth. Names of the countries worldwide involved in war or conflict were read out loud. Each participant was given a heart shaped stone to carry as they walked the labyrinth. Following a short prayer, each participant was asked to pick a country or a conflict to focus on during the walk.
The participants entered the labyrinth one at a time, pausing in the centre to reflect before walking back out. At the completion of the walk each participant put their heart shaped stone in a bowl of water. Following the walk there was a time for reflection and discussion.
We plan to organize more labyrinth walks in the future. All are welcome.
St. Stephen’s, Ottawa — Deanery of Central Ottawa