Eric Shulman on Walking the Labyrinth

Located on the grounds of CNU’s great lawn was a labyrinth. The labyrinth is known as a spiritual tool used as a symbol of the journey to the center of yourself. It is also a symbol that relates to wholeness. Additionally, it’s a symbol that creates sacred space and place and takes us out of our ego. The labyrinth is a combination of the imagery of the circle with a purposeful path to the center of your deepest self. Individuals walk the labyrinth, but it is a metaphor for life’s journey. According to Caroline Adams, “Your life is a sacred journey. And it is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path... exactly where you are meant to be right now... And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love." From the looks of the labyrinth, there was only one way in and one way out…there was no escape route. At first, I really didn’t understand the meaning of the labyrinth. As when we arrived there, we all walked through it fairly quickly, not understanding its purpose. After class, I went back to it and reflected. As I walked it, it took me about a good twenty minutes to walk, while it only took me a measely five when I was with my classmates. At first, I thought, “What would walking this maze do?” Then, after my twenty minutes of calmness and reflection I understood. A passive, receptive mindset was needed for this exercise.