Reflection on the Labyrinth

Surely, it is God who saves me; I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and he will be my Savior.

One morning, as I walked the carefully made labyrinth at All Saints, I prayed the Canticle from Morning Prayer, The First Song of Isaiah, BCP p. 86.

I didn’t have the song memorized, so I carried my cellphone, its prayer app glowing with that morning’s readings. As I moved along the winding path, the Canticle unfolded for me in a fresh, unexpected way.

Usually, I begin the path with the Lord’s Prayer or a quiet plea for insight. This time, I let The First Song of Isaiah become my steady companion, repeating it three times on my way in and again on my way out. With each repetition, the prayer echoed more deeply within me, and the word "trust" seemed to whisper directly to my soul.

A labyrinth gently guides us from the noise of the outside world into a quiet, inward journey. As I walked with the song, trust blossomed within me, shifting from simply knowing about God to truly resting in God’s presence.

With each deliberate twist and turn, I sensed how the labyrinth’s curves mirrored the choices we make to keep moving forward in faith, even when the way ahead feels uncertain.

At the center, I paused in stillness. Birds sang nearby, and the distant hum of traffic lingered, yet within that mix of sounds, a quiet trust was renewed. Surrounded by the world’s noise, I felt a sustaining strength beyond myself.

Amid the song’s echoes and the labyrinth’s winding path, I discovered a peace that was more than a place. It felt like stepping into a way of being that stretched beyond time and space. I realized I didn’t need all the answers; I only needed to be present, trusting that I was held by something unseen and far more powerful than I could ever imagine.

The experience became a refreshing wellspring for my day, and I am deeply grateful for the gift of the All Saints labyrinth.

While labyrinths are often confused with mazes, they are definitely not the same. Labyrinths are unicursal, with one continuous, winding path that leads to the center and back out again. Mazes are multicursal, meaning they have branching paths, dead ends, and trickery meant to make you lose your way.

The labyrinth engages the right brain because it requires no navigation. This allows the right brain to engage in prayer and deeper reflection. A labyrinth follows a three-stage spiritual rhythm: Purgation (Walking In), Illumination (The Center), and Union (Walking Out).

As I walked into the labyrinth, I let go of distractions, anxieties, and heavy burdens. When I came to the center, my favorite spot, I was able to be still, receive, and rest. This walk gave me a renewed sense of trust that the Song of Isaiah was feeding me. Walking out, I was able to take what I received out to the world.

The labyrinth at All Saints stands open, welcoming everyone. I invite you to step onto its path and let its quiet wellness embrace you whenever you need it.

Only by grace, Tara+