Labyrinth a journey for the soul

Special to The Log

The labyrinth: Providing a Path for the Nourishment of the Soul is a workshop in spiritual learning and prayer to be offered jointly by St. Andrews By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Destin and Christ the King Episcopal Church in Santa Rosa Beach at 9:45 a.m. Oct. 16 at St. Andrew’s, 307 Harbor Drive. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. in the parish hall.
The workshop is open to members of St. Andrew’s, Christ the King, St. Simon’s on the Sound Episcopal Church in Fort Walton Beach and St. Augustine of Canterbury in Navarre.
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What is a labyrinth?
“The Labyrinth is an archetype, a divine imprint, found in all religious traditions in various forms around the world.
By walking a replica of the Chartres labyrinth, laid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France around 1220, we are rediscovering a long-forgotten mystical tradition that is insisting to be reborn.
The labyrinth has only one path so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. It touches our sorrows and releases our joys. Walk it with an open mind and an open heart.” — From the Web site of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth

How is the labyrinth used as a spiritual tool?
“Rediscover your spiritual being by walking a sacred path… All of the larger than life questions about our presence here on earth and what gifts we have to offer are spiritual questions. To see the answers to these questions is to see a sacred path. The labyrinth offers a sacred and stable space for us to focus and listen to the longing of our soul. Most of us find ourselves consumed with hectic schedules, with little or no time to discover our authentic self. We need to take time to balance and reflect on all facets of life — family, education, play, work and spirituality. The time spent walking this spiritual path will allow you the opportunity to center yourself and reflect on who you are and where you are going.” —  From the labyrinth brochure of The Church of the Resurrection, Miramar Beach Drive in Destin.

Who is leading the labyrinth day?
Diane Macrae, an experienced spiritual director and teacher and a member of Christ the King, is the leader. She will base the spiritual and prayer tools taught in this class on the book “Way of the Winding Path: A Map for the Labyrinth of Life — Simple Steps for Experiencing Life as a Spiritual Journey” by Eve Eshner Hogan. The book is available for sale at www.amazon.com; a new book costs $10.29 plus $3.99 per copy for shipping, and a used book is $4.29 plus $3.99 per copy for shipping.

Will I actually walk a labyrinth?
The Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast has a portable canvas Labyrinth which will be available in the St. Andrew’s parish hall during the workshop and for the following week. At the end of the workshop, at approximately 11 a.m., participants will travel via carpools to Resurrection Catholic Church, 259 Miramar Beach Drive, where they will take turns walking and practicing new prayer tools at the outdoor labyrinth there. They will then break into small groups to review their experiences.
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Following the walks at Resurrection, the group will have a Dutch treat lunch at a nearby restaurant (location to be announced at the workshop) and have the opportunity to continue fellowship with members of the other Episcopal Churches in this area.
To register, contact Joyce Waters-Smith at (850) 269-2170 or Peggy Cramer at (850) 231-6389. The workshop will be limited to the first 20 people to register.
For questions about the labyrinth or the workshop material, contact Diane Macrae at (850) 269-0627.
This article was contributed to The Log by St. Andrews By-the-Sea Episcopal Church.