THE ESTATE

THE LABYRINTH

Labyrinth Classes held each week
Welcome to the Magical World of Labyrinths

Universal Symbol of Transformation:
The labyrinth was created in ancient times to represent humankind’s search for the core of divinity. The labyrinth pattern is an archetypal form found all over the world. It dates back thousands of years. No one knows who created the original labyrinth form, but we do know from experience that embedded within each design is a pattern that somehow quiets our deep inner being so we can hear our own wisdom and the wisdom attempting to reach us. Whether walked or traced in sand, the labyrinth pattern is a powerful tool for reflection, invocation, meditation, healing, bringing calm and a deeper knowledge of the Self.

"Unlike a maze whose intent it is to get us lost, the labyrinth is designed to get us found."

Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has one linear path - that starts from the outer edge, moves into the heart or centre, and then back out again. It's a three part process. Through the act of trusting the path, of giving up conscious control of how things should go and being receptive to our inner state, we can be opened up to a whole new world. It seems that through the beautiful flow of their sacred patterns, labyrinths help us ground ourselves. Some people experience a state of timelessness and find this type of surrender particularly relaxing and refreshing.

Community of Labyrinths Around the World:
In our present day we are experiencing a rediscovery of the labyrinth as the spiritual tool it was intended for. Many communities are coming together to construct labyrinths in their community parks. Spiritual centres are creating them for those on retreat. Hospitals are building permanent labyrinths for patients and staff. Cancer support groups use them for strength and finding one's way through difficult times.

In medieval times, the labyrinth became the symbol of the spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem not exclusive to any one religious order but to all of them whose centre resided there. This focused walk to the centre of the city was used for contemplation of those questions that they needed answers or resolve to. The answers were expected to come once they had reached their temple in the Holy City of God. After several days of rest, recuperation and preparation, they would make their journey back again, a mindful contemplation on how they would now implement their discoveries or realizations into their life, their family, their village, their people.

Grail Springs Sacred Labyrinth:
Ancient Connections, the Oldest Rock in the World & Blessings from a Buddhist Monk

Grail Springs labyrinth is designed after the inner five-circuits of the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in France, built in 1201, one of the most famous labyrinths in the world and the one most replicated. Some interpretations of the circuits surrounding the centre are that they represent the solar system, the centre being the sun, and each circuit a representation of the power or attributes of the surrounding planets. Another is the human body, in particular the chakra system as taught through the different yoga schools.

In March of 2006, we were honored with a visit from Venerable Shenyen, a traveling monk who received his vows directly from the Dalai Lama. In an early morning ceremony while sitting on the snow in the middle of the labyrinth, a few of us were privy to an ancient Buddhist blessing for Grail Springs.

A special note of interest - Most of the beautiful ancient rocks you'll see surrounding our labyrinth under the large pine trees were hand dug from the old wagon and foot path of the Heritage Trail. The Heritage Trail was the main trail that was used by both the Algonquin Indians and the founding settlers of this area hundreds of years ago. They were laid there to honor and remember all those who came before us. And the Heritage Trail just happens to be one of the land boundaries dividing the Grail Springs property. The former owners claimed they found several tool and bone fragments in and around the waterfront area and in 1994, land owners across the lake tore down what was left of the old Spurr Lake Coach House. You can almost envision the beachfront and surrounding area as a perfect encampment where more than likely there had been lots of trading going on at the time.

And, if you explore some of the rocks in the labyrinth you will find plant fossils and quartz crystals everywhere. The Bancroft area is famous for its great variety of minerals such as masses of marble and granite, quartz crystal, gold, apatite, beryl, fluorite, talc and sodalite which can be found in displays all over the world, including the Smithsonian Institute. Princess Diana had her entire bathroom in her private residence done in blue sodalite from Bancroft. This region has been subject to many geological processes and has a complex mixture of different rock types that bring rockhounds from all over the world to its annual festival in August. The Highland region lies within the Canadian Shield, a northwesterly trending belt, roughly 400 kilometers wide and 2,000 kilometers long, extending from Lake Huron to the Labrador coast. The rock beneath us here at Grail Springs is between 1.1 and 1.8 billion years old and has been subject to volcanic activity, glacial scouring, extreme heat and pressure, intense faulting and folding.

Using the Sacred Spiral for Meditation, Transformation, Healing & Reconnecting
We encourage you to make a daily journey into our labyrinth. Go as often as you like. Even just sit somewhere within the meditation gardens and use this time for quiet contemplation or journaling. Allow your natural curiosity to come forth. The labyrinth is a tool for meditation. And meditation is simply the art of ‘focusing your mind’s attention with a calm awareness’. Intention is key. Purity of intention should be in your heart before entering a sacred labyrinth.

The labyrinth can be approached using three methods of meditation. You may simply want to utilize it for a silent meditation – to think nothing at all. Just to experience peace of mind, freedom from the inner voice of chatter. This is a great way to start if it is your first time and its also great for balancing and stimulating healing energy. Take some deep breaths and just walk gently and slowly.

Or, you may want to use it for invocation meditation, visualizing a healing for someone, even yourself, or say a prayer, for stirring up courage or your inner power. Many people say that this experience was the most powerful in feeling focused and connected.

Or, you may wish to use it for a working meditation or contemplative meditation, for creative uses, for building ideas, problem solving, for getting answers about decisions you are facing, or for figuring out life’s unending mysteries. This experience is very surprising to most. As you sit outside the circle, focus your thoughts on what you want to accomplish. Ask yourself what it is that you would most like to know, most like to have assistance with. Try not to have any preconceived ideas. Prepare yourself. Calm yourself. Empty your mind of chatter, your heart of any anxiety. Start with a few deep breaths, relax and enjoy the simplicity of the experience.

When you feel ready, begin your walk. Taking slow, small and steady steps is a good start. But there are no rules. You may at times just feel like stopping. You may feel like sitting down in the middle of your walk to contemplate something you just discovered or to regroup. You may also feel like leaving and going to sit down outside of the circle again. You may feel like starting over. Again, there are no rules. What you will find is that long after you are done, you will continue to realize even more about the actual experience and all of it’s subtleties.

If you are doing an invocation meditation, relax and find your silence first, bring up your intention, and begin to express your desire. Keeping your intent in the forefront of your mind and heart. That is where you want to persist in your focus. The universe responds to energy, and with energy. Energy attracts energy. Negative attracts negative. Positive attracts positive. The spoken word carries in it your intentions, and intention translates into energy – the universal language. So remember, your intent is more important than your actual words. Don’t worry if you feel awkward or stumble at first, or don’t feel like it is flowing well or you are not poetic enough. Modesty is perfectly acceptable. Hint - Humility in your expression is a key to ‘getting connected’. There is no judgment here. The more you meditate or walk the labyrinth, the more confidence you will gain and eventually you will begin to get into a rhythm and eventually you will feel ‘connected’.

Being more connected to your Self, the universal intelligence, life, Mother Nature, humanity, your family and friends can be the outcome. A greater sense of ‘meaningfulness’ can be the outcome. A greater sense of confidence and knowing clearly who you are can be the outcome. A greater sense of appreciation, humility, compassion and gratefulness can be the outcome. And finally, a full life filled with blissful meaning and joy can be the ultimate outcome. After all, joy is really love and perhaps the meaning of life is just that simple? So get started and get re-connected! Ask and you shall receive!

If you are stuck, here are some common questions to help you get started and ponder throughout your stay…
Why did I come here?
What is my view of life?
What is my greatest illusion?
What are my innate given attributes?
How am I doing with the word ‘intent’?
What is being drawn up from the well of intuition?
Do I need to forgive someone?
What question is at the forefront of my mind at this time in my life journey?
What goals have I had in the past that I still have desires to fulfill?
What do I fear most in life?
What perceptions are becoming clearer?
What is dropping away as I weave through this journey?
What am I being taught?
What is my view of life now?