New Year's Day Labyrinth

Every year on New Year's Day, and one week later on my birthday, I walk a labyrinth. I do this for two reasons: to consciously set aside habits and emotions that I'd like to leave behind, and to set intentions for the new year. Today, Debbie & I walked the labyrinth at Milner Plaza next to the International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe.

Labyrinths have a long history, going back to ancient Greece and around the world. Formal walking meditation in a labyrinth harks back to medieval Europe. It was used as a symbolic pilgrimage. Today the labyrinth has become a metaphor of personal growth and change. People often use them at inflection points in their lives, to seek guidance and mark change. This is facilitated by the structure of the labyrinth, which is a wonderful symbol for life. First of all, there are no wrong turns. Once you take a step on this path, you will reach the center, if you keep going. However, at times, it seems that you are not making progress... At first you might be moving forward and then you will be going the opposite direction. Next, you will be walking close to the center and then find yourself back at the outer rim. We go forward and backwards, left and right, but no step is wasted, and each step is necessary to reach the goal. How like the path we all have tread in life. You can use the labyrinth to seek guidance, to do a walking meditation or to just enjoy the day.