A Forty Day Practice

As I was walking the labyrinth this morning, I was asked to create a very specific 40-day practice based on the paths I was traveling. I invite you to join me.

Starting Monday, January 20th, I will be focusing on a different theme each day. If you have a local labyrinth, I invite you to walk the labyrinth with that theme as your focus. If you don’t wave a local labyrinth, you can either create your own (I will provide instructions below), take a walk somewhere peaceful, or even sit in contemplation in your own home. I will be scheduling various public labyrinth appearances, and you are welcome to join me when and where you can, if you feel moved to do so.

The structure of the practice

A labyrinth has 3 phases, and the practice will follow those phases whether you are using an actual labyrinth or not.

The walking in (or first third of your contemplation) is a release. Look at what the theme of the day means to you on all levels, and what within yourself prevents you from having a more intimate relationship with that theme. What ego attachments does this theme bring up for you? As you identify those things, you can release them, simply by saying to yourself “I release _____.”

The center of the labyrinth (or second third of your contemplation) is a contemplation on the theme from 6 different points of view:

  • The mineral world – What are the foundational aspects of this theme? Look at it on a slow growth, global scale.
  • The plant world – How does this theme reveal itself in Nature? What is the energy of the theme? Where are its roots? How does it reach toward the Divine?
  • The animal kingdom – Is there an animal medicine/energy you associate with this theme? What other themes does that bring up for you?
  • Mankind – How does this theme show up in your life? How can you better practice it? If there is a person who emulates this theme for you, think about their qualities and actions, and how you can better incorporate those into your own life.
  • Angelic – Do you know if there is there an angel or archangel associated with this theme? If there was an energy that could help you wit this theme, what would it be? How would it feel to be in contact with that?
  • The Unknown – If the Divine is everything, then this theme is an aspect of the Divine. What does that mean to you?

The path of return in the labyrinth (or the last third of your contemplation) is about receiving. You could be receiving insight, guidance, energy, visions… I generally keep my ego out of it by focusing on the phrase “I open myself to receive,” and let whatever background processes do their thing without my input.

The Themes

My daily message (which posts to Facebook, Twitter, and my daily email newsletter at 8am Pacific time or UTC-8) for these forty days will be the theme of the day, along with suggestions for how to being that theme more fully into your life. I will include instructions or  link to the instructions, in case you join in the middle or need a reminder. The themes will be determined by the same formula I used for 365 Days to Enlightenment (also available in eBook format).

Community

I invite you to discuss your experience with this practice, either here in the comments or on my Facebook page, so that you may share your insights with each other. I find that people can get much more out of a practice when they allow themselves to be part of a shared community experience.

Creating Your Own Labyrinth

You can create your own labyrinth easily enough in your home or garden. The lines can be made with stones, dirt, string, tape, chalk… Rather than construct an eleven circuit labyrinth, I recommend creating a seven-circuit one. Labyrinthos is a wonderful source for instructions, or you can follow this simple animation:

You can also use a simple spiral design if you would like, as long as it directs you to your left when you enter it. The left turn activates your subconscious and is much better for meditation.

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