?
Chartes 11 Circuit labyrinth in France
Under the full super moon this March my children and I walked the Mt. Washington labyrinth here in St. Croix. It was a gorgeous Caribbean night, and people of all faiths ? Muslims, Wiccans, Catholics ? the people of St. Croix, ? turned out among the tiki lights and palm trees to take a sacred walk among the plantation ruins for healing and to offer prayers to the people of Japan and all who suffer.
Created by Nancy Ayer, an advanced labyrinth facilitator, ?http://www.stcroixthisweek.com/featured-articles/mt-washington.html the Mt. Washington labyrinth is? an 11-Circuit Chartes labyrinth, as found in Chartes Cathedral in France. Ayer writes in her brochure that Chartes was built in 1201 and is the oldest existing labyrinth in a Christian cathedral.? The oldest surviving labyrinth is found in rock carvings at Luzzanas in Sardinia (2500-2000 BC.). Knossos on Crete is the oldest European form, and the first labyrinth built to the walked was in Egypt c. 1800 BCE. Labyrinths are found on all continents.
According to Ayer, a labyrinth can be used to facilitate healing for children and teens. It brings forth the intuitive, symbolic mind that is able to come forth.
?The labyrinth is about letting go of the thinking/judging mind and moving into that feeling space, that heart space, that place where God is, that place where children are naturally!? she said. There are no good or bad thoughts, she said. Just thoughts. ?Children have used hula hoops, songs, games and prayers in the labyrinth; and adults have found healing just from watching them walk.
Ayer said that a labyrinth is more than a maze, as it has a single circuitous path into the center. The same path exists to the center and returns to the beginning, thus the entrance becomes the exit. There are no tricks or dead ends on a labyrinth. It is a mandala; a symbol of the Self. It can be used for artistic inspiration, celebrations, grief work, healing, meditation, pastoral care, personal transformation, problem solving, prayer recovery, spiritual direction, spiritual discussions, staff support and therapy.
That night after our labyrinth walk, as we were going to bed, I asked my 13-year-old son what he thought of it and what came up for him during the walk. He said he had a lot of memories about his late father. The 8th anniversary of his father?s death was coming up that week. I allowed him to feel safe and comfortable before I asked him what kind of memories he had. At first he didn?t want to talk about it; then he spoke.
?I remember when Dad and I were reading together the big book of riddles and I Spy. He stopped and said, ??Daddy is going to a far, far away place and you will never see him again. Are you OK with that??? and I said, ??Yes.? I was so upset and sad. I didn?t know what to say or do.?
I asked my son when this had happened and he said about three weeks before his father?s death. This was healing for me as well to hear, since I had suspected my husband had been contemplating his suicide long before he did it on March 24, 2003. It relieved a lot of guilt and filled in the missing puzzle pieces. My son also felt better, he said. And Ayer helped me realize that it is remarkable for children to be able to be aware of and express their grief. I feel it was the labyrinth and the telling of the story that made it possible.
It believe that it is when we cease the thinking, rational mind that our modern culture prizes and plunge to the depths where tbhe severaged intuitive, sensing functions of our psyche reside, we ?access the bridge to wholeness and our gateway to the true Self. ?That is why I feel that yoga, meditation ? and in the form of the labyrinth ? is like Drano for the soul; it works on the clogs within and allows repressed emotions and memories to bubble up to the surface to be made aware of and worked with consciously, rather than remaining unconscious and as samskaras.
Certified Storytime Yoga instructor Laura Mankowsky walks with children in the labyrinth as she assists the Storytime Yoga kids camp at Kripalu
I had another experience walking a labyrinth with kids. At the Kripalu Kids Camp last summer, where I taught Storytime Yoga, (and will again this year July 22-24). I took kids to the lovely labyrinth there made of plants and flowers. Children mostly ran through it, especially the boys, as I urged quiet contemplation and walking meditation. Girls were more open to the walking of it, but mostly they were all equally fascinated by it. Again, these teachings work on an unconscious level, so you can?t go wrong. And teaching kids is largely teaching their unconscious, especially when they are young. (Maria Montessori said that toddler education is entirely unconscious.) The biggest rule of thumb when teaching kids is that the lesson is grasped when they are 20 years-old! So no upset if kids don?t get it at first! Don?t worry, they will later! Just walk, teach, tell, stretch and love! Everything else is ego on your part!
Kripalu also has a lovely meditation garden, in which we had more successful walking meditation. I instructed each child to put a rock on his or her head and walk slowly in the shaded rectangular garden. The calm was felt in that symbolic realm.
Try out a labyrinth in your area or create your own and share it with children to reap the healing benefits for them and yourself. (and the world.) SHIVA HUM!
Here are some resources from Nancy Ayer:
Four Minutes of Stillness during the Winter Feast?http://www.winterfeastforthesoul.com/index2.php?dest=children
Beth Langley?s Lasting Labyrinths?www.lastinglabyrinths.com
Get this book if you can find it!?Labyrinths for kids?http://www.amazon.com/Labyrinths-Kids-Lani-Rossetta/dp/0970986602/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301353723&sr=8-1
Labyrinth Resource Group?http://www.labyrinthresourcegroup.org/school.html
More Labyrinth ideas
Labyrinth Society Activities for Kids
http://www.labyrinthsociety.org/activities-for-kids
Lessons 4 Living
http://www.lessons4living.com/101%20Ways%20Labyrinth.PDF
For more information or to schedule a workshop, contact Nancy Ayer at? stxnancy@gmail.com or call 340-772-1026.
We plan to walk the Mt. Washington labyrinth at the Storytime Yoga Children?s Yoga Teacher Training January 16-20, 2012 live component in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Join us!
Namaste and Have a Magical Day!
SYDNEY SOLIS
?
Source: http://www.storytimeyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-labyrinth-walking-for-children-and-teens/
Posted by: |