Walking the Labyrinths at Grace Cathedral

Click photos to enlarge*

The Grace Cathedral is an Episcopalian Church. Although we are Catholics, we came there for a visit last week since it is one of San Francisco's must-see places.

I was there last October 2005 when Olivier Fernandez, a friend of mine from France and Thailand came here to visit us. Last Good Friday, together with my husband, I came there again for the second time. It was husband's first time to see it. We went there because I told himI wanted to see the outdoor LABYRINTH that was featured in the Catholic Answer, a Catholic magazine, we found one night while doing our adoration inside the chapel of our church, St. Athony of Padua, in Manteca.

Grace Cathedral is in Nobhill in San Francisco. There, we were amazed to see its magnificent architectural design. The cathedral is monumental and places like this one always gives me a feeling of epiphany.

While outside, we busied our eyes by looking at where the outdoor labyrinth was but couldn't find it. So we decided to just get inside but as we entered it, we saw people walking quietly around in circles and realized soon enough that they were doing the ancient "LABYRINTH MEDITATION" inside the church. So we thought-this is another one (indoor labyrinth).

As we left the church (after our prayer and meditation time at the labyrinth and at the altar) we found the outdoor labyrinth right between our eyes as we did exit the door! Amazing! There, once more, we walked for a short while then left to proceed to meet my gf Rose Leano at Bereford Arms Hotel along Post street (4 blocks from Grace Cathedral). Rose was visiting from Maryland.

BTW, there is also the "FINGER LABYRINTH MEDITATION" inside the cathedral where the finger is used to guide the individual while on meditation ( and on moving through the lines of meditation). Husband and I tried it but there is nothing more powerful than the one on the real labyrinth. It was so peaceful. It was so touching because there was a black alto singer (female) who sang "KUMBAYA, MY LORD" as we were in meditation. After a while, she also played the harp and sang a bit more. We were so touched for this great experience we had.

I hope my family and friends could experience what we have here in the US. I miss my family in times like these- wishing they could be a part of the experience I have overseas. But such is life. We are distributed in different corners of the earth as people and as God's creation. Good day, everyone!

GENERAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS (taken from Grace Cathedral's website):

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.

There are three stages of the walk:

1. Purgation (Releasing) ~ A releasing, a letting go of the details of your life. This is the act of shedding thoughts and distractions. A time to open the heart and quiet the mind.

2. Illumination (Receiving) ~ When you reach the center, stay there as long as you like. It is a place of meditation and prayer. Receive what is there for you to receive.

3. Union (Returning) ~ As you leave, following the same path out of the center as you came in, you enter the third stage, which is joining God, your Higher Power, or the healing forces at work in the world. Each time you walk the labyrinth you become more empowered to find and do the work you feel your soul reaching for.

Guidelines for the walk:

1. Quiet your mind and become aware of your breath.

2. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. The path is two ways. Those going in will meet those coming out. You may "pass" people or let others step around you. Do what feels natural.

If you can't come walk the labyrinth in person, you can enjoy exploring the articles, interviews, and multimedia features below.

http://www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth/

FEATURE ARTICLES AND MEDIA

AMAZING GRACE: A labyrinth is one way to make peace with the landscaping , San Francisco Chronicle, 03/23/2005 Text.

Circuitous paths leave no choices, San Francisco Chronicle, 03/23/2005 Text.

About Labyrinths.

The labyrinth is an ancient pattern found in many cultures around the world. Labyrinth designs were found on pottery, tablets and tiles date as far back as 4000 years. Many patterns are based on spirals from nature. In Native American culture it is called the Medicine Wheel and Man in the Maze. The Celts described it as the Never Ending Circle. It is also called the Kabala in mystical Judaism. One feature they all share is that they have one path which winds in a circuitous way to the center. Text.