Description

The Labyrinth has become one of the most recognized symbols of contemporary spirituality. Walking, praying and living the labyrinth is a path taken by millions of Christians and others toward a deeper connection with the sacred. Many devotees are ready for the next step.

The enneagram is a psychological model of how individuals understand and organize their perceptions about experience. It identifies nine positions of attention that affect the ways in which each of us responds to the sacred and to others. The labyrinth becomes a place to explore these perceptions in a spiritually nurturing environment.

Readers are given an orientation in the enneagram and an explanation of the nine positions, as well as exercises on the labyrinth to identify barriers within. References from Scripture are part of each exercise. From these experiences, readers will enjoy the transformation that arises from new learning and insight. Space for journaling and reflection is provided with each experience.

Jill K. H. Geoffrion, Ph.D. is an ordained minister, labyrinth facilitator and frequent retreat and pilgrimage leader.
Elizabeth Catherine Nagel, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist, labyrinth facilitator, and certified spiritual director.

Contents

An Invitation
Perceiving My Needs (Two Energy)
Releasing My Inner Critic (One Energy)
Moving Toward Freedom (Six Energy)
From Grief to Grace (Four Energy)
Laying Claim and Taking Action (Nine Energy)
Wisdom Informing Knowledge (Five Energy)
Where Am I? Who Am I? (Three Energy)
Searching for Truth and Justice (Eight Energy)
The Pain and Pleasure of Possibilities (Seven Energy)
A Future Invitation
Resources

Selection from Section Three, "Releasing My Inner Critic" (One Energy)

Approaching Labyrinths

The labyrinth is a wonderful place to go experiment with letting go! Some different kinds of letting go are forgiveness, willingness to try something new, releasing a long-term habit, changing your mind, or ignoring others' expectations.

One of the beauties of the labyrinth is that it is a safe place to open yourself to your own experience. Here you can allow yourself to be drawn in to what is happening, rather than having to shape or control it.

Let go of all your expectations as you move towards the labyrinth--except the one that something will happen--even though you will have no idea what it will be. Say to yourself, "I don't need to be responsible for what happens here." Resist any attempt to figure out what might happen on the labyrinth!

Pay close attention to spontaneous experiences of joy or pleasure that come on the labyrinth--especially today!

If you get an urge to play while on the labyrinth--play!

You can skip.

You can roll.

You can experiment and find out what happens if you follow the lines instead of the path.

You can ask the question, "What would I do if no one was looking?" Do it if you want! (From page 27)