Labyrinth Welcome Center – This welcome Center was built in the fall of 2013 as an Eagle Project by Jacob Welper, a member of Galilean. 
We invite you to experience an ancient spiritual practice: The Labyrinth.
The Galilean Labyrinth is a 40 foot circular sacred pattern cut on an open field to be walked as a spiritual meditation. The design requires the walker to begin at the outside of the circle and wind slowly in toward the center and then wind slowly out again, using the same path. The meditation focuses on the mindfulness of shedding. As you walk inwardly, it is time to release and let go of the details and tensions in your life.
The center of the Labyrinth is illumination. At this point, be still. Sit or stand. This is a place of prayer, meditation, listening and feeling the Presence. Receive what is there for you.
Then, as you walk outwardly from the center, you reach the third stage, “Union”. At this point, imagine that you feel one with God, neighbor, self and nature.
Each time you walk the Labyrinth, you become more empowered to find and do the work your soul is calling you to.
Because you are walking, the mind is quieted. A walk in the Labyrinth is sometimes called a “body prayer” or walking meditation.
There is no “right or wrong” way to walk the Labyrinth. The entrance can be a place to stop, to pray and to reflect on your intentions for the spiritual walk you are about to take. Enter the Labyrinth with an open and quiet mind, and a quiet heart.
In many ways, the Labyrinth will be a call to action, a transformation spiritual tool for people to aid healing, to help in relieving grief, to help guide us through troubled times, to aid in decision making and to help illuminate our purpose in life.
It can act as a tool of celebration and giving thanks for our many blessings.
Use it as your heart desires. Please recognize this is a spiritual practice and not a magical tool.
The Labyrinth is a transforming spiritual journey.
It is open to anyone, regardless of faith or tradition.
The Labyrinth in History
In ancient Greek mythology, we find reference to the “Cretin Labyrinth”. It describes an enclosure made up of intricate interconnecting circles designed by the Athenian craftsman Daedalus meant to imprison a creature called a Minotaur, a beast that was half bull and half man. This beast was said to have terrible powers and was a menace to man. The Labyrinth was designed to keep the creature in the center and being unable to find its way out was therefore powerless.
We also find reference to the word Labyrinth in ancient texts that describe a Labyrinth as a series of interconnecting circles displayed on the floor in various places of worship. Some designs were a crude pathway in the dirt floor. Others were painted on the floor and still others were elaborate designs of colorful Mosaic tiles.
Because of various degrees of religious persecution, many believers were not permitted to leave their home towns and make the annual pilgrimage to the Holy cities as part of their faith. Legend has it that instead of making an actual pilgrimage, they would walk the “Labyrinth”. Thereby making a symbolic pilgrimage and fulfilling a sacred duty to their faith. To this day, Labyrinths still exist in many churches, synagogs, and mosques throughout the world.
