Yogaś Chitta Vrtti Nirodha

Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. 

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.2

Earlier this month I went to walk the labyrinth at The First Presbyterian Church of Austin. I remember my mind was incredibly busy that day. My thoughts were just spinning around and jumping from topic to topic with zero direction. As I stepped into the labyrinth and began my journey towards the center, I patiently waited for my mind to settle. And I waited. And waited. And less patiently waited. Eventually I realized that the dull roar in my mind was just going to stay there. I couldn’t force it to quiet down. So I let it go. I paid attention to my steps and let the mental noise continue. As I got closer to the center, two questions and answers cut through like a fog horn:

What is the purpose of yoga?

 To address the needs of the body.

What is the purpose of walking the labyrinth?

 To address the needs of the soul.

This little Socratic method moment was super ...

I am getting so excited about my return to the Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France next week! If you’ve been following my adventures these last couple of years, [blog post: Life is Messy] you know I’ve become an outspoken labyrinth enthusiast. I find this ancient spiritual practice so deeply effective, enjoyable, and revelatory, I’m telling anyone who’ll listen and everyone I meet. (Okay–maybe I’m not THAT overboard, but it’s not far off.)

I have so much enthusiasm about labyrinth practice, I just want to know more, do more, and lead. That’s why this trip is for me to do my Labyrinth Facilitator Training with Veriditas in the most well-known and well-walked labyrinth in the world; the blueprint for thousands of other labyrinths: Chartres Cathedral. 

Since you’re going to hear a lot more in this space about labyrinths and meetups and pilgrimages and events, I thought I’d answer the first main question that comes up:

What’s a labyrinth? And is it like a maze?

A labyrinth ...