Enter the Labyrinth

I’ve been thinking a lot about my journey to being an animal communicator lately, and there’s something I think you should know:

I’m not special. I was once in your shoes.

When I was first learning animal communication, I remember thinking that it was possible for other people to communicate with animals, but I wasn’t sure that I would ever be able to do the same.

I read every book I could get my hands on, and got a little frustrated when I would read these words, or some variation of them, over and over again:

“When I was a child, I talked to animals and just assumed everyone else did too. Then X happened, and I realized that not everyone could hear what our animal friends were saying, so I hid my gifts away. As an adult, Y happened, and then I finally felt ready to share my gifts with the world…”

I don’t mean to make light of that journey, but to me it was discouraging to think that those people had ALWAYS had the ability to talk to animals.

What about the rest of us?

Communicating with animals is something I learned to do, and you can too.

This is Your Brain

One of THE most important steps to being a good animal communicator is being able to quiet your mind.

You know what I’m going to say next, right?

One of the best ways to quiet your mind is through a regular meditation practice.

Here’s the part where you groan, and think that I and other animal communicators must somehow have something special, because we can meditate for six hours a day while seated, unmoving, on our foofy, mandala-printed cushions, and never, ever have to scratch our noses or pee, so deep is our meditation.

HA!

I’m here to tell you I’m a terrible meditator.

That is, I don’t have a lengthy, daily meditation practice. But I do meditate.

I found that whenever I set a goal to meditate every day for X minutes, I rarely met that goal. Somehow, I just couldn’t sit down to do it.

Over time, I’ve found other ways to fit a meditative practice into my life, in ways that seem natural vs. seeming like work.

It would take a book to share them all, so today I’ll just talk about one of my favorites: the labyrinth.

My First Labyrinth Walk

desert rose labyrinth
Desert Rose Labyrinth, Kayenta, UT

I walked my first labyrinth in the beautiful red rock desert outside of Saint George, Utah.  A wall of red stone cliffs was the backdrop for a circular stone path, which was so inviting that I couldn’t help but step onto it.  The path wound this way and that, leading toward the center of the circle, and with each step I slowed down and breathed a little more.  By the time I reached the center of the circle, my mind was clear and relaxed, and I felt calm.  Quiet.

AHA!   This was like meditating, only much more interesting!

Ever since, I have enjoyed walking labyrinths wherever I find them, both close to my home and when visiting new places.  They never fail to help me quiet my mind and become present in the moment.

The more I have learned about labyrinths, the more I’ve come to realize that they are a powerful tool for quieting your mind and focusing your energy.  It’s no wonder that people have been building them for thousands of years.

What is a Labyrinth?

When I say “labyrinth,” you may think of the movie of the same name, or of the Greek myth. Either way, you’re probably thinking of some sort of maze, in which it’s easy to get lost.

A labyrinth is a maze, and it is easy to lose yourself in one, but not because it’s deceiving.

A labyrinth is a maze with only one path. Once you start on the path, there is only one way to go. There are no dead ends or choices. The only choice involved is whether to start on the path, and then all you have to do is follow where it leads, which is typically to the center and back out again.

Labyrinths have been used as contemplative tools by humans for at least 3,000 years.  We’ve carved them in rock, painted them on cave walls, and built them from stone.

chartres cathedral labyrinth
The labyrinth at the Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France.

Animals and the Labyrinth

Animals are drawn to the energy of labyrinths.

My cats will often spend time in the center as I walk. The neighborhood crows have been known to play with the glass beads in the center of my labyrinth – and only the ones in the center! They leave the beads on the border untouched.

In fact, there is a whole Facebook group devoted to animals and labyrinths.

If animals love them, and they’ve been around for 3,000 years… labyrinths just might be helpful to you, too.

Walking a Labyrinth

Walking a labyrinth can be a deeply meditative experience, and something about the act of walking makes it easier to quiet your mind.

Here are some suggestions to help you on your path.

Always begin by taking a few, deep breaths, then setting your intention for the walk.

The walk can take many forms, but here are some common approaches:

  • Repeat a mantra out loud or to yourself with each step.  I will often do this with the word “love.”
  • You might set the intention to receive inspiration, or the answer to a problem. 
  • You may wish to release a worry or a burden, letting go of it when you reach the center.
  • You can use the “Three R’s”: release, receive, reflect. As you walk to the center, allow yourself to release your concerns and quiet your mind. At the center, be open to receive whatever the moment offers you. On your return, reflect on what you’ve received. 
  • Your walk may represent a journey to a place of peace inside you, to your heart, or to your true self.
  • Focus only on your footsteps. When another thought intrudes, acknowledge it, let it go, and return your focus to each step.
  • Combine breath work with your footsteps. Breathe in for two steps, breathe out for two steps.

Whatever approach you use, walking a labyrinth can help clear out your head… and that will make you a better animal communicator!

Where to Find a Labyrinth

Chances are there is a labyrinth near you, and I’d encourage you to seek one out and walk it. You can use the Worldwide Labyrinth Locator to find one.

But you don’t have to leave your house to walk a labyrinth!  You can “walk” a labyrinth with your finger or a pen on paper.

If you’re using a pen, you can simply trace the path, but you can also get creative if you feel like it. Color it in, write your way to the center, make dots to represent each footstep… whatever feels right to you.

I’ve put together a little booklet to help you get started.

Enjoy!

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