Why the labyrinth?  Prior to the founding of Sacred Paths community 18 people had been meeting at the home of Spiritual Director, Stephen Heilakka on a weekly basis.  During this time a space was created to carry out a discussion related to what it meant to live an authentic life.  In April of 2008, Stephen went on retreat.  While walking a labyrinth at the retreat site he heard the words, “Sacred Paths” in his head.  Thus was born the idea of Sacred Paths Community.  When he returned to the discussion group the following Sunday morning he presented the idea of forming Sacred Paths Community.  Everyone agreed that it was time to do so, and the labyrinth was given special meaning.

The term "labyrinth" is often used interchangeably with the term "maze" — but there is a difference. While a maze is a tour puzzle in the form of complex branching passages with choices of path and destination, a labyrinth has a single unambiguous path to the center and back and is not designed to be difficult to navigate. That path is similar to the path all human beings experience in life.  We come into this world.  We live and then we move to the next experience when we die.  Though it looks as though everyone’s path is different, that is an illusion.  Everyone’s path is the same; it is the experiences along the path that differ. 

Evidence of labyrinths has been found in many ancient and disparate cultures — some date back as far as 2500 BCE. Their predominate form has been that of the simple seven-circuit style (note the correspondences with the seven chakras, the seven colors, the seven musical notes, etc …) known as the "Classical Labyrinth."

Labyrinths, as part of Christian symbology, were prominent in the design of medieval cathedrals during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries — the best known of those being at Chartres, in northern France. They symbolized a hard path to God with a clearly defined center (God) and one entrance (birth). Most people could not afford to travel to holy sites, so walking a labyrinth and praying substituted for such travel. A labyrinth walk, then, can be thought of as a symbolic form of pilgrimage, walking the path being associated with ascending toward salvation or enlightenment.

In recent years, there has been a massive revival of interest in Sacred Arts and art forms: ceremonies and rituals, medicine ways, healing practices, prayers, mantras and spirit chants, sacred geometries, mandalas and, of course labyrinths. Labyrinths belong to the family of "Mandalas" (Sanskrit for "circles that contain the Essence"). They are said to guard, activate and amplify the spiritual energies of their location so that people who walk them can experience a feeling of grace, peace or holiness in their hearts, souls and spirits.

Labyrinths contain non-verbal, implicate geometric and numerological prompts that create a multi-dimensional holographic field. These unseen patterns, referred to as "Sacred Geometry," reveal the presence of a cosmic order as they create an interface between the world of material form and the subtler realms of higher consciousness. Like mandalas, labyrinths are archetypal collective symbols that transcend all cultures because they are grounded in consciousness itself.

Labyrinths are non-denominational; people who walk them come from all life styles, religious backgrounds and spiritual practices. They are used by modern mystics to help achieve a contemplative state. Walking among the turnings, one loses track of direction and of the outside world, thus quieting the mind.

The labyrinth and other such art forms are called "sacred" because they are to be approached with a clear intention of spiritual transformation. After the sacred art experience, the practitioner is not the same as before — some transformation, some multi-dimensional change has occurred. One's entire Being is, in fact, involved — this is Sacredness. The key to this Sacredness is the intention, the willingness for a transformation, an answer, a solution, an insight, a new feeling to occur … the willingness to move forward in life, in consciousness and in spirit … the willingness to enter into the Great Mystery of Who We Are.

Sacred Paths Community has its own labyrinth. It may be walked free of charge by Sacred Paths members.

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