CarissaExplainsNothing
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Labyrinth
🕑 Added 2024-01-22 00:20:22 +0000 UTCOn New Year’s Day I went to my Unitarian Universalist church to walk the labyrinth. I’ve never done this before, but I really enjoyed the experience.
I took a little stone at the beginning to hold and focus on while I walked and set my intentions for the year. Apparently, I was supposed to drop it into a jar in the center of the labyrinth, but I missed that detail in the instructions so the stone is currently living in my purse. 😬
While walking to the center of the labyrinth I thought about all I experienced in 2023. I held the stone between my fingers and thought about how tightly I held on to people and how that ended up causing harm to me. In 2024 I’m letting go of anyone who isn’t for me. No clinging, no begging to be loved, no holding out hope… just letting go and going on about my journey.
Because the labyrinth was fabric, we took our shoes off before walking. I have this habit of almost never wearing socks, so I walked barefoot. I liked this because feeling the fabric under my feet made me feel more present. I normally struggle with that. Walking on the cool cloth made me pay attention to my feet more and feel each step differently than I would wearing shoes. In 2024 I set an intention to be present more. To allow myself to feel each “step” and take in the moment instead of rushing ahead to the next thing.
The twists and turns of the labyrinth take you in some unexpected directions. Just when you’re getting close to the center, the path turns and you end up all the way at the edge again. This feels so much like where I’m at in life right now. Some days I feel like I’m making progress and then the very next day will be full of heart-wrenching setbacks. My intention now is to not feel like the bad days will never end and good will never return to my life… because I know good will return.
❤️❤️❤️
Comments
Keir
I've been struggling a lot with the concept of unitarianism. As well you know there are... lots of implications. 🥺 Thanks for this. This is truly why I'm here.
Dave Smith
That's really interesting! I can't say I've ever gone to a UU church (or any kind of church since I deconstructed), though I have thought of it - I do believe that there is a power in ritual in terms of centering oneself and being present, even stripped of all the mysticism. Reading your third paragraph resonated, about letting go of people who aren't for you... In my 'principles' writing at the start of this year, I wrote "Save your effort for those that deserve it. Assume people deserve it - until they show otherwise." - different wording but likely similar sentiment. :)
