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This cache is located near St. Luke's United Methodist Church's Outdoor Daylily Labyrinth. It has an easy terrain, which is just off of the road's surface. The dual meaning of "One Way In, One Way Out" is that it is also located at the end of a dead end street.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN PEN OR PENCIL TO SIGN THE LOG.
This outdoor labyrinth might be most enjoyed during late spring or early summer when the daylilies are bloomed as they make up the labyrinth's "walls." This labyrinth has special meaning to us & has been known to make the rest of the world disappear. We hope that you come to walk it, to seek a peaceful place, to have a picnic &/or to pray.
The Outdoor Daylily Labyrinth is available year round during daylight hours (the cache is available 24 hours). It is located in the neighborhood to the north of the SLUMC's property. There is a picnic table and benches for use. Let the above coordinates direct you to the dead end street or access from the church's parking lot. St. Luke's United Methodist Church is located at 100 West 86th St, Indianapolis, Indiana 46260. Go to the back of the parking lot & then to the rear of Luke's Lodge (behind the church), down the steps, across the bridge and continue north. You will see a small, painted sign pointing the way.
Labyrinth patterns have been found all over the world dated thousands of years back. No one knows who created any of the labyrinth forms, yet, from experience, all who walk them know that within each design is a pattern that somehow quiets souls. Labyrinths are a tool for reflection & meditation. Labyrinths are not mazes, although the two are frequently confused. Mazes contain cul-de-sacs, dead ends, multiple choices & are designed to make us lose our way or become confused. Labyrinths do the exact opposite - they have only one path from the outer edge into the center & back out again... ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT. They help us find our way through the act of trusting the path, of giving up conscious control.
This labyrinth is in the Chartres design, which originated at the Chartres Cathedral near Paris, France & is perhaps the world's best-known labyrinth. The labyrinth at Chartres was built around 1200 and is laid into the floor. In walking the Chartres-style labyrinth, the walker meanders through each of the four quadrants several times before reaching the goal so an expectancy is created as to when the center will be reached. At the center is a rosette design which has a symbolic value of enlightenment. The four arms of the cross are easily visible to provide significant Christian symbolism.
St. Luke's also has a beautiful, candlelit, indoor labyrinth walk on Fridays between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m. It is open to anyone.
HOW TO WALK A LABYRINTH:
Step 1: Prepare to walk. Take some time to transition from your everyday life to the labyrinth experience. Slow your breathing. Still your mind. Open yourself to possibilities. Think about your intentions for the experience: questions, affirmations, feelings. Take off your shoes, when possible, a traditional sign of respect for a sacred space.
Step 2: Begin your journey. Pause at the entrance to the labyrinth to take a cleansing breath and focus your attention. You may ask a question, say a prayer or recite an affirmation. Some people choose to bow or make another ritual gesture to signal the beginning of their walk.
Step 3: Walk the inward path. Put one foot in front of the other, and walk at a measured pace that is comfortable for you. On the way in, focus on letting go of things you want to leave behind and releasing things that stand in the way of your spiritual journey. Pause when you need to. Don't focus on the center as a goal; be present in each step of the inward path.
Step 4: Spend time in the center. Take as long as you wish. You may stand, sit, kneel or lie down. This part of the journey is about being present to your inmost self and to the power of the divine. You may pray, journal or simply be open to the stillness. Respect the boundaries of others with whom you share this sacred space.
Step 5: Take the return path. When you are ready to leave the center, begin walking back the way you came. On this part of the journey, focus on what you will bring out from the center and back into your life. As before, pause when you need to. Resist the temptation to sprint to the finish line: the return journey is as important as every other part of the labyrinth.
Step 6: Reflect on the journey. When you leave the labyrinth, you may pause make another gesture or say a prayer. Before leaving the area, take some time to reflect on insights you've gained, or make notes in your journal to explore further later.
Additional Hints
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