Sisters of St. Francis

of Penance and Christian Charity

In the United States since 1874

"Trusting in God and open to risk

we walk with courage"

The Labyrinth at Stella Niagara

[Presence and Prayer] [Center of Renewal] [Stella as Earth Center] [Elderhostel Programs]

There are many forms of prayer and the Stella Niagara Franciscans delight in sharing ways of prayer with their guests. Sister Karen Allen, acting for the Sisters of the "Stella as Earth Center Committee" created the labyrinth at Stella Niagara in 1999.

What is a Labyrinth?

A labyrinth is different from a maze, though the two are often confused. The labyrinth is one of the oldest contemplative and transformational tools know to humankind, used for centuries for prayer, ritual, initiation, and personal and spiritual growth. This ancient and powerful tool is unicursal, offering only one route to the center and back out again: no blind alleys, dead ends or tricks, as in a maze. No matter where you are in the labyrinth's coherent circuits, you can always see the center. Once you set your foot upon its path, the labyrinth gently and faultlessly leads you to the center of both the labyrinth and yourself, no matter how many twists and turns you negotiate in the process.

       The Labyrinth at Stella Niagara, as seen from the Center of Renewal

Where do Labyrinths come from?

The Labyrinth is a symbolic pilgrimage or journey to the Divine. It is an archetypal image found throughout history -from Ancient Egypt to Crete to Celtic,  Scandinavian, and Native American cultures. Based on the circle, the universal symbol for unity and wholeness, the labyrinth is considered to be among other things: a sacred space, a symbol for the unconscious, a place of pilgrimage, and a mystical tool for transformation and healing. By walking the Stella Niagara labyrinth, you rediscover a long- forgotten tradition that is being reborn in our day.

A Different Space...

The place you are entering is not ordinary space: It is sacred space. Leave your watches behind: Time here is not clock time, chronos; it is kairos, the fullness of time beyond time, the eternal Now. Release your daily life and self when you enter the labyrinth. You are entering sacred ground.

Why do we have them?

The labyrinth is a powerful spiritual symbol that speaks to our souls in a way that transcends all creeds and beliefs. All spiritual traditions speak of life as a path, a spiritual journey, with its own twists and unexpected turns, to the heart of Spirit. Walking the labyrinth can help people step foot once again on their own paths, helping them to remember their own lives as spiritual journeys.

Chartres Grass Labyrinth

The Chartres labyrinth, named after the permanent stone labyrinth set into the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France during the thirteenth century, has eleven concentric paths that wind though four quadrants of a circle. It is a distinctly Christian pattern, an equal armed cross visible in its elegant design. Set in the center is a rosette, a six-petaled design representing a rose, traditional symbol for the Virgin Mary. The Stella Niagara labyrinth is this design. It was the “Stella as Earth Center” that provided the Labyrinth.

What Do You Do?

There is no "right way" to walk the labyrinth: In walking, we are thrown back on ourselves and our own experiences, instead of having to measure our walk against some set of external rules or standards. In this simplicity, everything that takes place while walking becomes a mirror that allows us to look into our individual fears and anxieties. We all come to the labyrinth as ourselves -that's the great gift of that simplicity. Don't let anyone else influence you about how walking the labyrinth is "supposed" to be. You have to follow your own path. The labyrinth shows you that path.

Whoever you are, walking the labyrinth has something to offer you. If a creative or work project is challenging you, walking can get your creative juices flowing. When you are struggling with grief or anger or a physical challenge or illness, walking the labyrinth can point the way to healing and wholeness. If you're wanting a way to meditate or pray that engages your body as well as your soul, the labyrinth can be such a way. When you

just want reflective time away from a busy life, a labyrinth can offer you time out. The labyrinth holds up a mirror, reflecting back to us not only the light of our finest selves, but also whatever restrains us from shining forth.

Suggestions:

For additional information please contact Sister Karen Allen at (716) 654-4388 ext. 9647# or e-mail to karenall27@hotmail.com

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