Here on our property, Earth & Soul, we have 300 acres of natural bushland with over 18 kms of walking tracks. All of the tracks could be referred to as Spiritual Walks, although there are two which are specially designed as Spiritual Walks, the Tree of Life Spiritual Walk and the Labyrinth. You don’t need to know the ins and outs of them to enjoy the walks and the spiritual sanctuary they provide. You can just be at peace.
Essentially there is one major difference between the two of them. The Labyrinth is designed to start from the outside and walk in to your spiritual centre, then return to the outside. The Tree of Life is intended to start from the Source, the Spiritual centre, and walk outwards to the Earth and then return inwards to the Spiritual centre.
Other than that, there is a similarity between the two methods of walking. Each has a single path that leads direct from here to there and back again. The Labyrinth’s path is called “Unicursal” because it is one path that curves in and around through 11 concentric circles to the Spiritual centre and then you follow the same path out again. The path of the Tree of Life is one path, consisting of 11 sections, each section is referred to as a Path. There are 11 Paths leading outwards from the Source to the Earth and then 11 Paths returning inwards from the Earth to the Source. Neither of these walks has the qualities of a Maze. There are no blinds and dead ends. The paths are direct and the purpose is to find yourself and not lose yourself.
Take the time to walk either the Tree of Life Spiritual Walk or the Earth & Soul Labyrinth and learn the nature of the paths. Starting at Earth (the world of Nephesh – the Living Soul), follow the inward path to enlightenment, raising your consciousness to achieve intimacy with your spiritual centre. Remain at your Spiritual centre for a while and then follow the paths of the Soul’s incarnation into life and the development of the ego. Return to your life on earth.
The centre of the Labyrinth is designed as a 6 petal rose. Each petal represents an aspect of the prayer that Jesus taught when he was asked how we should pray. It is not intended to be a religious practice and the words that are used to represent each aspect of the prayer have been chosen for their spiritual quality and universal meaning. When at the centre of the Labyrinth, and also at the Source of the Tree of Life, think of the significance of each petal of the rose and finally the meaning at the centre of the rose.
Belief Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Purpose Your kingdom come, your will be done.
Kindness In Earth as it is in Heaven.
Harmony Give us this day our daily bread.
Happiness Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Support Deliver us from evil and lead us not into temptation.
Love Love one another. Do all these things with love.
Take the time to walk either the Tree of Life Spiritual Walk or the Earth & Soul Labyrinth and learn the nature of the paths. Starting at Earth (the world of Nephesh – the Living Soul), follow the inward path to enlightenment, raising your consciousness to achieve intimacy with your spiritual centre. Remain at your Spiritual centre for a while and then follow the paths of the Soul’s incarnation into life and the development of the ego. Return to your life on earth.
The centre of the Labyrinth is designed as a 6 petal rose. Each petal represents an aspect of the prayer that Jesus taught when he was asked how we should pray. It is not intended to be a religious practice and the words that are used to represent each aspect of the prayer have been chosen for their spiritual quality and universal meaning. When at the centre of the Labyrinth, and also at the Source of the Tree of Life, think of the significance of each petal of the rose and finally the meaning at the centre of the rose.
Belief Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Purpose Your kingdom come, your will be done.
Kindness In Earth as it is in Heaven.
Harmony Give us this day our daily bread.
Happiness Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Support Deliver us from evil and lead us not into temptation.
Love Love one another. Do all these things with love.
Walking the spiritual walks may be seen as a process of rebirth. A difference between actual birth and this rebirth is that there is no barrier to memory. When you are incarnated into this life there is no recall of what occurred on the other side, no memory of previous existence, only occasional, fleeting glimpses of Déjà Vu. Revisiting your Spiritual centre, through the process of a meditative walk, allows you to reinvent yourself as you relive the incarnation of the Soul and draw closer to your true self, little by little, walk by walk, make changes and refine yourself. Take time out from your daily life, escape in your mind to some other plane or dimension of time. Take the time to still the mind.
The Earth & Soul Labyrinth has a diameter of 20.53 metres. Walking the unicursal path inward and then outward gives a total walking distance of 876 metres, nearly a kilometre. The Tree of Life Spiritual Walk covers an area of 5 acres (2 hectares) and walking the paths, outward and inward, gives a total walking distance of 1140 metres, just over a kilometre. Either walk takes 10 to 20 minutes out of your day. Give it a little bit more time for introspection, reflection and expression and you still might only use a single hour of your time.
There is an alternative to actual walking and that is to use what is called a finger labyrinth. This can be done using an image on a piece of paper. Follow the path with your finger while applying your mind to the meditation.
The Earth & Soul Labyrinth has a diameter of 20.53 metres. Walking the unicursal path inward and then outward gives a total walking distance of 876 metres, nearly a kilometre. The Tree of Life Spiritual Walk covers an area of 5 acres (2 hectares) and walking the paths, outward and inward, gives a total walking distance of 1140 metres, just over a kilometre. Either walk takes 10 to 20 minutes out of your day. Give it a little bit more time for introspection, reflection and expression and you still might only use a single hour of your time.
There is an alternative to actual walking and that is to use what is called a finger labyrinth. This can be done using an image on a piece of paper. Follow the path with your finger while applying your mind to the meditation.
Whatever you do, it is always worth the little bit of time that it takes, so take the time to still the mind.
Take care out there.
Regards… Mark (The Hanged Man)
Take care out there.
Regards… Mark (The Hanged Man)