Maze or Labyrinth?
Years ago I participated in a workshop with a group of fabulous women, all of whom had struggled with some challenges around food, or disordered eating during their lifetime.
We were all asked ‘Do you consider your life is more like a Maze, or a Labyrinth?’.
At the time I had NO idea what the difference was, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one as I looked around the room at all the blank gazes & confused faces!
In the 20 years since then, the answer has had such an impact on me that I would like to share it with you now.
Let’s start with the Maze. A maze is a network of paths or hedges (usually) designed as a puzzle through which one has to FIND A WAY. A maze has many dead ends, and you have to try and navigate your way in one end and out the other, using predominantly the left-hand side of your brain. Our left brain is more verbal, analytical and orderly than the right, and it is better at things like reading, writing and computations.
To find your way out of a maze you have to be ‘thinking’ the whole time, analysing where you have been, and where you want to go.. constantly making decisions whether to go left or right, and often re-tracing your steps many times. A maze can get confusing, and you can sometimes feel stuck and/or anxious about whether you are ever going to make it out.
A Labyrinth on the other hand, has only one single path to the centre, which then winds it way back out again. A Labyrinth is very right-brained, in that it is more visual and intuitive. Right brained activities use more holistic thinking, more intuition and more imagination. It is impossible to get lost in a Labyrinth.
As long as you keep putting one foot in front of the other and taking steps forward in a Labyrinth, you will come out the other side.
Do you consider your life is more like a maze or a labyrinth?
Once the facilitator had shared with us the difference between a Maze and a Labyrinth, they then asked us again – do you consider that your life is more like a maze or a labyrinth?
I see my life as a Labyrinth now. Whenever challenges arise, I remind myself to keep making decisions, putting one foot in front of the other and moving in one direction – having faith that no matter what is going on, it too will pass.
It is interesting to note that many people often describe meditation and mindfulness as means by which you can ‘lift’ yourself up and view your life from above to get perspective. Regardless of whether you feel like you are in a maze or a labyrinth, these techniques allow you to see where you are and where you need to go.. then when you come back ‘down’ into life after your practice you have a much better idea of what needs doing, and the general direction to lean into.
– Ree XX
