Walking the Labyrinth at the Stratford Street United Church

Every year, the invites the public to walk the labyrinth they set up in the church's gym. The labyrinth is a geometrical pattern that has one well-defined path leading into the center and back out again.

The church invites people to use it as a spiritual tool to enhance the experience of their Advent journey. The labyrinth used at the church is hand painted, 36 feet in diameter, and its design is more than 4,000-years-old. It is modeled after the inlaid stone built into the floor of the Cathedral of Our Lady Chartres in France during the early 1200s.

"It's open to all, regardless of faith or denomination," said Norman Rosskothen, chair of the deacons at the church.

There are no right or wrong ways to walk a labyrinth, you only have to enter and follow the path. Every time you walk the labyrinth your experience will be different. The deacons of the church prepared some guidelines for a walk. They include:

• Take your time
• Forget about the holiday rush
• Pause when you need to
• Let your mind and body unwind and let go
• Give thanks for your joys and triumphs
• Ask forgiveness for your mistakes
• Ask yourself a question, say a prayer or recite an affirmation

Walk the Labyrinth on Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.