Peace pathways
June 18, 2024 - Rather than just symbolic, labyrinths are powerful devices for ritual, connection, and healing. It’s not only the shape, it’s the act of walking it, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Stand in the center of the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral or in any other sacred space constructed using sacred geometry, and you’ll start to speak a language not through words, but through shapes, proportions, and symmetries.
Rooted in ancient civilizations and intertwined with metaphysical beliefs, sacred geometry sees certain shapes as naturally harmonious, carrying meaning beyond their physical form. The labyrinth symbolizes how everything in life is connected and offers a pathway toward spiritual growth and healing.
Navigating the healing powers of labyrinths
“There’s physics in the magic,” says Alberto Amura, who has been working with Six Senses since 2015, when he came on board to identify the impact of underground streams, geological disturbances, and energy flow at Six Senses Douro Valley in Portugal. A multi-hyphenate with a professorship in natural sciences, Amura’s love of metaphysics led him to bio-geometry and inspires the way he curates the placement of crystals, resonance symbols, and patterns at our properties to enhance well-being and vitality.
It also influenced how he created the labyrinths at Six Senses Zil Pasyon and Six Senses Kaplankaya.
To Amura, labyrinths are “like acupuncture to the planet. The energy they bring is beautiful,” he says. “Unlike a maze, which is for entertainment, labyrinths are devices for ritual, meditation, and healing. One of my favorite and best-preserved labyrinths is in the 12th-century Chartres cathedral. There is a powerful metaphysical energy connected to the original pagan temple.”
Derived from the old-English ‘haelen’ meaning ’wholeness’, healing is the natural tendency of human beings to become complete through a conscious, positive, and harmonious interaction with oneself, others, and the environment.
Treading carefully at Six Senses Kaplankaya
Amura sited the labyrinth at Six Senses Kaplankaya to resonate with the energy of the place. He also incorporated local inspiration, designing the center around patterns on ancient Turkish rugs, such as protecting against the evil eye. “When you apply metaphysics to healing, such as through a labyrinth, it helps us to be centered, and more aware of our relationships to the things that are sacred to us. Ultimately, it’s a tool.”
The labyrinth invites you on a “pilgrimage” to connect with the energy found here and walk mindfully and meditatively, feeling your body and soul becoming one.
Our charismatic Wellness Director, Renate Hermes, has incorporated the labyrinth into many of our wellness rituals and retreats, and the feedback is unanimously positive. She’s been delighted with people’s experiences, “During our recent Art of Staying Young Retreat, each guest walked the labyrinth at their own pace, with the group holding the space for the person at the center. This was uninstructed and beautiful. It evolved organically.”
Each cardinal direction gives special meaning, “In shamanic tradition, west is the direction of the jaguar, helpful for embracing courage, overcoming fear, and transcending stuck patterns.” Indeed, Renate’s favorite time to walk the labyrinth is as the sun dips over the Aegean at sunset.
In addition to weekly guest activities and specific celebrations, such as marking Global Wellness Day, Renate has introduced our hosts to the practice – chefs, GEMs, and housekeeping alike. “In our busy lives, there’s a strong longing and desire for inner clarity. Whether you go it alone or seek a more immersive experience in a group, and whether you walk at dawn or sunset, each journey is a catalyst for calm and inner peace, even for the most skeptical.”
Renate’s five steps to unity and wholeness:
- Observation: To begin, take a moment to observe the surrounding landscape and the intricacies of the labyrinth’s patterns.
- Release: Pick a symbol, like a petal or twig of rosemary, to represent something you want to let go of. Center yourself by taking three deep breaths and blowing onto the symbol in your hand to release it to the winds.
- Receive: Enter the labyrinth with an open mind. As you walk slowly and mindfully, ask: what do I want to invite into my life? When you arrive at the center, stay a while to experience the calm and peace that emerges.
- Return: Retrace your steps to exit, reflecting on your experience and what you take away from it.
- Meditate: Place your hand on your heart, plant the seeds of inspiration in the fertile soil of your heart, and trust they will grow.
Sweet surrender at Six Senses Fort Barwara
“Our labyrinth walk is a reminder to surrender to the universe,” says Dr. Neeru Jain, Wellness Director at Six Senses Fort Barwara. “When we start walking through the labyrinth, our thinking mind starts to plan the best way to exit. Doubt can begin to creep in about whether we’re on the correct path. The more we think or overthink, the more we feel stressed. But with mindful steps comes gentle grounding. That’s when we can hear our inner voice, leading us to where we need to be. Seeing this transition in guests as they drop all fears and inner resistance warms my heart.”
Sited on a stunning rooftop overlooking the village of Barwara, the labyrinth is becoming a popular highlight among the multitude of wellness activities. Twice weekly, it is used to conclude our group yoga and it can also be integrated into a private meditation for guests on a wellness program.
Labyrinth meditation at Six Senses Zil Pasyon
The labyrinth meditation at Six Senses Zil Pasyon is a unique activity for our guests to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, recover balance in life, enhance creativity, and encourage meditation and enlightenment.
“We encourage guests to take a few moments to center themselves and set an intention for their vacation before entering the labyrinth, then walking at a pace that feels comfortable, paying attention to each step and being mindful of the sensation of their feet on the ground,” says Deepak Rawat, Spa and Wellness Director. “Trusting the path means trusting that the labyrinth will guide you – there’s no right or wrong way to walk it. You can just approach it in a way that feels meaningful and authentic to you. Afterward, some people find it helpful to find a quiet spot to sit and reflect, or maybe journal about their experience to capture any thoughts or insights that arose.”