Getting Familiar with the Unfamiliar

“”I want to go places that I’ve never been before,” said me the other day. 

To that end, I went for a walk in a labyrinth, which I’ve always wanted to do. A local spiritual center conducts a labyrinth walk on the first Friday of the month, and I decided this was the perfect first “new” place to go. Now, I could school you and me on the origins of labyrinths from Rome and ancient Greece, but Wikipedia does that very well for those who want to study it. I’m most interested in, and I surmise you are too if you’re following me, harvesting information and inspiration from walking the Labyrinth.

Before entering the path, the small group who had never been in a Labyrinth were given some instructions. “There’s no right or wrong way to walk the path,” the facilitator announced. “And the maze has one entrance and one exit and you are allowed to pass people by coming or going.” She also suggested we think about our “problems” and when we get to the center, one could sit or stand and leave their problems there and walk out renewed.  Hmm, thinking about my problems didn’t feel right. I drifted over to the “guidelines” on the wall which told us to quiet the mind and set an intention. This spoke to me much more than thinking about my problems which are on my mind without this exercise. Before entering, I sat quietly and asked for the universe to send me messages or information that I needed to know at this time. 

As methodically as I type the word Labyrinth in order to spell it correctly each time, so did I walk. I looked around the winding path wondering how I would get to the other quadrant of the circle and in and out of this maze. It didn’t seem possible, as others reported as well later. At first glance, it seemed as if I would just keep going around in circles and there was not really much to the pattern. I trusted and moved forward. I walked, turned and examined my steps. I saw that there was a very intricate pattern involved in the winding. Why was I questioning what the facilitator said? The word unfamiliar popped into my head. I was unfamiliar with this process. As I continued my walk, I realized just how I would get to the center and walk the entire circle. That’s when the phrase, I’m getting familiar with the unfamiliar, came into mind. I had to take a step onto the unfamiliar path to travel to new places and get familiar with them. And, there it is. The message I needed to hear right now.   

In a recent conversation with a friend discussing starting this blog and website, it was made clear that it’s important to stop over-thinking the perfect way to start. And, even the perfect format, name or platform. Taking the first step was an important element to it’s success.  As well as being comfortable with the idea that the tone of the blog, the purpose of the website and the end-goal of the role this would play in my life would be revealed and evolve as I moved forward.  Most importantly, that it was all okay.

So, as I twist, turn and walk through this year, I’m going to mindfully choose unfamiliar places in the physical world in the hope that more messages and insights will be revealed as I go along.  

What unfamiliar place have you always wanted to go?  A restaurant you’ve never been to that you always pass by.  The park with a hike that’s just ten minutes away that is seemingly to far to fit in.  Approach the new person at work and ask them where they were born. Give it a try, it will be okay.