Using the labyrinth for ADHD children

I tried the labyrinth with my eldest daughter who is 14. She has ADHD and is also really struggling with her behaviour and emotions at the moment - it was amazing! When she got stuck, she immediately opened her eyes and said 'well I'm finished - I cant' go any further because I'm stuck' I suggested to her that she she calm down, close her eyes and have another go, but I gave her no instructions on what it was she must do, I just told her to rest her fingers back where they were and to let them do what she felt they ought to!! This made her even more frustrated and she just replied that there was no point, as all she could do was go back the way she'd been and what was the point in back-tracking - I just looked at her and raised my eyebrows! I could see that she was starting to realise what ws happening and see how this was very reflective of her attitude at the moment. She quitened down and had another go - she was more relaxed and I noticed that she was the reverse to me; her right hand kept waiting for her left!! She finished the labyrinth and came back out and we were able to talk about how her feelings were very similar to how she deals with things in her everyday life.
I think that the labyrinths are fantastic. Initially I thought that £35 was quite alot of money to spend on one item, but I am glad that I decided to as it is a tool that the whole family can use. Although the things that it brought to the surface were things that might come about through general discussion I think the labyrinth manages to do it in a much more subtle way but with quicker results - we love it!

What are the mental/physical benefits of walking a labyrinth?

The benefits are many, we all know stress puts pressure on the body and can cause all sorts of disease, when the mind is still, the body has a space for bringing about balance and healing. In this busy demanding world that we live in today, it is very difficult to find quiet place where we can get in touch with ourselves. Many people are interested in meditation to de -stress, but don't know where to start. Working with a labyrinth allows you to reach deep levels of relaxation very quickly by simply following the path .

How does one walk a labyrinth i.e.. What must you do or think while you are walking it in order to get the benefits?

No skill is required and there are no set rules to walk a labyrinth. The labyrinth is a non-invasive, universal archetypal tool to enhance and bring clarity to your life. Children love to run and play on a labyrinth, while adults might prefer a quiter more contemplative walk.

However if you want to use the labyrinth as a tool to bring in more clarity about a situation, one makes an intent/ asks a question before entering the labyrinth and then allows an answer or solution to ' arrive' while loosing oneself on the path.

There are three stages in the process:
1. The way in, allows a letting go of the old thought patterns, emotions, beliefs ect. Loose yourself to the path, observing your thoughts and feelings.

2. When one reaches the centre there is the opportunity to be still and in a mood of recieving, invoking whatever quality you are needing to bring into your life. Allow yourself to be drawn to one or more of the petals, spending sometime in quiet contemplation.

3. The path back out is when inspiration, understanding and new ways of seeing a situation arrive. Again, just allow your mind to flow with the path, observing your process.

How to use your Balance or Vortex Labyrinth to realign you with a new intention
Maybe you have a uncomfortable situation in your life that you feel does not serve you and would like to move on.

Start by placing the labyrinth on your lap with a hand over each pattern.

1. Connect with your issue by thinking about it. As you do that, become aware how you experience that situation in your body.(example, maybe you tense up all over or in a particular area, or maybe you feel tearful and your heart area feels heavy) whatever it is for you, amplify the feeling in your body. Really allow yourself to feel how it feels and allow full expression of that feeling, for example you may feel anger, let your self imagine the expression of that anger. Explore this as long as you wish. Maybe connect with the people in your life that are involved with this issue, what would you like to say to them, etc…


2. When you feel you have explored the negative embodiment of your issue, connect with what you would like to replace it with. (ex. Maybe you would like to feel freedom and happiness). Explore how that feels in your body, really experience it on every level and notice how it makes you feel emotionally and how that translates in your body.


3. Now is the time to enter the Labyrinth, the journey into the centre is all about letting go of old patterns, so as you enter, know you are doing the journey of letting this old uncomfortable pattern go. Loose yourself to the path and observe your thoughts and feelings.


4. The centre is where you receive what you want to bring in, so allow yourself to open up to your new intent. Imagine a waterfall of supportive and loving energy pouring in through the top of your head and imagine yourself stepping back out of the small reality you have been part of into this abundant flow of infinite love, allow it to wash all the way through your body and out your feet.


5. When you feel complete, give thanks and take the journey out again. This journey is about the action of bringing what you have received into your everyday life. Again, loose yourself to the path and observe your feelings and reactions.


6. When you have completed the outward journey, connect again with your new intention and accept it into your life.

7. Use the tool again, whenever you need to be reminded of that intention.