Rules:
There are no rules.
There is no "right" way or "wrong" way to use a labyrinth.
Over the centuries and millennia, however, there are some practices that people have often found helpful. You may want to…
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…take your time. There is no rush.
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…breath comfortably and deeply. The more nervous you are, the more likely your breathing will become shallow and hurried and the less likely you are to enjoy the experience.
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…pay attention to your thoughts. The twisting and turning of the labyrinth will require the attention of your conscious mind. For many, that “external” busyness is the perfect context for the deeper parts of your inner self to reveal thoughts, hopes, and concerns that otherwise may not bubble to the surface of your awareness.
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…expect much, but don’t expect anything. You may finish your walk and wonder if you “missed” something. That is a common experience. On the other hand, you may find yourself unexpectedly aware of hopes, fears, hurts, or other feelings that you weren’t previously aware of. That’s normal too. Either way, many people find it helpful to take a few moments and write down what they thought about so they can come back to it later.
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…focus your walk on a particular thought, question, or prayer. Sometimes, deciding what you want to think about while walking the labyrinth beforehand can help keep you focused. On the back of this handout is one (of many) ways to organize your walk.
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…enjoy yourself. This is your time to relax and wonder (and wander!)
Note: You'll notice that I typically talk about "walking" a labyrinth. However, there are other ways of engaging this ancient tool as well! Labyrinths can also be traced by a finger or stylus. There are many styles of labyrinths, including a wonderful app for your tablet or phone called Labyrinth Journey. (By the way, I have no connection to the makers of the app and get nothing from "advertising" it; I only share it here because I personally like it!)
If you are looking for a labyrinth to walk, check out the World Wide Labyrinth Locator sponsored by The Labyrinth Society and Veriditas.
You can even download a printable labyrinth or make one yourself!
Practically Speaking...
There are three distinct movements to any labyrinth experience: The journey toward the center. Being in the center. Returning from the center.
There are many metaphors and methods for interpreting each of the three movements. (Purgation, Illumination, Union... Releasing, Receiving, Returning... Letting Go, Listening, Reflecting...) I often use the liturgical language from my own faith tradition: Approach, Word, Response.
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Approach: your journey toward the center. As you move toward the center of the labyrinth, it is natural for your brain to be filled with a thousand different thoughts. Are you feeling upset, guilty, ashamed, happy, worried, hopeful? Is there something you wish you could say to or ask? Do you have a specific question or concern? The approach is an opportunity to set aside the hustle and bustle of the world around and center yourself – to prepare for whatever insight your walk may provide.
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Word: being in the center. Upon reaching the center, you have the unhurried opportunity listen, learn, and meditate. Is there a “still small voice” whispering to you? Is there a conversation you wish you could have had with someone (but cannot or are afraid to)? Are there answers you are resisting or insights you are holding at arm's length?
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Response: returning from the center. If you feel like you’ve learned something new or realized something you hadn’t thought about before, your walk from the center is the perfect opportunity to answer the question “so what?!” – what kind of response do you want to commit yourself to?
If you don’t feel like anything “happened.” Don’t worry, that’s a common occurrence! You may have something come to mind later (weeks or even months), or maybe not. In either case, it is a pleasant time to enjoy some solitude before rejoining all the rush and worry of life.