In Waiting for God, Simone Weil writes: “The beauty of the world is the mouth of a labyrinth,” referring to the mystical path that has been walked for centuries in contemplation. These ritual and symbolic pathways are found around the world in different cultures, but are perhaps best known in the Western world from their use during medieval times. In the last 30 years, there has been renewed interest in labyrinths as a contemplative practice accessible to all. A labyrinth is not a maze, but rather a single path, and there is no “right or wrong” way to walk a labyrinth. The possibilities are endless, as this article explains. Most often, there is an entrance, or mouth, that takes you to the centre, where you can rest and reflect. To exit, simply follow the path back out in the opposite direction.
This past spring, MORSL had the pleasure of taking a group of students to visit an indoor labyrinth at Montreal West United Church. A few weeks later, our Mysticism discussion group created their own drawings of labyrinths and ‘walked’ them with their fingers as a meditation. If you missed these activities, but are interested in experiencing a labyrinth walk, below are a few suggestions on how you can enjoy this practice over the summer:
Outdoors:
To the west of downtown, there are two outdoor labyrinth locations that are open to the public:
- 6870 Rue de Terrebonne, Montréal, H4B 1C5 (approx.), located between Yuen Kwok Buddhist temple and Rosedale United Church
- 88 Ave. Ballantyne N., Montreal-West, H4X 2B8, located on the grounds of Montreal West United church. Here you will find directions in both official languages on the sign at the opening. There are 2 large rocks in the centre if anyone wishes to enjoy time resting or meditating there.
Indoors:
- Westmount Park United Church (4695 Boul. de Maisonneuve O., Westmount) has an indoor labyrinth, and you can contact them for opening hours this summer. Starting in September, the indoor labyrinth at Montreal West United Church will re-open after the summer break. The closest metro station is Vendôme. Call 514-937-1146 or email westmountparkuc [at] videotron.ca for more info.
A contemplative labyrinth walk doesn’t necessarily have any particular outcome. You mind may wander, or be sharply focused, or somewhere in between. No matter how you walk the path, we would love to hear about your experiences at any of these contemplative labyrinths in Montreal.
