The Labyrinth Lesson from Dr. Heather Devich
Our School Labyrinth is a beautiful environmental Hands-on Experience, on at least three differing levels for all of our students, first through eighth grade.
The first level is Physical, within our visually orderly and beautiful natural setting. This ancient system of compact smooth concentric river rock-lined pathways, is actually found in differing forms, in most cultures and civilizations worldwide. It provides our students with health-promoting Natural sensorial opportunities for deep breathing, physical exercise, and stress reduction.
It must be noted that like all Montessori lessons, all parts of this lesson must be done with careful attention in order to achieve the desired positive results with our children. One cannot cut time corners and be successful.
To begin our Labyrinth experience, our students initially breathe deeply 5 times, paying careful attention to the beauty around them, the ambient temperature, and Nature's surrounding fragrances. Then they enjoy the taste of chewing a small piece of organic cinnamon stick, and the soothing sound of water trickling in our lovely Solar fountain. Finally, they are now ready to then begin their Labyrinth walk in silence, after 🎶 listening to the musical tones of our resonate and harmonious wind chimes, as the cue to begin.
Gross motor and fine motor abilities are accentuated by staying within narrow pathways, and by correcting any missteps which may dislodge our smooth river stone boundaries, increasing awareness of spatial relationships, and in our efforts to leave no trace of footsteps when we are totally finished with our Labyrinth experiment.
The next level is Cognitive and Mental. We begin our Labyrinth walk after a short introductory demonstration of our intentional “Einstein Cross-crawl Patterning Multi-sensory Walk", during which time we try to internally observe our own reactions, to determine if we feel smarter or more aware at the conclusion of our exercise. We cross our hands behind our backs, and rub our fingers together during the whole walk, internally counting "1, 2, 3, 4," breathe in and breathe out, as we step. Thus, it is started with the proposal of a quasi-scientific type of disciplined experiment.
It is proposed that we hope to see the results of our Labyrinth silent and evenly-paced walking, to be actually helping with stimulating neurological organization. This is similar to the medically recognized natural developmental functions of Cross-crawl Patterning, with auditory, gustatory, olfactory, and tactile stimulation during the early crawling periods of our human infancy.
Our circular Stone Narrow Pathways form a maze-like puzzle, that circles in and out in many unexpected ways, all leading to the same Silent Center, and then back out again, in one continuous unbroken pathway. Careful cognitive awareness, sensorial acuity and mathematical mental focus are thereby stimulated and reinforced.
The last experiential level is Creative and Emotional Integration. Walking this Labyrinth pathway in community, with a deliberate intention to gain a peaceful contemplative Focus, coupled with an introspective Attitude, can stimulate a sense of peace and tranquility, capable of facilitating deep emotional centering. This can then result in giving rise to noticeable increased poetic, artistic, and even a spiritual sense of peace, order, connection, expansion, and meaning, within our students' own unique personal life issues.
This Walking Contemplation can be heightened by an introductory whispered thoughtful phrase, like
"All Roots are Entwined in the Silent Heart of the Earth." "Think about it as you walk. There are no right or wrong Answers" This type of evocative prose poetry, or some other similar verbal directional cue, can facilitate positive Personal Contemplation, with no right or wrong conclusions or experiences mandated, only unconditional affirmation and acceptance of each person as they are.
The actual double hemispheric shape of the Labyrinth, and the interconnected pathways that share both hemispheres, are proposed to mirror our brain's ability to integrate and share capacities, while still the retaining the Integrity of separate areas and levels of hierarchical functioning. The center or heart of the Labyrinth is like the frontal lobe executive function of our brain, that coordinates and integrates and directs, all other neural pathways.
After this thoughtful silent and intentional walk, our students then gather, still in respectful silence, to sit comfortably around our Ancient Stone Circle in our shady gazebo, and to have a comfortable and relaxed sharing time, in our beautiful natural environment. They can share at will, whatever they may have experienced during this peaceful group Labyrinth walking activity.
Students consistently report deep and meaningful feelings of love for all humanity, as well as a deep and peaceful enjoyment of this short, quiet, thoughtful, and relaxing time apart, for their own personal growth, meditation, and contemplation. They often express a desire to create poetry, do artwork, or express their experiences through music. They often come up with truly amazing, wise, and moving statements to sum up their experience.
We are so thankful for the profound opportunities we have in our beautiful Secret Stone Garden Labyrinth Space, to help us all grow and expand our Experiential Boundaries, in Harmony with our bodies, minds, and Spirits.
Thank you, Mission Montessori!
