Oh, so that’s what’s going on. I think it’s because the constant turns while rollerdancing stimulate the opposite sides of the brain that it feels so familiar to me (see Full-Bodied Pivot). Labyrinths do the same thing, and I had done a very deep-dive on that culturally-rich topic many years ago with my children. As a rare bi-lobally-balanced lefty, I find labyrinths mesmerizing.
Earlier this year, I discovered the labyrinth pictured above (see here for that Ridestory). Nothin’ like a leap of faith in a labyrinth to really load up on karma! (If interested, see more leaps of faith here. I do them daily, and I look forward to the day when traveling at the speed of bike does not require them.)
And then rollerskates just appeared in my life (coincidence? perhaps not!) and I fell hard — literally (ouch) and metaphorically — for them. (Think I’m exaggerating? Then you haven’t seen how much rollerskating has taken over my @speedofbike account on TikTok!)
I’ve written a ton of sh*t for a lot of magazines that have since gone out of business lol, and one of my feature articles, along with the following sidebar, was about labyrinths. (You honestly wouldn’t believe the wild range of things about which I’ve been paid to write. Famous actors’ penile implants following prostate cancer? Yep. One-on-one interviews, folks.)
I’m not exactly sure where any of this is heading, but at least I see now how it’s connected. And why the next answer, the next connected dot, may be waiting for me to discover at that labyrinth.
Stay tuned. I’m going back.
WALKING A LABYRINTH
with Pattie Baker
WHAT: Labyrinths are constructions, usually made out of natural materials, with one path in to a center and the reverse path out. Unlike mazes, with which they are often confused, there are no tricks or dead ends, so no thought about what path to take is necessary. You’re free to get lost in your thoughts.
HOW: To participate, you need comfortable shoes (some labyrinths are wheelchair-accessible, although most are a maximum of 20 inches wide and the paths are rarely paved). To walk a labyrinth, you can either simply start walking or you can reflect on an intention before you start. Some ideas include posing questions on your path inward and determining answers to these questions on the way out, practicing controlled breathing on your journey, thinking of the past on the way in and the future on the way out, or focusing on the senses.
WHO: All ages can walk labyrinths. If you have trouble walking, you can adapt the labyrinth to meet your needs: follow the labyrinth with your eyes from the comfort of a bench or “walk” a finger labyrinth (which you can find online at http://www.labyrinthsociety.org).
WHEN: Experiencing a labyrinth at different times of the day or year provides fresh outlooks and reactions. Many labyrinths are designed to change with the seasons and will feel brand new to you when visited at different times.
WHERE: You can find labyrinths near you at the World Labyrinth Locator (www.veriditas.labyrinthsociety.org).
WHY: Perhaps each time you turn, you stimulate the opposite hemisphere in your brain, giving you a full-brain view of whatever it is you are questioning. Perhaps brushing by flowers or crushing herbs beneath your feet fills you with stimulating or relaxing aromas. Perhaps you simply enjoy time alone to slow your breath in a walking meditation.
Traveling at the Speed of Bike 