On my last full day
in Glendalough, I visited the Russborough House in Blessington to walk their
hedge maze. I hadn’t walked one in over
25 years but the moment I stepped into it the anxiety flooded back.
 |
| (This is not my photograph but I wanted you to see the layout.) |
You cannot see where you are going and every turn could be a
dead end. A maze is meant to confuse
and, in my mind, torment you. Some
people get hopelessly lost and have to be rescued. They recommended you bring a
cell phone to call for help. I didn't have one so it was even more stressful.
The nice lady at
reception had given me a map but I didn’t want to use it. I wanted to feel the confusion and
anxiety. Life is often like that; we
never know if we are on the right path or not and we often reach dead ends and
have to backtrack.
I finally made it to the center. What a relief! I sat at the base of the
sculpture to collect myself. I now had
to find my way back out! I took out my map
and decided I’d had enough anxiety and stress for one day, thank you.
How different is
the labyrinth. This is the one at the
monastic city in Glendalough. It is
simple and open…only one way in and one way out...again, like life. You just have to put one foot in front of the
other and walk. Instead of anxiety and
stress there is only a calm peacefulness that washes over you. You know you will reach the center and going out is as easy as going in, almost like breathing.
I’ve written a lot
about choices during this journey and this, perhaps, is the ultimate
choice. You can move through life as if
you are in a maze or you can see life as a labyrinth. I think I’ll choose the latter. After all, we all come into this life the same way and we, ultimately, go out the same way as well. Not much choice there. It is how we walk along the path that differs and in that respect we do have a choice.
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Footnote:
What would a trip to
Ireland be without a sheepdog demonstration! Michael Crowe gives a wonderful one at
Russborough House. I tried to video the
demonstration, without much success, but I wanted to mention the experience.
Wherever you travel, take the time to talk and interact with
the local residents. (Which is why I took cabs around Dublin...so I could talk to the Irish cabbies!) It will always be a
delightful and illuminating experience.
Michael completed my wonderful day at Russborough House, thank you
Michael, especially for the ride around the estate in your horse drawn carriage! Give Millie a carrot for me! (You can visit his
website at Irish Working Sheepdogs.)
I return to the States today. Tomorrow I will post my album of "icons"...12 images that are ones that highlight my month long threshold pilgrimage.
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