For at least twenty years, I have enjoyed walking labyrinths. Labyrinths are maze-like structures that have been used as spiritual tools for centuries. For the past seven years, I’ve been walking labyrinths throughout the northeastern United States, and blogging about them. To learn more about labyrinths, check out this page at the Labyrinth Society. To find labyrinths near you, try the Worldwide Labyrinth Locator.

Last Wednesday I was driving through northern New Jersey to walk several labyrinths, and explore questions about how I can feed my mind better, how I can “consume” better media and information that will nourish my mind instead of feed unhelpful habits, thoughts, and feelings.

My third labyrinth of the day was purported to be at Central Unitarian Church in Paramus. However, Google Maps was having some trouble figuring that out. Turns out Central Unitarian Church moved from Paramus to Westwood several years ago. I drove to the Paramus address I had, and found the building still there. It was in terrible disrepair, as were the grounds.

I found a spot in the weed-infested parking lot, and saw the labyrinth there. It was still there, but had definitely seen better days.

It was a 7-circuit medieval style, with a grass path and inlaid brick walls. It showed clear signs of neglect, and in addition to weeds, there was a chunk of it that was torn apart, just dirt and rubble. I could walk it though, and I decided I would. The question I walked in with was this: Why do I want to feed my mind better? I thought it would be helpful to understand just why I was pursuing this.

As I walked, I found that the condition of this labyrinth helped me to answer the question. I had to walk the damaged section from memory, but this this labyrinth was not unsalvageable. Despite the neglect and damage, I was easily able to walk, and I was still able to find just as much insight and wisdom as any other labyrinth.

At least in part, I think the reason I want to feed my mind better is so that my mind doesn’t become neglected and damaged like this labyrinth. I think there’s a part of my psyche that is already like the distressed part of the labyrinth – messy and difficult to maneuver through. But this walk reminded me that my mind is also salvageable, that there’s still plenty of good stuff there. I want to strengthen what’s already good, and I want to not make the messy part any worse.

I think that feeding my mind with social media outrage and numbing banality feeds the damage and distress, helping it spread. Feeding my mind with things that spark my imagination and my intellect feed the good parts and strengthen them.

Sometimes I think that my mind is like my first impression of this labyrinth: abandoned and falling to bits. But it isn’t. And if I feed the good, I’ll feel that.

One more labyrinth to go on this trip…