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By Root 204 0

“Hermes, as the messenger of the gods, goes back and forth from the physical to the spiritual realms,” says Lonegren. “Whatever your intention, when you send it out, Hermes brings back the message. It’s important to remember, though, that Hermes is also the god of liars. This means you’ll sometimes get bogus answers while walking the labyrinth. You can ask a question and have such a powerful subconscious need for a particular response that you can’t hear anything else. If that’s the case, that’s the response that Hermes will bring you. If you’re after the truth, and you want Hermes to bring you the truth, you’ve got to put aside that need for a specific answer.”

I have learned the painful way about meeting Hermes halfheartedly. I remember one walk when I wanted to know what to do about a friendship that had become quite difficult. I was clear at the beginning of the walk that I wanted guidance on how to help untangle it. However, as I walked I became even more confused about what I could do to help heal the relationship. When the walk ended, I was enormously frustrated and feeling even more resentful about the state of the friendship.

I had to spend some time thinking about what went wrong, given that I usually ended a walk with more, rather than less, clarity on whatever issue I had taken in. I realized that, although I had been clear about wanting a solution, I hadn’t been entirely honest: I really wanted her to solve it, not wanting to take responsibility for my contribution to the mess we were in.

Because I was still in blaming mode and not being honest with myself, I wasn’t ready for any guidance to come through. I didn’t want to hear anything other than confirmation that I was right and she was wrong. Of course, no guidance had come through to support my self-righteous position. I returned to the labyrinth, this time being clear that I was willing to receive guidance that might challenge my entrenched position.

I walked and was challenged in a loving way. I became clearer about my part in the creation and maintenance of our difficulties. At the center I prayed again for help in healing the relationship and got clarity on the way out for how I could initiate some healing. What made all the difference between the two walks was my willingness in the second to hear the truth even if it meant getting shaken up a bit.

After that experience I have learned to ask myself while formulating an intention “Am I really willing to know what I know? Am I really willing to receive guidance that may lead me in a new direction? Is my commitment to knowing the truth greater than my commitment to having the answer be the one I’m demanding?”

If I can honestly say yes, then I proceed with the walk. If, however, I get a sense that I’m unwilling to have anything but a particular answer, then it’s time to compassionately acknowledge my fear and unwillingness to go deeper into the truth of whatever the issue is. I then have a choice: I can either pick a different intention for the walk, or I can have as my intention to walk more deeply into the fear or anxiety of the resistance and see where that takes me. Either choice is fine. What is important is that the choice be made consciously.

Remember the acronym GIGO—garbage in, garbage out? If we go into a walk determined to hear only one answer, that’s the answer we’ll get, whether it’s the truth for us or not. The more willing we are to hear truth, the greater the chances that we will receive guidance that leads us to greater healing and wholeness.

FRAMING INTENTIONS AND QUESTIONS

To begin your walk, think of a question or issue that concerns you right now, whether mundane or sublime. I have worked with participants, and walked myself, with issues that range from “Do I really need to buy that outfit?” to struggling with deeper religious issues. What matters most is how much it matters to you, whatever “it” is.

The subject might be glaringly obvious to you: an upcoming job interview, a spiritual issue you’re struggling with, a birthday, a fight you had with your partner. If nothing is