There are many ways to describe a labyrinth. Importantly the first thing is that it is not a maze as there are no dead ends or tricks to it. It has a single continuous path that winds towards the centre and the same path is used to return to the entrance. The labyrinth is a path of prayer, a walking meditation, a crucible of change, a watering hole for the spirit and a mirror of the human soul" (Veriditas retrieved Dec. 2010 www.verditial.org/about/guidelines).Labyrinths are ancient sacred circles found in many different cultures. Dr Lauren Artress writes in Wallking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice ( 2006), that " labyrinths are divine imprints" and Hildegard of Bingen is quoted as saying " Divinity is like a wheel, a circle, a whole" ( Hildegard of Bingen 10.......). While the historical roots of the labyrinth remains unknown, it is thought that they were most often used to symbolise a journey or a pilgrimage. It is true that many who walk the labyrinth say it gave them a sense of being on a journey, the pattern reflected their life's path....moving towards the centre yet at times the sense is walking away from the centre. Walking the path of the labyrinth with others, can at times bring the experience familiar in life when we walk side by side with another and then one takes a turn in the path and the company is parted for a time. This labyrinth pattern reflects to us so much of our life and our journey.
The labryinth link Australia has published this information on their website:
WHAT IS A LABYRINTH ? A circular path,
An ancient walking meditational tool, found in Crete BC, (with minator), Celtic cultures, and Chartres Cathedral,1200 as a pilgrimage walk.
Its origins are lost in prehistory. It is believed that the Egyptians and Etruscans used subterranean forms to guard their tombs around 4500 BCE.
Early fishermen in the Baltic regions walked crude stone paths to lose the slower trolls before they leapt into their boats to fish. South American examples are found with the Nasca in south west Peru, and in North America the Hopi Indians used a 7 path model.
The one most people know about is the Cretan model and the Greek legend of Theseus and the Minotaur.
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| Pattern of Chartres Catherdral Labyrinth |
It symbolized the hero’s journey to the dark centre and back into life..
The plaque in the centre of the Chartres labyrinth declared “this stone represents the Cretan labyrinth. Those who enter cannot leave unless they be helped by Ariadne’s thread”
The Chartres pattern was built in 1200 and mirrors the rose window above.It is a lonely survivor of many once found in medieval churches. We believe they were used by pilgrims who were unable to journey safely to Jerusalem. It was a symbolic journey to the holy city to find Jesus.
The shape The labyrinth is a symbol of the archetypal feminine, there is a uterine energy in the spiralling into the central womb and the birthing out.- the Cretan model used 272 stones which is approximately the number of days for human gestation.
Roman Labyrinths
The Classical/ Cretan Labyrinth
There are variations of the classical theme of the Labyrinth. In Northern Europe their is the Baltic wheel, in India there is the Chakra-
