The spiral pattern has several labyrinth-like associations. The Stone Age spiral carvings represent the soul’s journey into the womb-like underworld, and its subsequent return towards rebirth. It can also represent creation, as something emerges from the point of nothing. Knud Mariboe, when talking of the relationship between the spiral and the labyrinth, says, “Although often intricate in form, the labyrinth is a spiral, and one which returns. It is a representation of the cosmos and all cosmoses, and hence of all ordered entities which correspond on the descending scale of analogy. It is therefore, at once the cosmos, the world, the individual life, the temple, the town, man, the womb—or intestines of the Mother (Earth), the convolutions of the brain, the consciousness, the heart, the pilgrimage, the journey, and the Way” (Mariboe 1994). Such a descent into the underworld (the kingdom of Pluto) is the theme of many initiation rituals and is comparable to the passage through the wilderness, or the “dark night of the soul,” which is experienced by mystics on their path and is often symbolised by the spiral. Mandalas Mandalas are symbols found in Buddhism and Hinduism that represent the universe. Mandala is Sanskrit for “circle that contains the essence.” Labyrinths and mandalas are archetypal collective symbols that transcend all cultures because they are grounded in consciousness itself. Mandalas, like labyrinths, are often circular in shape with the centre seen as its strongest point. The centre of both the labyrinth and the mandala represents what is central to us, what is core to us—either now, or on the higher levels of our soul journey. Working with labyrinths and mandalas engages the right side of our brain, enhancing our creativity and leading us to our centre. Circles
The circle is often used to represent heaven. The circle, in the words of John James, “is the perfect geometric figure, being the same at the beginning as at the end, as with alpha and omega” (James 1977). Most labyrinth are circular, or almost circular, in shape. It is no coincidence that this is the case, as the circle on its own is a symbol of completeness. Contained within the boundaries of the circle are all the other elements and qualities found in the labyrinth. Squaring the Circle “Squaring the circle” has several meanings and interpretations. The origin of this conundrum was a mathematical problem proposed by ancient geometers of constructing a square with the same area as a given circle. Many tried and failed to solve this problem. It wasn’t until 1882 that the task was proven to be mathematically impossible, when it was proven that pi (π) is a transcendental number, meaning that it is non-algebraic and uncountable. Squaring the circle has several other meanings. The term is often used to describe an impossible task. The other meanings are best understood when we recall the esoteric meanings given to the square and the circle. The square represents earth, with its four sides representing the four elements, the four directions, and the encompassment of matter itself. The circle, having no beginning and no end, represents infinity, or God, or heaven. The circle from ancient times was used as a symbol of the sun, which was the most powerful object that came within sight and understanding of man from earliest times. Therefore, from an esoteric viewpoint, “squaring the circle” is a metaphor for the integration of earth and heaven, and for finding your heaven here on earth. Jung wrote, “the squaring of the circle is one of the many archetypal motifs which form the basic patterns of our dreams and fantasies … it could even be called the archetype of wholeness” (Jung 1967). Similarly, Hermann Kern considers that the labyrinth “represents a sort of reconciliation, a union of both” (Kern 2000).
The square of earth and the circle of heaven are also to be seen in the drawing of the classical labyrinth from the seed pattern. Starting with the square seed pattern representing earth as you create the labyrinth, the shape is becoming increasingly circular, resulting in almost a complete circle. The opening in this circular shape provides the entranceway to a single path to the centre; the labyrinth is providing a path to heaven (circle) from the square of earth. The labyrinth can also represent and symbolise the coming together of earth and heaven. On another level, the squaring of the circle signifies that God has attained form and manifested in the square of man, the human soul. Putting It All Together In this chapter, I have given you information about many aspects of the labyrinth. You know more about the history of labyrinths, the types of labyrinths, the parts of labyrinths, and some of the associations of the labyrinth, including the importance of both the apparent and hidden numbers in the labyrinth. Yet I feel that I have not described what a labyrinth is. Indeed, the more I learn about the labyrinth, the more difficult it is for me to describe it. In attempting to describe the labyrinth, I am drawn to the first few lines of the Tao Te Ching that say, “The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way” (Tzu 1963); in other words, the Tao that can be described is not the Tao. The labyrinth is very much like this. A labyrinth that can be described is not a labyrinth. Any attempt to define the labyrinth is lacking in something because the labyrinth is knowledge, experience, reflection, wisdom, enlightenment, and more all rolled into one. When you create a labyrinth with deep meaning and intention, you tune in to the parts and wholeness of the labyrinth on a deeper level, creating a labyrinth that is vibrant, alive, and unique to you: you create a labyrinth temple of you. Exercise: How to Create a Labyrinth Imbued with Your Energy
(Creating the Labyrinth Temple of You) In the previous exercise, you learned how to draw and make a labyrinth. There is much more to the practice of drawing and creating a labyrinth. The practice of creating a labyrinth has a positive effect on the maker. In making a labyrinth you are actively engaging with the symbolism of the labyrinth. You are creating a sacred space with which you will be interacting to quieten the mind, seek answers to questions, and explore your life’s issues. You will be using the finger labyrinth that you draw in this exercise in some of the other exercises in the book. So, the more focused you are doing this exercise, the greater benefits you will gain when using the labyrinth later, as your mindset and general disposition at the time of creating the labyrinth will be reflected in the completed labyrinth. Many people who make labyrinths are aware of the special and empowering nature of drawing and building labyrinths. That’s one reason that they keep making labyrinths. Making labyrinths is both energizing and meditative. It brings the maker into the positive energy field of the labyrinth. There are also reports of increased intuition coming to people when drawing a series of labyrinths. In his book Labyrinths: Ancient Myths and Modern Uses, Sig Lonegren considers that there is “something very special about making a labyrinth yourself.” He says that it happens the fifth or sixth time you make one; that it is quite easy to understand how to make one intellectually, but after you draw it half a dozen times “the labyrinth offers another way of knowing” (Lonegren 2015). This exercise is not only about how to draw or make a labyrinth, it is also an exercise in actively creating and engaging with the symbolism and energy of the labyrinth. It has been recounted that if you draw a labyrinth ten times in succession that you will enter a deeper state of awareness. So, for full effect and benefit from this exercise, do it ten times in succession. Any activity done with intention and focus is enhanced by such an approach. A typical example is the creation of icons, where the icon is made and used in an atmosphere of prayer. Monks creating icons often prepare by fasting and praying
with the intention of being in a spiritually high place when creating the icon. When painting the icon, they typically pray over each brush stroke. This intense and attentive approach gives us a snapshot into the supersensitive world that is the goal of the spiritual path. It also illustrates that the creation of symbols and tools to assist us in progressing on our personal and spiritual growth paths becomes more powerful and experiential when done with concentration, heartfelt energy, and intention. Applying this focused approach to the creation of the labyrinth, each aspect of the labyrinth and each line drawn to create it carries the energy that you imbue it with. Everything in the labyrinth is significant. Therefore, to enhance this labyrinth creation exercise, I have associated each action in the nineteen stages of creating the labyrinth with a quality or element to be contemplated and invoked. The seed pattern contains elements that are associated with the symbolism of the cross and the four quadrants, while the eight lines to complete the circuits are invocations related to the qualities associated with each circuit and with completeness. Saying the words out loud further enhances the effect of the exercise. The words “I AM” are powerful words, and using them consciously is a creative force that generates the intention expressed. Anything said immediately after the words I AM is a statement to the world, the Universe, and beyond that this is what you are. The book of Exodus in the Bible reads that when Moses asked God what is his name, “God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14 KJV). Placing the name of God, the creator, in a sentence and saying the name of the creator is a dynamic statement that empowers whatever follows it. In effect, what you are doing in this exercise is creating a symbol of you. The labyrinth, as you are drawing it in this exercise, represents you. Each line that you draw and each statement you speak out loud is creating and empowering the symbol of you that you are creating. You are creating a plan of the sacred temple that is you. It is one of the first steps in this book to realizing your true self.
Follow the instructions below in the order described to create your own labyrinth. When finished, trace the path to the centre, and leave your finger there as you rest in the centre of your being. When ready, trace the path back out of the labyrinth. To make this exercise even more powerful, keep repeating this exercise until you have ten labyrinths made. Creating the Sacred Space of the Labyrinth —The Temple of You Step Action Design Invocation 1 Dot I AM 2 Horizontal line through dot I AM Present 3 Vertical Line through dot I AM Divine 4 Bottom left dot I AM Direction 5 Top left dot I AM Dimension 6 Top right dot I AM Space 7 Bottom right dot I AM Time 8 Bottom left bracket I AM Earth Step Action Design Invocation 9 Top left bracket I AM Air 10 Top right bracket I AM Fire
11 Bottom right bracket I AM Water 12 Loop 1 I AM One 13 Loop 2 I AM Aware 14 Loop 3 I AM Insight 15 Loop 4 I AM Truth 16 Loop 5 I AM Love Step Action Design Invocation 17 Loop 6 I AM Power 18 Loop 7 I AM Creation 19 Loop 8 I AM ALL Reflection After you have created your labyrinth (or your ten labyrinths), take some time to sit quietly with your thoughts and feelings. What kind of space are you in now? What is different from when you started this exercise? Write down, draw, or paint what comes into your head. These reflections might not seem immediately
relevant. But, when you look back at them after other exercises in later chapters, their relevance can become more apparent. [contents]
3 The Labyrinth Effect The labyrinth is an archetype; it universally has both a conscious and subconscious effect on anyone interacting with it. Many people who see the labyrinth for the first time feel that they have seen it before. There is a recognition of something familiar. There is a sense of connection to this symbol that is greater than its visible appearance. For some, the labyrinth holds a presence that invites them to interact with it. How Does the Labyrinth Work? Many have asked the question “How does the labyrinth work?” Few can provide the unequivocal answer. In some ways, it doesn’t matter how it works, only that it does. On another level, knowing some of what causes the “labyrinth effect” can help to understand what is happening when you interact with it. If you are seeking information about how the labyrinth works, then using the labyrinth will ultimately bring about the knowledge and understanding of its functions and benefits. Key areas to consider are what makes the experience of walking the labyrinth such a moving one for so many people, and what causes people to have insights and increased intuition as they walk the labyrinth.
The early labyrinth makers, and the later medieval labyrinth builders, did not leave us any information as to how the labyrinth works. We are left to draw insights and conclusions from a wide range of disciplines and beliefs including neurology, psychology, eastern mysticism, psychics, and our own experiences. The theories of how the labyrinth work include the integration of the brain’s hemispheres, the generation of energy vortices, aligning the chakras while walking, and rebalancing your energy field. Balancing the Brain The classical labyrinth looks like a brain. It also has a positive effect on your brain and your disposition. Walking the labyrinth quietens the mind, and brings the walker into a more balanced and centred state. Tracing a finger labyrinth has a similar effect. One explanation of how the labyrinth works is understood when we consider the theory of the right and left sides of the brain. The left side of the brain is responsible for the masculine qualities of rational and logical thinking, dynamic action, and doing. The right side of the brain is associated with the feminine qualities of receptivity, intuition, creativity, and nurturing. In today’s world, your brain can easily be out of balance as the right brain is often overworked from too many tasks to do, things to think about, and other stimuli. When you walk the labyrinth, you must focus on the narrow path ahead, or you may stray from the path. This act of focusing on the path fully engages the left brain, and has a quietening effect similar to meditating on a single point such as a candle flame or a rose. In its quietened state, where there is less thinking activity, there is now space for the right brain to come more to the fore and into balance with the left side. When in balance, you are in a state known as “wholebrained.” In this state, you draw equally on the logical rational thinking qualities of the left brain and on the intuitive, creative qualities of the right brain. In this
whole-brained state, you are more open to receiving insights, answers to questions, and seeking solutions to problems. A further brain-related labyrinth effect happens when a person passes through the 180-degree turns in the labyrinth. The sharp change of direction is thought to shift the awareness of the walker from one side of the brain to the other. This induces a deeper connection between the sides of the brain, resulting in a more integrated brain functioning and a more receptive state of consciousness. Philip Gardiner, in his book Gateways to the Otherworld, states, “All of the emotional problems people have stem from having a divided perception, because we perceive, or receive the world through either one brain hemisphere or the other, and so we can only understand it from one side or the other—logical or emotional.” He goes on to describe how each hemisphere acts as a filter through which the images and meaning of our reality is received and interpreted. He also considers that we create our reality through either one or the other of these hemispheres or filters; whereas some of us create a “logical and ordered universe world,” others create a “wondrous imaginative world” (Gardiner 2007a). The key aspect of Gardiner's theory is that because we are divided within ourselves, the world that we create is a world of division, fighting, and war. He concludes that “If we were all ‘balanced’ in left and right brain waves, then we might be able to see the other person’s side of the argument” (Gardiner 2007a). Therefore, in using the labyrinth to bring ourselves into balance, we are also leading to a situation where the world that we create is also coming into balance. Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. If you want to change the world around you, you must first change within yourself. Turn Around The turns in the labyrinth have another positive effect. In making a 180-degree turn, you are shifting your energy field in a dramatic way. It is rare to make such a dramatic about-turn in everyday life. You might do so at eventful times when
you have forgotten something and need to go back to get it urgently or when you turn and run in times of danger. Turns at such times are often taken in a rushed or panic state, and they lead you inevitably from one state of being to another. In the labyrinth these 180-degree turns are made in a measured and predictable way, as the path you are walking prescribes the turns for you. In the Chartres labyrinth, for example, there are twenty-eight such turns on the way in and twenty-eight such turns on the way out, a total of fifty-six turns. There is no such situation in our everyday lives where you make so many deliberate energy shifting movements in such a short space of time. The effect of such turns on your body’s energy field is similar to some Tai Chi movements where the practitioner is deliberately making 180-degree turns from their core, followed by accompanying hand movements, often with the intention of moving the energy in such a way as to focus on it and to manipulate and concentrate it. Moving through the labyrinth has a similar effect on your body’s energy field, shifting and realigning your energy field. As a result, you feel more centred after a labyrinth walk. It is also thought that the many turns experienced while walking the labyrinth cause the brain fluid to move back and forth across the middle line of the brain. This contributes to a balancing of the brain function and an integration of the right and left sides of the brain. So, the combined effects of the turns in the labyrinth can be summarized by the expression that the labyrinth “turns you on”! Your Chakras and the Labyrinth One of the most powerful associations of the labyrinth is the correlation of the seven circuits of the labyrinth with your seven main chakras. Your chakras are energy centres that are located along the centre of your body, from the base of your spine to the top of your head. Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning “wheel.” If you could see your chakras they would look like spinning wheels of light emanating in a conical shape from points along the centre of your body. Your
chakras feed and nourish your physical body with life force energy and are associated with certain qualities and colours. The colours of your seven chakras are the colours of the rainbow. When you know the associations of each chakra, it not only makes your labyrinth walk more interesting, it also helps you to understand many aspects of your life. From bottom to top, your chakras are as follows: First chakra (in Sanskrit, muladhara), also known as the base chakra or root chakra. This chakra is located in the perineum area and spirals downwards into the earth. It connects you to the earth and is associated with security and safety issues as well as being here on earth. Its colour is red. Second chakra (swadhistana), also known as the sacral chakra, is located at the sacrum in the pelvic area. It represents creativity and sexuality and is associated with your emotions, and the colour is orange. Third chakra (manipura) is located at the solar plexus/stomach area. It is associated with your will and power, and the colour is yellow. It is related to your identity and how you see yourself in the world. Fourth chakra (anahata), also known as the heart chakra, is in the centre of the chest. It is related to how you connect with others in relationships. Its colour is green. Fifth chakra (vishuddha) is in the centre of the throat area. It is the energetic communication centre in your body and represents how you connect with speaking your truth. Its colour is blue. Sixth chakra (ajna), or third eye, is in the centre of your head, between the eyebrows. It is connected to how you see beyond the physical—your psychic abilities. Its colour is indigo. Seventh chakra (sahasrara) is located at the top of the head, spiralling upwards. It connects you to the source of all—Universal Energy, God, Great Spirit, Oneness. Its colour is violet. The chakras are associated with the circuits of the classical labyrinth starting with the root chakra on the outer circuit and moving inwards to the crown chakra. The centre of the labyrinth is associated with your higher self, or soul
star, sometimes called your “eighth chakra,” and is located about twelve inches above your head. In walking through the labyrinth, you pass through each circuit and its associations with the chakras bringing them into balance and aligning your energy body. This aligning contributes to the feeling of being more relaxed and peaceful after walking the labyrinth. In a study by John Rhodes, PhD, into the effects of the labyrinth, 81 percent of the respondents reported that they felt “much more” or “more” centred following a labyrinth walk than before a labyrinth walk. In the same study, 87 percent of the respondents reported that they felt “much more” or “more” peaceful following a labyrinth walk than before a labyrinth walk (Rhodes 2008). As well as representing your chakras, the seven circuits carry other associations with the chakras, such as the endocrine glands, planets, metals, and more (see Appendix 1). There are other connections between the labyrinth and your chakras that are not initially apparent. The number seven is mentioned many times in the Bible, and several of these have been interpreted to mean the seven chakras. The number seven is the number of biblical perfection and completion, so when all your chakras are in alignment and shining bright and clear then you are close to spiritual purity. In the book of Revelation in the Bible we read: “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks … And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength … The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:12-20 KJV). While many interpret this passage literally, there are other meanings that can be attributed to it. According to Edgar Cayce, the sleeping prophet, the seven endocrine glands are depicted in Revelations as seven stars. Connecting the seven chakras to the seven endocrine glands subsequently connects the body to the soul. Spirit manifests in the body through these spiritual gland centres.
Further on in the book of Revelation there is a passage about a book “written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals,” which no one has the ability to open on his own (5:3). However, one of the elders spoke that the “Lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David” had prevailed and opened the book. This book symbolises the body and its seven spiritual centres, or chakras. Jesus, in bringing the Christ consciousness to humanity, opened our spiritual centres. The message of the whole passage is that through the development of a Christlike state of existence, the spiritual centres are opened, and through the attainment of the experience and presence of Christ consciousness, all seven centres are opened. There are many ways to attain this level of consciousness, meditation being the most often used. The labyrinth as a walking meditation conducted in an ancient sacred symbol is also a powerful way to do this work. The connections between the chakras, endocrine glands, and the seven circuits mean that in working with the labyrinth you are also working with your spiritual centres—working to clear them, to fill them with light, and to bring them to a pure state of existence. Furthermore, in clearing, enlightening, and aligning your energy centres, you are bringing your physical, energetic, and spiritual centres into alignment, creating the tree of life of your body and standing as a link between heaven and earth. Nonlinear It’s time to get off the straight and narrow! The “straight and narrow,” while sometimes used to describe what is right and proper, can also carry with it a sense of restriction and absence of adventure. While the labyrinth path is sometimes narrow, it is rarely straight. Most labyrinths are nonlinear, as the path does not follow a numerical sequence through the circuits. This nonlinear movement through a labyrinth contributes to you losing your sense of where you are in the pattern, and can result in a sense of timelessness, or feeling lost, although “lost” is probably not the best word to describe the feeling and
sensation in a labyrinth. The famous frontiersman Daniel Boone best described this sensation in the labyrinth when he said, “I can’t say as ever I was lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.” So, an occasional sense of bewilderment is quite possible in a labyrinth, especially when one walks one for the first time. This sense of detachment from the logical mind, and the outside world, can be quite relaxing and refreshing for the labyrinth walker, as it involves a form of surrendering to the labyrinth and a letting go of a sense of having to control everything. Hermann Kern, in describing how a walker moves through a sevencircuit classical labyrinth, writes, “The deeper the wanderer moves into the labyrinth, the further diminished the active radius (the number of quadrants entered) and the walker’s grip on the world and his bearings within it become” (Kern 2000). Edgar Cayce has said through his written work that information helping us to grow spiritually comes to us in two ways: through our experiences and through archetypes from the collective/cosmic consciousness. The labyrinth involves both of these ways: it is a practice through which we have an experience of walking, and turning, and of entering a different state of being. It is also an archetype, a symbol grounded in the collective consciousness. Circling Towards the Centre The practice of labyrinth walking is a form of circling towards the centre. The power and energy of the inherent spiral as a creative energy is imbued in the walker as they interact with the labyrinth. This brings out the person’s creative forces while creating a positive energy vortex where negative energetic patterns are transformed, allowing the walker to experience insights and heightened awareness. This energy vortex can also have the effect of transporting the walker to another dimension. Having traversed the spiral to the centre, to the point of oblivion, where else could it lead, but to beyond the nothingness and into another dimension.
Effect of Labyrinth Walking on Your Energy Field You have an energy field, sometimes referred to as your aura. Some people can see this energy field. It is possible to measure the size of a person’s energy field using the practice of divining (more commonly called dowsing, but I prefer the term divining as it is rooted in the “Divine”). I usually measure a person’s energy field by asking the person to stand in one spot and then measuring the edge of their energy field with divining rods as I walk backwards away from them. In all cases where I measured people’s energy fields before and after walking the labyrinth, the person’s energy field was much larger after the labyrinth walk. The radius of most people’s energy field is doubled in size, and some people have expanded even more. The human energy field expands in many different situations. The expansion of the energy field is due to a rise in vibration of the energy field. As your vibration rises, your energy field expands. Meditation, including labyrinth walking, is one of the best ways to raise your vibration and expand your energy field. When you disconnect from the worries, concerns, and fears of everyday life, and enter a space of peace, calm, and love, your energy field responds accordingly and expands. When your aura is expanded, you are more aware and able to pick up subtle signals. This may partially explain how some people receive insights and answers to questions on the labyrinth. The Consciousness Field of the Labyrinth The Consciousness Field of the Labyrinth (CFL) is the repository of all labyrinth knowledge and wisdom that has accumulated over the millennia. From the time man first carved the labyrinth pattern into the rocks in Spain, Italy, and India over four thousand years ago to today’s labyrinth activities, the consciousness field has been expanding.
The labyrinth entered humanity’s consciousness from the greater unified field, the field of oneness. Man accessed and tapped into this consciousness field and drew the first labyrinth pattern. From there, the labyrinth took on a significance that is still resonating with people today. The labyrinth pattern carries within it the vibration of Source, the divine essence. When interacting with the labyrinth you are accessing the unified field of all knowledge and wisdom. A field in this context is similar to how physicists describe a field; it not only has duration, but also extension in space. Somewhere, the sum of all knowledge, information, and labyrinth related activity is stored and accessible. In keeping with many field theories in physics, the consciousness field of the labyrinth exists on many dimensions and levels. The consciousness field of the labyrinth is similar to Jung’s collective unconscious, within which a mode of transmission of archetypes and shared symbols and patterns exist. Jacques Attali in his book The Labyrinth in Culture and Society contends that “The labyrinth is a material manifestation of a collective unconscious, of a message sent forth into the beyond. It represents the first abstraction of a sense of human destiny, of an ordering of the world. It describes the universe in both its visible and invisible aspects—a universe whose traversal, like that of life, is both sought after (because it leads to the discovery of eternity) and feared (because nothingness waits there). It is like a place of precarious and dangerous passage, a breach between two worlds” (Attali 1999). The Labyrinth of Opposites On initial observation, the labyrinth appears static and immobile. Standing outside the labyrinth, you can see the whole pattern. Once you enter the labyrinth and start walking, your attention is mostly limited to a short part of the path ahead of you. When walking the labyrinth, it assumes a dynamic characteristic where you, as the walker, are now interacting with the labyrinth,
engaging with the path and manoeuvring the turns to reach your goal—the labyrinth’s centre. The path is the connection between opposites: the static and the dynamic, the seen and unseen, confusion and clarity, between the outside and the inside. Walking the path brings the outer and inner worlds into balance. You start your walk in awareness of the world around you, bringing this awareness into the labyrinth. As you walk further into the labyrinth you become more aware of what you are doing and how you are feeling. Your eyes are focused on the narrow path ahead of you, your feet settle into a rhythm as you walk, and your breathing deepens. You become immersed in the act of walking, freeing your thoughts and feelings, and bringing an increased awareness of them, effectively merging your outer and inner worlds. Zara Renander expressed this beautifully when she wrote, “Two sides of a coin are revealed at the same time: The external, physical journey step by step illuminates our inner life, making the implicit explicit, creating a powerful resonance and revelation between inner and outer realities” (Renander 2011). The aspects that began as opposites are united into an integrated whole in the labyrinth. The outer and inner worlds are merged. The labyrinth brings together matter and spirit, head and heart, the masculine and the feminine, leading to a sense of wholeness and unity. Putting It All Together The cumulative impact of all these labyrinth effects is both powerful and subtle. Once aware of even some of these effects, you begin to realise that you are interacting with a powerful and restorative symbol as well as a tool for transformation. Awareness of the known with the presence of unknown effects can contribute to your experience with the labyrinth. While the labyrinth heightens your awareness, the more you approach it in a conscious, attentive, and mindful state, the more enhanced your experience is likely to be. Awareness
of yourself is achieved through being aware of your thoughts, feelings, physical responses, and all other signals received. So, let’s experience yourself in the labyrinth. Exercise: How to Tune in to Heightened Awareness in the Labyrinth We have seen in this chapter some of the possible effects that a labyrinth has on the walker. When walking a labyrinth, either knowingly or unknowingly, you are experiencing some or all of these effects. These effects can help to bring you to a different state of awareness, a state of awareness brought about by the labyrinth effect and by how you approach the labyrinth walk. One of the keys to walking the labyrinth, and to life itself, is to be aware of the importance of every moment. The more aware you are, the more you are open to receiving insights into your life, and the more you will see your existence in the context of a greater existence. This exercise, then, is to walk the labyrinth in an as open and aware state as possible—to become aware of yourself on as many levels as you can experience at the time. It helps, therefore, not to rush straight into the labyrinth but to first prepare for the walk. Before the walk, bring yourself into as quiet a state as possible. Give your body and mind permission to slow down, and give your mind permission to become aware and remember what is significant for you. Take a few deep breaths, relax your body as best you can, and become aware of your feet on the ground, your heart beating in your chest, and your hands by your side. As soon as you are aware of your presence in your body and in your surroundings, you then are ready to walk with awareness. While walking, be aware of everything. Use all your senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and even your extra-sensory perception. Messages and signals can come to you often from unexpected quarters. If outside, be aware of nature, the wind, birds, and animals. Apparent intrusive sounds can have deeper meaning, so be open to seeing beyond the immediate and your reaction to it.
What can you see as you are walking? Take note of what you are noticing as you walk the labyrinth. What sounds are coming to your ears? Are these external sounds or internal sounds? What about smells? What do you smell? Taste the air. What does it taste like? Become the watcher. Watch yourself walking the labyrinth, and see what you observe about yourself. Take a mental note of everything that comes to mind. See if you can sense slight changes in temperature and bodily senses. Do you feel colder or warmer at any stage? Is your body sending you a signal through giving you goose bumps, stiffness, energy jerks, slowing you down or speeding up, or reacting in some other way? Any change is significant, so take note of it for writing down later. Beyond your bodily senses there are many other senses that send you signals. You are becoming conscious of the energy within you and around you, so tune in to this energy also and in to what it can tell you. Thoughts or images may come into your mind or vision. You may hear something coming from deep within you, or from somewhere outside of yourself. And it is okay if at first you do not experience any of these things. This is your walk and what happens to you is what happens to you. Have no expectations, and do not expect any specific experience, even if you had such an experience before. Every walk is different because you are different on every walk. Remember, this is about you, not the labyrinth. Do not dismiss anything. I remember doing a walk before giving a workshop and asked if I needed to consider anything else, or if there was anything more I needed to do. I was a little nervous as the group that I was to facilitate were experienced labyrinth users, and some of the material that I was going to present to them was new and being used for the first time. During the walk, I was distracted by a song going around and around in my head. I couldn’t focus on the question I asked, and no answers or insights were forthcoming. I was so distracted by the song that I was beginning to get a little annoyed. Then, I stopped. I focused on what was happening and where I was. I listened to the words of the song in my head. It was the song “Don’t Worry, Be
Happy” by Bobby McFerrin! I smiled, got the message, and learned not to dismiss anything! So, walk with awareness: awareness of everything. Be open to receiving insights, answers, and messages from everywhere and anything. Reflection When finished with your walk, take time to reflect on the walk and what it was like. Write down your experience of what happened during the walk. What caught your attention? What distracted you during your walk? Did you notice anything unusual or different? What sounds did you hear, or what smells did you notice? If you think that you had no experience, write that down, and write about how the walk felt for you. [contents]
4 Life’s Turns in the Labyrinth The turns that you meet on your labyrinth path are crucial elements that are easily overlooked. For many people, the drive to reach the centre is all encompassing, and, apart from the path that gets you there, everything else along the way is a distraction. Yet, the turns in the labyrinth are powerful points both symbolically and energetically. They are pivotal points on your journey to higher states of existence. They are sometimes known as doors or gates. These doors have been recognized in many ancient traditions and esoteric schools as central to the paths of personal and spiritual advancement. Two of these ancient mystical traditions, Mithraism and alchemy, both involve seven stages of initiation and development. The transitions between these stages are located at the turns in the classical labyrinth. These turns into the individual circuits not only carry their own energy, they also replicate energetically and symbolically the stages of progression of interrelated paths to enlightenment. There is a transformation happening at the turns of the labyrinth that requires your focus and attention to fully access the knowledge and experience that they bring. To get a greater appreciation of these connections and the power of the turns in the labyrinth, it helps to have an understanding of Mithraism and alchemy as well as the stages of advancement that they contain.
The Mithraic Journey Mithraism revolved around the worship of the ancient Persian god Mithras in subterranean caverns and caves. It involved initiation through seven stages of an astrologically themed hierarchy. It is thought that the ascent through the seven stages represents the seven stages of the descent of man, which man is now progressing back through. When I was in Rome several years ago, I came across the Basilica San Clemente, which is one of the oldest in Rome. It commemorates St. Clement, who was the fourth pope and lived in the first century AD. The church that you see today was built in 1108. Beneath the present basilica is a fourth-century basilica that was converted from the house of a Roman nobleman, part of which served briefly as an early church in the first century. In the basement of this house and church is a mithraeum: the cave or underground chamber in which Mithraic ceremonies took place. I descended through the layers of history into the basement. The walls were of rough stone and the ceiling was quite low, although I could stand upright comfortably. Water was flowing along a channel in the ground, giving the whole place a cave-like effect. As I walked through the underground passages, I came to the mithraeum itself, the entrance of which was blocked off by a metal barred gate. I looked in through the gate and saw a rectangular space with stone benches along each side of the room. Initiates, who were men only, would have sat on these stone benches to celebrate a ritual meal. At the far end of the room, a niche was carved out of the doorway, in which was placed a statue of Mithras at his birth emerging from a large bumpy rock. Between the two benches was a stone slab, or altar. On one side of this altar was an image of Mithras shown as a young man killing a bull. Apollo commanded Mithras, a god born of rock, to slay the bull to ensure fertility and renew life. Each of the other sides had carvings of the twin torchbearers Cautes and Cautopates, symbolizing the waxing and waning of the seasons, and a snake, a symbol of regeneration. On the top of the altar were
carvings of the sun god Helios on the left and Selene the moon goddess on the right. As I stood looking into the mithraeum, I felt a sensation come over me, and I was transfixed. It was the feeling that I get whenever I am somewhere I believe I had been in a past life. I stood gazing through the gate into the inner sanctum of the mithraeum. I just wanted to stay there. My wife, Fionnuala, came over to me and asked me if I was coming along, and all I could say was “I just want to stay here.” So, I stayed on that spot for some time. I don’t know how long I stayed there; I didn’t want to leave! It is difficult to describe this feeling of knowing that you have been somewhere before—in a past life. It is a sense of connection, of belonging, and of almost expecting something to happen. On this occasion, as happened on some other similar occasions, I was in a half haze between this world and the past. In almost all my other past life experiences, I know the significance of the memory for me in this lifetime. With the mithraeum, it was to reactivate and reveal some of the wisdom of Mithraism, including its connection with the labyrinth and its relevance for today. The cave of Mithras had seven doors, seven altars, and a ladder with seven rungs depicting the seven grades of initiation into the mystery schools. The seven grades of initiate were progressed through, with the first three being mainly of the physical body while four to seven were spiritual. The cave, subterranean world of darkness, representing death and rebirth, is also echoed in the form of the labyrinth. Mithra emerged from a rock in a cave. The cave/labyrinth is also symbolic of the universe into which the soul descends for mortal existence, and then ascends through the levels to reach immortality and union with the Divine. The key teaching from Mithraism on your path to self-discovery is that the turns that your life takes are opportunities for greater awakening and awareness. Mithraism mapped and described seven significant stages of transformation, or grades of initiation. The seven grades of initiation of Mithraism and their associated planets corresponding to the turns into the seven circuits of the
classical labyrinth are: Corax/Raven (Mercury), Nymphus/Bridegroom (Venus), Miles/Soldier (Mars), Leo/Lion (Jupiter), Perses/Persian (Moon), Heliodromus/Sun-courier (Sun) and Pater/Father (Saturn). Followers of Mithraism believed that the heavens were divided into seven spheres, each with one planet that was endowed with certain qualities and associated with one of the grades of initiation. In descending from the empyrean to the earth, the souls successively received from them their qualities and passions. On its ascent back to the highest heaven, the soul rids itself of the qualities it received on its descent by traversing the different spheres. The initiations into each stage represent symbolically, and spiritually, the advancement of the individual. On its symbolic journey through the planetary zones, the soul “abandoned to the Moon its vital and nutritive energy, to Mercury its desires, to Venus its wicked appetites, to the Sun its intellectual capacities, to Mars its love of war, to Jupiter its ambitious dreams, to Saturn its inclinations. It was naked, stripped of every vice and every sensibility, when it penetrated the eighth heaven to enjoy there, as an essence supreme, and in the eternal light that bathed the gods, beatitude without end” (Cumont 1903). The Mithraic ladder, with seven gates, had an eighth gate at the top, similar to the labyrinth with seven circuits and the centre. In walking the classical labyrinth, the walker has to turn in to each of the seven circuits and make a final eighth turn into the centre. As previously mentioned, the seven circuits also represent our seven chakras, with the centre representing our connection to our higher self, or a reunification of the soul with God. On another level, if we view the seven circuits as representing the seven visible heavenly bodies, then the centre again represents our going beyond the visible world of earth and entering a higher state of awareness, the soul’s reunification with Source. The Mithras Liturgy is a text from the Great Magical Papyrus of Paris, held in the Bibliothèque Nationale. It was given its modern name by its first translator, Albrecht Dieterich, in 1903. It is based on the invocation of Helios Mithras as the god who will provide the initiate with a revelation of immortality. The liturgy is a mix of astrology and magic whose main focus is the mystical journey of the
ascent of the soul in seven stages. On this journey, the soul encounters the four elements: Aion (the god of unbounded time), the seven Fates, the seven Pole Lords, and finally the highest god, Mithras. The Mithraic journey resembles the path through the labyrinth having seven stages with a gateway at each, and the four elements in the quadrants. We can also see the labyrinth as being a map of the cosmos, and even as our journey into and out of this reality, representing your soul’s journey in all its stages. The Alchemical Labyrinth Path Alchemy is an ancient practice where the alchemist outwardly sought to change lead into gold. It is shrouded in secrecy and mystery, and secretly the alchemists were seeking to transform their base nature into the gold of enlightened beings. Their manuscripts appeared to describe chemical processes relating to the transmutation of matter. However, their experiments were also representative of the processes and stages that they themselves went through on their journey to enlightenment. Alchemy is concerned with the transmutation of the personality and selfrealization. It is about the transformation of you. You begin to transform yourself when you discover and learn to understand your true nature—that you are a divine immortal being. You are on a journey of transformation moving through different stages by transmuting your everyday earthly nature into your true divine presence. The labyrinth provides a roadmap for the stages of the alchemical processes that you undergo. On the labyrinth path, you progressively realise the infinite potential of your true being, taking steps and turns on your path, where you increasingly get out of your own way and allow your higher self to reveal itself. Many alchemical texts are difficult to understand. There was a twofold reason for the alchemists taking the approach of keeping their knowledge hidden. Firstly, as the knowledge was being transferred from master to initiate, writing in
ambiguous and oftentimes difficult to understand language helped prevent the knowledge being taken up and used by someone less ready or able to use it in a correct or worthwhile manner. Secondly, at a time when it was quite easy for one to be accused of heresy, expressing personal and spiritual growth in terms of chemical interactions and experiments was a clever disguise for keeping esoteric knowledge safely hidden. Alchemical texts were written to reveal their teachings only to the initiated. Therefore, much of what is written should not be taken literally, and needs to be understood in a greater context. This hiding in plain sight of alchemical and labyrinth knowledge is summed up perfectly by Titus Burckhardt in his book Alchemy: Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul when referencing the alchemist Artephius: “ ‘I assure you in good faith (for I am not so jealous as other philosophers), that whoever would take literally what other philosophers (that is, the other alchemists) have written, will lose himself in the recesses of a labyrinth from which he will never escape, for want of Ariadne’s thread to keep him on the right path and bring him safely out.’ ” (Burckhardt 1997). The reference to the labyrinth in this extract is just one of several labyrinth references found in alchemy. There are many similarities between the paths of the labyrinth and alchemy. The main correlation between these paths of selfdiscovery is that what initially appears confusing eventually leads you to a state of greater clarity and understanding. The similarities and connections between the labyrinth and alchemy are an indication of the increasing connections between all of existence that you will realise as you move through the stages of your journey to self-discovery. Alchemy and Labyrinth Associations The alchemical transformation involves a process with stages that have a clear beginning and a clear point of achievement. Other correspondences with the labyrinth include the seven stages in the alchemical process, as well as the
previously noted four elements in the quadrants of the labyrinth. Fulcanelli, an unidentified master who wrote the book Le Mystère des Cathédrales, makes a number of alchemical connections with the labyrinth being “emblematic” of the whole labour of the work. He considered that the cathedral labyrinth was part of the magic tradition associated with Solomon, and had two major difficulties: “one path which must be taken in order to reach the centre—where the combat of the two natures takes place—the other the way which the artist must follow in order to emerge” (Fulcanelli 1971). Central to the alchemists’ processes is the vessel within which the reactions and transformations took place. As well as the physical work with substances, the alchemist’s vessel can be equated with your physical and energetic bodies within which the interior work that you do on your soul takes place. The labyrinth is not only a metaphor for the alchemical vessel, but also serves as a physical and energetic container within which the walker conducts the purifying practices on himself and undertakes the transformation of his own being. Indeed, the power of the labyrinth as a transformative alchemical-type vessel is evidenced by the transformational effect of the labyrinth on many people, sometimes without their clear conscious knowledge of what they were undertaking. Another interesting connection is the use of the word “vitriol” by alchemists. Vitriol was what we know as sulphuric acid, but it also had another meaning, especially when capitalized. VITRIOL stood in Latin for visita interiora terrae rectificando invenies occultum lapidem. This can be translated as “visit the interior of the earth, through purification (rectification) you will find the hidden stone.” In a labyrinth context, this is a reference to the journey to the centre of the labyrinth through which you become purified. Your labyrinth path to selfdiscovery is your journey inwards to find your true essence—your own philosopher’s stone. In a subtler connection, the symbol for vitriol is a seven with a sickle through it (see Figure 6). This is a clear connection with the sevencircuit labyrinth, where the sickle is a symbol of death and purification.
Figure 6: Seven with sickle strike-through Alchemical Metals, Planets, and the Circuits of the Labyrinth The alchemists treasured seven metals, each with an increasingly higher vibration and associated with a heavenly body or planet. A knowledge of these associations brings greater understanding of what aspects of your life are being influenced at different stages of your progression through the labyrinth. The associations of metals with the planets are: lead with Saturn, tin with Jupiter, iron with Mars, copper with Venus, quicksilver (mercury) with Mercury, silver with the Moon, and gold with the Sun. The planets and their metals create an association between alchemy and astrology; while astrology interprets the meanings of the planets and the zodiac, alchemy relates the planets with earthly metals. Combined they create a fusion between heaven and earth. The qualities briefly associated with the planets are: goddess with the Moon, communication with Mercury, feminine qualities with Venus, king with the Sun, masculinity with Mars, theorizer with Jupiter, and death with Saturn. When you walk the labyrinth with an understanding of the planetary qualities assigned to the seven circuits you embark on a revealing journey of insight and growth. From Earth at the centre the planetary bodies are arranged by circuit as follows: Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Walking the
labyrinth as a symbol of your life and soul’s journey, you begin on the third circuit associated with Mars, as you enter the labyrinth at the third circuit. This is the masculine quality of drive and initiative needed to commence your journey. You next move into Jupiter where you begin theorizing about your journey and trying to figure out exactly what is happening. Moving into Saturn you realise that you need to let go fully of your need to make sense of what is happening, to bring death to the ego, and to free yourself from mental and earthly concerns. As you move into the fourth circuit of the Sun you become a king and ruler of your own life and path, not by anything you do but by having let go of everything that was driving you on in the first three circuits. You are now comfortable within yourself, with who you are, and with the path that you are walking. The next circuit that you enter is the seventh associated with the Moon. This is the goddess circuit where you begin to integrate your feminine aspects so that you are now becoming full, complete, and balanced in all your aspects. Moving into Mercury’s sixth circuit you are receiving communications on a nonphysical level that is further prompting and guiding you on your soul’s path. The final circuit that you enter is the fifth associated with Venus, which not only represents all your feminine aspects, but is a representation of the Divine Mother. This is the precursor to the short section of path leading to the centre, the “birth” canal, before you are born into the light of the centre and endowed with an understanding of your true origin, nature, and purpose. The layers and dimensions to the labyrinth become even more apparent when you place the Sun at the centre. The planets, including Earth, are then assigned to the circuits of the labyrinth according to their distance from the Sun as follows: Mercury, Venus, Moon, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. You pass through the three outer circuits and planets as before. The fourth circuit now represents Earth, where you assume your rightly and “kingly” entitlement to be on earth. The next and seventh circuit is now Mercury and communication, where you tap into your intuition and become aware of receiving guidance from without and within. You then move into the sixth circuit associated with Venus and your feminine qualities of creativity, nurturing, and receptiveness. You are
now nurturing yourself on your path and receptive to the meaning of all events happening in your life. The final circuit is the Moon Goddess circuit, where you step into your divine feminine aspect in preparation for approaching and merging with your divine masculine aspect of the Sun at the centre. These approaches to seeing the seven planetary and metallic stages as increasingly refining and progressing on your path to enlightenment are just some of the ways that your path to self-discovery in the labyrinth is an alchemical process. When considered within the container of the labyrinth, the alchemical approach illustrates how your outer characteristics reflect your inner qualities, and how these qualities and characteristics can be explored, discovered, and refined in the labyrinth. Seven Circuits and the Seven Stages of the Alchemical Process The seven stages in the alchemical process that aim to restore the alchemist to a state of perfection are reflected in the laboratory purification process involving seven stages or turnings during which all the imperfections and imbalances in the substance (soul) are resolved. Exploring each of these seven stages in more detail gives you an understanding of the stages that you pass through on your own journey to enlightenment. The seven stages of transformation, which are found at the turning points into the next circuit of the labyrinth, are calcination, dissolution, separation, conjunction, fermentation, distillation, and coagulation. These stages can be more easily understood when put in the context of your journey of personal and spiritual growth. Calcination is the burning off by fire. It is a purifying process that gets rid of what does not serve you. It can be seen as the breaking down of the ego and the destruction of your attachment to material possessions, as you grow in maturity. It can be identified by your willingness to be wrong about key issues, and no longer clinging to hard held positions. Calcination is the beginning of the demise
of your stubbornness, arrogance, and pride. It is the deliberate speeding up of the process of not being attached to the outer personality, and giving you time to experience your deeper inner nature. It is the first turn you take just after entering the labyrinth, and symbolises that you are now on an inner journey of growth that is more important than outer appearances and what people think. In deciding to walk your path to self-discovery you have already taken a step to change from who you were to what you are going to become. Dissolution is the process that involves dissolving the ashes from the fire of calcination in water. It occurs at the turn into the second circuit of the labyrinth. In your own self-development, it is a further letting go of the ego so the true self can be revealed. It is often experienced by an immersion in the unconscious, feminine, and nonrational parts of your mind where the conscious mind lets go of control. At this stage, you move away from seeing the cause of your life’s events as external, and begin to realise that everything is a reflection of yourself. You also begin to see in others what you most dislike about yourself. This stage may involve grieving for painful past incidents, allowing the pain to dissolve so that you truly experience the event with awareness. Dissolution also involves the awakening of your creativity and passion, where you redirect the energy previously tied up in holding together the memories of past experiences into authentic and constructive aims. Separation involves extracting material from the solution by heating, filtration, or other process. It is a further refinement where you separate your emotions and thoughts so that you can clearly see each individual emotion and thought as you are experiencing it. The separation stage enables you to take a clearer look at life, where you can admit and learn from past errors. It is where you separate out your thoughts and decide what to discard and what to reintegrate into your refined personality. This stage equates with the turn into the outer circuit of the classical labyrinth. It is at this stage also that you face your shadow side, allowing all thoughts and feelings within you to surface. You are now separating out what really matters in life, both in your inner self and in your outer life,
stemming from a place of complete honesty with yourself and owning everything that is happening in your life. Conjunction is the recombination of the saved elements from separation into a new substance. It can involve an amalgamation of metals, or the mixing of the saved elements in a new chemical process by adding a catalyst. On a personal level it is the joining together of the true essences of your being following the purification and refinement of the first three stages. It creates an inner space where you can be fully honest, open, and accepting of all states of mind and heart within yourself. You are creating a space where a connection is clearly recognized between your individual soul and Spirit. It is a sacred marriage in which your masculine and feminine energies come into balance, bringing a deeper personal and spiritual awareness and empowering your true self. On the labyrinth, conjunction occurs at the long turn from the outer circuit into the fourth circuit. It is an awareness of the importance of balance on your path of self-discovery, and includes an awareness of those parts of you that remain out of balance. The conjunction labyrinth turn brings you into the heart chakra, which is a space where differences and conflicts are held unconditionally so they can safely work themselves out and come together in union, bringing an increased balance to relationships in your life. Chemically, fermentation involves the adding of new life into the product of conjunction to completely change its characteristics, like adding a ferment such as yeast in beer making. On a spiritual level, fermentation is a stage in your spiritual development where further processing takes place to bring about a more refined essence. It starts with the inspiration of spiritual power from above that energizes and enlightens. It involves an element of putrefaction, or breaking down, and creation of a more refined, and almost new, substance from what already existed. It is the death of old parts of the personality or ego that are no longer needed, and the tapping into higher energies. Fermentation can be achieved through deep meditation, intense prayer, desire for union with Spirit, transpersonal therapies, and other practices that lead to enlightenment. Sometimes it is seen as “the dark night of the soul” where what initially appears
as a dark, smelly, and a not-so-pleasant process is a necessary part of the purification process. In the midst of what seems like darkness and rotting, a new substance is being created that is the basis of your higher and advanced state of being. It is a type of rebirth resulting from the willingness to let go of all elements that no longer serve your spiritual evolution. Distillation is a refining process that on a physical level involves heating a substance and condensing the essences driven off into a more purified form. On a spiritual level distillation represents further purification processes of integrating your ongoing spiritual realizations into your daily life. This can mean being as impeccable in your life as you can be, dealing with mundane tasks with integrity, and not using your inner spiritual work to escape from the everyday world. Your actions become more compassionate and impeccable because that is your true nature. As you deal with everything in your life with integrity and honesty, all impurities are removed and you can feel an immense transformation in yourself. You also become more concerned with the greater good and begin to know yourself as part of the collective consciousness, yet you are not negatively affected by what you find there. You now know and understand that your soul is primarily guiding your life. Repeated practise of this stage leads to a profound inner transformation that can be equated to the enlightenment of eastern philosophy. Coagulation is the precipitation of the purified ferment from distillation. It represents the final balancing of opposites where you can negotiate all levels of existence. It is the fully transformed person, the illuminated person who is fully spiritualized and living in spirit with earth and heaven, seen as one. The soul and Spirit have merged into the oneness that you are, and now know and understand. While it is easy to describe each of the stages in the personal alchemical process, in reality it can be somewhat difficult to progress through them in real life. It can also be difficult to identify at times exactly which of the processes you are currently working through. One way of gaining insight into what stage you might be experiencing is to pay attention to the turn on the labyrinth that feels most significant to you. The beginning of each of the stages of alchemy
equates with the turn into one of the seven circuits of the classical labyrinth. When doing the exercise at the end of this chapter, take note of the turn that feels the most important to you. The Four Elements in the Labyrinth The four elements of earth, air, fire, and water that are a significant part of the alchemist’s work are also to be found in the labyrinth. Each of the four quadrants in the classical labyrinth is associated with one of the elements. In the Chartres labyrinth, the cross of the four elements is created by the positioning of the labrys and 180-degree turning points. The cross, rather than being in the seed pattern, is placed firmly within the overall labyrinth with the centre point of the cross at the centre point of the labyrinth. In another alchemical connection, the circle with a cross inside it is the alchemical symbol for planet Earth. The Chartres labyrinth is not only a container within which our transformation takes place but also a symbolic representation of this earth on which our soul’s transformation happens. When walking the labyrinth, you pass through each of the four quadrants and their associated element several times in different sequences. You are having the effect of rotating the elements not only in the space in which you are walking, but also in yourself. This rotation of the elements can bring you into contact with the quintessence, the ultimate philosopher’s stone that the alchemists were seeking. Therefore, the labyrinth is not only a symbol of the alchemical journey through the elements to the ultimate destination but a tool that you can use to reach your own philosopher's stone. Titus Burckhardt describes the quintessence as the hub of a four-spoked wheel, the spokes being one of the four elements, and the quadrants of the wheel being their respective natural qualities. He explains the “fifth essence” at the centre this way: “Alchemically speaking, the hub of the wheel is the quinta essentia. By this is meant either the spiritual pole of all four elements or their common substantial
ground, ether, in which they are all indivisibly contained. In order once again to attain to this centre, the disequilibrium of the differentiated elements must be repaired, water must become fiery, fire liquid, earth weightless, and air solid. Here, however, one leaves the plane of physical appearances and enters the realm of spiritual alchemy” (Burckhardt 1997). So, in walking the labyrinth of the four elements, the walker serves as the catalyst that brings about the rotation of the elements. When you place the elements in the order of earth, air, fire, and water starting in the bottom left quadrant of a left-handed classical labyrinth, then your labyrinth walk takes on further meaning. In walking the labyrinth, you start in the earth element, move through the elements in a variety of orders, and finish in the centre in the fire quadrant. You are walking symbolically, commencing on the earth plane, and progressing to the fire of an enlightened being at the centre. Rotation of the Elements In alchemy, the four elements are often represented by an equal-armed cross. Earth, water, air, and fire can be represented either by the points of this cross or by the quadrants it creates. Most significant about the symbolism of the four elements is their point of interaction, the node of the seed pattern, or the hub of the wheel. The path of transformation involves a separation of the elements, rotation of the elements, and then a reconfiguring of the elements into the fifth element, the quintessence. If the seed pattern, with brackets in the shape of arcs, is first separated into its individual four elements of earth air, fire, and water, then each quadrant is rotated 180 degrees, and then reassembled, a symbol of a circle within a square with a dot at the centre is produced (see Figure 7). This symbol is the alchemical symbol for gold! The separation and rotation of the elements results in the gold of an enlightened being.
Figure 7: Separation and rotation of elements Lesser Work & Greater Work Alchemy is often divided into two main parts: the lesser work and the greater work. The first three stages (calcination, dissolution, and separation) are considered as the spiritualization of the body, and the last three (fermentation, distillation, and coagulation) as the embodiment of the Spirit, sometimes known as the fixing of the volatile. The goals of these works are summed up by Burckhardt when he writes “Whereas the ‘lesser work’ has as its goal the regaining of the original purity and receptivity of the soul, the goal of the ‘greater work’ is the illumination of the soul by the revelation of the Spirit within it. This sequence of six stages can be transposed to all kinds of spiritual realization, but nevertheless it remains no more than a schema, for neither of the
two movements (the ascent of the soul, the descent of the Spirit) can be entirely separated from the other” (Burckhardt 1997). The labyrinth epitomizes and illustrates effectively these two stages in the alchemical process. Just as the stages in the alchemical process cannot be separated and must be seen as a whole, so also must the labyrinth be viewed in its entirety as a symbol of wholeness. These two stages are seen further in the sequence that you walk the circuits in the seven-circuit classical labyrinth. You first walk the three outer circuits corresponding to the three lower chakras and your physical existence here on earth—the spiritualization of the body. After moving through the fourth and heart circuit, you then walk the inner three circuits in the order of the chakras seven, six, five, which in effect is bringing down the Divine into the body, the embodiment of the Spirit. In summary, alchemy illustrates how there are many different elements and aspects working together at one time to bring about transformation. In alchemy, just as in the labyrinth, the seven stages return to rest as one, the beginning of creation, and the four elements are resolved in a single point where their qualities come to rest, the quintessence. Putting It All Together The labyrinth journey is one among many esoteric journeys that you can take. What is significant about the labyrinth is that it incorporates many of the elements of the other paths and journeys. These ancient teachings become clearer through their relationship with the labyrinth, although interpretation of one’s place within the framework is not always so clear. In walking the labyrinth, you are not only encountering the labyrinth as an isolated symbol, you are interacting with a multi-dimensional tool that carries the energies of several other symbolic systems of understanding and growth. The following exercise is one in which you as the labyrinth walker take a somewhat different approach than usual, focusing on the turns, the entry into each circuit,
the refinement of your nature into a more purified state, and your passage through the gateways to a higher state of existence. Exercise: How to Experience Life’s Turns on the Labyrinth This exercise is about walking the labyrinth to seek new experiences of how you become aware of subtle changes in yourself, and the relevance of these insights to your personal and spiritual growth. Some of life’s greatest teachings come from the significant turns and events in your life. These can be revealed in the labyrinth, where each turn can hold the energy of change through which you are moving. As discussed in the third chapter, moving your energy field through a turn of 180 degrees can have a significant effect on that field. The alchemical aspect to this walk is associated with the seven alchemical stages of transformation, and in particular with the seven turning points, through which you transit on the labyrinth into another level of being. These are the points where you shift from one level of being to another. You can often miss these turns and shifts in life because you are too busy looking ahead on the path. Turning points are some of the most powerful and significant moments and stages that you can experience on your journey. Be aware of your turns and you are aware of your journey. It is not necessary to remember each of the seven alchemical stages, or what they represent. What is important is that you walk with the intention of focusing on being aware of all sensations that you experience as you take the turns. Take each turn in as high a state of focus and awareness as you can. See if you can feel your body and energy body moving through the energy field of the labyrinth as you take each turn. Once you have experienced the turn, proceed on the circuit with an awareness of being in a more elevated state. As each circuit brings you to a higher state of being, you arrive in the centre haven taken your seven turns to transformation. Stay in the centre for as long as feels comfortable, then walk out of the labyrinth holding as best as possible the state you are in. On the walk out of the labyrinth,
be also aware of each of the seven turns that you are taking, of your heightened state on each circuit, to emerge from the labyrinth with an understanding of being the gold of an enlightened being. Reflection You have walked the labyrinth in awareness of yourself, and of what you were moving through. What thoughts, ideas, and memories came to mind? What did you notice on the turns in the labyrinth? Which part of the labyrinth was most prominent for you during the walk? Write down everything that comes to mind. When you have finished writing, read back over what you have written and consider what is new to you in what you have written and experienced. Underline or highlight what seems significant to you. What is significant is what is relevant to your path at this time. [contents]
5 The Fool and the Hero in the Labyrinth Taking the path of the labyrinth is a journey. It is a journey towards something greater, better, and more beautiful. It is not always an easy journey, and the end is not always clear. Yet, when you embark on this journey, you are entering into a new relationship with yourself where you are externally interacting with the labyrinth, and internally getting to know yourself better. Dag Hammerskjold, former secretary general of the UN and deeply spiritual person, wrote, “The longest journey of any person is the journey inward.” The labyrinth journey, in representing your inner journey, leads you to insights of some of life’s fundamental questions about who you are, where you came from, where are you going, and what is your purpose. The labyrinth journey contains symbolism and associated metaphors unique to the labyrinth. It also shares many characteristics with other great journeys that you can learn from. Strong similarities exist between the labyrinth journey and the Fool’s journey of the tarot, and the hero’s journey as represented by the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. While each of these journeys or paths can be looked on as an external undertaking, they primarily illustrate the greatest journey of all—the journey inwards. Hidden within these paths are the keys to
self-realization and enlightenment. When you walk the labyrinth path you are accessing and interacting with these teachings in a new and insightful way. Your Journey Through Life The way of the labyrinth is a single path on which you are always moving forward, where the centre represents what you are moving towards. On this journey, you experience many twists and turns, some that appear to take you away from your centre and some that bring you closer to it. At times, your life is progressing well, you feel in control and everything is “rosy in the garden.” Then, something happens and your life takes a turn. It is no longer obvious where you are going. You cannot see clearly where the next step will take you, and you feel further away from what you thought was your life’s purpose and destination. Stopping is not an option, as you will just stay stuck if you don’t move. So, you keep going, and take another step. Then, your life takes another turn, this time one for the better. You feel like everything is back on track and once again you have a strong sense of what you are doing and where you are going. The labyrinth turns reflect your life; some turns take you away from your centre, and others bring you nearer. Your life must be lived going forwards, but can often only be understood when you look back at it. This is also the case with the labyrinth, when it is often just before you enter the centre that you realise where you are. The labyrinth can represent more than one journey at a time. In exploring your life through the labyrinth, your labyrinth walk may represent a single issue in your life that you are moving through seeking clarity and resolution. It can also be the whole journey of your current life from birth to death. And, it can be the journey of your soul through many lifetimes. You do not need to choose which one it is; the labyrinth can accommodate them all. The labyrinth is multidimensional and represents all facets of your journey within a journey, and more.
You may not be aware of all aspects of your current journey, and may not be able to identify clearly the current stage of your journey. However, the more aware you are, the greater will be your understanding of the stage you are at, and the greater benefit you will gain from the combination of the knowledge and the experience. In considering where you are on your journey, and at what stage you are now at, looking at some of the other journeys that the labyrinth reflects will give you some insights your own. The Labyrinth and the Tarot Just as the labyrinth is the path of your progress through life, the tarot is also a progression from one way of being to another. The tarot is comprised of seventyeight cards divided into major and minor arcana. The major arcana consists of twenty-two cards, each one experienced on the path of the labyrinth and representing some aspect of your personal and spiritual journeys. The minor arcana cards are the equivalent of the four suits in the standard deck of playing cards. The suits of tarot cards, pentacles, swords, wands, and cups, which are associated with the elements of earth, air, fire, and water respectively, are represented by the quadrants of the labyrinth. The Fool’s Journey in the Labyrinth The Fool’s journey is a metaphor for your journey through life, where your life events present different situations for your personal and spiritual growth. Each major arcana card represents a stage or aspect of your labyrinth journey of life. At times, there are pleasant and enjoyable experiences, while at other times you need to face adverse situations. Like the fool starting out on your journey, you feel like you know very little. Yet there is something driving you forward. Your step into the labyrinth of your life is a journey of faith, one that culminates in greater wisdom and understanding. The major arcana enhances your understanding and experience of your labyrinth path of self-discovery, giving
you greater understanding of what is happening in your life and where you are going. Major Arcana Cards and Their Labyrinth-Related Symbolism The Fool’s journey begins with you about to step off the cliff and into the labyrinth of your new life. The Fool card is initially outside the labyrinth as you contemplate setting out on your journey. The first group of seven cards in the major arcana is made up of those forces that prepare the fool for his journey, and are found on the three outer circuits of the labyrinth (see Figure 8). These three outer circuits correspond to your three lower chakras, the physical chakras representing power, creativity, and safety that you must master to advance on your spiritual path. The walking of these three outer circuits is grounding— preparation for the remainder of your journey. The first two cards that you meet almost immediately as you enter the labyrinth are the Magician and the High Priestess, representing your spiritual parents at the beginning of your spiritual journey. The Emperor and Empress, which are on the first path and turn into the second circuit respectively, are your physical parents. You then turn full into the second circuit, leave home, and receive education from the Hierophant. The turn into the third circuit holds the Lovers card, representing passions and motivation. While the outer circuit, equating to the Chariot, is the actual setting off on the quest. This is the longest circuit on the labyrinth and is symbolic of how long your journey appears at the outset. You are now prepared for your inner journey. On the labyrinth, you move almost immediately on to the short section between the outer and fourth circuits where the Strength card represents the Fool’s mastery of himself and the world. Having mastered the material world, you are now leaving it behind. However, at the turn, the Hermit indicates to you that you need to go further inwards and shines a light to show the way to enlightenment. You are about to enter the fourth circuit that equates to your heart chakra and you can feel the energy in
your heart expanding in anticipation. The fourth circuit is the Wheel of Fortune and shows that things are in motion. Which brings you to the next turn and understanding in the Justice card. Figure 8: The Fool’s journey in the classical labyrinth
The next short section of the path represents the trials and challenges of the Hanged Man, leading to a defeat of sorts in the Death card. You are now on the shortest circuit of the labyrinth and rather than be defeated, you are transformed and reborn into a deeper spiritual life, as shown in more detail in the Temperance card at the turn into the next circuit. This turn and the next circuit equating with the Devil card appear to be taking you away from your centre, where it seems that things can’t get any worse. But the Tower card, in seeming to destroy your world and turning you further away from the centre of the labyrinth, saves you by shaking you free of attachments. As the dark despair is blasted away, the Star shows a glimmer of hope as you walk the final circuit in the light of truth. The final turn of the Moon illuminates the way, and the final narrow path before the centre Sun is indicating that you are a shining light. You then enter the centre of the labyrinth where the Judgement card represents your triumphant victory. The final major arcana card the World is found at the centre point of the cross in the labyrinth. This is the point from which you create the labyrinth and from which all aspects of the labyrinth emanate. It is the spirit point; it represents order restored and understanding of your place in the world when you see the labyrinth as representing your whole life. The Labyrinth and the Tree of Life The labyrinth is also connected to the Kabbalah Tree of Life, another path to spiritual illumination. Eliphas Levi published a book in 1856 which was the first book of the modern era to associate the twenty-two cards of the major arcana with the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. He also associated the four letters of the name of God (the Tetragrammaton: YHWH) with the four suits of the minor arcana. On the Tree of Life in the Kabbalah, the major arcana represent the lines, or flow of energy, between the ten sephirot in the Tree of Life. The sephirot are states of being, while the twenty-two paths between them are states of becoming.
So, representing the twenty-two paths in the circuits, turns, and paths of the labyrinth make the labyrinth a tool for “becoming,” a tool for realizing your true self. Figure 9: Kabbalah Tree of Life & Chakras
The labyrinth and the Kabbalah are also connected through their associations with the seven chakras. While some sources associate the seven lower sephirot with the chakras, a more complete association is to map the chakras onto the Tree of Life in its seven distinct levels, as in Figure 9. In this approach, Kether at the top is the crown chakra. Chokmah and Binah representing wisdom and understanding are the third eye. Chesed and Geburah representing love and might are at the throat chakra. Tipharet, beauty, is at the heart chakra. Netzach and Hod, eternity and majesty, are at the solar plexus centre. Yesod, the foundation, is at the sacral chakra. And Malkuth, the kingdom, is the root chakra.
Figure 10: Kabbalah Tree of Life & the four elements The ten sephirot also correspond to the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water (Figure 10). The four elements represented by the four quadrants of the labyrinth are found in the Tree of Life as follows (The Tree of Life, n.d.):
