Labyrinths
"See the Goddess, looking to the left,
with Her arms outstretched,
and Her hair swirling 'round Her."
In archaic art the Labyrinth is represented by a spiral
They are found all over Europe, e.g., New Grange, Ireland.
Mazes are just games, meant to confuse.
They offer too many choices. They are exercises for the analytical left brain.
All labyrinths are mazes, however not all mazes are labyrinths.A Labyrinth is a magickal unicursal, that is, a single path, maze.
Magickal, because through its conscious use answers toquesitons come.
A Labyrinth is a magickal unicursal, i.e., single path, maze.
Magickal, because through its conscious use answers to questions come;
spiritual awareness is enhanced;
the path aheas can become clear.
All labyrinths are magickal unicursal mazes.
The classical seven circuit is the most widely used.
The Meander, or Greek Key design, is the basic building element of the Labyrinth. Meander menas "aimless wandering".
Meanders are found all over Euorpe. They were used as a symbol on the Bird Goddesses, which are forms of a Crane.
The Crane Dance was danced in a Labyrinth.
It was danced by Ariadne after she and Theseus landed safely on Delos.
After her death Ariadne was deified by Dionysus and given a place
in the constellation Corona Borealis, "The Northern Crown".
This same constellation is called "The Spider" by Native Americans.
The planet Mercury/Hermes (with correspondences to Heyoka and Coyote)
is connected to the Labyrinth.
The Crane Dance uses back and forth movements which mimic
the mating dance of the crane, and which also copy the visible movements of the planet Mercury.
There are four "direct" and three "retrograde" movements of Mercury in a year, four direct and three back movements in the Crane Dance,
and in the walking of the seven-circuit Labyrinth.
Mercury/Hermes is the guide of souls to the Underworld.
He is also the messenger of the gods.
The Labyrinth is a mirror; what we perceive is switched.
Left becomes right; right becomes left.
On the higher realms this also happens, and time runs in a different direction.
The polarities of the seven major chakras switch,
and these chakras correspond to the seven circuits of the classic Labyrinth.
As we move from one chakra to the next, things flip -
like Alice going into the mirror.
As we move to a higher level, things flip.
The Throat Chakra is the "switch" where the mirror switch takes place":
the change from the change from the chakras of the elements,
or the "lower" chakra energies, and the chakras of higher consciousness.
The Throat Chakra is the point of manifestation.
Problem Solving with the Labyrinth:
In walking the Labyrinth, the order of the paths walked is:
3 - 2 - 1 - 4/7 - 6 - 5 - 8
The numbers of the paths correspond to the chakras, and to their key words.
Polarities of Chakra Switches:
Polarity: Feminine (-), Masculine (+); Key wordChakra: Polarity for: Women, Men; Keyword
#7 Crown - + Goddess
#6 Brow + - Vision
#5 Throat - + Manifest
#4 Heart + - Personal Spiritual
#5 Throat - + Manifest
#6 Heart + - Personal Spiritual
# 3 Solar Plexus - + Mental
#2 Belly/Navel + - Emotional
#1 Root - + Physical
Stand at the mouth/entrance of the Labyrinth.
Think of a problem/opportunity/issue.GOING IN:
the first path is:
3. Mental:
"I think...." As you walk this path, the issue is,
what do you think about the problem?
What does your left brain have to say about this concern?
The labyrinth works just as well for an opportunity
as it does for a problem.
The task on the 1st path is to think about it.
2. Emotional:
"I feel...." As you turn the corner from path three to two,
your focus switches from what do you think about the issue to,
how do you feel about it?
What kinds of emotions are brought up when you contemplate it?
Does it make you sad? Happy? Fearful?
If nothing comes up, use "I feel" as a mantra as you walk path two.
The emotions are there. They will come out.
1. Physical:
"How will this issue effect me on the physical level?"
Will I have enough money? How will it affect my body?
This is the path where you look at the physical world.
It is the longest path. We spend most of our energy dealing with this.
4. Personal Spiritual:
"How will this issue affect my spiritual life?"
This is asking you to look at your own personal relationship
with the Great Mystery.
"Will I grow closer to the One if I do this?
Or, is what I'm doing actually impeding my spritual growth?"
7. God/dess:
"Oh, Great Mystery (or Deity of choice), be with me".
This is the path of invocation to that deity
towards which you personally aspire..
This is the shortest path; we tend to spend the least amount of our time
on this 7th path, in conscious communication and awareness
of our Maker.
This is the path to call for Her/His help.
THE CRITICAL TURN:
6. Vision:
There are really no questions for the next two paths (5 & 6);
it is more an attitude of openess.
At this corner, at the beginning of path six,
you have to let go and let God/dess
The answers on the next two paths come from your intuition.
They come from the Deity you invoked.
Answers DO come.
It can be a picture of the solution - a flash - a few words.
Go with the first answer. Learn to trust it.
5. Manifestation :
"What is the first step?"
What is the first thing you need to make the solution (from #6) happen?
Again, an answer will come. Trust the process.
The first step is the critical point in working magic.
What is that very first physical thing that will show me
that my idea is real?
This shows that spirit has descended into matter. Manifestation.
8. Goal:
This is an intermediate rest stop in this process.
It also marks the switch from taking in information to evaluating it.
Take a few deep breaths, then turn around and walk back.
GOING OUT:
5. Manifestation:
Look at the specific first step that your intuition gave you on the way in.
Don't judge it, just look.
6. Vision:
See the answer to the issue your intuition gave on the way in.
Don't judge. "Re-vision" it.
7. God/dess:
Give thanks to your Deity for bringing you this awareness
and this possible solution.
Now get Critical and Judgmental.
4. Personal Spiritual:
How will this solution affect your spiritual life?
If you implement that first step,
and that leads to the vision/solution you had,
will it bring you closer to the One?
1. Physical:
How will this solution affect you on the physical level?
Will you have what you want? Will you have enough?
Will your body suffer?
Will it bring you more money? Is that what you really need?2. Emotional:
How do you feel about this solution? Does it make you feel good?
Are you anxious? Looking forward to it?
Do you feel it's a good way to resolve the issue?3. Mental:
What do you think about this solution?
It is important to remeber that no divinatory method is always correct.
Your left brain, your rational mind, is the first and the last
to deal with this issue. It has to agree as well.
If you haven't received a workable resolution,
the mental path might will be the path that sees it.
It has to work on all the levels/paths.STATE THE QUESTION:
IN: OUT :
3. I THINK...........................................................5. ENVISION THE 1ST STEP
2. I FEEL...............................................................6. SEE THE VISION
1. THE PHYSICAL..............................................7. THANK YOU GOD/DESS
4. PERSONAL SPIRITUAL...............................4. PERSONAL SPIRITUAL
7. INVOKE GOD/DESS....................................1. THE PHYSICAL
6. THE VISION....................................................2. I FEEL
5. THE FIRST STEP.............................................3. I THINK
8. BREATHE
Material from Labyrinths by Sig Lonergan
