Labyrinth Studies
I decided to study the usage of the labyrinth in various religions about a month ago, when a friend of mine informed me that the ancient wiccan usage and symbolism differed from what I had began to become accustomed to. Usually it wouldn't even concern me. After all, that is typically what Christianity does. We steal holidays and rituals, make some small changes, and then call them our own. I find it to be non-plagiaristic and certainly not evil. It is simply acknowledging something good in a belief system that perhaps you don't buy into, and finding a way to incorporate that good into your worldview.
The reason, however, this particular difference bothered me was because it appears to take something away that could be valuable. According to my friend, the labyrinth is not supposed to have a simple path that you walk until you reach the center. It is supposed to (according to him) have dead-ends that cause you to double back. This, to him, represents the complexities of life. When he said it, I understood the value and wanted to research. What I found was actually astonishing - Christianity didn't change a thing for once!
The original labyrinths were apparently greek-made structures, cropping up from various myths, some involving minotaurs living in the center. Some were difficult like mazes and others were simple and impossible to sway from. The labyrinths intended for peaceful and meditative spiritual use, however, were always simple.
Now here's where it gets interesting. There is another type of labyrinth for spiritual use that can not be called peaceful or meditative, and there are actually some emerging Christian communities that have spent more money than I am comfortable with, trying to duplicate it. This model is, perhaps, what my friend was referring to. It is a three-dimensional structure, which introduces the element of the unknown because it's walls block a persons awareness of the totality. It also has a few dead ends, though not many. Therefore, it is more effective in producing the endocrine secretions associated with fear, anticipation, and excitement into the blood stream. Altered states of consciousness are greatly heightened by the introduction of such chemicals. These labyrinths (again, neither meditative nor peaceful) tend to have net-like patterns and spirals. Studies employing hallucinogenic chemicals indicate that spirals and net-like patterns are universal human responses to altered states of consciousness. During the hallucinatory phase, such patterns eventually give way to surrealistic visions of people, places, and things. In this respect, the spirals and net designs are intended to act as doorways or gates to a separate reality. Something, perhaps, outside of our mundane awareness. This labyrinth design stimulates right-brain awareness and function, invoking the intuitive levels of consciousness.
While I find all of this incredibly interesting, I can see why most of the Christians attempting to find good use of the labyrinth idea have adopted the more meditative usage. The labyrinth in Davisburg has become a regular visit for me every Sunday after attending a church service. It is an effective way to clear your mind, heighten your awareness of creation/nature, and open yourself to God. Interested, but don't know what to do? They actually have instructions posted, which you can decide how far to sway from. Just remember, the only way to find is to seek, and every day that you seek takes you one step closer to God even when He looks and feels very far away. Shalom
The reason, however, this particular difference bothered me was because it appears to take something away that could be valuable. According to my friend, the labyrinth is not supposed to have a simple path that you walk until you reach the center. It is supposed to (according to him) have dead-ends that cause you to double back. This, to him, represents the complexities of life. When he said it, I understood the value and wanted to research. What I found was actually astonishing - Christianity didn't change a thing for once!
The original labyrinths were apparently greek-made structures, cropping up from various myths, some involving minotaurs living in the center. Some were difficult like mazes and others were simple and impossible to sway from. The labyrinths intended for peaceful and meditative spiritual use, however, were always simple.
Now here's where it gets interesting. There is another type of labyrinth for spiritual use that can not be called peaceful or meditative, and there are actually some emerging Christian communities that have spent more money than I am comfortable with, trying to duplicate it. This model is, perhaps, what my friend was referring to. It is a three-dimensional structure, which introduces the element of the unknown because it's walls block a persons awareness of the totality. It also has a few dead ends, though not many. Therefore, it is more effective in producing the endocrine secretions associated with fear, anticipation, and excitement into the blood stream. Altered states of consciousness are greatly heightened by the introduction of such chemicals. These labyrinths (again, neither meditative nor peaceful) tend to have net-like patterns and spirals. Studies employing hallucinogenic chemicals indicate that spirals and net-like patterns are universal human responses to altered states of consciousness. During the hallucinatory phase, such patterns eventually give way to surrealistic visions of people, places, and things. In this respect, the spirals and net designs are intended to act as doorways or gates to a separate reality. Something, perhaps, outside of our mundane awareness. This labyrinth design stimulates right-brain awareness and function, invoking the intuitive levels of consciousness.
While I find all of this incredibly interesting, I can see why most of the Christians attempting to find good use of the labyrinth idea have adopted the more meditative usage. The labyrinth in Davisburg has become a regular visit for me every Sunday after attending a church service. It is an effective way to clear your mind, heighten your awareness of creation/nature, and open yourself to God. Interested, but don't know what to do? They actually have instructions posted, which you can decide how far to sway from. Just remember, the only way to find is to seek, and every day that you seek takes you one step closer to God even when He looks and feels very far away. Shalom