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The Significance of a Labyrinth
“So the Labyrinth’s a piece of cake, is it? Well, let’s see how you deal with this little slice.”
– Jareth from the movie Labyrinth
The Difference Between a Labyrinth and a Maze
Many people get a labyrinth confused with a maze. Oftentimes, I’ve heard people describe a labyrinth as a mystical kind of maze, usually in the form of a game, but in a movie.
Not quite. Although, there are tons of good movies that feature labyrinths!
The goal of a labyrinth is to find yourself in the center!
The biggest difference between a labyrinth and a maze is that a maze is full of many hallways, dead-ends, and other obstacles that keep someone from finding their way to the other side of it. A labyrinth, however, doesn’t actually have any dead-ends and instead of coming out on the other side, it spirals toward the center.
What is the Big Picture?
A labyrinth is consciousness and self-identification. It is finding oneself through your own authentic experiences. Going through a labyrinth is something you will do forever. You will go in toward the center and back out again- only to go back toward the center! Each time you go to and fro, you will discover something new about yourself. Being at the center of your labyrinth is when you’re at times of deep introspection and self-discovery.
Well, to put it simply, a labyrinth is an archetype of the human mind.
Sometimes, the roads are bumpy in the labyrinth on the way to the center. Like waves in an ocean, we are simply floating. The waves go up and crash over our heads when we least expect it- from time to time. Occasionally, however, it is calm, silent, and peaceful. Allowing ourselves to let go of any impulse to control certain situations in our life and instead just float among life’s waves and accept any and all changes, we can reach the center of our labyrinth much easier.
Brief History of a Labyrinth:
- Symbols of labyrinths have been found and dated back to the Neolithic Age and other ancient cultures, such as the Celts.
- The word labyrinth comes from the Greek word labryinthos which describes a maze-like game, but with one single path.
- Labyrinth is also related to the Minoan labrys, which means ‘double axe‘.
- A labyrinth is related to the Minotaur of Crete, as having thrown victims into the labyrinth as sacrifices for the self. The Minotaur was half-man and half-bull and symbolizes the monstrous choices human men and women can make under times of fear, stress, and survival.
- A labyrinth has come up in many ancient cultures; such as Egypt, Scotland, Turkey, etc. as a symbol of one finding one’s “destiny” by spiritual or enlightening practices and studies.
Click the link below to gain more insight on the history of the Labyrinth:
https://www.ancient.eu/Labyrinth/
“In a Labyrinth, one doesn’t lose himself. In a Labyrinth, one finds himself. In a Labyrinth, one will not discover the Minotaur, but instead may discover the All.”
-Unknown
From Within the Labyrinth,
With Love,
-Lakin <3