Native design Labyrinth

The Hopi Labyrinth

Labyrinths, or similar structures and designs, have been found in many different cultures. Labyrinths have been known to the human race for over four thousand years and can be found in almost every spiritual tradition around the world.

A thousand years before Christ the most famous labyrinth was the Cretan one, the supposed dwelling of the mythical Minotaur that Theseus killed with the aid of Ariadne and her spool of thread. Ancient turf labyrinths still exist in England, Germany and Scandinavia.

Patterns of the labyrinth are similar to the mandalas of South Asian Buddhism that are physical representations of the spiritual realm designed to aid in meditation. The process of walking a labyrinth is like the Japanese Zen practice of kinhin, “walking meditation”.

The earliest Christian labyrinth is probably the one found in the 4^th century basilica of Reparatus in Algeria. There is a 9^th century labyrinth on the wall of St. Lucca cathedral in Italy. People would trace the path with their fingers as they entered, a way of quieting the mind as they came into the sacred space.

There are labyrinths in the medieval cathedrals of Chartres, Amiens and Rheims in France. These are pavement labyrinths laid on or into the floor. Their paths were walked as a substitute for a pilgrimage or sacred journey to the Holy City Jerusalem.

Labyrinths are found in American native peoples’ traditions, especially among the Hopi and Navajo in the southwest United States, and among the Pima in South America.

In recent years the labyrinth has been rediscovered as a tool for meditation and healing, for seeking wholeness and holiness – much as the Ojibway Medicine Wheel is used as an aid for “walking in balance” of spirit, heart, mind and body. The design commonly used is of the Chartres labyrinth inlaid in the stone floor of the cathedral. It has eleven circuits that lead to a six-petal flower at the centre. It is about 42 ft. in diameter, and the path is 16 ins. wide. The inner circle is 9 ft. across. It has four quadrants that form a large cross.

The Anishinabe Spiritual Centre Labyrinth

is of Hopi labyrinth design. It is of nearly the same proportions as the Chartres labyrinth with a diameter of about 46 ft., and a 9 ft. inner circle. However, the path is 32 ins. wide because it has seven circuits rather than eleven.

Ancient Cretan labyrinths were of seven circuits and all Native American labyrinths, like the Hopi, seem to be of seven rings. This seven-circuit design has four end lines within its circumference. The numbers four and seven are important in native peoples' cultures.

The Ojibway have 4 directions with 4 colours: East – yellow, South – red, West – black, North – white; 4 human aspects: spirit, heart, mind, body; 4 sacred plants: E – Semaa, Tobacco (prayer, thanksgiving, renewal of life); S – Giizhik, Cedar (protection, good health, courage, growth); W – Mshkodewashk, Sage (purifies, makes an area ready for an event, introspection); N – Wiingashk, Sweetgrass (invites in good, cleanse our minds of negative thoughts).

Ojibway traditional values, teachings of the 7 Grandfathers: Minaadendiwin, Respect; Dibigeendizwin, Humility; Aakede’win, Bravery; Gwekwaadziwin, Honesty; Debwewin, Truth; Nbwaakaawin, Wisdom; Zaagidwin, Love.

The Hopi labyrinth is known as the Mother Earth Symbol and the Symbol of Emergence. It is called Tápu’at, Mother and Child, and represents spiritual rebirth from one world to another. The prominent crossing lines represent the Sun God. Christians, of course, easily see the Cross here – the death and resurrection of Christ, the Son of God – emergence of new life.

We enter the labyrinth sacred space from the East, the direction of new beginnings. We prayerfully follow the path, leaving anxiety and busyness behind. We try to “walk in balance” of spirit, heart, mind, body, and to take a spiritual journey inwards to new discovery of ourselves and of our Creator. At the centre we pause in peace, healing, wholeness and prayer. Then, with spirit renewed, we take up our journey back again to the daily life of our world, bringing the peace and wisdom we have found as a gift to share with others!

The prayers we know, the teachings of Christ and scenes of his life, Scripture readings (especially the Psalms), the wonders of creation, the lessons of the Seven Grandfathers and of the elders… thinking of these can be helpful in Walking the Sacred Path.

Winter