Labyrinth

Walking the Labyrinth as a Sacred Path

During the last 10 years there has been a resurgence in the labyrinth as a form of ritual, prayer, and meditation. Many churches have labyrinths that they offer as a ministry to deepen a parishioner’s personal connection with Christ, and as an outreach to bring seekers into the church who define themselves as “spiritual but not religious.” This experiential seminar will explore the labyrinth as it is used both in and out of the church. During each class we will look at beautiful images of labyrinths and incorporate a labyrinth walk that will bring the ideas of discussion into heartfelt experience.

The Mystical Labyrinths on the American Frontier

Intersection of Alchemy, Christianity, and Labyrinths:  In the American frontier in the early 19th century a mystical Christian community was founded called the Harmony Society (1805-1904). They were one of the longest lasting and wealthiest nineteenth-century American religious communes. The Harmony Society interfaced their German Lutheran foundations and millenarian beliefs with the mystical and alchemical sensibilities of German lay theologian and mystic, Jakob Boehme.

The Harmonists enacted their mystical beliefs through worship of Sophia and the practice of Alchemy. They acted out their faith in the imminent coming of Christ in part by the creation of a garden paradise to receive Christ upon his return. In this garden was an elaborate hedge maze that they referred to as “The Labyrinth.” The Labyrinth was a central symbol for the Harmonist community and they created a Labyrinth at each of their three towns.

Using a multi-disciplinary approach, including photos of the original architectural drawings of the three Labyrinths, this presentation will explore how the Harmonists’ used their Labyrinths as symbolic representations of the intersection of alchemy and Christianity.

Cosmology of the Chartres Labyrinth: A Walk through Hell, Earth, and Heaven

This talk is an examination of how the religious and philosophical belief systems present in Chartres, France in the 1200’s, the time of the creation of the Chartres labyrinth, are modeled within the iconographic structure of the labyrinth itself.

New Rituals on the Labyrinth

Liturgical Rituals in the Church

Labyrinth Walk for Peace

Religious Diversity on the Labyrinth

Gift of the Magi: Labyrinth Walk Seeking the Christ

Greco Roman Time Line Buddhism Astrology Hinduism Contemporary Why Cosmos and Labyrinths Christian Hermeticsm Islam Christianity Judaism Native American