Background on Labyrinths, An Ancient Device in the Occult World.

By UK Apologetics Library

Part 1

This page examines their roots and explains why they are not Christian.

It is reported that Labyriths are 4000 years old, originally dating back to the bronze age, [1] for various reasons some were decorative and also used to connect to pagan gods or goddesses, [2]other uses were for phallic purposes according to the historical book “Sex and sex worship” (phallic worship) by Wall, O. A. (Otto Augustus), 1846-1922 P370 [3] ” The genius of the Romans and the daemon of the Greeks was a form of guardian angel or guiding spirit; every person was accompanied by one of these spiritual guides to lead him or her through the labyrinth of life’s mysteries.

[4] Touchstone Magazine: Is the labyrinth inherently New Age or can orthodox Christians embrace it as an acceptable tool for prayer and meditation? The labyrinth has its origins in ancient pagan rituals, most famously at Knossos in ancient Crete, where one was located in the basement of the famous palace where the man-eating Minotaur was said to roam. The mythic hero Theseus journeyed through the labyrinth to slay the creature, which had a human body and the head of a bull. Theseus’s double-headed axe was called a “labrys,” hence the name. Other labyrinths in ancient cultures were tied to fertility rites and goddess worship.

[5] Budavári Labirntus: Cave paintings dating back to ancient civilisations reinforce the assumption that the labyrinth symbol is directly connected to worship rituals. Some researchers believe that there is a direct link between fertility rituals and the labyrinth, since certain researchers assert that the winding maze of the labyrinth symbolises a mother’s womb. Others, however, claim that the labyrinth is associated with the basic motifs of Greek myth and suggest that it represents a religious initiation ritual symbolising the transition from the underworld to the afterlife. The centre of the labyrinth is the symbolic turning point; heading through the centre symbolises the rebirth of the person taking part in the ritual.

[6] UK Apologetics: The origins of the Labyrinth certainly lie in ancient mythology and pagan rituals; for instance, the palace of Knossos (in ancient Crete), where the Minotaur is said to have lived. Theseus travelled through the Labyrinth to kill the Minotaur with his double-headed axe called a labrys. This labrys has now come to symbolise feminine power and creativity. Other labyrinths in ancient culture were tied to fertility rites and goddess worship, and Reiki usually emphasises feminine power.

A labyrinth is an occult mandala (that is, a circular design supposedly symbolising the universe); this is all based upon a Hindu meditation process in which the symbol is usually a circular picture with a sun or star at the centre. It is also found in Hopi medicine wheels and Tibetan sand paintings. “It is a sacred geometry based on ancient, sacred knowledge that is universal” (Source: Lauren Artress, an advocate of the concept).

[7] Love of the Goddess Celebrating the divine feminine in her many forms Blog site: At Ostara, or the Spring equinox, we honor the Goddess Persephone, and her yearly trip from the underworld back to the earth. When she returns to her mother, Demeter, our world is bright and fertile again. We also honour the Goddess Eostre, Germanic Goddess of the dawn. She was celebrated at sunrise to symbolise the sun’s rebirth. (LEQ Labyrinth Exponent Quote)

This is the time of year where we walk the sacred labyrinth to find balance in our lives.

[8] Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre: The Tor has also been seen as a magnetic power-point and vortex; a crossroad of multiple ley-lines, including the St Michael Line; a converging point for UFO’s; a ceremonial labyrinth; a place of re-birth and initiation; as the head of Aquarius in the Glastonbury Zodiac. It has been the site of an ‘Arthurian’ stronghold, a Christian cross and chapel, a monastic community, a beacon fire and possibly a Romano-British pagan temple. (LEQ)

The various videos below are to explain why Labyrinths are used by the very people who promote them, these videos are there to illustrate its pagan, new age and occult roots.

Meditation Labyrinth in a Hospital. Explains its pagan and mystical roots.

Summer Solstice World Drum Labyrinth Walk. This Drum is travelling the world bringing attention to Mother Earth by being part of numerous ceremonies.

Irma Haggith explains what a Labyrinth is. This video states that labyrinths promote God consciousness

“The Land of the Little People” This event of this event was August 14th which ran all day with event like: Labyrinth Walk, 8000 Drums around the world, The Medicine Wheel, Angel Walk, (medium, physic, rune, etc) Readings, courses, Laughter Yogo and so much more with a wonderful Light show at the end and a bomb fire…there was even a camp our with Horse rides.

Anderida Gorsedd Pagan Druid Fire Labyrinth At the Anderida Gorsedd Autumn camps in Sussex, they often use a fire labyrinth as part of a druid’s magical journey. Here is the video of the lighting of the labyrinth from our ‘Three Worlds Journey’ camp in 2005.

Labyrinth of Light, Liverpool 2008 Labyrinth of Light at St Georges Hall, Liverpool, 6 and 7 December 2008. The labyrinth has been designed and created by artist Jane Sutherland using 800 candles, it celebrates the journey that we have taken this year as European Capital of Culture and is organised by the Culture Company and Friends of St James Gardens.

My advice to any Christian is that they should stay away from them, Carl Teichrib [9] explains that in Deuteronomy 12:1-14, 18:9-13 and Exodus 34:10-17? In each of these Scripture passages, God explicitly tells His people to refrain from anything used in pagan practices by its theological nature, an inter-religious and deeply mystical device. If God is going to bless the labyrinth experience, how is He going to deal with 2 Corinthians 6:14-16? “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?…”

Refs:

[1] http://www.labyrinthos.net/photo_library16.html
[2] http://greekmythologytitans.com/greek-mythology-creatures-labyrinth/
[3] http://www.archive.org/details/sexsexworshippha00walliala
[4] http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=13-07-046-r
[5] http://www.labirintus.com/en/44/thelabyrinthasauniversalsymbol
[6] http://www.ukapologetics.net/07/REIKI.htm
[7] http://loveofthegoddess.blogspot.com/2011/03/ostara-spring-festival-of-fertility.html
[8] http://www.glastonbury-pilgrim.co.uk/the-tor.php
[9] http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/05/teichrib/labyrinth.htm

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