Tuesday 23 October 2012

Pagan Eye: Labyrinths of Earth and Fire



These two photos show two contrasting labyrinths. The mosaic of a labyrinth with the Minotaur at its centre was captured by Joe Saul and is from the Roman ruins at Conimbrigia, Portugal. The picture of a burning labyrinth was taken by Joolz Darling at the Mercian Gathering in the summer, where she also took the pictures of a burning wicker man and a fire breather that I posted on my blog a few weeks ago.

Labyrinths are different from mazes. Labyrinths can be in a variety of different designs, but are always a single path that folds and winds back on itself, leading eventually towards the heart of the pattern. A maze is made up of diverging paths with a choice of routes, many of which are dead ends but only one correct way to the middle. Labyrinths are found in cultures all over the world and throughout history, and many have spiritual or religious significance.

The Signs and Symbols Bible says: "Labyrinths are represented symbolically as drawings or physically on the ground, where they can be walked from their entry points to the centre and back out again. Historically they have been used in both group rituals and for private meditation. The labyrinth symbolises a psychological or spiritual journey to the centre of one's psyche or soul, to experience insight and then return to the everyday world transformed."

It seemed timely to post these pictures this week, as on Friday, 26 October, Robert Stephenson is giving a talk on Labyrinths and Mazes Worldwide at Research into Lost Knowledge Organisation (Rilko). The venue for the talk is the Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, W1U 8EA. The Doors open 6.45pm and admission is £5 for Rilko members and £7 for non-members.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures.

If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

The photos are copyright Joe Saul and Joolz Darling and are used with permission. Please do not download or copy them without permission.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/10/into-labyrinth-of-minotaur.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/08/days-out-amazing-maize-maze.html
http://www.rilko.net/EZ/rilko/rilko/home.php
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/07/review-signs-and-symbols-bible.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/09/pagan-eye-wicker-man-on-fire-under-full.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/08/pagan-eye-face-in-tree.html
http://www.merciangathering.com/merciangathering.htm
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/09/pagan-eye-fire-breather.html


2 comments:

James C. Wallace II said...

On a tangential note, I saw the old 70's R&B group, Earth, Wind and Fire in concert about two weeks ago. They still got it!!!!

Badwitch said...

I must admit when I was typing up that blog post I kept thinking of Earth, Wind and Fire too :)