ACT
OF POWER '>3
Labyrinth
Our final Act of Power for Mabon is the labyrinth.
The labyrinth is appropriate for Mabon because it deals with issues of inner
examination –which connects to the Sabbat’s ideas of balance and justice. Also,
the labyrinth’s complex shape is suggestive of the effects of Karma, radiating
out from a central action in branching paths which can be hard to retrace.
The most famous labyrinth is the great Labyrinth of Minos, from ancient Greek
myth. Pasiphae, wife of the Cretan King Minos, gave birth to a child who was
half bull and half man: The Minotaur. Minos employed the greatest architect of
the time, Daedalus, to build a labyrinth to contain the Minotaur. Each year
seven youths and seven maidens would be sent into the labyrinth, never to
return. Eventually Theseus defeated the Minotaur with the help of the Cretan
Princess Ariadne.
It is generally thought that this myth represents a Greek treatment of actual
Cretan religion, albeit in a very misunderstood form. It has been learned that
the Bull was a very important element in Cretan religion, representing the God
in His forms as King and Sorcerer. Minos appears to have been an actual figure
in Cretan myth, and his role in Greek myth as an ideal of just Kingship and as
Judge of the Dead presumably reflect how the Cretans viewed Him. Presumably the
Bull is Minos’ avatar, and the Minotaur represents this.
Minos’ role as Old God and as King/judge connect strongly to the themes of
Mabon.
Of course, as you will see, the labyrinth is equally appropriate for other
Sabbats as well, being an excellent technique for inner workings, and you
should not feel that its use is only recommended for Mabon.
OK, Labyrinth –how on Earth does one make a labyrinth for a ritual? Well, there
are several ways, and it’s not as hard as you might expect.
A labyrinth is basically a maze-like route to a small open center space. The
maze can be very complex, but it can also be simple. In its simples form a
labyrinth can be merely a spiral leading into a center.
One of the most beautiful ways to erect a labyrinth for a ritual is to mark out
the path in candles. The effect of this is extremely memorable. In creating a
candle labyrinth you must be careful to minimize the risk of fire –with
sweeping robes and candles this can be a serious consideration. It is important
to make sure the path is wide enough that people can pass without knocking over
the candles. How the candles are set up is important too -Do not just use open
candles. Jar candles are a good possibility, and I have seen this used to great
effect. Candalaria are a good idea as well –candalaria are votive candles set
into a specially constructed holder which in essence forms a small lantern: the
holder can be made from a rolled down paper bag, the candle set in the middle
well away from the walls, or from a cut down plastic milk carton.
Another dramatic way to create a labyrinth is to paint it onto canvas, using
ordinary house paint. This has the advantage of being permanent and portable.
Kits are available to recreate the famous labyrinth of Chartres in this manner.
However, it is not necessary to use a kit –you can design and create your own
labyrinth on canvas in this manner.
Both of these techniques require a certain amount of money for the purchase of
candles or of paint and canvas. But it is also possible to do a labyrinth in a
way which does not require any outward physical form. To do this you would
blindfold everyone, have them join hands, and lead them in a spiral or other
more complex path to the center space.
Ideally the center space should be large enough to hold several people at once.
It can be made large enough to hold everyone at once, and this allows group
activity in the center of the labyrinth, which can be very good. But it is
important that the act of entering and leaving the labyrinth not be too quick,
as there is a technique to using the labyrinth. It’s not just a matter of
walking or dancing through the maze. It is a walking meditation –the labyrinth is
an externalization of the mental/spiritual process that the people are passing
through. There are several ways to do this.
One way is to have everyone choose a goal to manifest. As they walk into the
labyrinth have them focus on creating their goal. At the center they should
offer a prayer or incantation for their goal. And as they walk out of the labyrinth,
they should concentrate on receiving the goal and what it will be like for the
goal to have come to pass.
This can also be done with a question. As the people walk into the labyrinth
they focus on their question. In the center of the labyrinth they formally
state their question with a prayer or incantation and open themselves to an
answer. As they walk out of the labyrinth, they focus the knowledge that the
answer is on its way to them.
Another way to do a labyrinth is to have people focus on the idea of going
inside themselves as they walk into the labyrinth. At the center of the
labyrinth an act of power is performed. Then as they walk out of the labyrinth
people focus on returning to the everyday world. The act of power at the center
of the labyrinth may be any number of things: you can have everyone meditate,
opening themselves to whatever Spirit may have to tell them: you may have a
bowl of divinatory tokens, each person taking one and meditating on it: have
everyone do a group meditation such as the Chakra balancing which follows, or
any other group meditation: or do whatever you think will be best and most
effective for the group at this time.
Depending upon exactly how you are doing your labyrinth you may wish to enliven
it with a steady drum beat as people enter and leave it, or with chants –but if
you are focusing on meditation be careful not to break the meditative
atmosphere with disruptive music. You might also try dancing the labyrinth
–depending upon the temperament and athleticism of your group.
Although a labyrinth can be a lot of work to create, it is also impressive and
memorable and can be a very effective ritual technique.