Labyrinth (3/3)
History tells us that these Labyrinths are rooted in paganism, going back as far as 3,500 years, and spread out from Crete, Egypt, Italy, Scandinavia, Peru, to North America. It's said that these labyrinths were dedicated to a goddess and used in ritualistic dances. While the Roman Catholic Church adopted it for spiritual prayer practice, and now other 'Christian' churches are accepting this practice as well.
"Several Catholic cathedrals in northern Europe installed labyrinths as a permanent and prominent feature in the floor of the naves, often as the first pattern one encounters as they step into the cathedral. The most famous may be the one in Chartres Cathedral in Paris. Today, thousands of replicas of these ancient cathedral labyrinths are being made and used in churches all over the world."
It's claimed that in Catholicism, these Labyrinths, are like prayer beads and shawls, just another way to prayer practice, a way to quietly reflect on God. Yet others believe it symbolizes more, the winding and hard road to God, or a mystical ascension to enlightenment and salvation.
They believe that the three-part structure (Purgation-Illumintion-Union) will be "helpful to you as you walk the labyrinth during Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and beyond." (Read post 1 if you missed it)
The labyrinth pattern is similar to the 'Kabbalah' in mystical Judaism… "The seven stages of the labyrinth represent the stages in spiritual development as well as the 7 chakras and energetic centers of our bodies. The outside ring being the root chakras, followed by the sacral and so on where the final turn in the labyrinth is the crown."
It's also similar to the 'Medicine Wheel' in Native American tradition…"The Medicine Wheel, sometimes known as the Sacred Hoop, has been used by generations of various Native American tribes for health and healing. It embodies the Four Directions, as well as Father Sky, Mother Earth, and Spirit Tree—all of which symbolize dimensions of health and the cycles of life.
Speaking of Native Americans, here we can see a connect between the Hopis and the Roman Catholics using the Labyrinth symbol. It's all about the goddess Gaia, Mother Earth…
"The Tapuat is one of their most commonly used Hopi symbols, as it is meant to be an icon of Mother Earth, the creator and protector of all things. The Hopi word “tapuat” translates to “mother and child”, making it a perfect symbol for the Earth: she is the Mother and all of nature is her child. This symbol uses the same depiction as the Hopi symbol of life – a maze – which is very fitting, as the Earth is the home of life."
So just as many other traditions that the Roman Catholic church has adopted from the pagan culture and passed down to the Christian churches, this is just one more.
You can't Christianize these dangerous pagan traditions and believe The Holy Father in Heaven is pleased with this. He's told us over and over how He hates the taking of pagan traditions and using it to worship Him.
You don't need all these man-made traditions and rituals, throw them away, you need a personal relationship with the Messiah period.
Much love!
