The Labyrinth and Acceptance

by Richard Reeve on September 30, 2009

in AziMuth

Labyrinth
Image by vgm8383 via Flickr

Ariadne’s thread was the way back out for Theseus. After his encounter with the Minotaur, he wound his way through the maze of underground hallways much as the child in the fairy tale follows a path of bread crumbs.  (That he later dropped her off on the exposed rock of Naxos once he got to sea is a story for another day).

Recognizing the value of the labyrinth as it expresses itself in our lives can help us integrate the seemingly endless winding paths and switchbacks which make up our lives.

Accepting that forces beyond the ego’s control shape what is unfolding takes psychological maturity.  It’s been my experience that the ego likes following vectors and the logic they imply.  The twisting path can often be met with rational resistance:  But I want to go over there!

It’s helpful, when we encounter our own resistance, to consider that the beautiful pattern of the labyrinth gives us a symbolic view of our life passage from above.  As Whitmont writes:

“The labyrinth is one of the oldest of symbols; it depicts the way to the unknown center, the mystery of death and rebirth, the risk of the search, the danger of losing the way, the quest, the finding and the ability to return. If we follow the path of the labyrinth from the floor of Chartres Cathedral we can observe that in the course of  its tortuous evolution it not only connects the periphery with the center (the Self) but actually fills out and covers the total plane surface of the circle; in striving for the center the path integrates the total circle, the total field.” Edward Whitmont, The Symbolic Quest, pg. 306-307.

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  • Hi Richard,

    I remember a friend of mine had a dream in which he was entangled in a ball of string. During the course of the dream he actually became one of the pieces of string; almost as if his consciousness had become completely associated with the ball of string. He said he began to panic because very quickly, he could no longer tell who he was; where he started and ended.

    I always remember him telling me that dream; even although its been 20 years.

    I know that his dream hasn't got anything strictly to do with the symbol of the Labyrinth, but your post had reminded me of that dream and I was prompted to ask myself some questions:

    At what point do I end and the 'other' begins?

    Great post :)

  • It feels to me that the dream is related to this theme. I recall a
    dream I had where reached into a stream and pulled out a slide which
    contained an image from my life. The insight you bring to light here
    is that our being itself is the labyrinth...it's not simply the
    external factor.
  • Jeb
    Hmmm. I've experienced that as well...people I've assumed had it made, outwardly successful, were, in fact, on the brink of turmoil.

    It's one of the real challenges our society faces, I think. We've been conditioned to value the wrong things, and fake it if we have to in order to fit that mold. At the same time, we're not as close as we were, we don't delve as deep as we could, or should, into what truly constitutes a person's value and, thus, are left to assume from afar that they're firing on all pistons.

    All the while we suffer through these roles, all of us, on either end of these assumptions, never connecting in ways that would put an end to the charade and allow for important growth to commence.

    Frustration reigns in this coconut of mine. I see a better way Richard.
  • The depth vs. speed is interesting. Society tends to favor speed: fast food
    and fluff...
  • Jeb
    So Richard, what's the deal with some of us needing (or so it seems) to cover more ground within that labyrinth than others? Some seem to fast track it to the center, while many remain lost in the tangles for years. Is it a lack of ego-discipline?
  • Interesting question Jeb. It's hard to really know what's unfolding in the
    path of another. The person that may seem steeped in success might be
    heading into a divorce. And one mired in confusion might be about to open
    an unexpected door that concealing the treasure long sought. My own
    experience is that the one caught in the brambles is closer to the symbol of
    transformation then the one riding cruse control down easy street....
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