| Labyrinths
& Sea |
||
Ancient Labyrinths by the Sea Stories
tell how since ancient times, people have used labyrinths to invoke
the mercy of the Gods in their dealings with the sea. At the shores
of Iceland and the Baltic Sea, there are still many old labyrinths
that were once used by fishing people to indicate the directions
of the winds and to pray that the old sea Goddesses would protect
the fishers in a safe return home. Legends tell how labyrinths
near lakes and sea sides have also been used as a place to guide
the souls of the deceased to the hereafter.
In some Italian villages the Sea Goddess has, since the Etruscan times, been portrayed as a two tailed mermaid: the symbol of the eternal giver and taker of life. She is still present on several Italian churches, like on the St. Michaele Church in Pavia:
The
two tailed mermaid is also an African goddess, originally with
the Yoruba people, where she is known as the mother of the waters,
Mama Watta, who gave birth to all the world’s waters. * * * * * |
||
|
Tornado,
whirlpool, hurricane; Written 5/18/99
Sitting on the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral |
 - Selma Sevenhuijsen, Domburg, the Netherlands Oct. 8, 2005 |
|
*
* * *
* |
||
Grieving
I hear the forming ice displacing the water “Am
I safe?” questions instinct.
What meanings do I listen for as I wait?
Here I am, bundled against the cold,
If only it weren't so cold- |
|
The
Day Earth Moved
It was the day after Christmas
Lifting a big wave
Beaches Asian and African
Too late for too many
What call of destiny
Now tears of anguish flow
Over 100,000 lost
We ponder and wonder
|
|
* * * * * |
||
Christianity- “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again...” “The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” – Saint John’s gospel |
Taoism- “The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content with the low places that people disdain. Thus it is like the Tao.” – Lao-tsu |
Islam- “Have not those who disbelieve seen how Heaven and Earth were once one solid mass which we ripped apart? We have made every living thing out of water. Will they still not believe?” – the Koran |
Water
& Religion: http://www.thewaterpage.com/religion.htm |
||
"Our oceans make up earth's largest sensory organs, for they respond to the rhythm of the cosmos and give life to so many forms. Filled with mystery since the earliest of times, the oceans of Earth still hold many secrets that intrigue and humble the minds and spirits of humankind." -William E. Marks, from The Holy Order of Water |
||
“In the beginning, the earth was nothing but water.” - From a Hopi Creation Myth |
The
yin-yang symbol appears -William E. Marks, from The Holy Order of Water |
“In
the beginning there was only darkness everywhere - darkness and water.” - Pima Indians |
| Water
ripples...
|
A
pebble drops... Water ripples, as do labyrinths… Circle upon circle touching the shore of our soul, moving us back and forth, taking us home, to the heart of being, taking us, into life… © -Lea Goode-Harris |
...as
do labyrinths...  Created by Jana Batey, Florida, USA - Kevin Meredith, USA |
Earth
my body, Water my blood, Air my breathe, and Fire my spirit... |
||
The
Frog is of primary importance of in Native American folklore. The
frog is typically depicted as the guardian of all the fresh water
and is often called Frog Woman. She was honored and respected as
a symbol celebrating the fecundity of quiet wetlands. In this role
she is also associated with human pregnancy, whereby the female
impounds fertile waters in the womb. When the water sack bursts,
the rushing waters precede the birthing of the child, thereby reenacting
the mythic events celebrated in the Frog tales. by Carol Posch Comstock (adapted from: http://www.angelfire.com/id/newpubs/frog.html) |
 "Frog Woman" © Carol Posch Comstock |
|
Love is the Water of Life Eerything other than
love for the most beautiful God Rumi- Masnawi 13686-87 |
Celtic Evening Prayer The peace of the
earth be with you, Iona Abbey Worship Book |
|
Tsunamis
and Labyrinths The historiography of the labyrinth usually starts with the Greek story about Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur. This legend is one of heroism and antagonism between cultures. Recent archeological, theological, and natural research, has however, brought forward new hypotheses about the origins of the labyrinth, and that the forces of an ancient tsunami may play a special part in labyrinth history. From about 4000 years or more ago, the Aegean archipelago harbored a flourishing mining, trading and seafaring culture. The volcanic island Santorini, then called Kallisti (the most beautiful) was one of the centers of this culture. From here vital minerals were traded with other cultures in the East Mediterranean area. Religion had a matriarchal focus, with young and vital goddesses who were considered the givers of new life and the reincarnation of souls. There were no demons or evil spirits, and fear of death wasn’t formative of religious beliefs yet. It is quite plausible that spirals and labyrinths were a part of this culture. But we do not know this for sure. There is some evidence that at around 1600 BC, this culture was wiped away by a tsunami. The volcano at Santorini came alive. After periods of huge ash clouds, storms and stone hails the volcano eventually exploded with an enormous force. It possibly brought a huge wave, moving though the Aegean Sea, reaching as far as Crete, Cyprus, and Egypt. It may have destroyed the original Minoan culture at Crete, thus leaving us with only a few traces of the early Minoan labyrinth culture. It seems plausible that some of the lore of the labyrinth was brought to other places around the Aegean and Mediterranean seas by groups of people who were able to escape the tsunami. But according to the experts, the previous matriarchal religion were replaced by imperialistic forms of polytheism, in which fear of death, demons and defense against enemies became more prominent; hence the story of Theseus…. It has always been complicated to prove any hypothesis of the effects of the ancient Tsunami, since this violent, natural phenomenon does not leave recognizable traces over the years. Until now, historiographers have made comparisons with the effects of the eruption of the Krakatau in 1883, showing how a sudden, swift and completely unexpected wave, tens of meters high, can cause so much destruction. In fact the recent South Asian tsunami has, aided by modern communication technology, visualized more dramatically what might have happened in the Aegean Sea more than 3500 years ago. This is also something for us to commemorate when we are walking our labyrinths on the 23rd of January… *Source: Volkert J. Dietrich, Die Minoische Katastrophe – ein Vulkan verandert die Welt. Neue Zurcher Zeitung, 26.04.2000. This article is available in German at: http://www.labyrinth-international.org |
||
*
* * *
* |