That They All May Be One

The Labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral

The Labyrinth at Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral

The Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral is truly one of a kind. Every aspect of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is actually quite unique. According to resident scholar and author of numerous books on Chartres Cathedral since 1958, one could spend the rest of ones life trying to take in all of the symbolism, majesty and history of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres. 

On June 8th, 2022's podcast from The Black Madonna Speaks, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-black-madonna-speaks/id1622348404 we will be exploring the Black Madonnas of Chartres. One of the many interesting facts about the history of Chartres, is that it was a Templar Mystery School during the era of the Crusades. Scholars differ on the exact date of construction, but all agree the Labyrinth was built and completed some time during the first three decades of the 1200's. 

The original spring the Cathedral is built over, was associated with a dark goddess, a "virgin about to give birth." According to me, author of The Black Madonna, Mysterious Soul Companion,

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-black-madonna-stephanie-georgieff/1123449669

there are three Black Madonnas associated with this cathedral. One in the crypt, one in the main sanctuary and one in a stained glass window. The original mysteries associated with the cathedral, and subsequent Templar Mystery School, are associated with darkness and light, and the mysteries of transformation in Nature. The entire cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, in all of her aspects, particularly related to birth and wisdom. 

Medieval pilgrims would travel to Chartres and enter the crypt for an evening of chanting and prayer. At the break of day, they would enter the cathedral of light. This ritual was quite symbolic in terms of experiencing the mysteries of darkness and light, as well as the transformation of birth. The Labyrinth was the next step in this ritual, where pilgrims would walk in a meditative prayer the entire length of the structure, which was symbolic in its own right.

There are 270 stones in the labyrinth, one for each day of a typical pregnancy. It is thought that the original artisans of the Cathedral wanted the labyrinth to remind pilgrims that they developed in their mother's womb before their physical birth, and that earth was a womb that helps humanity develop before their spiritual birth into heaven. It is of note, that most people in Christian Medieval times did not record their births, only the dates of their deaths as that marked their entrance into the true life of the hereafter. 

The location of the labyrinth is also interesting, in that it is right as one enters the cathedral , symbolizing a threshold from "outside to inside" as well as between 3rd and 4th pillars of the nave, symbolizing the meeting place of heaven and earth. The shape of the labyrinth is symbolic of the wholeness of divinity, and the image of a cross, where the pathways turn, shows the presence of Christ, as well as the wholeness of the elements making up all of creation. The entire experience of the labyrinth is one of intimacy with divinity, and birthing oneself anew.

I hope you can visit this amazing structure someday! For those of you in the Bay Area of California, Grace Episcopal in St Helena has an exact replica awaiting your visit! 

Labyrinth at Grace Episcopal St Helena, 1314 Spring St, St Helena, CA 94574, United States

Blessings on your Journey!