Labyrinth Project : Weave of Faith

Symbolism in Weave of Faith's

Chartres-Style Labyrinth

This design is a custom design by Robert Ferre of the St. Louis Labyrinth Project, who is well-known for his adherence to sacred geometry and quality labyrinths. This is the first Chartres-style Labyrinth that he has designed which is 24 -feet in diameter. We asked for one this size because of its portability, and also this size means a manageable walk for most people.

The original Chartres labyrinth is almost 40 feet in diameter - it has 12 circles - 11 courses (or circuits) - 10 labyres. The Chartres labyrinth articulates an ancient cosmology. At Chartres, the axis mundi of the Cathedral passes over the Labyrinth, symbolizing the way to God here on earth.

Our Labyrinth which is modeled after Chartres' has 7 courses : 3 + 4 = 7. The number 3 represents heaven. The number 4 represents earth.

Seven is one of the numbers associated with Mary, the Mother of God, for which the Chartres Cathedral was built. In Dante's words, "she is the root of the Trinity." The Virgin is the patron of the Seven Liberal Arts. Mary was the embodiment of Sophia, sacred wisdom and as such became the patron of the seven liberal arts. At Chartres, the cross axis of the cathedral reflects the Virgin's role as guide along the Way. She is like Ariadne in the ancient Cretan Labyrinth, offering the rope to Theseus who, like pilgrims, would otherwise flounder or be lost. One cannot walk the Chartres labyrinth without feeling her presence.

The Path is singular and meanders throughout the whole circle. There are 20 turns (eighteen 180-degree turns) to get into the center.

There are 8 circles, 6 labryses (2 less than the number of circles) and 7 circuits in 4 quadrants. 7 x 4 = 28 : the days of women's cycles and the lunar cycle.

There are 84 circles of lunations, which correspond to 3 lunar months.

The Rosette in the Center of the Labyrinth has 6 petals : (The Eastern equivalent is the lotus) representing the 6 days of Creation. - and Spiritual Awakening. Going clockwise around the rosette the petals represent :

1 - mineral

2 - vegetable

3 - animal

4 - human

5 - angelic

6 - mystery or "unknown"

Some like to "visit" each of these petals when they walk the Labyrinth.

Six is one of the Perfect Numbers in which the factors of the number add up to the number itself (the factors of 6 are 1, 2 & 3). Twenty-eight is the next Perfect Number. Twenty-eight days is both a woman's cycle and the lunar cycle.

The lunations are the outer ring of the partial circles that completes the outside circle of the labyrinth. They are unique to the Chartres Labyrinth and are important in sacred geometry to "hold the energy" of the Labyrinth. To include them in the making of the labyrinth takes more work, but it does add beauty and power. It completes the sense of the whole cosmos that the Chartres labyrinth conveys.

The four quadrants of the Labyrinth mark the four seasons of the year. Some believe that the Labyrinth served as a calendar. Using this, the church could determine the date of the lunar feast of Easter.

Our Labyrinth is octagonal, having eight sides. Eight is the number symbolizing rebirth & transformation. Eight is a "double square" which means an increase in energy.

In the cosmic realm the center can symbolize both the earth and the sun. The center can also be understood to symbolize the evolutionary process of Spirit. One might also find that it relates to our human structure - how our blood flows through our bodies to give life to our entire system. And our inner ear has a structure named a labyrinth which is crucial for our hearing and balance.