About the Labyrinth Celesta

Labyrinth Celesta, labyrinth 1482 on the World Wide Web Labyrinth Locator, was mowed into West Melton (Christchurch) turf in September 2004. It is an enlarged replica, 55 metres in diameter, of the eleven circuit unicursal labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France which was laid in flagstones in the nave of the Cathedral in 1204. Although the Labyrinth Celesta is relatively new, it boasts a long and prolific history. Labyrinth Celesta stands in a long and ancient history of ways in which men and women have sought understanding and answers to the riddles of their lives. The history of the Labyrinth dates over 5000 years. Its emergence seems to coincide with the emergence of new religious and spiritual movements.



Today the Labyrinth begins to speak to us in new ways. For four thousand years people have puzzled over its meaning. What began as a mystery remains one. The Labyrinth is nothing if not a great, long running myth that has tantalized us for millennia through its apparently simple designs that hold complex secrets of design as well as meaning. The winding path of the labyrinth is said to reflect the complexities of life while at the same time offering a way to the core of the issue at hand. Said to be a device for going deep, for plumbing the mysteries of the soul. To all who feel challenged to walk the labyrinth it holds the promise that no one will loose their way. To walk in its’ winding path can be a journey inward, an excursion into deeper layers of consciousness. A journey can produce sudden insights and challenges and lead to profound transformations. The Labyrinth has the power to draw us in and show us much about ourselves, the world and about personal truth. Labyrinth has a centre symbolizing wholeness and completeness, the heart of the matter, our human heart. When we are in the centre we can see the big picture- the pattern of life laid out all around us. We can see where we have been and where we are going next. The centre is where we see ourselves most clearly and sometimes where we connect most deeply to others.

In our overtly rationalist, materialist world, we are taught to mistrust our emotions, our hearts. Feelings are dangerous, we are told; they interfere with the acquisition of wealth and are a sign of moral and spiritual weakness. How liberating it must be when people enter a labyrinth and discover that it can be, first and foremost, a journey into their deepest emotions and thoughts, towards a centre that symbolizes for them the ‘heart’ of all their experience. Within its’ lines some report that they have a deep sense of connection to a divine or transcendent force or with their own being or selfhood. Feeling, heart, connection, mindfulness and selfhood, seem to sum up the essence of our modern fascination with the labyrinth.

Labyrinth Celesta is an exciting part of the activities we organize at the Centre for Loss and Healing. We use the Labyrinth as a tool for overcoming our inhibitions, to energize, to stimulate and to heal. It is in accordance with its’ ancient history that we learn to celebrate the journey of our lives. Many experience Labyrinth Celesta as a ‘friendly and peaceful place. We are located on 238 Halkett Road, in the township of West Melton, just 13km from Christchurch down State Highway 73.

Purpose and Use of Labyrinth Celesta
Relaxation
Meditation
Problem-solving
Enhancing personal awareness
Assessment
Value clarification
Reintegration
Life transitions
Spiritual growth
Hospice & Bereavement
Celebration
Weddings
Coming of Age Ceremonies
Expanding Friendships

To walk Labyrinth Celesta, make an appointment:
Tel: (03) 3474842 or
email: mail@labyrinthcelesta.co.nz