Avalon Within

by Jhenah Telyndru

  Directly in front of you and spanning the distance from the ground to the ceiling of this subterrane is an enormous stone pillar, formed by meeting stalactites and stalagmites. The column is covered with arm-sized points of quartz crystals—some clear and pure, others clouded with mineral inclusions. Walking around the pillar to get a good look at this extraordinary formation, you realize that the movement you saw earlier was your dim reflection on the facets of the large crystals. Halfway around, you are confronted with what appears to be smooth sheet of raw quartz. Peering into it, you see your own reflection, warped and distorted by variations in the stone.

  You are drawn to look deeply into your own eyes peering back at you from this underworldly mirror. Your eyes darken and swirl with subtle energies until all you can see on the stone’s surface are the patterns playing out on the now-darkened surface. Unbidden, the key focus of your intention repeats itself over and over again in your head. The energy patterns begin to form coherent images and you find yourself unable to tear yourself away from the vision unfolding before you. The reason for your quest pounds loudly in your ears and above the din of your heartbeat. Looking deeply into the surface of the crystal, the layers of self peel away as the images before you hasten to bring forth the answers you seek.

  Take what time you need to follow the branches of your work down to its very root, revealing its origin …

  When the images have stopped, take three deep breaths, fixing the visions in your mind and centering yourself in their energy. The calm surface begins to shift once again and the crystal begins to cloud and dim. The pillar of stone becomes an abyss of darkness that finds its resonance within you. Called forth from the deepest part of your psyche, the reflection of your shadow-self materializes in the obsidian-hued stone. Take a good long look at she who stands before you, familiarizing yourself with as many details as possible. When you feel you have fully explored the image in the glassy surface, ask her for her name. You hear it whisper in your ear as the mirror figure extends her hands to you. Repeat the name into the darkness of the chamber, feeling it reverberate around you. Extend your own hands to meet those of your shadow self, accepting the gift she presents to you. As you touch the surface of the stone, the world dissolves in a flash of light. …

  And you find yourself under a canopy of stars, on the steep slopes of the Tor once more. No longer at the crest of the hill, you realize that you are halfway down the spiraled path, facing the faint beginnings of a brightening horizon. The Red and White Dragon lines intersect at this point alone on the Tor, making it a node of power that bridges the worlds. You have returned from the underworld with the gift of the shadow in your hands. Examine it carefully and bring it back with you for it holds much that will aid you in your quest.

  When you are ready, begin the slow descent that will bring you back to the two standing stones where your guide awaits you. The winds seem calmer now as you wind the pattern outwards, bringing the energies downward and grounding them within you. At last you reach the mouth of the labyrinth. Take some time to reflect on your experiences. Turn your face back to take in the sight of the sacred Tor, looking much like a goddess in repose across the landscape. Bow your head in thanks for the time spent in this holy place and for the insight and support you have received. Take three deep breaths and pass once more through the portal stones, meeting your guide on the other side.

  Your guide leads you back across the island, through the orchard and to the shores of the lake, where the Barge of Avalon awaits you. Turn once more to face the island and thank the Lady and all the guardians of this sacred space for supporting your work and allowing you to visit. Bid your guide farewell, and climb aboard the Barge to complete your journey to the other side of the lake, bringing with you the memory of all that has come before.

  Revisiting the Self

  As you continue making your connection to the Tor and the shadow aspect of yourself, go back and re-read the self-reflective questions above. How have your answers changed? What catalyzed these changes? What underlying energies are you now aware of which were previously unconscious? What patterns have become visible? How can you put your insights and connections to work in order to bring change in your life?

  Tool for the Station: Threading the Labyrinth

  In Caer Pedryvan, four its revolutions;

  In the first word from the cauldron when spoken,

  From the breath of nine maidens it was gently warmed.

  Is it not the cauldron of the chief of Annwn?

  —From Preiddeu Annwn—The Spoils of Annwn

  The poem Preiddeu Annwn (The Spoils of Annwn) is attributed to the great Welsh poet Taliesin, and has been dated to between the ninth and twelfth centuries ce. It is an evocative and symbolic piece detailing the voyage of Arthur into the Otherworld. The strong association of Avalon with Annwn is reinforced by several elements of this poem. It is not difficult to see the Tor, with its labyrinthine terracing, as the revolving fortress Taliesin described. The four-fold revolution of the fortress seems to suggest the four outer Cauldron Transformations, while its association with the Nine Maidens and their Cauldron make a strong connection to the Ninefold Sisterhood of Avalon. Further, this Cauldron of Inspiration—warmed by the breath of priestesses—seems to be the self-same vessel in which Ceridwen brewed the three drops of Awen.

  The women of Avalon utilized the labyrinth as a great pattern of power, tracing its undulating form up the sacred slopes of the Tor. Drawing the dual energies of the Red and White Dragons up with them as they walked, the Priestesses of Avalon connected with the sacred landscape of mystic Albion in service to the Goddess and Her people. This holy walk enabled them to open the portal into the Otherworld, delving deeply into the realm of Annwn in order to receive the wisdom found only in the Cauldron’s utter depths.

  The labyrinth remains as important to us today as it was to our Avalonian foremothers. This effective tool for centering and balancing is also a potent ritual, facilitating our journey into the Otherworldly realm of our own unconscious. Literally retracing the footsteps of our foremothers, this sacred working ties us to the energy of the Avalonian Labyrinth and joins us to the ancient threading of the Sisters walking the ritual way up the Tor.

  The labyrinth is a powerful tool for transformation, winding its single, irrevocable way to the center—and back out again. Primarily a walking meditation, it is also possible to harness the power of what in Welsh is called the caerdroia (named after the ancient city of Troy) by tracing a small replica called a finger labyrinth. Using a finger of your non-dominant hand to follow the serpentine path is an effective way of directly working with the mysteries of the labyrinth. The Avalonian Labyrinth is unique in its three-dimensionality, but it is the power of the symbol that it will work in any form—carved in a sacred hill or drawn with intent using pencil on paper.

  The pattern cut into the slopes of the Tor is a Classical, seven-circuit labyrinth, often called the Cretan Labyrinth, pictured in this chapter. There is another pattern made up of eleven circuits called the Chartres Labyrinth, named after the cathedral in France where it is inlaid into the church’s nave. At the heart of this grand cathedral dedicated to Mary, the Cartres Labyrinth was used in the Middle Ages as a symbolic representation of the pilgimage to the Holy Land when the Crusades made it too dangers to travel there in person. Interestingly, the church itself is said to have been built on the site of a holy grove or nemeton sacred to the Gallic Druids. Both labyrinth patterns achieve the same ends, though the process of coming to center differs in each on many levels. Our focus is on the Cretan Labyrinth because of its direct connection to the Avalonian Tradition, but exploration and personal experience of both patterns is encouraged.

  Always a sacred symbol, the labyrinth represents the process of going within. It is the quest for Center and the descent into the Underworld. More than a meaningful picture, it is a road map for growth. Labyrinths actively cycle
energy in a very specific fashion, magnifying and condensing whatever energy is applied to it. Building a labyrinth on power spots will activate and intensify the natural energy of the space, pulling it in and sending it back out, changed and refined. Physically entering a labyrinth will have the same energetic effect on the seeker. Walking its course, insight and shift of perspective will rise to the top as one proceeds to the heart of the spiral—the heart of the self or the issue at hand.

  This is the essence of all labyrinth work; its unicursal design winds the walker down to the center, into the stillness of the self. Walking the labyrinth aids us in divesting ourselves of our outer masks, allows us to pass through layer upon layer of illusion, and helps us to navigate through our sea of inner obstacles. Finally, at our center, all we are left with is the seed of truth—the potential to become all that we are and to face all that lies waiting in our inner darkness. Once we have touched this energy, we bring a thread of its revelation back up to the surface of our consciousness; retracing the same path outward, we unwind the energy and bring our wisdoms back out with us. We willingly enter the Otherworld and return changed.

  Comparison between Cretan Labyrinth (left) and Chartres Labyrinth (right)

  Finding a Labyrinth

  Learning how to draw the labyrinth pattern is a magnificent way to truly understand its energetics. Sig Lorngren of Mid-Atlantic Geomancy (www.geomancy.org/#labyrinths/index.php) presents a “seed pattern” which will allow you to draw it yourself.

  Once you know how to draw the labyrinth, a good exercise is to create a left-handed pattern and a right-handed pattern side by side, allowing them to be traced with a finger from both hands concurrently, bringing balance to both sides of the brain. Learning how to draw a labyrinth is a magnificent way to truly understand its energetics. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to construct a seven-circuit labyrinth through the use of a seed pattern, based on the work of artist and labyrinth scholar Jeff Saward. You can take your paper labyrinth and laminate it, carve it yourself into wood or clay, or think about investing in one of many finger labyrinths available for purchase.

  There has been a recent renaissance of interest in labyrinths; with some research you may find a public labyrinth to walk in your area. The Episcopal Church has done a great deal in reviving the Chartres pattern; many local churches have labyrinth walks open to the public. Many Avalonian Sisters have built labyrinths on their land using stone, plants, or other materials, and once you have learned to make the Classical pattern, it is an easy thing to draw it out in the earth, with candles or on sand for a temporary working. There are excellent resources available in the form of books and kits that will facilitate your creation of permanent outdoor or portable indoor canvas labyrinths.

  The Working

  A simple way to begin is to ground and center. When you are in a clear space, think about where you are in your personal process, especially as it concerns the work of Confrontation. Bring to the labyrinth an issue you are working on, a question you may have, an ongoing situation troubling your peace, or anything needing clarity. For which of your issues is it vitally important to see the root cause? What lies at the heart of the situation of which understanding is needed most? What do you need to see?

  How to Draw a Seven Circuit Labyrinth

  When you have decided on the focus of your work, keep the situation or question in your mind as you fall into your Power Breath. Standing at the threshold of the labyrinth, take a moment to recognize that you are about to enter into sacred space, and make some gesture to mark this passage; you can chant, ring a bell, make an offering of incense, say a prayer or affirmation—anything that is significant for you.

  When ready, enter into the labyrinth with your mind centered on the intention for your walk. As you go, take note of what comes up for you—emotions, thoughts, symbols, and memories. Honor them and allow them to pass. Do not be fixed in your thoughts as you walk; you may enter the labyrinth with one thing in mind and find yourself exiting with an insight entirely different than what you expected.

  This is the key to labyrinth work; we must release our expectations so we can be clear to receive what the universe sends our way. Not everyone receives a life-changing epiphany in a single labyrinth working; indeed, your experiences and the degree of clarity gained can change from working to working. Do not, therefore, judge your experience or compare it to an idealized scenario created in your head. The universe will send you exactly what you need, when you need it, and in a form that benefits you the most.

  When you reach the center of the pattern, recognize where your journey into the sacred has taken you, and honor the space in a way you feel is appropriate. Take some time in the middle, awaiting insight or inspiration, before thanking the universe and taking your new wisdom with you. The heart of the labyrinth is not the only place to receive insight; many find small pieces of wisdom along the way, leading up to the greater whole in the center.

  As you unwind the pattern, focus on the insights with which you were gifted, and contemplate how to integrate these gifts into your life. Like a pebble dropped into a still pool, the revelation at the center of the labyrinth will ripple out to touch all aspects of the self. Receive the vision of what this change will mean to you as you emerge from the heart of the pattern, and be open to the next level of insight these revelations can bring.

  Upon exiting, thank the space for receiving you. Reflect upon the information you have obtained and the wisdoms you have been granted from your walk.

  Oftentimes in labyrinth work, it is very effective to trace the pattern a set amount of times in a number sacred and meaningful to the user; walking sets of three, five, and nine bring powerful insights within the context of the Avalonian path. Many women comment that it takes a round or two to get settled into the walk or the tracing before they can focus on the work at hand, so keep this in mind as you begin to work with this transformational tool. The more familiar you become with the twists and turns of the labyrinth (themselves great lessons), the more you will begin to notice patterns in the type and tenor of information coming up for you at different points in the journey.

  There are many ways to approach labyrinth work; some sources attribute a chakra, a musical note, a color and a healing focus to each circuit. It is empowering to take time to explore this incredible tool for yourself, coming to your own conclusion of what energy dwells where, before applying the external correspondences. When later comparing your insights with the work of others, you may discover a wonderful validation of your own innate wisdom, or find that the labyrinth interacts with your energy in a unique way.

  A great many people use labyrinths as an element of healing work, and they can be walked or traced in a celebratory manner as well. They are used for rites of passage such as commitment ceremonies, consecrations, and baby blessings; to mark transitional holidays like New Year’s Eve; on Avalonian Holy Days, especially Gwyl Mair and Calan Gaeaf; and even to evoke universal joy by moving through the pattern with song and dance.

  The labyrinth is a powerful focus for the journey within; it is a symbol, tool, and metaphor. Although there are many applications for its use, labyrinth work is especially powerful when used as a focus to bring us to the center of our selves, to see the heart of a situation, and to bring the wisdom found within to a place of integration through emergence.

  7

  The Station of Emergence

  Three things which constantly increase: light, life, and truth.

  Celtic triad

  We return from the Otherworldly realms of the Unconscious with knowledge freed from its depths. Here is the sword taken from the stone—the freeing of truth from the grip of illusion. With this liberated energy at our disposal, we seek the vision of our higher self made manifest, and plant the seeds of wholeness in the receptive and fertile soil of our souls. Having drunk deeply from the well within, we are able to harness the endless
potential of the revitalized landscape with consciousness. This inner renewal sprouts forth, fragrant with possibilities and garlanded with the beauty of choice. No longer limited by what was, we have the power to catalyze what can be.

  The Station of Emergence in the Cycle of the Sun

  The Light Half of the Year dawns with the cleansing flames of the Calan Mai (Beltane) fires. The world is awash with the vibrant intensity of all things green and growing as a fertile wave of vital energy crashes across the landscape. For Celtic Britons, Calan Mai marked the beginning of summer and catalyzed a shift in focus on both agricultural and societal fronts. Just as the natural world was bursting forth with new beginnings and the promise of grand potential in the frenzy of renewal, so too were Britons emerging from constrictive winter weather and homestead activities. Summer was the time to reaffirm bonds of community and economy with neighbors.

  Gathering for celebrations at clan central places, Britons gave thanks for the return of the Earth’s bounty and forged social and economic relationships to ensure continued survival for seasons to come. They made legal contracts, traded their goods and livestock, performed agricultural divination, and settled outstanding financial accounts. In all these things, we see the Celts took stock of what was important based on what the previous winter had brought. They used this information to decide and act on what they would need for a successful upcoming season of growth and abundance. Although today most of us are not directly concerned with raising cattle and producing crops, we can take these underlying wisdoms and apply them to our own lives so that we may support the self we wish to encourage and the inner gifts we wish to cultivate.

  The great challenge of the Station of Emergence is bringing the revelation of the deepest depths—the transforming wisdom of the Cauldron—into the consciousness of the Light Half of the Cycle. It is not enough to be able to see, however. We must also act by making outward changes that reflect our newfound inward knowing. At Emergence, we plant the seeds of our intention into a ground made fertile by the energy freed up from the shadow. Through the marriage of what is within to what is without as we straddle the worlds of dark and light, we work to make the unconscious conscious, and seek an external manifestation of the true self revealed in the darkness.