Chartres Labyrinth: Archetypes of the Four Quadrants

Eleven-Circuit Chartres Labyrinth

At the beginning of the year I received an interesting labyrinth question, and I thought it might be useful to share my answer here. I'm always interested in other perspectives, so I welcome you to share your take on this question in the comments.

 I have taken your course, Energetics of Art, and I have a question. The labyrinth is divided into 4 major sections.  What is the meaning or focus of each section? I have surfed the Internet, but I have not found the answer. Is there an answer?

You pose an interesting question. I imagine that you are referring to the 11-circuit Chartres Labyrinth (the original pattern in the cathedral)? 

​I will do my best to answer with that specific labyrinth in mind. 

First, you are right that there is not really an answer. There are many, because we are dealing with an archetype, so some will resonate with you and some won't.   

I'll start by looking at the Chartres labyrinth as a whole: A few years ago, the Cathedral authorities revealed that they had found documentation regarding the labyrinth and its liturgical use. I understand that there was no specific description of the meaning or symbolism of the labyrinth except via liturgical reference, which was related to Easter. Following the discovery and in recent years, the Pascal Candle has been carried to the center of the labyrinth during Easter Vigil. As you may already know, the Pascal Candle represents the risen Christ, the light of Christ which dispels the darkness, and the victory of life over death. Since we do not know what the original master builders intended when they built the labyrinth, we can only deduce the meaning of the labyrinth elements from what is evident in the labyrinth itself - the geometry, the way it is used, and its Christian setting. 

Looking at the Chartres labyrinth as a whole, a cross can clearly be seen, and this cross divides the labyrinth into the quadrants you asked about. A Cross is an archetype - in Christian terms the cross is a symbol of both the Christian faith and of Christ, and a reminder of redemption through Christ. As you know from the Art of Energetics session on hierograms and from Angeles Arrien's book Signs of Life, the Cross (particularly the equidistant cross found in the Chartres labyrinth) is a universal symbol of relationship, integration, the shared journey, and the resolution of dualities, polarities and opposing forces. Additionally, the Cross archetype can be seen as the interpenetration of the axes of heaven and earth, or the joining of cosmic and telluric forces (much like yin and yang), and has been linked to the Tree of Life and the archetypal human. As a symbol of crossroads, the Cross grants us the ability to orient ourselves in space and time. 

From the archetype of the Cross, some possible meanings for the quadrants emerge. From crossroads, comes the four directions much like a medicine wheel. The axis of heaven and earth might remind us of the 4 alchemical elements out of which the universe is composed: earth, air, fire, and water. The number four is significant in Christianity: Four gospel writers or the four pillars of the church (each associated with an alchemical element), four stages of the mass, fourth day of creation and the four seasons, and the four rivers out of Eden, among others. 

From the perspective of sacred geometry, four is associated with the square and the cube, representing the earth, and thus the material plane, as well as the ancient Earth Mother goddess. "Square labyrinths and those built around crosses are metaphors of our wanderings through the earth, symbolically within ourself, and our path of transcendence," writes Michael Schneider in his book The Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe.

Another interesting thing to note is that there are seven 180-degree turns in each quadrant. So each quadrant also contains seven and the meaning associated with that number: Seven liberal arts of the Mystery School of Chartres, seven chakras, lucky 7, seven-year-itch (or cycle), and of course the sabbath (7th day of rest) and many other sevens are referenced in the Bible. In Sacred geometry, seven is the "virgin" number, and  unlike other polygons in the first decade, it is not possible to construct a regular heptagon precisely - and is therefore associated with the Virgin goddess. So, in fact, each of the quadrants contain reference to the Virgin goddess while the four together reference the Mother Earth goddess. Meaning that the through reflection on the quadrants, one can see that the  labyrinth geometrically contains the Virgin-Mother Goddess or Saint - and 7 and 4 also happen to add up to 11, the number of circuits.

No doubt this only scratches the surface of meaning contained in the Chartres Labyrinth and its quadrants. I share all of this not as a definitive answer or "truth" but as inspiration. Ultimately, you bring your own metaphors to the labyrinth, and thus your own meaning to the four quadrants, too. 

I hope you find this information interesting and inspiring in your dromenon meditations. I would love to hear your thoughts on this as well, and any feedback you get if you choose to share with information with your meditation group.

Many blessings,
​Laura

Labyrinth inside Chartres Cathedral