Chartres

Photograph (c) 2013 KK 

Great winds of the great goddess

whistle around the cathedral.

Inside, the priests have tried to hide

her circuitous path with chairs.

We sweep them aside,

wind through the labyrinth.

Sister, father, walk the eleven circuits with me,

one gone six weeks, the other seven years.

We curve through her four-chambered heart,

drink from the sacred grail at her core.

(With gratitude to Jeannette Hermann and Lauren Artress)

Comments

[lisa]

beautiful

[Joanne Warfield]

What a beautiful ritual of 11 turns (power number) to aid you in circumnavigating your loss.

Ancient ceremonies to bring peace and solace - perfect.

Sending Love,
Joanne

[Kaaren Kitchell & Richard Beban]

Thank you, Lisa. And love,

Kaaren & Richard

[Kaaren Kitchell & Richard Beban]

Dear Joanne,

Yes, the power of ritual for helping to heal loss! Of the 23 labyrinths that once existed in French cathedrals, only three remain: San Quentin, Amiens and Chartres. San Quentin is in bad shape, Amiens was destroyed in 1825, rebuilt in 1894 with a seven-circuit labyrinth. As you walk the eleven circuits around the center in Chartres, it feels as if you're circling the solar system. According to Lauren Artress, who led this walk, Chartres was once a Celtic stronghold, with druids as priests. Some of the labyrinths were removed because they were worn out, some because they were thought to be pagan. In the Reims cathedral, the canon took out the labyrinth because he didn't want to hear children laughing. You know, those "people of the earth" with their pagan behavior, laughter and such.

Much love,
Kaaren & Richard