AUDIO
The labyrinth is a powerful metaphor for psychological development and the path of individuation.
“But the right way to wholeness is made up, unfortunately, of fateful detours and wrong turnings. It is the longissima via [longest path], not straight but snakelike, a path that unites the opposites in the manner of the guiding caduceus, a path whose labyrinthine twists and turns are not lacking in terrors (C.G. Jung, Collected Works, Vol. 12, 6).
This week Jungian analysts Lisa Marchiano and Deborah Stewart consider how twists and turns in the path of life (especially in early adulthood), ask us to confront uncertainty, anxiety, and the unknown.
Ego may crave a straight, well-planned path, but life inevitably offers something else: a fiendishly difficult labyrinth. If we want to get the most out of the journey, we’ve no choice other than to give it all we’ve got.
In the episode, we cover:
The Hero’s Descent: Theseus and the Minotaur
The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is the labyrinth story that perhaps captivates us the most. It presents Theseus’ journey through the dark twists and turns of the labyrinth, to confront and slay the terrifying half-bull,half-man.
Ariadne’s gift of the thread, which helps Theseus return after killing the Minotaur, symbolizes the relational principle, Eros, connecting us to what matters and helping us find our way through darkness. We cannot navigate the labyrinth alone. Loving someone doesn't necessarily mean we can rescue them when they become lost, but perhaps we can give them some of what they need to find their way through.
The Labyrinth in the Mahabharata
The story of Abhimanyu from The Mahabharata presents a hero who is unable to make his escape. As a child, his mother gave him some knowledge of the labyrinth he faces as an adult, but not the secret of how to get to the exit. Abhimanyu therefore finds himself lacking the crucial guidance required to survive. If we’re going to crack the code and escape the labyrinth, we need a soulful attitude to life, and the right psycho-spiritual teachings.
When the Path Is Too Straight
Some young people can find themselves overly directed or too safely shepherded through the early years of life, perhaps adopting their parents’ preferred career choice, or ticking off life goals that don’t carry personal meaning. This may delay a necessary confrontation with the self. The labyrinth cannot ultimately be avoided, and it is likely to show up later in life, often with greater force.
The Contemplative Labyrinth: A Path to the Center
Unlike the mythic labyrinth of escape, the contemplative labyrinth (found in churches, cathedrals or gardens) invites surrender and submission. Walking its winding path becomes a form of meditation that leads inward toward wholeness and the Self. This is a search for an inner peace and inner wholeness that is very different from the descent into the unknown that marks the first half of life.
The circular form of the labyrinth mirrors the mandala, symbolizing the psyche’s movement toward integration. Jung described the Self as both center and circumference, the goal of the individuation journey.
Labyrinths, Mazes and Play
As children, we delight in mazes and labyrinths built purely for fun. Autumn corn mazes or halls of mirrors at the carnival allow us to feel delight in letting ourselves get lost. This perhaps offers us some early schooling in letting go of the ego's need for control and orientation at all times.
Here's the Dream We Analyze
This is a recent recurring dream: "I'm in a very large, fancy glass house with many rooms. It's always night. There's a ladder that leads to a steep and thin staircase dug into the wall and I end up in an impossible large cavernous basement. There are windows but they're so high up that it's still quite dark. The room is filled with antiques. I'm usually alone here but recently there was a homeless man hiding from me among mannequins, though I was trying to avoid him anyway. The first time I came here I found tunnels leading further underground and it felt dangerous. I remember being very scared and trying to find a way out. I woke up before finding an exit. In dreams since, I have consciously avoided the tunnels because they scare me. I always want to rummage the antiques and take beautiful things home but I never seem to have time".
Related Episodes
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might also enjoy:
