Wayfinding: Literally, Mythical

[Randy Eady]

Sense and sense-making in Nature relies on the influences (seen & unseen) of your spatial semantics (making meaning with your senses) and Physical Literacy (knowing the social-landscape/dynamics of your community, tribe's social typography) and how sacred, symbolic meaning in cultures  -- can help us understand the "other" as well as the Cosmos.

One traditional story tells us the Labyrinth evolved from astrological observations of recursive swings of the planet Mercury.

In one solar year, Mercury moves backwards three times and forward four. Seven-circuit labyrinths have been discovered within the ruins of cities of ancient Turkey dating back to 5,000 B.C.E.

The Classic seven circuit labyrinth is round. The square versions are either Celtic or Roman. Other styles have been found in classical Greece, New Zealand, North America, and Southeast Asia.

The earliest versions are found in pictographs, drawings upon stones.

In this paper I ex​amine the integration of a mosaic labyrinth's construction as influenced by the Native American Indian medicine wheel template and the intentionality of the Tibetan prayer wheel.

We also look at the design elements Jeff Bale applied to elicit and represent historical features of "sacred spaces" as often set apart and dedicated to moments of pure respite. The design elements drawing one into these pockets of "sacred space" in Nature are well-exhibited in Bale's mosaic labyrinth: The Portal, Path, Destination and the Sensing and Sense Making of the "Surround".

These elements combine to offer a sense of boundary, safety, and enclosure. They create both a source of personalized power and a sense of “being away” and provide temporary separation from the emotional stresses and challenges of life. Once drawn into these spaces, community members can feel an empowerment; allowing space to share intimate thoughts, innermost feelings, expressive energy and other collaborative insights.

In that sense, Bale's succeeded spectacularly as he put his blood, sweat, tears and plenty of aching muscles into the intentions that literally blossom out of the stones.

The mosaic path he crafted is replete with meaning: derived from beautiful hand-collected stones from different beaches in the region he personally transported to this location.

As in life itself the space "between" the circuits -- adaptively filled with permeable crushed stone -- allows all things to pass through. This can help to remind us the journey to authenticity can be a perilous one as opening to liminal (inbetween) spaces means opening to what is unknown.

And, who is better at navigating liminal spaces of light & dark? 

As  Miguel Sague Jr, put it (in relation to his painting below):  "The owl is an extremely important animal in traditional Taino culture. They are associated with the realm of the ancestors and held in high esteem by my people. This particular painting was created on commission as a surprise birthday gift. The man for whom this painting was created is protected by the owl spirit. His Taino name is Mukaro which is the Taino word for owl."

Ref:

Prayer Wheel~Labyrinth Linkage: Rites & Rituals in Medicine Wheel Practice | Randy Eady - Academia.edu (https://www.academia.edu/31802639/Prayer_Wheel_Labyrinth_Linkage_Ri...)