Ghost Writers

To those of us who are writers, especially of novels, we understand there comes a point where the characters in the story take over and we are simply pens to their plots and plans. Our outline surrenders to their creativity, imagination and desires. Inevitably, it is a new and improved version or even completely different than our plan.

In writing a continuing saga of the development of our sanctuary retreat, Adytum, the same phenomena is happening in allocating hardscape and landscape here. The soul of this great house has, itself, taken over and begun to dictate the use of space inside and out. We are merely ghost writers on the landscape of Adytum’s back and within the walls of the house itself...

This phenomenon is potentiated by asking God to plan and envision alongside us. We’ve accepted the fact that we own nothing; we are simply stewards of His to care for this place and this land. So now it appears there are four of us working on the creation of this sacred space, 15 acres of hilltop forest land overlooking a lake, the river that feeds it, blueberry and bulb fields and cattle below in the valley. I am researching to catch up with plans that I’ve personally never had any experience with but have come in the form of impressions and ideas despite what we’d outlined for the land directly outside the house.

The latest change to our original plan for the first floor courtyard is coming in the form of an 11th century Labyrinth, patterned after the one inlaid in the floor of the Chartres Cathedral at Chartres, France. Made during medieval times, it is still in use. Can you imagine tracing the steps of all the pilgrims and saints from antiquity that have used it? The air itself must be holy.

Walking a labyrinth can reflect a metaphor for our own spiritual journey as we walk to the center and back again. Unlike a maze, there are no blocked passageways but instead a series of concentric circles, in the Chartres pattern that allow time for reflection, meditation and have been said to promote healing. In ancient times, people walked them in lieu of making a physical pilgrimage to a holy place. For us it symbolizes the purpose of our lives as spiritual beings in a physical body ever seeking to connect with and express Source as well as being a beautiful expression of symmetry, balance and order.

http://www.maycenter.com/arboretum/labyrinthGarden.htm has a nice explanation of the history and usage of ancient and modern labyrinths and the web is full of information so I won’t go into it here.

There is some controversy whether sacred geometry is at the heart of the construction of some labyrinths. If so, we are said to feel that resonance at a cellular level as we resonate with the ratios, nature’s numbers, which underlie the universe’s own construction. I haven’t ever walked a labyrinth so only write at this point what I’ve read in others’ experience of them.

We’ve all chosen lavender as the hedge material to line our pathways with, and the Chartres pattern as the plan. A search on the symbolism of the color purple yields the following, “Purple is royalty. A mysterious color, purple is associated with both nobility and spirituality… Purple has a special, almost sacred place in nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered precious.” http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/colorselection/p/purple.htm

Interesting that lavender came as the material of choice instead of the myriad of other options from turf to stone and every possibility in between. We have been impressed with the fact we are, according to 1 Peter 2:9, “ a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Purple will remind us who we are.

The center of the labyrinth will be tiled with a mosaic of iridescent glass symbolizing the Biblical Sea of Glass shown in Revelation 15:2, “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire…” In the center of the Sea of Glass will be a tall pillar of water and fire symbolizing the Godhead: the Holy Spirit, Jesus and God. The rest of the Revelation passage refers to those standing on the Sea of Glass as playing harps to celebrate having overcome on the earth.

To walk the labyrinth will be one experience; to look at its rich symbolism at its heart and the weight of its historical significance, quite another. It will ground us to our earthly pilgrimage and inspire us to persevere in the face of adversity; to be overcomers connected to God at the center of it all.

It’s exciting to partner with God in the creation of plans bigger and better than we could ever conceive on our own. When He and the house start to “talk” listening, studying to “catch up” with ancient wisdom, and then striving to implement the new plan is an adventure.