Through the Labyrinth: A Guide to Navigating Chaos

Confusion, wandering, isolation, darkness, disorientation—all evoke the labyrinth, a complex network of paths in which it is difficult to find one’s way out. Or do they? The labyrinth’s original meaning has been entirely distorted, which is only to be expected from such a perplexing symbol.

Today, the labyrinth is found everywhere: in architecture, art, books, movies, and games. The archetypal image of the labyrinth fundamentally expresses the path of life, full of dark corners and unexpected turns. If we overcome them, we are transformed and enlightened – if not, we become disoriented and find life meaningless.

The labyrinth is an archetype, a primordial image that dates back to the Bronze Age (around 2500 to 2000 BC), making it one of the oldest symbols. It encompasses various images: the path of life, the Earth Mother, birth, dance, warding off evil, initiation, liminality, the descent into the underworld, symbolic death and rebirth, the journey to the Self, the alchemical Great Work and the pilgrim’s spiritual journey.

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📚 Recommended Reading

▶ Through the labyrinth: designs and meanings over 5,000 years - Hermann Kern
▶ Labyrinth of the World and Paradise of the Heart - John Amos Comenius
▶ Labyrinths: Selected Stories & Other Writings - Jorge Luis Borges
▶ Pilgrim’s Progress - John Bunyan
▶ The Divine Comedy: Inferno; Purgatorio; Paradiso - Dante Alighieri

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🎶 Music used

1. Crystal Dream Mix – CO.AG
2. Dreams Become Real – Kevin MacLeod
3. Ambiment – The Ambient – Kevin MacLeod
4. Versunken – Myuu
5. Left Alone – Dark Haunting Atmospheric – CO.AG
6. Heartbreaking – Kevin MacLeod
7. Extrapolation – Scott Buckley

- CO.AG Music

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

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📝 Sources

- See Recommended Reading List above
- Mazes and Labyrinths - W. H. Matthews
- Labyrinth: Studies on an Archetype (1987) by Gaetano Cipolla
- Kerényi, Karl. En El Laberinto. Edición de Corrado Bologna. Siruela (2006)
- Herva, V. P., & Rapakko, J. (2023). Insides, outsides and the labyrinth: Knossos, palatial space and environmental perception in Minoan Crete. Journal of Social Archaeology, 23(3), 264-285
- Gryder, Robert; Myers, John L., eds. (1988). The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indians: Legends, Reflections, History, Future. Life's Reflections. p. 29. ISBN 9780929690001. Retrieved March 15, 2020
- Saward, J. (2004). The First Labyrinths. Retrieved October, 9, 2004
- Saward, J. (2017). Mazes or Labyrinths… What’s the difference & what types are there. Labyrinthos Archive. Published March
- The Book of Symbols by ARAS. Publisher Taschen

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⌛ Timestamps

0:00 Introduction
1:55 The Labyrinth as The Path of Life
3:26 The Classical or Archetypal Labyrinth
4:19 Labyrinth of Egypt
5:03 The Labyrinth and The Maze
9:18 Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom
11:24 Time is a Labyrinth
12:25 The Labyrinth and The Minotaur
17:25 The Origins of The Mythical Labyrinth
19:52 Archetypal Symbolism of The Labyrinth
24:42 The Labyrinth: Descent into Hell
28:03 The Labyrinth and Alchemy
30:56 The Journey to The Centre (The Self)
32:34 From Earth to Heaven to Earth
34:16 The Medieval Labyrinth: Spiritual Journey
35:15 The Labyrinth as The Pilgrim’s Journey
39:25 Conclusion

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#labyrinth #archetype #maze

[Eternalised]

You needed to get lost in order to be found.

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[vannahthebo]

I'm glad I've been able to find like-minded people. It's hard to explain this to someone who hasn't delved into esoteric, occult, mythological, philosophical (etc) side of life. Thank you for creating this community, eternalised.

[RoyChong_]

Your videos are so deep it's crazy. The man-child one really made me question my life lol.

[Laradicequadrata]

I just want to point out that these types of channels are now becoming more popular. But Eternalised have been there before and with his humble mission and dedication have never taken his audience for fools, thank you for your work

[niccoloflorence]

This is your most beautiful analysis. From Mahabharata to Stoicism to Contemporary to Borges, no path left unexplored.

[andymcrae]

“The way out of the labyrinth is to follow the thread of one’s soul “.
That quote right there is why I follow your channel and have come to love your work. Your pronunciation of Spanish words and names gives some clues about you!

[LibraryoftheUntold]

“Sorry boss, I gotta take off work today, Eternalized just dropped a banger.”

[debramulcahy]

As I watch this video I’m wearing a labyrinth tee shirt. Interesting synchronicity, no? I began walking the labyrinth around 2005. There is a church near me that has one on the lawn. The experience has impacted my life profoundly over many years. It is hard to explain … it is as though there is a knowing that seeps into my awareness as I walk. Over time after I go into my life and I receive clues and hints in my everyday life that I apply to questions I’ve had in the course of my labyrinth walks.

[goghimusic]

The most valuable free resource out there. This channel is an endless gift to anyone who has found it. You are helping to change consciousness and we are forever indebted to you for your service.

[Hallusinate]

I’ve always struggled with fitting in and understanding others around me. Things like these educational essays is what helps me understand that of which I am apart of and reminds me that I will always have a place in the family of things, thankyou!

[Alex-dfdb]

I cannot explain the joy I feel when eternalized posts. Great day today

[thehermit]

Fantastic video. You're one of my favorite creators along with Shiva's Right Foot (rarely posting, he explores symbolism in media). This is one of my favorite videos yet, for each time I watch your content I am reminded of my own experiences, my own journey into and back from the heart of the labyrinth. I teared up multiple times watching this, as I've not thought in detail about my journey for some time.

I believe you're doing good work, important work. These words may appear superficial, but the truth of inward experience delivers your videos from mere "content" to something much more powerful.

I wish you the very best.

[crystalsue]

I am so above and beyond grateful for your channel. I did a piece of artwork a while back and stared at it daily believing I needed to go to a labyrinth near by. When I saw your post I couldn't believe my eyes because my soul filled with joy and delight, yet I was even more pleased when I realized that I am currently in the center of my labyrinth. I realized that every time I leave I prepare for anything in order to return safely and add it to alll of the other messages and information I can fully acquire from your amazing videos. I am so grateful for all of your work because I have been spending the past five years trying to figure out how to put everything in a book thinking no one would see everything as it relates to the group people choose as it all relates in different ways. It's still difficult to explain out loud but I know you understand what I am referring to. Please continue your amazing content! Blessings to you and may joy, peace and happiness fill your life ❤️

[The-Underground-Man]

While I was watching your video, I remembered how a few years ago, while I was under the influence of alcohol and a mixture of drugs, I was sitting in the club alone in a somber state, feeling overwhelmed by how life seemed to be falling apart. Surrounded by friends and strangers who were dancing and enjoying themselves, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was fundamentally wrong with the world. The music was blaring, and I found it intolerable, so I decided to leave and head back to the apartment where we were staying.

But I wasn’t familiar with the area, and all the buildings looked the same. I had a disorienting experience, wandering through the neighborhood, feeling like I was trapped in a real-life labyrinth. No matter how hard I tried to figure out where I was or retrace my steps, I couldn’t make sense of where I needed to go.

[Albert-nhte]

Everyone is saying it, I’ll say it again.the work that you are doing is incredible 🙏🏽

[iampsykoi]

Your videos continually get me through the hardest parts of my life so far.

[salvatore.M]

About circumambulation, we see this practice adopted by almost every religion and in mystic practices too, I believe the main solid reason for it is as mentioned in the video is to disturb one’s consciousness, to get one absorbed into the object or deity he/she is circumbulating, to become one with them..
I loved the inclusiveness and clarity of this video, this channel is gold ❤

[McSmijens]

I remember first discovering your channel when I was discovering Nietzsche and Jung after, but for many months now I have fallen off from these video essays, suffusing myself in distraction and apathy.

I have felt a great emptiness that I’ve never really felt before, and being 31 it really is a turning point in finding my real direction in life through looking at my soul and finding the knowledge to push me forward. I need to have more responsibility and bravery to be able to support myself and the love of my life, for I must be a man in the center of the labyrinth before I can exit out a child again

Thank you (and my girlfriend) for bringing this back to me 🙏

[andrewconstantine]

The fact that you're almost to a million followers is absolutely amazing and shows me that you're doing the job

[tinadiesman]

Thank you for sharing such important content. Transformation is the whole reason why we are here and now.