Building an Anhk Labyrinth at Isis Oasis
by Lady Loreon Vigne, High Priestess of the Temple of Isis in Geyserville, CA
Shannon walking the newly rebuilt Labyrinth, June 2011
One day, some years ago, I decided to create a labyrinth. I studied the various shapes and forms of other labyrinths and determined the one I would build would not follow the designs of any of them. One of the reasons for deciding to build a labyrinth was because I had pulled the card of the Goddess Nematona from Doreen Virtue’s Goddess Cards. In the description it said I should spend time in a sacred space, which I do every day since I have founded the Isis Oasis Sanctuary, a former Bahai’ School. The card also suggested you should create a labyrinth.
I immediately drew a design that would be very different and fit our Egyptian symbology. It would be in the form of an Ankh, the ancient Egyptian Key of Eternal life. The entrance would be on the right of the stem and you would walk it counter clockwise, till you get to the center. Then you would circumambulate the center 7 times as done around the temples of ancient Egypt. While you are walking toward the center you are urged to let go of the past. On the circle walk you release all pain and suffering and begin to walk, now clockwise, to find yourself on the path out of the ankh. Now you contemplate on ways you would like to see your life proceed from this point.
Rev. Shannon MD Smith and her Priestess Ordinee, Rev. Liz Sciore-Jones at the Heart of the Ankh Labyrinth
The strange part was that after the drawing of the card, and deciding to build the Labyrinth everything came together in one week. The firehouse next door offered to flatten the land for me , where I had planned to place the ankh. It was to be 42′ in circumference, following the 42 Ideals of the Goddess Ma’at. Then I asked one of our Priests in the Temple, who is an architectural engineer, to plan it out and tell me how many stones and red gravel to buy. I ordered it so that it might be here for the weekend when I had a group that did work exchange for 1 hour two days in a row. There were 30 of them. In no time they had put all the stones and gravel in place. The only thing they did not do is to put any weed blocker under the gravel! As time went on the weeds began to take hold. We would weed it each year but this year, it was so rainy and it became unmanageable. So it was decided to rebuild it.
We devised a weekend celebrating the Summer Solstice and we gave time in between rituals to remove the stones, put down the weed blocker, and return the stones once again to the circle. We chose a special stone to pray over and buried it deep in the center after we kissed this sacred stone. I ordered this time, some fresh red gravel and also some more delicate gravel called Sonoma Gold, which made more of a contrast that worked well with the design. The four quarters are represented with different crystals. Those who have walked the Ankh Labyrinth have found it a powerful tool for regeneration.
Do come and visit the Temple of Isis at Isis Oasis Sanctuary and walk this unique Ankh Labyrinth.
Blessings. Rev. Loreon Vigné
Isis Oasis Sanctuary
20889 Geyserville Ave.
Geyserville, California 9544
isis@isisoasis.org
