The labyrinth

The symbol of the labyrinth or the spiral, as it is commonly represented, is one of the most recognizable European symbols, which was popularized in the mass culture and was part of the European artistical development since ancient times.

Newgrange, Ireland

By looking at the symbol you can without any deep studies and analysis immediately understand that it wants to represents some kind of repetitiveness and infinite pattern, it is almost hypnotic. The symbol of the labyrinth can be found carved on stone age cave walls and as we will learn these places were not chosen randomly.

Gotland, Sweden

The word Labyrinth can mean “house of the double axe”, the Labrys is according to Plutarch (Quaestiones Graecae 2.302a) is the Lydian word for the double-bitted axe, (Greek: πέλεκυς, pélekus). As we already know by analysing our mythology and tradition the double-axe is the symbol of the rekindled fire/life, therefor is also a symbol for the heart itself and can be reconnected with the reincarnation ritual and the neanderthal burial practice. Not everyone is worthy to find the path that leads to the solution of the labyrinth, not everyone will be chosen to escape its dark rooms, numerous walls and difficulties. 

Theseus and the Minotaur in the Labyrinth

The patterns in our mythology may appear all disconnected and chaotic to a modern untrained eye, but if we look more carefully, we can actually understand that they are just different stories that always have the same meaning. The labyrinth is the symbolical representation of the womb from which we are reborn that is why only few are able to solve the labyrinth and escape from it, regaining the ancient treasure at the centre of the maze that represents the forgotten memories of past lives.

We can also note that the shape of the labyrinth in some cases resembles a human fingerprint, this reaffirm the exclusivity of the symbol, finger prints are unique for every individual, this explains why our forebears used to paint hands on cave walls, it was a way to symbolize the reincarnation of the ancestor.

Human Fingerprint

Gavrinis, France

After all this talk on symbology and mythology, the existence of this depiction on the Bosnian tombstones should not surprise us, they are connected to our common European tradition.

The Eternal Dance

Dancing has always been an important practice in our European culture, every ethno-linguistic region have its own unique type of dance, although dancing have a social component that accompanied the daily life of our ancestors especially during the most important festivities throughout the year, we will also learn that some type of dances are very ancient and a deep mythological meaning is hidden behind them.

An exemple of  kolo dance from northern Croatia

I want to talk about a specific dance that is mostly spread in the Balkans: this dance is called Kolo or Horo, which literally means circle, because it is danced by forming a ring. The dance is usually fast paced, and the type of movements differs from region to region. It is performed at weddings, but also during funerals in some traditions, this show us the importance and binding force of this apparently simple practice. The Dance is supposed to be repetitive and to put those that are in the circle almost in a state of trance. This kind of atmosphere is made on purpose, and it wants to create a certain unity between the dancers, separating them from everything else by making them become one body and letting them reconnect with their primordial instincts and shared collective unconsciousness.

It is no coincidence that scenes of people dancing can be found on the tombstones in Bosnia, the repetitive patterns/rhythm all point out to the process of reincarnation. Ancient Greek Philosophers like Plutarch pointed out that circular dances in ancient Greece mimicked the shape of a labyrinth (in future posts I will explain how the symbol of the labyrinth can be connected to the process of rebirth.) Often on the depicted scenes you can see the dancers holding a clover trefoil in their hands, in our European culture the clover is a symbol of luck, it represents the vital energy that is transmitted from one individual to another. The number three is a magical number in our tradition, it stances for the three symbolical pregnancies that are part of the reincarnation ritual. 

In this image carved on a tombstone, we can see the previous mentioned clover and we can also see a leading figure of a man riding a deer. The deer represents the ancestor/placenta that is “rode” by the man/initiate/fetus that was chosen to be reborn.

In this other refiguration we can see a leading figure carrying another important symbol: the sword (it is often replaced simply by a sun ring), which, as mentioned in previous posts, represents the rekindling of the fire/vital energy.

This type of dances are not only fun activities to do with your family and friends but are also living expressions of our mythology and spiritual traditions handed down by our ancestors to us. In some sense dancing is a way to make the barrier of time much thinner, at least until the music is playing.