What do labyrinths have to do with birth?

Earth Mother

birthing instrument.

Birth and rebirth.

In labyrinth rituals across cultures

women were literally at the Center.

-Helen Curry, The Way of the Labyrinth

What do labyrinths have to do with birth anyway?

The labyrinth is an ancient universal symbol representing our journey through life & its transformations. Unlike a maze, whose purpose is to confuse, a labyrinth has one way in & one way out. Its purpose is for contemplation & meditation. Labyrinths mimic the heroic journey of birth. Pregnancy is preparation, labor/Birth is the ordeal, & postpartum is the return.

Before the journey can even begin, there is preparation both conscious (like gathering information & eating well) & unconscious (the subliminal messages about birth/parenting we’ve taken in since childhood). Every labyrinth has a threshold which marks the beginning and ending of different phases of our lives. In this case, crossing the threshold would be the beginning of labor.

Once the threshold has been crossed, the ordeal of labor/birth has begun. The hero mother has entered the unknown that is labor/birth. During her journey she will face her Tiger & undergo a massive transformation. What will be lost? Ego, expectations, beliefs, sense of self, role in the community, relationships change. Transformation is unavoidable.

Birth is the center or the womb of the labyrinth. This is where your life as you knew it ends. A mother is born. The hero mother will face the gate of great doubt otherwise known as transition in which many women feel a sense of fear, that they can’t do it, &/or that this will never end. This is a very difficult time.

The way back out from the center to the threshold symbolizes postpartum which can take months or even years. Although so much emphasis is placed on birth, preparation for the postpartum period is essential to make it as smooth & restorative as possible. While birth is inherently unpredictable, postpartum plans can be made.

Many women get stuck on the way back out of the labyrinth on their postpartum returns without actively integrating the experience of the heroic journey that was just undertaken. I certainly was. Birth stories aren’t static; they change over time. This is why debriefing often isn’t enough for integration. What story might you get stuck in? In this day it’s easy to get stuck on the linear medical story which fails to take into account the richness of the entire experience - both inner & outer. This can often lead to us feeling like our stories are left untold &/or unwitnessed. Recognizing birth as a heroic journey is paramount to integration. Birth Story Medicine® can help you find the medicine in your birth story.

In pregnancy, labyrinth meditations help emotionally prepare for birth and parenting. As a birth doula, I offer labyrinth art & reflections as part of prenatals. Like a test run in trusting the path, reflecting on what it feels like when the path gets confusing, difficult, or different than expected.

By following the path of the labyrinth because there is only one way in & out, you trust that if you keep moving forward one step at a time that you will make it out. There are no shortcuts. This visualization can provide reassurance in those tough moments. This is a practice of letting go & of surrendering to the unknown.

The labyrinth art created prenatally can then be used in labor. Finger tracing, gazing upon, or walking a labyrinth slows down brainwaves into an alpha state. Alpha brainwaves are associated with meditation & the bridge to the subconscious. In an alpha state, inner knowing is accessed, body & mind are calm, & stress hormones are lowered. Into Laborland you go.

Continuing on the path of the labyrinth can balance the activity of the left & right brain bringing one further into theta waves allowing intuition and the subconscious to be extremely potent. In this trance-like state, there is less identification with the body, less words, less ego. This brings about the surrender that is essential for birth. The twists and turns mimic the inner & outer experience of labor/birth. Sometimes things get tricky or confusing; something expected may arise just like in the labyrinth but you will know what to do because you practiced.

Beyond birth, the labyrinth continues to serve as a meditation in parenting as well. It can be returned to when faced with uncertainties & difficulties which we all experience on our parenting journeys. I’m amazed by how profound & potent this ancient symbol of the labyrinth can be in our modern lives connecting us to those who’ve walked these paths before.

Deeply inspired by & grateful to Pam England & her book Labyrinth of Birth. Pam is a huge source of inspiration for me & I’ve been fortunate enough to take classes on Alchemy & Birth Tiger Safari with her. Every class with her is so rich with wisdom, community, & personal growth.