Showing posts with label generational curses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label generational curses. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

How Do Curses Work?

How Do Curses Work?

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Curses from Satan always involve demon spirits. When a curse is placed, demons are sent to a specific person or family. The curse is a sending mechanism, and the spirits bring about the fulfillment of the curse.


There are several sources of curses, for example:

Where do demonic curses come from? 


  • sins of the forefathers, generational curses
  • dedication to Satan,
  • bowing down to idols, 
  • bringing cursed objects into a home,
  • giving honour to demon gods,
  • Participation with occultism or new age,
  • touching Satan's territory, and
  • Sin opens the door for curses*
*A curse can be invoked by disobedience to God's principles, commands and statutes, i.e. rebellion towards God and/or involvement in idolatry or the occult."

Freemasonry curses involve many of these facets.

Curses also come with words or oaths.  Curses are the observable out-workings of evil, negative patterns, in people's lives; in other words, the opposite of the blessings of God (Deut. 28).

As a curse is undone, all the demonic spirits associated with the curse needs to be commanded to leave.

Symptoms of Demonic Curse

Learn the effects of curses and signs of a curse on you!


Curses bring:

barrenness - not able to have children,
sickness - 80% of disease is caused by a curse
poverty - financial difficulties - never able to get ahead
defeat,
oppression and family breakdown - children on drugs, divorce, separation, etc.
accident-prone, and
many more examples

A person's life, for example, may have a history of disappointment and tragedy.  Marriages may be under constant strain.  There may be a recurrence of accidents and illnesses.  Cherished goals may not materialize, and the haunting sense of failure may be evident.  We may even struggle continually against an unidentifiable "something" that brings endless frustration or something blocking you and no matter how hard you try you feel like you hit a wall.  The cause is often a curse working.

A "legitimate" curse is when a person deliberately gives themselves to Satan and the power of darkness.  Legal rights are handed over.  Satan is empowered to act, and the curse takes effect.  It can only be broken when that handing over is revoked, and the covenant with Satan is specifically renounced.

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An "illegitimate" curse is when a person pronounces evil upon another person without their knowledge or consent.  The same thing can then apply.

Curses have to be broken in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazareth, our Curse Destroyer.

Christians need to know that our inheritance of freedom is not automatic.  It has to be appropriated.  Only then can we be released into the fullness of our blessing in Christ. 

Freemasonry curses of death and destruction can affect you and your family:


  • emotionally
  • mentally
  • spiritually
  • psychologically
  • physically
  • in career and employment
  • financially
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Category: Touch of God International Ministries, Traci Morin, Christian Healing and Deliverance Ministry, Breaking Generational Curses, breaking generational curses prayer, breaking generational curses & pulling down strongholds,

Teresa Morin
Touch of God International Ministries
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Monday, July 18, 2005

Confession and Deliverance from Occult Practices

CONFESSION AND DELIVERANCE FROM OCCULT PRACTICES


Are you sick in the body, have an incurable disease, or are plagued with evil spirits! We Teach in-depth bib­li­cal teach­ings of God’s Word, bib­li­cal insight into the med­ical (spiritual roots of disease) and demonic torment with com­pas­sion and love for the hurt­ing, sick and spir­i­tu­ally oppressed.

Deliverance from Occult Practices



Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You and RENOUNCE all sinful occult practices and idolatry of seeking information, knowledge, healing, comfort, identity, or power from any occult, psychic, or secret source.

I RENOUNCE ever reading books about the black arts, parapsychology, magic, and satanic rituals, including the Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses, the Satanic Bible, books on false religions, and other satanic books and writings.

I RENOUNCE all sins and practices of divination, including palm reading, fortune telling, tarot card reading, tea leaf reading, the crystal ball or crystal gazing, candle gazing, Ouija Board, ESP, telepathy, horoscopes, automatic handwriting or spirit writing, astrology, water divining, the rod, and pendulum.

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I RENOUNCE trance channeling, consulting familiar spirits, clairvoyance, communication with the dead, séances, consulting counselors from the spirit realm, consulting wizards, ascended masters, spirit guides, wise masters, fortune tellers, witches, shamans, mediums, or spiritists.

I RENOUNCE all demonic, occult, or psychic healing practices, including pow-wow healing, charming to heal, pendulum healing, magic healing, psychic healing, magnetism, or Mesmerism.

I RENOUNCE all use of occult power, casting spells or witchcraft, voodoo, black and white magic, Santeria, and other forms of local witchcraft.

I RENOUNCE magical or occult hypnosis, metaphysics or mind science, yoga, transcendental meditation, sorcery, astral projection and soul travel, table lifting or levitation, using pyramid power, mind control, amulets and charms, power crystals, and religious medals.

I renounce heavy metal music, satanic rock and black rock, and all demonic role-play games, such as Dungeons and Dragons.

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I RENOUNCE all secret oaths to pagan gods as part of initiation ceremonies into organizations, fraternities, sororities, and other organizations that practice these ceremonies.

I RENOUNCE being involved in or in contact with secret lodges or societies such as Free Masonry and their organizations, the Eastern Star, Rosicrucians, Edgar Cayce's teachings and readings, Erhard Seminars Training (EST), Scientology, Eastern mysticism, Spiritism, Christian Science, Jehovah's Witness, Mormonism, Unitarians, The Way, Unification Church, the New Age, and its practices or any religion or organization of an occult nature.

I RENOUNCE and REPENT of participating in any of these practices or organizations. I ask You, Father, to forgive and restore me, in Jesus' name. Amen.

At this point, stop, and the counselor will ask you to repent for occult involvement: Stop here and have the person's name and renounce each of the sins of occult practices or contact. You can anoint them and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to them any occult contact. Have them say, "I renounce (name the sins and occult practices), I repent and ask to be forgiven, in Jesus' name." Do this for each occult contact. Stay here until they have renounced all the sins of occult practices that they can remember. When they have repented of all the occult contacts, have them pray the following prayer.

Traci Morin, Touch of God International Ministries, a Christian Healing and Deliverance Ministry, Spiritual Warfare Prayers setting captives free from demonic torment, sickness, and disease.
Need Deliverance? Visit my website at https://www.touchofgod.org and schedule an appointment.

Renunciation of the paganism

RENUNCIATIONS OF THE PAGANISM


The renunciations and prayers that follow deal with ancient civilizations’ foundational idolatry and allegiance to other "gods which are not gods," as detailed in the Old Testament. The Scriptures have been used to compile these specific items and practices for confession and renunciations. Another source used for this purpose is an academic paper done by Gloria J. Wiese, entitled "A Study of the True Cosmic Mountain of Yahweh, with Emphasis on The Prophecies of Ezekiel."
It is strongly suggested that these renunciations be done in the presence of an informed counselor, therapist, or intercessor if there is any possibility that you are a survivor of Satanic Ritual Abuse and/or have been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

It is also suggested that you ask the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace, protection, and comfort necessary to allow you to read through and renounce the list that follows completely. Invite the LORD to bring up in you anything He wants explicitly addressed, according to his timing. Consider confessing these practices and sins on behalf of your forefathers and on behalf of any children and future generations.

Zephaniah 1
In the Name of the True LORD Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I renounce and denounce, at every level of my being;

Any worship of Baal and all "remnants of Baal." Micah 5:13 I ask your forgiveness, LORD, and covenant again that I worship only you, the One True God of Israel.
All names of the pagan and idolatrous priests in me or on me, and any other representative of any other "god", and their accompanying demons. I ask you to forgive me, LORD, and to wash me in the Blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I declare that your name, Jesus Christ, is what I will be known by.
All worship of the starry host, by any name. Please forgive me, LORD, and cleanse me of this idolatry.

The practice of bowing down to and swearing by the LORD Almighty, along with bowing down to and swearing by Molech. (See Zephaniah 1) Please have mercy upon me, LORD, and forgive me of this wicked practice. Please cleanse me and restore me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose to re-connect with any part still trapped in Molech worship, and please set me free so that I, as a whole person, can worship only you.

Turning back from following you, LORD, and the sin of not seeking or inquiring about you. Please forgive me for looking to my own wisdom, the instruction of others, or the influence of demons. Please cleanse me of this sin. Show me how to seek you and give me the courage to pursue you.

The foreign clothes of any pagan or idolatrous religion, affiliation, position, family, or anything else. Please forgive me for taking any pleasure or comfort in being the son or daughter of any earthly king. Please exchange the pagan clothes of any part of me with the holy garments of your family, LORD, and show me my position as a child of the LORD God Most High.

Being a builder of altars or one who sets up sacred stones or Asherah poles. Please forgive me for leading in these detestable practices, and wash me with Jesus’ blood. Show me how to be a builder for the Kingdom of Righteousness.

LORD, I desire to be of your faithful remnant, the remnant who has a genuine heart for you and is willing to do whatever it takes to purify the land of my heart. Please give me a heart of humility and repentance that only worships you. Please forgive me where I have joined the oppressors and in the times I had no remorse for doing the things that grieve you. Please cleanse me thoroughly and heal me completely. Purify my lips that I may call only on your holy name.

Ezekiel 13
In the Name of the True LORD Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I renounce and denounce, at every level of my being;

Any role in unrighteousness as a prophet or seer and any prophecy was given out of unholy imagination and foolish pride. I renounce any building of walls and any deceit or delusion to cover up those walls. I renounce the lie to others that their walls will stand and that there is "peace" when the LORD is not saying "peace." Please forgive me LORD for being a spokesperson for anyone but you, the Holy God of Heaven. Please wash me and have mercy upon me. Please allow me to reconnect with and set free any part of my humanity trapped in any wall so that I may experience the freedom You promise in Isaiah 61.

The use of magic charms or any other object, practice, or power for the ensnarement of any other person. I renounce the lies I have told, which have killed those who should have been spared and have spared those who should have been killed. Please forgive me, LORD, and cleanse me from all accompanying demonic power. Please give me words of life and truth to offer to others, and show your mercy, love, and justice through me.

The act of disheartening the righteous with lies and the encouragement of the wicked. I renounce the false visions and practice of divination to ensnare your people. Please forgive me and remove all unholy words. Please set your Word in my heart and in my mouth. Please give truth to all persons to whom I have ever lied.

Jeremiah 23
In the Name of the True LORD Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I renounce and denounce, at every level of my being;

The spiritual adultery of the words I have spoken as prophet or priest of wickedness while holding myself out to be a child of the Almighty God, Creator Yahweh. I repent of living this lie and strengthening the evildoers' hands so that no one turns from his wickedness. I renounce the ungodliness I have spread as I have spoken visions from my mind and not from the mouth of the LORD. I repent of not standing in your counsel to see and hear you. Please forgive me and show mercy to me. Please put only your words in my mouth and give me a new heart to be solely in allegiance to you, forsaking all other gods and visions and dreams.

II Kings 22, 23 & II Chronicles 34,35
In the Name of the True LORD Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I renounce and denounce, at every level of my being;

All articles were made for Baal, Asherah, and all the starry hosts. I ask God Most High to help me reconnect with all of my humanity trapped therein and then destroy these articles. I request forgiveness and cleansing for this sin against God Most High. Please have mercy upon me.

All pagan priest positions, shaman positions, appointments, and anointings were conferred upon me by my forefathers to burn incense to Baal, the sun and moon, the constellations, and all the starry hosts. I ask the LORD of Hosts for forgiveness and cleansing for this wicked practice against you. I declare that I will be only a King-Priest, as He claims, in the Kingdom of Yahweh.

All Asherah poles and those demons appointed to guard them. I ask you, LORD, to remove any of my humanity therein, destroy the Asherahs and the demons, and help me reconnect with all parts of my humanity that have been caught in worshiping the Asherah poles. Please cleanse and forgive me of my worship of and participation with them.

All places were used for prostitution, though it is in the temple of the LORD, and all places were used for the weaving for Asherah. I ask you,, LORD,, to remove all demonic forces and to cleanse each place. I dedicate these places to be for your holy use. May each part of my humanity functioning as a prostitute or a weaver be rescued, shown truth, and healed. Please help me to reconnect with these parts of my humanity. Please forgive me of these sins against you and cleanse me.

According to Yahweh, all places are dedicated to and reserved for incense burning for gods who are not gods. I renounce all places dedicated to and reserved for use as shrines to any wicked god. LORD, please replace all demonic guards and empowerments with your holy Presence. Please forgive me for participating in this sin and cleanse me from this wickedness.

All places in me called Topheth, or the Valley of Ben Hinhom, or the Valley of Gehenna, or the Valley of Slaughter were used for the sacrifice of children to the fires of Molech. I renounce the spirit of death, the spirit of Molech, and the spirit of unholy fire. LORD, will you mercifully remove these spirits from every part of me and wash me of this terrible wickedness. Please forgive me and apply the Blood of Jesus Christ to my heart.

All objects, actual and phenomenological, are dedicated to the sun, especially those placed at the temple's entrance. I renounce the horses and chariots and all the accompanying power and meanings that were placed there by the kings of the earth or by anyone claiming to represent the True LORD Jesus Christ.

All altars perceived to be in my systems, above my systems, above my view in the heavenly, or in the dimensions that have been built in me, around me, for me, or on me by the kings of the earth, or by anyone claiming to represent the True LORD Jesus. I also renounce and denounce any and all altars set up in my Christian heart to profane the holy or for any other purpose. Please remove any part of my humanity from these altars, and then please destroy them, LORD. Please forgive me and cleanse me for my participation with these altars. Please fill me with your holy Presence.

All places within me were designated as high places, especially the Hill of Corruption. I renounce and denounce the vile goddess, Ashtoreth, the despicable god of Moab, Chemosh, and the detestable god of Ammon, Molech. I ask you to remove these spirits, LORD, forgive, cleanse, and fill me with your Spirit.

All sacred stones and their meanings, assignments, and accompanying demonic power. I repent of any use of the unholy "sacred" stones. Please forgive me, cleanse me, and take me out of these demonic constructs.

All places in me, with any accompanying altar, called Bethel, or "House of God." I ask you to rescue any of my humanity from these places and set me free. Please remove all demonic power around these places. Please forgive me for mixing the holy with the unholy. I ask you to inhabit all these places now.

All medium or spiritist positions held and their attendant demons. I renounce all "household gods", idols, or any other detestable thing and their attendant demons. LORD, please forgive and cleanse me.

LORD, please destroy and remove these "gods which are not gods" from within me. Please help me recognize your command to turn my whole self to you and live my life before you with all my heart, soul, and strength according to your laws.

Let me celebrate the True LORD Jesus, the True Lamb of the Passover—Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the ONLY One to whom I will honor, worship, loyalty, allegiance, and love. O LORD, keep me clean.

Pride renunciations
Isaiah 25: 11,b, 12
In the Name of the True Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I renounce and denounce, at every level of my being:

...I renounce all pride- spiritual, fleshly, intellectual, and otherwise, brought about by the cleverness of my own hands or thoughts. I renounce the high-fortified walls and ask you to bring them low, even down to the very dust of the ground. I repent of building these walls and of the pride that built them against you, O LORD. I ask you to forgive me, O God, wash me of the pride, and help me seek humility. Please allow me to reconnect with any parts of my humanity trapped in these walls or cloaked in pride. Please show forth the beauty of humility by the light of the face of the True LORD Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 14
In the Name of the True Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I renounce and denounce, at every level of my being:

Any ascendancy to any throne on any sacred mountain or to a place above the stars of God or above the tops of the clouds. I renounce the wicked and haughty pride I believed entitled me to do such things. I renounce the receiving of the spirit of pride through any means, any bloodline, any ritual, any torture, or by the receiving of any symbol of it. I renounce Satan, the author of pride, and all his demonic emissaries who embody and advocate it. I submit myself fully to the True and Sovereign King of Heaven, the True LORD Jesus Christ, and prostrate myself before him. Faithful LORD, I ask that you forgive me of all wicked pride and forgive me for attempting to ascend over you. Please wash, cleanse, and put a new spirit within me: a spirit of humility and righteousness. Please free any of my humanity from within any throne, from the heavens, or from any symbol of pride. Please take from me all representations of pride and seal me with the blood of the True LORD Jesus Christ.

In the name of the True Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I renounce and denounce, at every level of my being:

Any pride at being forced to do penance for the sins of Satan. I renounce any way that I have been clothed with the slain in place of satan in any ritual, Is. 14:19. I ask you to forgive me, O God, and wash me of the blood of the slain, and help me to reconnect with any parts of my humanity trapped in this ritual. Please free me from believing I must pay for anyone’s sin, In the Name of the True Lord Jesus Christ.

Renunciation of Nimrod

In the Name of the True LORD Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I renounce and denounce, at every level of my being:

All connection to King Nimrod and his spirit. I renounce and lay down before you, LORD Jesus, all love for, loyalty to, affection for, and marriage bonds with Nimrod and his spirit. I renounce all bloodlines emanating from Nimrod and all accompanying generational spirits. I renounce the spirits of scientific and intellectual pride and haughtiness. I renounce the role of "hunting down men" to snare their minds and intellects. I ask for all unholy bonds with those I have snared to be cut off now, in the Name of Jesus Christ, and I request that you free their minds and intellects to see You, LORD, and to know their need for You. I renounce and denounce all pursuits for ascendancy over the Highest through any means, primarily through building towers like that of Babel. I renounce using any and all languages to confound anything that the LORD Most High says is simple.

I humbly bow and ask for your forgiveness in the Name of the True LORD Jesus Christ. I repent from all of these unholy activities, from any connection to Nimrod, or from the pursuit of men for unholy purposes. I place in your hands any and all symbols or objects given to me to represent Nimrod, any relationship with him, or any of his power that was assigned to me. Please forgive me, LORD, and wash me from all ungodliness. Please free any part of my humanity from any construct or lie concerning these wicked things. Set me free to praise You and lead men to the Truth found only in You.

A Study of the True Cosmic Mountain of Yahweh…

In the Name of the True LORD Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I renounce and denounce, at every level of my being;

All physical, spiritual, and cosmic connections with all so-called sacred sites, or mountains, all ziggurats, pyramids, high places, and specifically, Mount Zaphon and the center of the world. I ask for forgiveness for participation in any rituals, sacrifices, desecrations, or worship at any of these sites, whether spiritually or physically. I request you, LORD, to cleanse me from these acts and any demonic power gained at these sites. Please rescue any of my humanity trapped therein and bring them out with the truth of your Word.

All pursuits of becoming a god, demi-god, or "becoming one" with any god. I give you any title, position, power, clothing, or entitlement received while in this pursuit. I ask you to forgive me and cleanse me from these acts.

All access to travel to or through the occupying of, or use of "portals" to the gods or heavens in connection with so-called sacred sites. Please remove all demonic guards, gatekeepers, or escorts around and in these portals. Please rescue any parts of my humanity that may be trapped within. I ask your forgiveness for these acts outside your plan for my life. I ask you to cleanse me with the blood of the Lamb, Jesus.

The spiritual "stargate," the fourth Dimension, cosmic zones, the "Zone of absolute reality," or any other dimension. I ask your forgiveness for my participation in seeking and traveling to or through these portals and planes. Please allow me to reconnect any part of my humanity trapped in these places.

Any penetration into cosmic levels, spiritual or cosmic "ascent," and contact with the starry hosts. I renounce all so-called "divinity" achieved by this attempted approach to "gods, which are not gods." I renounce all unholy sexual interaction, all spiritual and intellectual communions, and all worship in cosmic realms. I reject all unholy ritual marriage and any status of deity obtained thereby. Please forgive me and wash me of all bonds and demonic power. I offer to you any identity, status, or position obtained. Please cleanse me, LORD, and sanctify me by your Name.

All sanctuaries in any ziggurat—the one at the top, the one at the bottom, and the staircase. I ask for your forgiveness, LORD, for participating in these spiritual places of satanic worship and treading upon this ground. Please remove all demonic power connected with these places and that which was deposited in me. Please allow me to reconnect with any of my humanity trapped in the ziggurat or in any mirror images. Please wash off the wickedness of these places.

The spiritual union of my human spirit with the spirit of Osiris and Isis for the formation of the spirit of Horus. I renounce their singular and joint power, the all-seeing eye, the eye’s place in me, and all of the plans for the future that utilize Horus’ power. I renounce the pyramid and all its power. I ask you, Heavenly Father, for forgiveness for the activity in and around it. Please wash me of all the thrones, guards, connections, and demonic power. Please allow me to reconnect with and set free any of my humanity trapped in any pyramid, especially in the pyramid on top of the pyramid in the heavenly. Please remove the lies and set me free.

All connections to and assignments for Baal-Zaphon, the residence of Baal. I renounce and extinguish by Jesus’ blood all power I hold to bring about Baal’s re-birth and re-building of his temple on Mount Zaphon or in the heavenly. I renounce any role as a warrior towards these ends or as a follower of Baal at any level, in any role. Please forgive me, LORD, and wash away that which is unholy. Please allow me to reconnect with any of my humanity trapped in Mount Zaphon in Baal’s temple, or in any other construct related to Baal.

Any and all sexual fertility rituals for the purpose of power for the bringing in of Baal’s re-birth or temple or of satan in any form. I renounce the performance of these rituals in pursuing Baal’s "blessing" in any form. I ask for your forgiveness, LORD, for the uncleanness and violation of your holy laws. Please forgive me and wash me of all I have touched and all that has touched me. Please allow me to reconnect with and set free any part of my humanity trapped in any ritual, sexual frenzy, or orgasm.

All allegiances formed and powers received through death-ritual covenants. I hereby extinguish, with Jesus’ blood, all "passages," "risings," resurrections, and "ascensions" to the heavenly and otherwise. I ask you,, LORD,, to forgive me for interacting on this plane and that you would wash me of any powers received. Please break off that which came with the allegiances sworn. Please allow me to reconnect with any of my humanity trapped in these rituals, covenants, and planes and set them free to see the truth.

LORD, you have heard my confessions and renunciations of all contained herein. Again, I ask you to cleanse me from all that is defiled, reunite me with yourself through Jesus Christ, and transform me spiritually at every level of my being. I ask that you will mercifully teach me your laws and give me the power of the Holy Spirit to obey you. May I go only to your throne and your holy mountain (Mt. Zion, Heb. 12:22 worship you and you alone and to hear the decrees you issue. God’s decrees are found only in His Word (Psalms 119). Please give me an undivided heart so I may fear your name, praise you, and enjoy you forever. Amen.

by: Traci Morin

Renunciation of Jehovah Witness

How To Pray Effectively For Jehovah's Witnesses To Come to the Truth

Renunciation prayers for breaking the bondage of Jehovah's Witness


The first matter to understand is that the battle is spiritual. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (your relative/friend) but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places." We are not fighting your loved one. They are in spiritual bondage. 

We are going to deal with the demonic spirits that blind and deafen them to the truth of the Gospel of God and which prevent them from responding to Him. Make sure there is no unconfessed sin in your life. If so, put it right with God and, if possible, with anyone else involved. Know your authority in Christ to overcome all the power of the evil one. "I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions (demons) and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:19-20). If possible, ask another Christian believer to agree with you in prayer. "...If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven," (Matthew 18:19). What if you are alone, and have no one to agree with you? 

Lorri MacGregor (a former cult member who now heads up a Christian ministry to reach people in cults) recommends that you ask Jesus to agree with you. Then pray to God in the name of the Saviour Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit directs you. Bind the principal demonic strongman, "The Spirit of Watchtower Deception," in the name of Jesus Christ. "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven..." (Matthew 18:18).

Other demonic spirits that need to be bound include Antichrist, Unbelief, Error, False Doctrine, Confusion, Legalism, Hardness, Harshness, Guilt, Fear of Watchtower Authorities, Fear of Armageddon, etc. (Ask the Holy Spirit for the names or effects caused by these and other demonic spirits, and how to cut off their influence on your loved one.)

Ask God to release and lose your relative/friend from these demonic spirits and all others that control them. "...Whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18). Ask the Lord to release your loved one's emotions, which have been held in fear and bondage for so long. The Holy Spirit will do this gently and lovingly so that people understand who they are and how much Jesus loves them. Ask the Lord to fill your loved one with His precious Holy Spirit. Be assured that God is now at work in their lives to release them from their bondage. Pray for their salvation in faith. If the person is a family member, God's promise to you is to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31).

If they are not a family member, God provides another promise for you to appropriate in prayer for them. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise... but is long-suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9), and "God our Saviour... desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth," (1 Timothy, 2:4). God's Word is plain; He doesn't want your relative/friend in the Watchtower Society to perish, to be wiped out at Armageddon, or on Judgment Day. God wants them saved, and we have a commission from Him to do the job in prayer and to find out how to share Jesus with them effectively.

Keep on praying in faith for your loved one. Experience shows that perseverance produces the best results, so keep going if there are no positive signs for a while. Ask the Lord to make His word alive to them, to show them the truth, even from the corrupted New World (mis) Translation.

In the very second Witness, "Bible Lesson," people are taught that the Devil will try to oppose their study of the Bible with them. When family and friends discover what the person is doing with the Witnesses, most people usually know it is wrong, even if they don't know why. If you jump up and down loudly condemning the Watchtower as cultic, the Witnesses will have been proved right, and your family member/friend will be confirming this in their minds. You will be known as an "Opposer" and will have lost your right to speak on matters of religion, etc., to your friend. It is highly likely you will be cut off, as though you were dead, and never permitted to communicate with them again.

Try hard not to make statements such as "Leave the Watchtower alone. They will screw your mind up" (even if it is true). Instead, try asking gentle questions so they think they are teaching you. They are being programmed not to listen to "criticism." For example, the material in this booklet is "Apostate," and because of the increasing mind-control used, your friend will soon know they are not permitted to read it. Trying to make them will only succeed in cutting you off as a friend. If you force them to choose between you and the Watchtower, or even the Bible and the Watchtower, they will almost always choose the Watchtower.

It is essential to prevent people from studying with the Witnesses in the first place because getting people out can take years and much heartache. Seek expert help as early as possible whenever a close friend or family member is interested in the Witnesses. Pray for God's wisdom, which He gives to those who seek Him. I was told by a former Witness they would never have joined the Watchtower if they had been shown this booklet early enough.

Prayer of Renunciation


Suppose you have ever held Bible studies with Witnesses, attended a Kingdom Hall, been baptized by the Watchtower Society, etc. In that case, you will need to repent of these involvements before God, ask His forgiveness, plead guilty without excuse, then "...Confess with your mouth (out loud) that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead," (Romans 10:9). Then ask Jesus to come in and become Lord of your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to come and fill you, removing all traces of the deceptions of the Watchtower, to help you understand the Bible the way God wrote it, and to help you build up your relationship with Jesus every day.

In the name of Jesus Christ, bind the spirits listed above and cut them off from you and your family. If you have difficulty doing this, please contact the ministries listed below or a competent Christian leader near you to assist in your liberation from deception.

Find Bible-believing Christians and spend time with them. Please explain to them you are coming out of deception and need their encouragement and support, at least until you are firmly on your feet. If some disappoint you (probably through not understanding your need), don't be put off, for there are caring Christians around who can and will help.

Letter of Resignation


If you have ever become a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses (Watchtower Bible & Tract Society) or been baptized by them, it is essential that you send a letter of resignation and cut off the spiritual ties that you had brought on yourself and your family. I suggest you mail your letter to the national office of your country and a copy to the world headquarters. You could also send a copy to your local Kingdom Hall elders. They also need to know about the honest Jesus Christ.

Please use your own words in your letter. You may care to mention you have discovered that Jesus is Jehovah God, that you are now sure of your salvation, and that the Watchtower Society and publications had misled you because they contained false prophecies and doctrines. You can no longer accept the polytheism the Watchtower teaches.

This prayer is taken from: "Unmasking The Watchtower - Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses?" by Selwyn Stevens (ISBN 0 9583417-9-6), published by Jubilee Publishers, PO Box 36-044, Wellington 6330, New Zealand.

Traci Morin, President of

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Labrinth History

Enter the labyrinth and Learn the History

Labrinth History

Is it godly or not!


Walking the labyrinth has become a popular spiritual exercise nationwide and worldwide. I first read of it in Leadership Magazine, a Christian publication, and became a bit concerned since looking into it further, I’m definitely concerned.

Labyrinths are said to have been used for over 3000-3500 years (depending on who you ask); accurate dating has been difficult. We are told by those who promote their use that Labyrinths are ancient and have been a part of the sacred landscape throughout human history. Those who use the labyrinth describe it as a pattern with power and a purpose. They are called “divine imprints,” symbolizing an archetype of wholeness. The Labyrinth is said to encourage healing, clarity, and peacefulness. There are claims of profound experiences as they affect the people who use them by connecting them with the deepest part of themselves. Labyrinths can often have a particular “specialty” in healing, improving one's health, or alleviating symptoms of certain diseases.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia--, a Labyrinth is a complicated arrangement of paths and passages or a place, usually subterraneous, full of windings, corridors, rooms, etc., so intricately arranged as to render the getting out of it a complicated matter.

The Romans adopted the symbols as a floor pattern. In modern times, the labyrinth can be traced to the Middle Ages Catholic cathedrals. In European cathedrals, they were traditionally used as sites of pilgrimage. In her research, a promoter and authority on the modern Labyrinth, Rev. Artress, states that 22 Labyrinths in the 80 Gothic cathedrals went up during the Middle Ages throughout Europe. Some of them were pilgrimage cathedrals. Chartres was one of the significant pilgrimage cathedrals. Early Christians vowed to visit the Holy City of Jerusalem at some point. During the Middle Ages, the Crusades made travel to Palestine unsafe, so they used other means to honor their commitment.

Labyrinths were used as a substitute pilgrimage experience for the holy land. Adopted by the Roman Catholic Church, labyrinths were offered to the congregation as a way of fulfilling their vow to visit the holy land, and they nicknamed it “New Jerusalem.” Using it as a symbol, Christians made their pilgrimages to the cathedral cities of Chartres, Rheims, or Amiens. Geometrical designs were composed of various pieces of colored marble set on the floors of the European Cathedrals. In Chartres Cathedral in France, an intricate 40-foot diameter labyrinth of tile is embedded in the floor of the central area of the church. “With an emphasis on rationalism in the 16th and 17th centuries, however, labyrinths fell out of favor and were looked upon as child's play or distractions. As a result, many were torn out of the cathedrals. Chartres survived, but they were covered with chairs for a time so they could not be walked on. Indeed, until recently, the cathedral was better known for its stained-glass windows than for the labyrinth on its floor.” (Scripps Howard News Service)

http://www.reporternews.com/1999/religion/lab0918.html

However, its use is not just found in middle age cathedrals; we see that Labyrinths originated from pre-Christian days. We need to pay attention to what they were used for before the Roman Catholic Church adopted it for their contemplation and pilgrimage substitute to the Holy Land.

Labyrinths predate Christianity by over 1,000 years, according to an article posted on the Web site of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, “Pathfinders: Walking Medieval Labyrinths in a Modern World.” The purpose of this article is to make Christians aware that Labyrinths are not in any shape or form a Christian practice.

Because they are ancient, various interpretations of the Labyrinths of today may not agree with the same concept of the Labyrinths in ancient times. They did not mean the same to all the cultures and religions that built them since these cultures have various concepts of life and religion.

Yet many feel there is a common origin of the Labyrinth because they are found in many countries and the major religious traditions in the world: India, France, Egypt, Scandinavia, Crete, Sumeria, America, the British Isles, and Italy.

There is evidence of the existence of labyrinths that can be traced back as far as 3500 years. The labyrinth as a symbol has been found in Europe and around the Mediterranean. Many labyrinth carvings are seen on boulders, tombs, and religious buildings (on cathedral pavements). Many clay tablets, mosaics, manuscripts, stone patterns, hedges, patterns woven into baskets and fabrics, and pottery fragments throughout Europe bear the same motif. They are also found carved in rock from the mountains in Arizona to caves in Spain. A Labyrinth-inscribed clay tablet from Pylos, Greece, could be one of the earliest examples (approximately 3200 years old). Some equate the Mayan pyramids and Celtic and Stonehenge as magical geometric forms that define sacred space. Prehistoric labyrinths have also been found carved on rock faces at Pontevedra, Spain and at Val Camonica in northern Italy, these latter ones are attributed to the late Bronze Age. The Rocky Valley labyrinths in Cornwall, England, are supposed to be from the Bronze Age. The labyrinth is found etched into the sands of the Nazca Plain in Peru, in use among the Caduveo people of Brazil, and scratched on boulders and rockfaces in Northern Mexico, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Because various cultures have built labyrinths around the earth, some claim they represent a universal pattern in human consciousness. Native Americans had them, and continue to be used in the sacred ceremonies of the Hopi. The Hopi Indians called the labyrinth the symbol for “mother earth” and equated it with the Kiva (called it Tapu'at, or Mother-child.)

As an architectural term, the Labyrinth derives its name from the famous ancient or mythical labyrinths of Crete and Egypt. The most renowned labyrinth from ancient times was the Cretan one, associated with the legend of the Minotaur, the monster half-man half-bull that dwelt in the heart of a maze on the island of Crete. It was at the center of the Labyrinth that the Minotaur devoured unsuspecting humans.

Theseus was able to get to the center of the Labyrinth, slay the Minotaur with the aid of Ariadne and her spool of thread, and find his way out again by following the thread he had trailed behind him on the way in. Some say this story has caused confusion because clearly, the Minotaur's lair was a maze you could get lost in, whereas a Labyrinth has only one twisting path that weaves its way to the center and back out again. There is only one entrance and exit, no dead ends, and no crossing of paths with a choice of which way to turn.

Turf labyrinths still exist in England, Germany, and Scandinavia; these are thought to be linked with local feminine deities and fertility rituals.

The labyrinth originates in ancient pagan rituals, most famously at Knossos in ancient Crete, where one was in the basement of a palace where the mythic man-eating Minotaur was said to roam. According to ancient lore, the hero Theseus journeyed through the labyrinth to slay the evil Minotaur. Theseus' doubled-headed ax was called a 'labrys,' from which the word labyrinth was derived. Ceremonies re-enacting this myth as a ritual labyrinth walk are still performed today. Other labyrinths have been tied to fertility rites and goddess worship (M. Tooley, September 2000). Modern disciples of the labyrinth propose that ancient Christians used the labyrinth as a means of spiritual meditation. Scholars insist there is no evidence of Christians' labyrinth walking (M. Tooley, September 2000, Maze Craze. http://www.touchstonemag.com/ ).

So, if these were practiced by other religions and cultures that are of a non-Christian origin, what kind of value would they have to offer a Christian who is supposed to have all that he needs in Jesus Christ according to the Scripture?

This design is put into smaller patterns that are a thought spiritual practice. The labyrinth patterns are similar in design and conception to the mandalas of South Asian Buddhism, which are supposed to be physical representations of the spiritual realm designed to aid meditation. Mandala means - circle: a circular design used to focus on and bring one into a meditative state. We are told that true meditation occurs when the physical brain has been calmed or neutralized; a mantra or a mandala is used to bring calmness so the mind is freed and can discover new truths it usually was not open to find.

Labyrinths have become so popular that a Labyrinth Society based in Connecticut is a national network of labyrinth users. We are told an estimated 1,000 labyrinths are created across America, including the Grace Cathedral Labyrinth Project, the St. Louis Labyrinth Project, the St. Charles Episcopal Church Labyrinth, and the Labyrinth Project of Alabama.

The foremost promoters of it are Jean Housten http://www.JeanHouston.org/ and http://www.gracecom.org/veriditas/index.shtml Grace Episcopal Cathedral. 

Dr. Jean Houston is the past president of the Association for Humanistic Psychology and is one of North America's premiere New Age promoters and speakers. Jean Houston called The Starseed Transmissions, channeled by “Raphael” through Ken Carey” “perhaps the finest example of `channeled knowledge' I ever encountered.” She states, “The very best way and perhaps for the present the only way [of contact with these entitles] is within the context of an altered state of consciousness” (Robert Masters and Jean Houston). One cannot underestimate the connection between her influence on Artress and her bringing the Labyrinth to Grace Cathedral, open to New Age concepts.

One of the significant initiators in reviving the labyrinth in our time is Rev. Lauren Artress. After meeting Jean Houston, Rev. Artress brought the form back to the Grace Cathedral of San Francisco, CA, in 1992. Over one million people have walked this labyrinth to date. People from all different backgrounds and religions are using it. Jews, Buddhists, and even Christians use the institute's labyrinth. If one visits Grace Cathedrals website, one find it to be inclusive, they offer every conceivable item, from New Age holistic to interfaith to the Koran. They are churches that do not hold the Christian distinctive at all.

A labyrinth is unicursal - this means there is one open, unobstructed path the walker follows into the center and back out again. A labyrinth has only one path leading to the center and back out again with no dead-ends. Three basic designs are being used--the seven-circuit, eleven-circuit, and twelve-circuit; the seven-circuit is today's most common design. It is described as you roam back and forth, turning 180 degrees each time you enter a different circuit. As you change your direction, your awareness changes from the right brain to the left brain. They are right-brain activity enhancers. So, the claim is that the labyrinth can induce different states of consciousness. Others say It also helps balance the charkas, spiritual energy centers described in Hinduism. From statements like these, one would think it’s about getting as close to God as possible. Lauren Artress writes, “The path that guides us deeply into the psychological and spiritual center is the same path that takes us back to the manifest physical world. In this way, it is interpreted as a personal, psychological, and spiritual transformation tool. Archetypes that help us group the experience of unity and wholeness. The labyrinth is an archetype of wholeness that helps us rediscover the depths of our souls.”

They are in many sizes and shapes and are made from just about any natural material. They are built permanently from stones, cut into turf, formed by mounds of earth, or embedded designs on the floor of buildings.

pictures of Labyrinths- http://www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth/interactions/labyrinth.shtmlToday
Pictures of people walking the labyrinth- http://www.sacredsteps.com/walks.html

We are told that the labyrinth is a valuable tool to people of all religions or no religion. Each person's walk can be interpreted differently by the same individual. From some of my quotes, one can assume life is one enormous labyrinth. This experiential walk is spiritualized to have meaning. “We are not human beings on a spiritual path, but spiritual beings on a human path” (Labyrinth, Walking a Sacred Path Reverend Lauren Artress). Labyrinths are used for reflection, meditation, and prayer, with various interpretations of what these mean. Some see it as a metaphor for the path of life, a journey to God. Some ask for forgiveness on the way in and empowerment on the way out. The participant can ascribe their own spiritual meaning to this ritual walk, the theory is that by walking the labyrinth one partakes of a spiritual journey of self -examination and enlightenment. What happens to everyone may not all be the same, but many claim to receive a spiritual transformation.

R. White writes, “Walking the labyrinth supposedly promotes spiritual awakening and deeper inner knowledge. Followers testify to arousal of feelings (good and bad), renewed creativity, brain re-mapping, and energy production. Labyrinths have taken their place next to sacred circle dances and sweet-grass ceremonies taught as rediscovered ancient practices to enhance spiritual growth”(White, R. Aug. 15, 2000. Walking the Labyrinth: New Age Fad or Traditional Technique? http://www.christianweek.org/).

What are labyrinths used for? The explanations come from those using them. The Rev. Sarah Bentley of New Life Institute, a center for counseling, education, and spiritual growth related to the Austin-area United Methodist churches, said she introduces labyrinths to people as a form of meditation. They are training the participant in a walking meditation.

Meditation is the process of quieting the mind; various methods can change consciousness so that you still your mind and you become uncontrolled conscious. Meditation is a spiritual practice of many Eastern religions. We are told that by clearing a space within the mind and allowing yourself to experience whatever emotions or thoughts surface during your walk, you come out with a labyrinth experience. Your questions can be answered. 

While they walk, people ask questions such as when, what, or where about their lives and find it answered. Many others testify that when you reach the center, you find self, answers, illumination, God, Goddess, and just about anything else. As they walk, meditate and pray healing can occur.An example is: “When word got around the close-knit labyrinth community, two bodyworkers-proficient in reiki, the art of healing immediately came to help.” “I was in a lot of pain because I landed hard.” she says. “But I actually experienced the pain moving right out my body. It was a phenomenal experience” (Quote from Theater of Enlightenment By Colleen O'Connor)

Stories of angels or spirits are familiar as well. Renee Gibbons, a long-time labyrinth walker, relates the story of her first experience on the labyrinth: “When I got to the center of the labyrinth, I got a powerful message that said 'send an angel to your sister Fiona.' My sister Fiona had not spoken to me for four or five years then.” After sending a gift to her sister, she waited. Although a miraculous new relationship did not develop, she says, “I saw that a lot of my resentments dropped when I did that.”

New agers and those mystically inclined are especially attracted to this subjective experience. One said to ask your deity of choice or your higher self to walk with you. Some go as far as to state that self-realization can occur, where you discover the divine within us all, bridging the separation of us from our own truth from the Creator. “In every culture, ideas promise spirituality to the seeker. Sometimes couched as finding the god or goddess within. Artress describes the labyrinth as a large, complex spiral circle that is an ancient symbol for the divine mother, the God within, the goddess, the holy in all creation.” (Artress, L. 1995 Walking A Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool.)

Many have various ways to explain the Labyrinth. Artress may not be pouring her own interpretation into this as we find the Labyrinth was used in ancient pagan cultures. In Dr. Lauren Artress’ book about the labyrinth, “Walking a Sacred Path,” she states, “The web of creation has been thrown out of balance.” So they see it as a pathway to gain a connection with the Earth Mother, uniting with all her creatures and absorbing the energies that help bring balance. Despite these New Age concepts being used, it may not be so far from the truth of how it was originally used.

“The labyrinth awaits our discovery, for it will guide us through the troubles of our lives to the grand, mysterious patterns that shape the web of Creation. It will lead us toward the Source and eventually guide us home” (Lauren Artress, Author of Walking a Sacred Path).

“The space and the experience of walking it become powerful and help one feel a greater sense of Oneness. It is a tool for people of all beliefs to come together for a common spiritual experience.” From the new age outlook: We are told these are sacred places. There is power incorporated in the design. The Labyrinth “Is truly a tool for transformation, a crucible for change, a blueprint for the sacred meeting of the psyche and the soul, a field of light, a cosmic dance, it is a center for empowering ritual.” (Lauren Artress)

It becomes apparent that although this is taking place inside some churches, it really is a non-Christian practice. Many new Agers claim they are not into religion but practice spirituality. With these types of descriptions, one may wonder what this has to do with Christianity? The answer is Nothing.

They attribute huge responsibility to the creation of man. “Perhaps the labyrinth will continue to be the great bridge between people - crossing the abyss we create with our own prejudices and fears. And perhaps one day the labyrinth will bring us all back to the place of our original innocence.” (http://www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth/articles/visions/index.shtml) In Biblical terms, original innocence would mean before Adam and Eve's sin. With all these wonderful statements, one would think they found some secret way to solve almost all of mankind's problems.

“For many, the labyrinth has become a Grail, meaning that it meets people where they are and gives them what they need for spiritual transformation. My passion for this work has always been to birth the creativity in all people”(Lauren Artress http://www.veriditas.net/circle/index.htm).

Before the year 2000, Artress' goal was to have 1,500 labyrinths established in time for the new millennium, and he is hoping to have people walking simultaneously on them at the millennial turn to bring peace and healing to the planet. http://www.reporternews.com/1999/religion/lab0918.html

If we are to believe all these claims of healing and transformation maybe we could get terrorists to walk through it, this may bring them an attitude adjustment. If everyone could walk a Labyrinth, New Agers would no longer have to visualize world peace. Unfortunately, we cannot just walk for peace to take place.

Artress states in the Zions Herald interview, “And then it gets called “New Age.” I look at the definition of “New Age” with great interest because they couldn’t be further wrong. It’s just their ignorance. If you’re going to say anything, better say “Middle Age.” The labyrinth was put in Chartres Cathedral in 1201!”

Unfortunately she seems to equate new age with something modern and not ancient, as we have already seen, the labyrinth is ancient and used by other religions besides being adopted into some churches in the middle ages.

Most trace the modern resurgence of labyrinths to Lauren Artess. If she is the authority on it and brought it to the church, then we should listen carefully to what she is saying to see if it is a true spiritual practice.

Lauren was aware of labyrinths as a child. During her visit to Chartres in 1991, she talked to Jean Huston, worked with her, and went through a maze. Then she went home and said, “Wow, something important happened there.” I remember walking around the room yelling, “What is it?” And then the idea came throughput the labyrinth in the cathedral.” (Zions Herald interview with Lauren Artress). In 1996, Artress created Veriditas, a non-profit dedicated to introducing people to the healing, meditative powers of the labyrinth.

Artress says, “You walk to the center of the labyrinth, and there at the center, you meet the Divine.” (Lauren Artress, “Q and A with Lauren,” Veriditas, Vol. 1, no. 2, Summer 1996, p. 18) She explains that: “The labyrinth is a large, complex spiral circle which is an ancient symbol for the Divine Mother, the God within, the Goddess, the Holy in all of creation,” she wrote. “For many of us, the feminine aspect of the Divine has been painfully absent from our lives, our spirituality, and our Western culture.” (Rev. Lauren Artress)

The Bible has nothing to say about a feminine aspect of the divine mother, a Goddess, so this shows this cannot be related to Christianity but paganism.

She describes her discovery of the labyrinth as one of the “most astonishing events of my life.” For her, the labyrinth is a “spiritual tool meant to awaken us to the deep rhythm that unites us to ourselves and to the Light that calls from within.” Veriditas promotes walking through the labyrinth as a way of discovery, finding healing, self-knowledge, and continuing to weave the Universal Web of Creation.” 

An important fact to know is that geomancy and other occult arts are often incorporated into building labyrinths. Charles Gilchrist, a labyrinth promoter, states it is directly connected to “Sacred Geometry,” a potent potential as an oracle. And there are other “oracle systems” that are related to Sacred Geometry, Astrology, Numerology, I Ching, Rune Stones, and the Tarot.“Veriditas is a non-profit organization that has grown up around the labyrinths at Grace Cathedral. They are dedicated to teaching people this spiritual tool's history, use, and potential. Veriditas Project founder Lauren Artress promotes the labyrinth to connect with the divine feminine, the god within.” (Penn, September 1999 The New Age movement in the Episcopal Church).

In Leadership Magazine a christian publication it was written “Graceland artists recreated the Labyrinth with a kit we purchased” [the Prayer Path Group Publishing, $79.99] (reference in Leadership Magazine p.38, 2002). Dan Kimball wrote the article, “It was a joy to see so many people on their knees communing with God through the experiential prayer elements.” In this article, the author mentions how they found themselves at the center of the Labyrinth, where they sat on cushions and were given communion elements as the narrator read scripture telling them how near Jesus is. How unfortunate that they thought doing this made the experience a Christian one. (Dan Kimball pastors Graceland, a postmodern worship service at Santa Cruz Bible Church in Santa Cruz, California)

The Reverend Alan Jones, Dean of Grace Cathedral, states, “The Grace Cathedral Labyrinth Project is committed to addressing the spiritual hunger of our times.” Lauren Artress still travels with the original canvas labyrinth she designed in 1991 to workshops and conferences around the globe to share the message of this ancient tool of healing and transformation. Lauren Artress and the others at Veriditas hope it will become a more common aspect of society in the 21st century through spiritual tools like the Labyrinth. “Body, nature, and a sense of place-the Theater of Enlightenment is rich with these three elements, which experts say are essential to global transformation in the 21st century.” (Quote from Theater of Enlightenment By Colleen O'Connor)

This is a New Age observance with practices for global transformation, which has a long history of being the goal of the New Age movement.

http://www.religionnews.com/press02/0321_1.html March 11, 2002 The World-Wide Labyrinth Project featured three people.

Chartres, France - In 1999, The Reverend Canon Lauren Artress established “Let Us Walk With Mary,” a unique and enlightening program for pilgrims seeking spiritual growth.
China Galland - Long-time student of Buddhism and Christianity, teacher, and author of “The Bond Between Women: A Journey to Fierce Compassion,” “Tara and the Black Madonna,” and “Women in the Wilderness”

The Very Rev. Alan Jones - Dean of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, and author of “The Soul's Journey: Exploring the Three Passages of Spiritual Life with Dante as a Guide,” “Exploring Spiritual Direction,” and “Passion for Pilgrimage.”

Chartres Cathedral is the only cathedral built fully for Mary. When The Rev. Lauren Artress reopened the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral, she emphasized that it would be in the name of Mary. Promoting the Divine Feminine, as found in “Walking a Sacred Path.”

Dr. Artress states, “The labyrinth provides a sacred space where the inner and outer world can commune, the thinking mind and the imaginative heart flow together... a space to listen to our inner voice of wisdom”. She goes on to speak of the experience of walking the labyrinth in the following manner: “Walking the labyrinth is a spiritual discipline that invites us to trust the path, to surrender to the many turns our lives take, and to walk through the confusion, the fear, the anger, the grief that we cannot avoid experiencing as we live our earthly lives. The labyrinth is where we can open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. We can ask for guidance and pray for ourselves and our loved ones.”

Certainly, one can do this without a Labyrinth; the early church did not depend on this vehicle to help them with their spirituality. Jesus already instructed us to be open to his leading and answers, so why do we need to use this other religious device? Religious syncretism is the most dangerous thing we can involve ourselves in because we can put a label on something and call it something it essentially is not. These are two different religious and spiritual systems. Starhawk, a practicing witch and head of a coven, celebrated New Year 2000 by walking the Labyrinth on her San Francisco area Ranch.

Psychotherapist Dr Lauren Artress says, “To walk a sacred path is to discover our inner sacred space: that core of feeling that is waiting to have life breathed back into it through symbols, archetypal forms like the labyrinth, rituals, stories, and myths.” This has nothing to do with practicing Christianity and everything to do with other spiritual practices that the Bible tells us not to participate in.

In the article Mystical paths for contemplation 5/18/2002 Artress recently talked about the popularity of this practice as she prepared to conduct workshops and tours of labyrinths in Europe.FaithLinks: What kind of Christian is typically attracted to labyrinth spirituality?Artress: The labyrinth attracts people from all walks of life. Many Christians come to it when they are spiritually dry and feel their daily prayer life is not working. 

They may also come on the eve of surgery with bad news about a sick friend or job loss. The labyrinth is a path of prayer for everyone. To those who don't know how to pray, I simply say, “Write a letter to God.” It is beautiful to the seekers who long for a personal relationship with the Divine. These folks have done their homework by studying other traditions as well.


I have a better idea, read God’s letters to you, all 66 of them found in the Bible for your spiritual renewal.

What does the God of the Bible have to say?

Can one seek or come to know God by a Labyrinth walk? It may be the latest fashion in spirituality touted as a spiritual tool of meditation and prayer, but is it for a Christian? We are told in Colossians 2: 8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Some are trying to justify this as a Christian tradition. In fact, it couldn’t be, not just because it is not found in the Bible, but because it goes against everything the Bible and Christianity teach for one to practice true spirituality. Walking through the Labyrinth is not a rediscovery of a lost form of Christian spirituality but pagan spirituality. Though it may be reformed and repackaged to our modern times, we can be assured it has nothing to do with Jesus, who gave man the authentic spiritual way of life.

I don’t think one can Christianize this practice or justify its use. Especially with what we have already discovered and how it is being used. Is it pleasing to God that we walk labyrinths when He has told us not to take up pagan practices? Divine feminine earth energies have nothing to do with Jesus Christ and the truth He has delivered.

Several Christians are already practicing the various types of contemplative prayer promoted by Richard Foster, Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, and others. A good portion is being promoted through the Catholic contemplative prayer movement. Many people are open to or already doing labyrinth walks as a meditative practice.

Walking meditation and stopping to quiet oneself is not promoting prayer. Not all that is claimed to be spiritual is good or from God. We are told as Christians to test the Spirits. Do we now need experiential prayer elements? Did Jesus look for a Labyrinth to teach people to pray? What happened to go into our rooms to pray quietly (Matthew 6:6)?

Inclusiveness is the goal of the New Age movement, and their light bearers influence churches that are not discerning by the Word of God. With an open-minded approach, Christian churches can embrace foreign religious practices to their own ruin.

Artress does not withhold her rejection of the straight and narrow way found within Christianity. She explains that the labyrinth is forgiving and leads its followers on a flawless path. God’s word states you cannot walk the wide road and claim to follow Christ, who says HIS way is the narrow road and has nothing to do with a Labyrinth. In Matthew 7:13, Jesus tells us the only way to practice a spiritual life is to enter into life through the narrow gate because the wide and easy road leads to destruction. This does not mean entering a labyrinth to walk its path. 

In 2 Timothy 3: 16 we are told: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We are trained to know and follow God's Word for a true spiritual transformation. It is objective; we should not seek subjective experiences using other religious methods. 

The New Age teaches experience for self-transformation and discovering the god within, which are not from the same source. People end up using labyrinths and other methods to find their spirituality because they are not holding and promoting the word of God, which is all one needs to be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. Though it is currently fashionable for “Christians” to participate in walking Labyrinths along with other religions, it is a clear sign the Word of God is not being upheld but is being replaced with subjective feelings through New Age spirituality. Despite testimonials from those who do not know the word of God, it is essentially using a pagan religious practice.

This cannot have any spiritual benefit for a Christian, but one can possibly have a relaxing time as they enjoy the walk, but then, getting away into the outdoors into a new environment with the least amount of concentration will relieve you of your stress as well.

There is no basis for those who practice Biblical Christianity to embrace the labyrinth as an acceptable tool for meditation and prayer? It is inherently New Age, let them have it.

This article is from http://www.letusreason.org/NAMdir.htm

Traci Morin