Enter the Labyrinth: Discover the History and Spiritual Dangers
Is the labyrinth godly or not?
Labyrinth walking has gained popularity across churches, retreat centers, and spiritual communities. Marketed as a peaceful, healing, and meditative practice, many believers have unknowingly stepped into a ritual deeply rooted in paganism, mysticism, and ancient goddess worship. The question we must ask is: Does this align with God’s Word? The answer, backed by Scripture and history, is a resounding no.
Though labyrinths are often promoted as neutral spiritual tools to quiet the mind, the origins tell a different story. Labyrinths have been traced back over 3,500 years to ancient pagan societies. Carvings, tablets, and stone designs have been found across Egypt, Greece, Spain, Crete, India, North and South America, and Scandinavia, long before Christianity ever used them. From their earliest uses, labyrinths were spiritual symbols connected to earth worship, goddess veneration, fertility rites, and rituals designed to alter consciousness and invoke spiritual experiences.
The labyrinth of Knossos in Crete, tied to the myth of the half-man, half-bull Minotaur, is one of the earliest known. The Minotaur dwelled within a complex maze where human sacrifices were offered. Theseus, the hero who killed the beast, navigated the maze with a thread. The term “labyrinth” derives from “labrys,” the double-headed axe associated with the goddess cults of Minoan Crete—fertility, sacrifice, and occultism.
This history is not innocent architecture—it is spiritual. These designs were created for ritualistic journeys to encounter divine feminine energy, ancestral spirits, or supernatural revelations. Many indigenous cultures even today use labyrinths or maze-like forms in their sacred ceremonies.
Labyrinths did eventually make their way into medieval Catholic cathedrals, especially during the Crusades. Christians who couldn’t make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem were offered a symbolic journey on the cathedral labyrinth floor, such as the 40-foot-wide one at Chartres Cathedral in France. This was a replacement ritual and not biblical in origin, but rather a Catholic tradition, mingled with ancient mysticism. It was dubbed “New Jerusalem”—but nowhere in Scripture does God instruct believers to imitate Jerusalem or recreate the Holy Land through symbols or mystical journeys.
We are warned in Deuteronomy 12:30-31 (KJV):
“Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them... and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? Even so will I do likewise.”
Yet today, many Christian institutions, even mainline churches, incorporate labyrinth walking into spiritual retreats. They describe it as “a journey inward,” or “a tool to connect with the divine self.” These are New Age terms, not biblical ones. Some labyrinth guides instruct people to empty their minds, meditate deeply, or listen to the “voice within.” But the Bible warns us not to empty our minds—this creates space for demonic entities to influence or possess.
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) warns:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Labyrinth walking, much like yoga, reiki, and contemplative prayer, often results in demonic manifestations. Many report altered states of consciousness, energy surges, visitations from "guides," and overwhelming emotional releases. These are not Holy Spirit-led experiences, but counterfeits. By participating in rituals with pagan roots—even unknowingly—people can open demonic portals.
If you or your ancestors have walked labyrinths or participated in these “sacred geometry” rituals, you may be facing spiritual consequences: confusion, depression, recurring illness, torment in dreams, or a sense of spiritual blockage.
Isaiah 2:6 (KJV) says:
“Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people... because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines.”
The labyrinth is a tool from the East, with roots in Eastern mysticism and pagan spirituality. Modern practitioners, including “Christian labyrinth facilitators,” may not realize they’re leading people into spiritual danger, but ignorance does not remove the consequences. God calls His people to be holy and set apart—not to blend in with the world’s mystical practices.
Jesus said in John 14:6 (KJV):
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
You don’t need a twisting maze to reach God. You need the blood of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. There is no shortcut through ancient symbols or rituals. The labyrinth is a counterfeit, subtly drawing God’s people into deception and spiritual compromise.
So, if labyrinths and similar rituals originated from non-Christian religions and cultures—often rooted in paganism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and New Age mysticism—what value could they possibly hold for followers of Jesus Christ? The Word of God declares that all we need for spiritual life, growth, and healing is found in Jesus alone.
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him…”
—2 Peter 1:3 (KJV)
Labyrinths, mandalas, and similar practices have no spiritual value for a Christian—in fact, they can be spiritually harmful, opening doors to demonic influence.
🌀 From Labyrinths to Mandalas: Pagan Roots and Occult Symbolism
Modern labyrinth designs are often stylized to reflect spiritual practice and symbolic meaning. Their circular layouts closely resemble the mandalas of South Asian Buddhism and Hinduism—spiritual symbols used for meditation. A mandala, which means “circle,” is designed to focus the mind during meditation, bringing about altered states of consciousness. This practice of silencing the brain to “discover deeper truths” is rooted in Eastern mysticism—not biblical Christianity.
Such methods are condemned by Scripture. God never asks us to empty our minds or seek inner enlightenment through physical patterns or rituals. Instead, we are told:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.”
—Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
God tells us to focus our minds on Him and His Word, not on shapes, circles, or mystical paths.
🏛 The New Age Movement and the Revival of the Labyrinth
Labyrinth use has grown exponentially, with over 1,000 labyrinths constructed across the U.S., including projects affiliated with Grace Cathedral (San Francisco), St. Louis, and Episcopal churches across the country.
The foremost proponents of modern labyrinth revival are not Christians at all—but outspoken New Age leaders like Dr. Jean Houston and Rev. Lauren Artress. Dr. Houston, known for her New Age advocacy, endorsed channeled writings such as The Starseed Transmissions, calling them profound examples of divine communication from spirit entities.
Houston states, “The best way to contact these entities is within the context of an altered state of consciousness.” This is a direct violation of God’s Word, which strictly forbids communication with spirits or the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10–12).
After connecting with Houston, Rev. Lauren Artress introduced the labyrinth to Grace Cathedral in 1992. Since then, over one million people—from Christians to Buddhists to spiritual seekers—have walked that path in pursuit of "inner peace." Artress claims labyrinths create “spiritual transformation,” where people can reconnect with “the depths of their souls.” But there is no transformation apart from Jesus Christ.
🧠 Altering Consciousness Through Movement
Labyrinth walking is often described in psychological terms. It is said to engage the right and left brain through 180-degree directional turns, causing a mental shift—similar to trance induction. Artress herself describes the labyrinth as a spiritual and psychological tool, an “archetype of wholeness” to awaken self-discovery.
Further claims tie labyrinth use to balancing chakras—a Hindu concept of spiritual energy centers. This reveals that the true purpose of the labyrinth is not prayer or reflection as taught in Scripture, but to produce a shift in consciousness, mystical awareness, and connection to “divine energy.”
Yet the Bible says:
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
—Romans 12:2 (KJV)
Transformation comes through the Word of God, not through pagan rituals, energy balancing, or right-brain manipulation.
🌀 A Personalized Religion: Subjective “Spirituality”
Rev. Artress writes:
“We are not human beings on a spiritual path, but spiritual beings on a human path.”
This is a hallmark New Age statement—rejecting biblical creation, sin, and redemption. Instead of focusing on Christ, this philosophy teaches self-enlightenment, subjective experience, and relativism. Labyrinth walkers are encouraged to interpret their journey however they wish—some use it for prayer, others for healing, self-reflection, or connecting with “the divine within.”
But Christianity is not a choose-your-own-path faith. Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), and the Holy Spirit does not lead us into foreign spiritual practices. Many testimonies from labyrinth participants include altered emotions, “spiritual awakenings,” visions, or energy shifts—clear signs of spiritual manipulation that can open the door to demonic oppression.
🔥 Spiritual Danger and Demonic Openings
Labyrinth use is often grouped with other mystical practices like sacred circle dances, smudging ceremonies, and sweet-grass rituals—all of which have roots in occultism or Native pagan spirituality. R. White noted that walking the labyrinth can cause the arousal of feelings, renewed creativity, “brain re-mapping,” and energy surges. These experiences may sound appealing—but they do not come from the Holy Spirit.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…”
—1 John 4:1 (KJV)
When Christians pursue experiences over biblical truth, they risk opening themselves up to deception, confusion, or worse—demonic attachment.
The modern promotion of labyrinths, often described as peaceful, spiritual tools, is deeply entangled in a dangerous mix of pagan rituals, goddess worship, and New Age deception. While some churches today endorse labyrinth walking as a form of prayer or meditation, what’s truly happening is a global revival of ancient mystical practices—a counterfeit spirituality that leads people away from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A quote from Colleen O’Connor’s Theater of Enlightenment summarizes the deceptive allure of this spiritual trend:
“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.”
This “global transformation” is the heartbeat of the New Age movement—and labyrinths are at its center.
🌀 What Are Labyrinths Really Used For?
According to Rev. Sarah Bentley of the New Life Institute, affiliated with Austin-area United Methodist churches, labyrinths are introduced as tools for walking meditation. In her words, they are meant to quiet the mind and create space for answers, emotions, and healing. But what kind of spirit answers when a mind is emptied?
Eastern meditation, like labyrinth walking, is not about focusing on God, but about entering altered states of consciousness. This is not the biblical form of meditating on God's Word (Psalm 1:2), but a doorway to spiritual deception.
Participants are often encouraged to ask personal life questions—such as "Where am I going?" or "What should I do?"—and then wait for answers during their labyrinth walk. Many testify that they hear voices, see visions, feel energies, or receive messages from "God," "angels," or even "deities." These are not the Holy Spirit, but familiar spirits masquerading as light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
🌌 Testimonies of Spiritual Experiences: Supernatural or Demonic?
In Theater of Enlightenment, one woman claimed that two reiki bodyworkers came to her aid after she was injured walking a labyrinth. She said, “I actually experienced the pain moving right out of my body. It was a phenomenal experience.” Reiki, a known New Age healing modality, invites spirit guides and energy forces—not Jesus—to heal. This confirms that these walks are spiritual but not godly.
Another testimony came from Renee Gibbons, who said she received a message in the labyrinth to “send an angel to your sister Fiona.” She followed the prompting and said her bitterness lifted. While forgiveness is biblical, the method she used to hear from a spirit realm is not. God does not speak through pagan rituals or altered states, but through His Word and His Spirit (Hebrews 1:1–2).
Artress and other leaders even suggest asking your “deity of choice” or “higher self” to walk with you. These subjective experiences can lead people to think they’ve found a spiritual truth when in reality, they’re connecting to a false god or counterfeit spirit.
🔮 The Divine Mother, Goddess, and the “God Within”
Rev. Lauren Artress, the leading promoter of labyrinth walking, admits its roots in goddess worship. In her book Walking a Sacred Path, she writes that the labyrinth is a symbol of the Divine Mother, the God within, and the goddess in all creation. She claims this tool helps people rediscover the “holy in all of creation” and the feminine aspect of the divine.
This is paganism cloaked in spiritual language. The Bible makes it clear:
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
—1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV)
There is no such thing as a divine feminine or a “goddess within.” That belief system is straight from Babylonian mystery religions and revived today through the New Age.
🕯 Veriditas and Sacred Geometry: New Age Goals Revealed
In 1996, Artress founded Veriditas, a non-profit that exists to teach labyrinth walking and its supposed healing powers. She promotes labyrinths as a way to reconnect with the universe and “awaken the Light within.”
But Veriditas’ teachings go further. Their supporters link labyrinth design to geomancy, astrology, numerology, I Ching, rune stones, and tarot cards—all practices condemned in the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). Promoter Charles Gilchrist openly states that labyrinths are based in Sacred Geometry—the same occult framework that undergirds New Age energy work and divination.
In other words, walking a labyrinth is like stepping into a ritualized oracle meant to receive messages from the spirit world. That spirit world is not the Holy Spirit.
🏛 Labyrinths in Churches: A Christian Disguise for Pagan Practice
Many Christians believe that if the labyrinth is used in a church and Scripture is read, the practice becomes sanctified. But putting a cross in the center of a pagan symbol doesn’t make it Christian.
Leadership Magazine once showcased how a Christian church recreated a labyrinth and used communion elements at its center. Dan Kimball wrote, “It was a joy to see so many people on their knees communing with God…” But no ritual—especially one with pagan roots—can sanctify a person. Only the blood of Jesus cleanses us.
🌍 The New Age Agenda: One World Spirituality
Artress and Veriditas promote labyrinths as tools for global spiritual unity. She hopes that labyrinths will bridge humanity’s “prejudices and fears,” leading to peace and a return to “original innocence.” This language aligns perfectly with the New Age goal of global transformation—a one-world spirituality apart from the cross of Jesus Christ.
Even if these goals sound noble, they are false paths. There is no shortcut to peace or healing without repentance, faith in Christ, and obedience to His Word.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate… because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
—Matthew 7:13–14 (KJV)
Marian Idolatry, Divine Feminine, and the New Age Invasion of the Church
In 1999, The Reverend Canon Lauren Artress launched Let Us Walk With Mary, a spiritually charged program for pilgrims at Chartres Cathedral in France—the only cathedral built in full dedication to the Virgin Mary. This program combined labyrinth walking with Marian veneration, further deepening the occult roots of the labyrinth movement and its connection to divine feminine spirituality.
Prominent figures connected to labyrinth promotion include China Galland, a longtime student of both Buddhism and Christianity and author of Tara and the Black Madonna and Women in the Wilderness. Also involved was The Very Rev. Alan Jones, Dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and a leading voice in mystic spirituality and interfaith unity.
While cloaked in Christian language, what was unfolding was not Christianity at all—it was the open integration of goddess worship, mystical ritual, and Eastern meditative practices into the Western church.
🕯 What Is the Real Message Behind the Labyrinth?
According to Artress, the labyrinth provides “a sacred space where the inner and outer world can commune, where the thinking mind and the imaginative heart flow together.” She promotes it as a spiritual discipline to walk through life’s emotions—grief, confusion, fear, anger—seeking healing and transformation.
But here’s the danger: none of this is biblical.
Christ already offers transformation through the cross, not through a ritual walk. He does not instruct us to find sacred space in circles or paths but calls us into a relationship through the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and prayer.
This form of religious syncretism—blending Christianity with paganism—leads many into spiritual confusion. A walk with Christ requires separation from worldly practices (2 Corinthians 6:14–17), not joining them under a new label.
🌑 Paganism and the Divine Feminine
Starhawk, a well-known practicing witch and feminist spiritual leader, celebrated New Year 2000 by walking the labyrinth on her own ranch. That’s not a coincidence—it’s proof of the labyrinth’s deep ties to Wiccan and pagan traditions.
Artress herself affirms this connection, writing:
“To walk a sacred path is to discover our inner sacred space... through symbols, archetypal forms like the labyrinth, rituals, stories, and myths.”
This language is New Age mysticism, not Christianity. It echoes teachings of goddess worship, sacred geometry, and divine feminine energies—all rooted in Babylonian religion and occult practices.
Artress even suggests that Christians come to the labyrinth when their prayer life fails or feels dry. She encourages writing a letter to “God,” but the seeker is not being led to the God of the Bible, but to a spiritual experience disconnected from scripture.
📖 God’s Response to Pagan Spiritual Tools
The Bible is clear:
“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.” —Colossians 2:8 (KJV)
Labyrinth walking may feel peaceful or even sacred, but that does not make it godly. Feelings and altered states of consciousness are not how we measure truth. We must test every practice and spirit by the Word of God (1 John 4:1).
Artress promotes the labyrinth as a “forgiving path,” but the Bible teaches that only Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). You cannot walk a circular path to salvation or to the heart of God.
🚨 Warning Against Christian Compromise
Churches now adopting labyrinth walks, contemplative prayer, or “experiential worship” led by figures like Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, and Richard Foster are opening doors to unbiblical spiritual practices. These contemplative methods borrow from Eastern mysticism and Catholic mystics, and are being wrapped in Christian terminology to gain acceptance.
But did Jesus ever walk a labyrinth? Did the apostles instruct us to build circular paths of stone for prayer?
Absolutely not.
Jesus told us to “go into your closet and pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6). He gave us His Word—66 books of divine revelation—not a circular path to center ourselves. The idea that the Bible is insufficient and we need these mystical tools shows a deep deception and falling away from truth.
💣 The Real Goal: New Age Global Transformation
Inclusiveness and unity are the goals of the New Age movement. Artress and her nonprofit Veriditas have publicly declared their mission to promote labyrinths for spiritual renewal and global transformation.
Her own words in Walking a Sacred Path say it plainly:
“The labyrinth is a tool for transformation, a blueprint for sacred ritual, a field of light, a cosmic dance.”
And in one interview, Artress responded to accusations of her being “New Age” by dismissing it, saying:
“Better call it ‘Middle Age’—the labyrinth was put in Chartres Cathedral in 1201!”
What she fails to mention is that many Catholic cathedrals in the Middle Ages were filled with syncretistic and unbiblical practices, blending paganism with ritualistic Christianity. Just because something has ancient roots doesn’t make it sacred—especially when those roots trace back to divination, goddess worship, and occult energy practices.
🔥 Deliverance Prayer
Heavenly Father, I repent and renounce any involvement I have had with labyrinth walking, contemplative prayer, and New Age spirituality. I break every soul tie and spiritual agreement formed through these rituals, knowingly or unknowingly. I close every portal and command every demonic influence and unclean spirit to leave in Jesus’ name. Cleanse me by Your blood and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
With love and truth,
Teresa Morin
President of Touch of God Int’l Ministries
🌐 https://www.touchofgod.org
Of Healing and Deliverance, Ordained Minister, Public Speaker
📣 Featured in Who's Who Press Release
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