She stood before immense the creature. Her heart was racing, hands trembling. There was pain in her throat. The result of dryness from the rapid, shallow breaths she fruitlessly tried to control. It was also from the fear that choked her. Unable to move as she stood within the stone chamber, she was locked eye to eye with the beast. He towered over her. Eyes seething with hostility and disgust. One thundering step by one thundering step, he slowly made his way closer to her. As he loomed over her snarling, his giant hands clenched into fists, his acrid breath took away what little breath she had.
Then the Minotaur, a man with the head of a bull, roared at her, “I shall tear you apart! How dare you venture into my domain! My labyrinth! And you dare to stand before me!” The ground trembled beneath her feet. Snout to nose he encroached over her, casting a long and heavy dark shadow that flicked in the torchlight.
“And I will remain with a heart of love,” she whispered gently, summoning the strength to do so.
Infuriated, the Minotaur bellowed, “Then I will take you and destroy you and your weak human body!”
“And I will remain in the heart of love,” she said once again. This time a bit louder. Even with a tremble in her voice, she chose to speak. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Exasperated by the show of her courage or maybe foolishness, he raged, “Why do you not run from fear? How are you not afraid of what horror will become of you? Here beneath the earth, in this winding labyrinth, I am in control! I can break you! Destroy you!” The Minotaur’s deafening voice boomed through the stone labyrinth, piercing her ears.
Slowly she spoke, “No. For I am a child of love. I have no beginning. I have no end. My soul, eternal, and one day, when my flesh falls away, I will continue on. For I am love and a child of light. I will return to the stars.” Slowly. Gently. The woman raised her right hand and caressed the cheek of the bull-faced man.
After a moment of gentle grace and a slow exhale from the Minotaur, the guardian of the labyrinth screamed in a way that no human has ever heard before. In an instant, he exploded into a spray of dust. Then, out of the rubble and ash stood a version of the woman herself. It was a part of her that was not a monster, but a scared adolescent. It was a version of herself, trapped in time, held captive by her own hurt, fear, shame, guilt, and pain. The woman held out her hand, asking if the scared girl would trust her to lead her home. After a few moments, the pained girl took her hand. They embraced. Tears were released and love was shared. Healing began in that moment just by reaching to accept an outstretched hand. Together, the woman led her past that was trapped, submerged, and imprisoned in the darkness, out into the light by following her own golden threads of life.
The story of Theseus and the Minotaur from Greek mythology, takes us on a journey into a labyrinth. It is where the hero must slay the monster that resides in the darkened depths of the unknown. To become the victor, Theseus is given a thread by Ariadne to help him make his way back out of the labyrinth, something that no one has ever been able to do. While on his quest, he slays the beast and returns the hero triumphant.
What if instead of killing off our darkness, our own “monster in the dark”, we made our way towards it with gentleness and a willingness to listen? Can we learn to tread lightly as we explore that place within that we do not like to venture to? I believe so. It is a difficult thing to do. However, it is one of the most important gifts that we can learn to give ourselves.
What would it look like if you stood in your Minotaur’s frightful presence of hostility and rage? Perhaps they are feelings of guilt, shame, or frustration disguised as hostility and rage? What happens to all the experiences you have had when you felt alone or misunderstood and pushed them aside because it was just too much to bear? Have you felt your past shadows slip out into the light of your daily life? If so, how do you respond? Could you offer love to those parts of yourself? Would you be able to offer your shadow understanding, compassion, forgiveness, and redemption? Do you think you deserve the healing and love? If so, how will you navigate your own personal labyrinth? How would you come out on the other side after you offered yourself love, mercy, and grace?
This fall and winter, I will be leading a series of classes that will take us on a journey within. We will venture into our own submerged labyrinth within our depths and discover the pieces of ourselves that may be forgotten, hidden, beautiful, and even perceived as monstrous. Looking at our shadow side, we can find much healing and wisdom as we offer ourselves the love and gentleness from our own light. Together, we will descend through stories and myths as we discover our own true story as we tend to our wounds. Gently, we will reemerge in the spring, renewed and and ready to begin upon our winding path once again, ready to work with the lessons we gained. I hope to journey with you soon. Keep an eye out for details to come.
Be well,
Renee Bedard, The Whispering Crow
The Whispering Crow 