I don't know how far I'll ever get with this "web book", but I thought I'd start a thread specifically to bring attention to it for anyone who might be interested.

I just added Mercury.

So I only have the first 8 archetypes done so far.

I think there's something like 45 altogether so I have 37 more to go. Let's see how far I can get.

Here's the link.

http://users.csonline.net/designer/laby/labyway.htm

A wonderful project you have started on. It cleary shows you have done alot of work into it. It will be a fantastic read when completed.

I just uploaded the Empress.

That's two pages just this morning! I'm on a roll today!

Actually though, even when I'm done with these 45 pages, that's not the whole book.

I'd like to write a nice set of "Intro" pages to explain what it's all about and how to use it. I also have some ideas for some pages that delve into the symbols individual. Especially the planet symbols.

It's going to look something like the following Graphic, only I'd like to have more information about each symbol individually. Maby with a picture of the 'god' that's associated with each of them too. Just for fun.





I'm way more ambitious than what I can actually do.

I have the same problem with my fantasy writing, Just take it in strides. You are doing actually really good and it is very informative indeed.

I wouldn't even worry about the planets until you have the symbols done. Right notes but stick to the one project first before going to the next one.

I hope you can get all 45 done. I know each symbol you are doing must take a great deal of time to do, but the result will be even better and more informative.

I see Pisces is completed also. You surely are on a roll.

I must add it is great that you write it in a fashion to where others can give it a try to make their own Qabbalah so to say.

It will end up being a type of instructional book on how to create your own style for those interested.

Bravo

Exactly.

That's the whole idea behind it. It's just supposed to be the general idea to get someone started down their own "path".

This is why I'd like to write a general introduction page to explain that this is just an example. I'll also make it clear that this Labyrinth Path uses Planets, the Zodiac, and Tarot all combined.

But they might want to create one just using Tarot alone. They could just use a standard Tarot deck as their 'reminders' for meditations (or contemplations).

They could mix things up or leave things out that they don't feel applies to their particular lifestyle.

It's just food for thought. It's not intended to be strict dogma in any sense. It just brings a lot of concepts together in a nice neat story. And the story does unfold really well as it goes along. One thing pretty much leads into the next fairly smoothly the whole way though this process.

If I keep this up you'll see what I mean. You'll get addicted like a soap opera after a while.

You'll be wondering what's going to happen next?

By the way, I'm always one link behind so, no I haven't done Pisces yet, I just set up the link for it so the previous page would have something to link to.

I need to go do some physical work around here now. So this will be it for this morning. I might try to get pisces done tonight.

Have a great day James and I will read a little at a time on the thread you made and will leave comments about it. I think it will get addictive as it is right up my alley, but don't mind me when I get into a swords and sorcery imagination mode when reading it. I tend to get a bit out of control with my imagination anyway

When I started this project I was torn between doing it the way I currently am doing it, or potentially writing it as a story (like the story of a boy or girl who is actually journeying through the path).

I was thinking that making it into a story might pull a reader in.

But then I decided that the practical explanation would actually serve the purpose better. This makes if more straight-forward. It makes it easier for me. I don't need to worry about trying to 'entertain' the reader. I'm just offering ideas basically.

The problem is that most pagans already understand these things and have their own methods. So the audience that would benefit from it are the people who will probably never read it.

I believe if you did it to pull the reader in a magical way you would have a great audience, so in my opinion, the boy and girl exploring a new magic alternative would be a better option.

You will get a younger crowd (who are usually curious) and want to somehow be involved in something unique. I also think you will get a older crowd also if they are not to set in one way that is.

So the perspective of a little boy or girl getting into a world that is rarely talked about or still foreign to the majority is quiet intriguing if you ask me.

Now I am not saying change everything! You know what is best, but perhaps after you have completed the way you want to write the instructional book, create a second book for the younger reader in a story format.

Maybe in the art of Deepak Chopra of storytelling. I think that would influence alot of people in a positive way.

When it comes to spiritualism I believe the ultimate goal of such philosophy is to actually at the end of the conversation or read is to make the person fascinated and comfortable.


It is just an idea James. In the end you will know best for you are the inventor of this project

I have no clue what's best.

In truth, the way it is right now could truly be called nothing more than brainstorming. It's really just an idea at this stage.

I thought I'd just try to go through it like I'm doing and write out the basic idea for every archetype. And then by the time I've gone through the whole thing I'm sure I'll have a lot of fresh new ideas and want to start over again.

The story idea would of course be great. In fact, ideally I could have a whole group of kids going through it together and tell the stories of how they all interact. But that would be a whole lot of writing! What I'm doing now would be a mere scratch-pad in comparison to that.

In fact, I've already had a vision of the whole thing being made into a movie. Truly.

It starts off with a bunch of young kids who are being raised via this ritual of visting the Labyrinth Garden and walking this path.

Of course the whole movie wouldn't be solely about that. The movie would start out with the kids being taugh this path in this garden by wise mentoring adults. Then the kids would grow and become teens, and young adults. Some would return to the garden often and keep the meditations and rituals up, others would abandon it for worldy pursuits and totally lose sight of what's truly important in life.

I actually already watched the movie in my mind. It was a great story and a tearjerker at end in both good and bad ways for the different children depending on how they turned out.

Unfortunately, I can't just download the movie from my brain onto a DVD. To turn it into a reality I'd have to write out the whole damn thing.

That could take a year or more! Just to write it all out. Even though I watched the whole thing in my mind's eye in one single night.

I'll be lucky to just finish this scribble I'm doing here on these web pages.

Actually it sounds like a foundation you could be opening! A retreat for troubled children or curious minds who want to learn from a mentor in the ways of keeping a calm pressence, using imagination to its fullest potential, discovering new idealogies, and even creating new ones along with it. I mean it doesn't have to be children, but I would have preferred it if I started such a foundation.

The Tree of Life (insert name here) Foundation.

You would have to create that Labyrinth in your garden in reality and make it so unique that people can only drop their jaws when they first see it.

Have guest rooms available and breakfast at 8 AM!

Now I am going to far! I know, but a movie would be great and the amount of writing is always the hardest part, but the most rewarding in my opinion.

I think in time you will grow with this and have complete works done. Why shouldn't you become a type of guru if you want?

Deepak Chopra also started from scratch and now has attained so much.

I mean you don't have to do this for money reasons, but for spiritual conquest and enhancement to share the knowledge for curious minds. It is a great way to start a foundation and to make it a special retreat or home for many others who need it.

Now I know I am not doing any justice by holding you up with these long posts, so get writing and as you do this share your experiences.

Of course you may not want a bunch of screaming kids running around either, so maybe a online endeavor as you started would suffice.

Wow, Abra, that's really cool! You are doing much better than I would at it. Here's to you.

Thank you Roweanne.

Yeah, I'm pretty impressed with it.

James as I read the wisdom you share to us, I stopped at Capricorn and reflected.

I enjoyed the Sacred Garden, Sun God, The Fool, then it all falls apart with Capricorn as the first Zodiac Sign.

Now I am not saying it is bad either, but I ask you why use the Roman or Greek Zodiac Signs in this Qabbalah?

I can understand if you are trying to reach a western audience then such zodiac signs would probably be more notable to use, yet for historical reference it wouldn't be my choice. Using Greek and Roman Mythology is very interesting for historical purpose, but not (in my opinion) for me personally for spiritual purpose.

I mean it would be perhaps more fascinating to use the Native American Zodiac signs or the Chinese even to incorporate in the sacred tree of life.

I hope you don't take this critiscm to heart and you suddenly stop doing this project. In the end you have to be happy with your Qabbalah project.

In the deepest sense it probably doesn't matter for each civilization has its flaws. We as humans have flaws even if we weren't part of the movement at the time.

Perhaps to resolve this problem is to create a brand new astrological zodiac signs that blend with the wisdom you share with us.

Don't mind me. I will refrain and do a session of meditation again.

The Magician is very interesting symbol for I can relate to the wand representing fire as creativity and purity.

That is me in many ways.

You're absolutely right John. I'm in far more agreement with you than you realize.

When I was putting this together initially, I wasn't thinking 'logically' at all. On the contrary I practicing meditation techniques on "letting go" and getting in touch with intuition and flowing with the Tao as they say.

What actually happened here is complex to explain. In a very real sense I didn't create this Labyrinth Way. It's 'came' to me. I'm allowing it to flow through me. You could almost say that it's an 'inspired writing'. But at the same time there's parts of me that get into it. That will always be the case when a human tries to express something that is inspired.

I don't know exactly how to decribe it. I think the best analogy is that I feel like a child in a candy store. As I did my research I would run into a lot of things like you mention. Zodiacs from the Far East (there are several different versions). Also Zodiacs from other indigenous people like the American Indians, etc.

I was attracted to all those things. Clearly they can't all be incorporated, it would simply be too much material. And for me, it was almost as if the Goddess was tugging at me (like a kid in a candy store). She's saying to me, "Yes all the candy is great! But you're working with this candy over here and you need to just stick to this one theme"

I think it does come down to a western audience that this is intended for and to run off filling it with symbols that the western audience isn't familar with will only make it less meaningful for them.

In fact, now that I think about it (in hindsight), perhaps the whole purpose of this was indeed to bring the western attention to the Tarot and the Journey of the Fool. And I intuitively feel that this is the concept that is being highlighted. Not the fortune-telling aspeck of Tarot that has become so popular, but the truly practical introspective value of it.

The two western concepts (the Western Zodiac and the Planet Gods) may very well be the key to sewing it altogether for the western mind.

That wasn't my intent when I put this together initially. It quite literally fell together on it's own. But in highsight it truly looks like it was meant to be.

And maybe it's not even important that I finish it. Maybe someone else will see it and take off from it. I have no idea how these things work.

One thing I do know is that we aren't always working for the Goddess or God or whatever label you wish to put on the supreme spirit of life. We have selfish motives. I'm horrible in that. I spend far more time doing what *I* want to do, and almost no time at all doing what the Goddess wants me to do.

I know she wants me to write that math book. I've been refusing to write it. She's given up on me on that one.

Now she's trying to get me to do this Labyrinth thing and I'm haphazardly chipping away at it on rare occassions.

Me baad.

I'm about the most useless saint in all of creation.

Saint Useless. That's what they're going to call me when I get to the Great Beyond.

What a waste of energy and atoms! The Goddess would have been better off using my atoms and energy to have created a flock of buzzards. At least they'd be cleaning up the dead carcasses of road kills.

Even little acts of kindness are big accomplishments.

You have done this for many years now.

Therefore, you are being to harsh on yourself. What you have achieved cannot be taken away from you.

Just reflect back on the positive and you will see.

Gee you're right.

You just caused me to go through some actual calculations here.

I'm currently 60 years old. My mother died 3 years ago when I was 57. I died with her spiritually. It seems to me that she's been gone now for like 30 years (not just 3).

Prior to my mother's death, I had a quite productive and constructive life. In fact, I was teaching right up almost until my mother died. So I lost both my mother, and my career at the same time. It's no wonder I went into emotional and psychological meltdown. I haven't fully recovered yet.

Like you say, if I look back my life has been way more productive than not. It's just that these past 3 years seem more like 30 in my mind. Seriously they do!

I want my life back!

I don't know how to go about getting it back. Clearly I can't bring my mother back. And teaching is no longer an option either. I was forced to quit for medical reasons that I'd rather not go into here. And my health has not returned to change that.

So I can't really 'ressurect' my teaching career either.

I guess in a very real way I'm feeling a bit lost and disoriented. There's so much I'd like to do but I'm just not sure how to go about doing it. I've really gone down hill in the past three years (no wonder it seems more like 30 years). I've let my estate basically collaspe into a dire desaster of disrepair. This was partly due to the same health problems that caused me to have to give up teaching, and partly due to the spiritual depression of having lost my mother, with whom I was extremely close.

So I guess I need to somehow dig myself out of this hole that I've created. It's true that I spend far too much time BSing on the computer (as you can clearly see from all my blabbering posts!)

I'm basically just wasting my life away waiting to join my mother.

I need to snap out of that mindset and I can't seem to do it.