It's up to us to walk the wheel around. It's up to us to find our sacred common ground. Can we accept that a flower can light a star? The wheel will turn until we learn and remember just who we are.
Song lyrics ~ Keeper of the Circles
Chante Ishta ~ Single Eye of the Heart
A 9-Petal Vesica Star Design was added to our land in Nov. 2000 as part of "The Art Line" Project. It was designed by "Earth Symbol" artist, Alex Champion. I call this continuous walking path Chante Ishta, a Cherokee phrase meaning "The Single Eye of the Heart". It signifies clarity and an opening of the heart in compassion without judgement.
The circular garden pattern can be walked before or after the Prairie Labyrinth. Unlike the single path of the labyrinth, Chante has nine overlapping vesica-shaped pathways allowing you to choose the direction (counter-clockwise or clock-wise) you wish to walk. You can step into the center area any time you feel complete to pause and reflect.
A vesica is an almond shape created from overlapping or intersecting spheres. The configuration of two overlapping circles is referred to as the Vesica Piscis. The overlapping circles represent two worlds--the physical world of matter and time, and the spiritual world of the eternal and divine. The intersecting portion (the vesica) symbolizes the bridge between Heaven and Earth or the union of cause and effect.
Vesica Piscis
Circles create natural portals. Interpenetrating circles connect dimensions.
~Marilyn Larson
Walking through the 9-Petal vesica star pattern stirs the energy, and similar to the labyrinth, it creates a potent portal, which can also be used to assist earthbound souls in crossing over to the "World of Light."
Alex Champion adapted the 9-petal design from one of Michelangelo's architectural achievements called "The Campidoglio", which is a 12-petal vesica star. This site was once the symbolic center of ancient Rome. In 1538, Michelangelo was commissioned to redesign the plaza and surrounding buildings that made up the Capitoline Hill area. The focal point was a pavement design consisting of twelve overlapping vesicas laid out as a continuous walking path.
Engraving by Etinne Duperac, 1569 H.W. Janson's History of Art
Current day Campidoglio in Rome 12- petal vesica star pattern
The 9-Vesica pathways of Chante Ishta are laid out on a 55 ft. sand circle, outlined with base quartz crystal. The winding walkway is a meander through diamond-shaped islands that are planted with flowers and herbs. All the pathways revolve around the center, which is mounded earth in the shape of a 9-pointed star. A statue of Mary stands in the middle as a representation of the Divine Feminine, honoring the Universal Heart. Transformation can only happen through our willingness to go into our hearts.
By returning to inner peace, we bring it into our lives—and radiate it out to the world.
We initially chose 9 vesicas for Chante Ishta because of the space consideration, yet grew to appreciate 9 as the number of completion and the number for compassion.
Labyrinths and designs like Chante Ishta are natural Release and Renew circles. Many come here to examine and release old limiting patterns and to recharge their internal batteries. Moving our bodies through patterns of sacred geometry reorients us to the natural order and harmony found in Nature, restoring us to our true nature.
