The Loop

Circumambulation

If everything revolves around each other, what could be at the center?

Why do we circle around it and bless it?

In the fast-paced, linear world we live in, progress is measured by how quickly we can move forward, conquer new challenges, and leave the past behind. "Going around in circles" has become synonymous with stagnation, frustration, and wasted time. It evokes the image of endlessly revisiting the same issue without resolution, the very antithesis of growth.

But in the realm of spirituality, circles take on a different meaning altogether. Here, moving in circular patterns is not only purposeful but sacred. In nearly all major religions, the act of walking around a sacred object, place, or space-known as circumambulation-becomes a profound ritual of devotion, reflection, and alignment with the divine. Tibetan Buddhists circle their stupas in meditative prayer. Jews process around the Torah on Hoshanah Rabbah. Muslims circle the Kaaba in Mecca, while Hindus practice parikrama around temples. Even Zen Buddhists turn walking into a form of meditation through kinhin.

For in these practices, going around in circles is not a sign of aimlessness. It is a deliberate, transformative act-one that turns physical movement into spiritual progress, and repetition into revelation.

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So can we say that circumambulation is a way of keeping up with the order of the universe and that this ritual opens a door to reaching the creator?

Yes, that's a profound way to interpret circumambulation! In many spiritual traditions, circumambulation symbolizes more than just physical movement; it is a ritual that mirrors the cosmic order and aligns the individual with the greater forces of the universe. By walking in a circular pattern around a sacred object or site, practitioners are symbolically harmonizing with the cyclical rhythms of nature-the rotation of planets, the passage of time, and the eternal cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

This act can be seen as an opening of a spiritual gateway, creating a connection between the earthly and the divine. Through circumambulation, the worshiper not only moves physically but also ascends spiritually, seeking closeness with the Creator or the sacred essence of the universe. The repeated circular motion reinforces the idea of completeness, infinity, and unity with the divine, offering a pathway to transcendence.

In this sense, circumambulation serves both as a form of devotion and as a metaphysical practice. It is a way to attune oneself to the divine order, creating an opening to access higher levels of spiritual awareness, wisdom, and ultimately, a deeper relationship with the Creator.

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Stonehenge (2200 BC) and Göbekli Tepe (9500 BC) have a similar circular structure. These structures, built thousands of kilometers apart and in ancient times, show the rituals performed with circumambulation in human history. Why are they circular and where did they learn this?

The circular structures of Stonehenge (ca. 2200 BC) and Göbekli Tepe (ca. 9500 BC) are fascinating examples of ancient human architecture that appear to share a common spiritual or ritualistic theme. The use of the circle in these early constructions hints at something deeply embedded in the human psyche-something that transcended geography, culture, and time.

Why are they circular?

The circle is one of the most fundamental and universal shapes in nature. It appears in the sun, the moon, the stars, and the horizon. It symbolizes unity, completeness, eternity, and the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. For early humans, who were closely attuned to the natural world, these circular patterns would have been meaningful, representing the rhythms and cycles of the cosmos. It's likely that the circular design of structures like Stonehenge and Göbekli Tepe was an attempt to reflect these celestial movements and connect with the greater forces of nature and the universe.