www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 25-31, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 831 Unlike mazes, which are designed to confuse, labyrinths are deliberate circular paths that, when followed, bring the traveler into the center of the circle and back out again. It’s an invitation to think, reflect and take an inward journey with each outward step. The congregation of St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Pacific Grove is extending its own invitation to the community to take that journey on a new labyrinth they recently completed. Previously just a 1,700-squarefoot blank square space covered with bark at the corner of Central Avenue and 13th Street, the 30-foot diameter, eight-circuit labyrinth was a dream of some in the congregation for many years, says Rev. Kristine A. Johnson, the church’s rector since 2019. “It was very much a leap of faith,” Johnson says of making the dream into a reality. “We believe dreams have a purpose.” Labyrinths are ancient and universal, older than Christianity, dating back more than 4,000 years, thought to be created as sacred spaces. The oldest recorded labyrinth is the seven-circuit (a circuit is defined as the number of times the path passes between the center and outside edge) or classical labyrinth, also known as the Cretan Labyrinth. The design was found etched on the back of a clay tablet from Pythos, Greece around 1200 BCE, according to the nonprofit Labyrinth Resource Group. Similar designs have been discovered on every continent except Antarctica. Along the way, these pagan pathways were incorporated into the Christian tradition. During the Crusades, labyrinths were built into European cathedrals as “Roads to Jerusalem” for people unable to make a Holy Land pilgrimage. Today they can be used for prayer and contemplation, yet they are open to anyone of any spiritual background, or no background at all. Studies have found that focused walking meditations reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure and breathing rates, which in turn translates into long-term health benefits. St. Mary’s members tried a temporary labyrinth using tape during the pandemic, to see what one would look like, Johnson says. Between 2023-2024 they engaged in fundraising within the congregation and the local community, as well as applying for grants. They raised approximately $117,000 and spent a little over $95,000. Nearly 100 people, organizations and companies are listed as donors on the church’s website. “It was very much a community effort,” Johnson says. They purchased a paver brick kit from the Labyrinth Company, based in Greenville, South Carolina, and selected the “Vision Quest á la Chartres,” a reference to the famous labyrinth inside Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France. The pavers are pre-cut and come in four color combinations. When completed, the labyrinths are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which means even someone in a wheelchair can use it easily. In addition to the labyrinth itself, a garden surrounding the pavers was designed, using drought-tolerant plants. They were also meant to be deer-resistant due to the many deer that wander throughout town, but deer will eat whatever they want, as they found out after planting dwarf olive trees around the perimeter. Attractive handmade wooden cages cover some of the trees now, with netting protecting a line of trees to one side. Purple echinacea, yarrow, penstemons and dwarf bottlebrush plants adorn the rest of the garden. There are benches and low walls to sit and relax. The project was completed at the end of September and the congregation held a grand opening on Nov. 2, inviting the entire community to see it. Since then it’s been used constantly by people from pre-schoolers on up. The church, founded in 1886, is a hub of community activity already, with a food and clothing pantry open 1-2pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and as a meeting place for support groups. The Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation runs a bookstore on campus, as well. Johnson invites people to walk it by themselves, or share the journey with others, “sort of like life,” she says. Each way creates a very different experience. Walk About A new labyrinth and garden in P.G. comes with an invitation for a contemplative journey. By Pam Marino “It was very much a leap of faith.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Rev. Kristine A. Johnson of St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church stands in the church’s newly completed labyrinth. “I’ve seen people out here walking with umbrellas in the rain,” she says. ”It’s been a great community space.” SHOP. EAT. STAY. LOCAL Find local businesses at montereychamber.com/list SHOP SMALL spread cheer & shop local this holiday season!
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