Community members help build new labyrinth at Calvary Episcopal Church in Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz Sentinel

The labyrinth of Golgotha ​​is elliptical rather than circular. The design allows for a larger surface area. (Shmuel Thaler-Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Members of the community who laid the stones to create a new elliptical labyrinth at Calvary Episcopal Church in Santa Cruz on Saturday are honored with the privilege of taking the first steps on this path. Labyrinths are an ancient archetype dating back 4,000 years or more and are used symbolically as a walking meditation, prayer path, or ceremonial site. They are used as a tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation and have been used by communities to evoke metaphors, sacred geometry, spiritual pilgrimages, religious practices, mindfulness, wellbeing and community building. Calvary’s new labyrinth, designed by Lars Howlett, was constructed in downtown Santa Cruz along Lincoln Street on the north side of the church, adjacent to where an older labyrinth fell victim to gophers and natural decomposition. A brochure from the church states: “Our vision for this project is to provide a place of tranquility and renewal in the heart of Santa Cruz for residents, employees and visitors to the downtown area. A classic labyrinth with 7 circuits in the center of a vibrant and The colorful garden on the grounds of Calvary Episcopal Church invites visitors to follow the winding path, relax and reflect The ancient symbol of the classical labyrinth, surrounded by a garden of native Californian plants,. will be a fitting testament to the deep roots of this land. The indigenous people of the Uypi tribe once lived and walked here.” For the project, Calvary partnered with Howlett and Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping, who developed the surrounding garden design and will install landscaping and chipped granite to fill the stone-lined labyrinth. Once completed, the labyrinth will be open to everyone. (Shmuel Thaler-Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Labyrinth designer Lars Howlett ensures that the paths of the labyrinth are the same width. (Shmuel Thaler-Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Many hands made light work Saturday as community members placed approximately 800 bricks on a labyrinth path at Calvary Episcopal Church in less than an hour. (Shmuel Thaler-Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Community members gather Saturday to build a labyrinth at Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Santa Cruz. Participants placed approximately 800 bricks to follow a labyrinth path laid out by Lars Howlett on the north side of the church on Lincoln Street, adjacent to where an older labyrinth fell victim to gophers and natural sinking. Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping will install the necessary chipped granite to fill the brick-lined walkways and will create a surrounding labyrinth garden that they designed. (Shmuel Thaler-Santa Cruz Sentinel)