An ancient beautiful design on the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France has captured the imaginations of growing numbers of individuals, organizations and institutions all over America. This design, known simply as the labyrinth, is being installed in communities worldwide near such focal points as churches, parks, healing centers, schools and even prisons.

What is a labyrinth? Labyrinths are different from mazes which challenge the logical mind. Labyrinths make use of the intuitive resources with a single path leading to the center. One enters the labyrinth like a pilgrim and makes the winding journey to the heart of the design and returns by the same path.

The increasing interest in community labyrinths was sparked by Reverend Lauren Artress who brought the labyrinth to San Francisco's Grace Cathedral in 1992. Over a million people have walked the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral.

Artress feels that walking the labyrinth can help us achieve balance in our lives and healing because the journey accentuates the intuitive, caring, and creative aspects of ourselves.

The vision of constructing a community labyrinth has taken hold in this region as well. An intensive fundraising project is underway to walk into the millennium with a permanent labyrinth in use for the community. As the year draws to a close the first stage goal would be to make available a "bare bones" labyrinth on a conveniently located site at mouth of Carmel Valley donated by the Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula.

Donald Mathews, active from the beginning in the Community Labyrinth Project, says, "We can get the bare bones labyrinth in operation to serve our community for around $80,000. We have $20,000 so that leaves us $60,000 to raise. We have a donation category called Saints, donors who contribute $5000. If we can find 12 Saints, we can have the labyrinth in operation in the summer of the coming millennium year."

Mathews and his wife initiated the $5000 Saint fund with a gift of 50 shares of Microsoft stock on the condition that another 11 Saints or equivalent join them with this amount.

"We already have a second Saint now, so we just need 10 more," says Mathews. "This would really allow us to accomplish what we need to do and I am very pleased about that."

A significant part of the original $20,000 seed donation also came in the form of a hundred shares of Microsoft stock.

"I think it is interesting this high tech time that we will have a Microsoft grounded labyrinth," Mathews says.

He suggests that appreciating stock makes an easy way to give a donation.

"Most people with money have it invested in various ways and must deal with large taxes. We have an account at Merrill Lynch that can receive it automatically, especially before the end of the year if a person wants to do that. With a contribution to a qualified group, such as we are, you get the write off of the whole thing. Everybody wins in that sense."

Mathews said, "We are here at a transition into the millennium year, a time to (take) stock and see where we are going. The labyrinth provides a sacred way of doing that."

Mathews emphasizes that donations at all levels, not just the large donations, really make this a community labyrinth. The committee is prepared to receive VISA and MasterCard donations as well as cash and stock offerings. Those individuals and organizations who contribute $100 or more will be permanently recognized on site.

For donations of $500 or higher, special thank you gifts of beautiful donated fine art prints are available on a first come first serve basis. There are 23 different images still available.

Beyond the bare bones construction of the labyrinth, the final stage goal of $140,000 includes completion of landscaping, lighting, sound and community programs coordination.

Two labyrinth walks are scheduled next week to raise awareness of the project. Harpist Amy Krupski performs music as people walk the portable labyrinth from 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 26 at the church; on New Year's Eve the community is invited to walk into the new millennium beginning at 11 p.m.

Checks are to be made out to CCMP Labyrinth Project and can be mailed to P.O. Box 222811, Carmel, 93922. For more information call campaign coordinator N.Z. Carol at 620-0289 or Mathews at 373-7809.

(Editor's note: As of December 31, 1999, $50,000 was available for construction! Needed: 6 more Saints or equivalent donors to build the bare bones labyrinth and put it in operation!)