San Francisco, California, United States
A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body . . .
—Bible, Proverbs 14:30
This Episcopalian treasure atop San Francisco’s Nob Hill heals the heart while calling it to worship with its heavenly artwork (including replicas of Ghiberti’s famed Gates of Paradise), stained glass iconography (the most stunning: the Twenty-Third Psalm window), and choral concerts. But perhaps the major attraction for the millions who flock to the cathedral from around the world is the amazing indoor labyrinth modeled after the twelfth-century Chartres Cathedral in France and a newer outdoor labyrinth open twenty-four hours a day.
If you wish to experience the restorative and transformative powers of the labyrinth, go to this “house of prayer for all people,” located at 1100 California Street. Parking is a major challenge, so unless you’re familiar with the city, the easiest way to reach the site is by taxi or cable car (the nearest stop is two blocks away).
Walk the labyrinth, focusing on your breath and meditating on what ails or troubles you. As you make your way to the center, release the disease (or dis-ease) within you (purgation). At the center, pause to receive the healing you seek (illumination). Feel the rejuvenation of your mind/body/spirit as you return to the beginning (union).
Grace Cathedral was built in 1964 on the site of the modest Grace Church, constructed during the Gold Rush. Among the cathedral’s many artistic treasures is the Keith Haring AIDS Interfaith Chapel altarpiece.