| Marion PattersonCedar Rapids, Iowa Marion Patterson lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and completed her facilitator training and certification with Lauren Artress in 2013. She routinely hosts labyrinth walks, opening the experiences to varied groups; has facilitated the Circle process and small focus groups for different denominations; and teaches adults at Kirkwood Community College. She and her husband, Rich, have a business called “Winding Pathways” that encourages people to transform their yards - from patio decks to acreages - into places of satisfying fun, food and fascination. She works welcomes all to learn more and connect the facilitators with the Council.
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Council Alumni |
Chris Farrow Noble Michel Gribble-Dates | Catlyn Fendler | Margaret Saison Karen Kelley | Melissa Postnikoffmember in perpetuity |
Download a timeline of the Veriditas Council Here.
The focus of the Council’s work is to support the Facilitator community. We are committed to developing ways for facilitators to more easily connect with each other. One way this is being done is through a series of “Facilitator Renewal” events being planned across the country. Another is to be actively working to strengthen local and regional labyrinth groups, by establishing connections between veteran and newly trained facilitators, and supporting the need for topical interest groups. We would love to help facilitate the formation of Regional Councils. Further, we are working on event guidelines that could help local groups produce labyrinth events in their communities.
Members of the Council have also been developing new programs within Veriditas, such as The School of the Sacred Feminine and the Global Healing Response Network, as well as taking responsibility for organizing the Veriditas yearly on-line Auction. We are working to build connections with other labyrinth groups around the country, and taking (and building) the labyrinth into places it hasn’t been. We are planning the creation of the Melissa Postnikoff Memorial Scholarship Fund, named for a beloved founding member, which could help bring greater financial access to programs. And so much more…We continually ask, "What does the labyrinth want of us now?"
Called together by Lauren, we formed in the spring of 2004 with the purpose of helping to vision the birthing of the second generation of Veriditas as it moved toward a focus centered on the transformative experience of the labyrinth. It was also a time when Lauren was beginning to think about shifting the tenor of her role as Mother of Veriditas to that of Grandmother. We took inspiration from the image of the spider plant, where the mother plant is continually bringing forth baby plants, each having the potential to thrive and grow. It continues to be a beautiful metaphor for the expanding and deepening of our work.
From the beginning, we have seen ourselves as a spiritual task force. As we come together, we create a sacred space from which to work. We are inspired and guided by Christina Baldwin’s circle model, found in her book Calling the Circle. Our meetings are structured to give time to meditation, labyrinth walking and sharing of personal process, interwoven with the business of the meetings. We honor the wisdom of each member’s voice; deeply listening to each other.
The Council meets twice a year in retreat, talks by conference calls and works by committee between meetings. Our membership has always been somewhat fluid and organic, with a limit of 15 people. Interest in working in a spiritual circle and sharing a commitment to our mission are essential, as are attending meetings and willingness to take on tasks.
Council periodically accepts applications for new members. The process is posted in the fall. If you are interested in being a member of the Council, please contact Marion Patterson.
Council may approve visitors to our meetings. If you want to attend, please email somasphere@outlook.com. Visitors will be welcomed according to our policies.