“To put your hands in a river is to feel the chords that bind the earth together.” ~ Barry Lopez
In this transformative online retreat, we will weave together the ancient wisdom of rivers and the timeless journey of the labyrinth. River Wisdom on the Labyrinth invites you to explore the natural fluidity, cycles, and rhythms of the river as a profound mirror of your own life's path. Rivers teach us about change and resilience, reflecting the rhythms of rising and releasing, healing and renewing. They are catalysts for creative expression. Just as the river continuously flows, shifts, and re-adapts, so too do our lives—filled with moments of discovery and transformation.
Rivers, sacred in many traditions, carry the wisdom of both stillness and movement, of deep currents and surface ripples. In the Celtic tradition, stories tell of rivers that are revered as vital spirit-filled beings — nourishing as well as destroying, guiding and teaching those who listen. The labyrinth, with its meandering path leading to the center and back out again, offers a powerful archetype for navigating the inner landscapes of our hearts and minds. Together, these two symbols invite us to reflect on how we move through life's cycles, how we embrace change, and how we find solace in the flow of our own journey.
As this season unfolds, we might ask: How are we navigating the shifting waters of our own lives? Are we resisting the currents or surrendering to the flow? Recent natural disasters lead us to ask questions about the dominance of nature, our fear of losing control, the necessity of hope, and our innate desire to gather in supportive community. Through this retreat, we will dive into the river's wisdom to navigate these times of change and uncertainty—drawing strength from the river's movement and the labyrinth's steady rhythm.
Through creative practices such as song, poetry, mandala-making, journaling, and ritual, we will explore how the river’s many phases—rising, swelling, calming, and receding—mirror the different stages of our personal journeys, culminating in our walk on the labyrinth. The labyrinth provides a sacred container for grounding these reflections, offering a space to walk with intention and to embrace the fluid path that unfolds.
In her book, Walking a Sacred Path, Lauren Artress interrelates labyrinths with other creative expressions, stating: "At workshops, I encourage people to journal or draw mandalas in order to capture in concrete form the inner process that is occurring." (p.131) In our time together, participants will be guided to do both – to journal and create a personal mandala that embodies their response to the river and labyrinth themes shared throughout the day. (Participants may choose their own art materials – watercolor, inks, collage pieces, colored pencils/pens – to create a mandala reflecting their own thoughts and feelings about rivers.)
In community, we will:
Explore the river as a symbol of life's flow, embracing its wisdom in both its wild and calm aspects.
Walk the labyrinth as a path of connection, where each turn brings us closer to understanding our inner landscape and our relationship with the ever-changing world around us.
Engage in creative practices to express our personal and collective journeys—using poetry, journaling and mandalas to capture the river’s essence in our own lives.
Honor the sacred rhythms and mystery of both water and earth through ritual, meditation and music, tapping into the deeper wisdom of nature's cycles and our role as guardians.
This retreat invites you to listen deeply to the call of the river, to reflect on the shifts in phases and rhythms of your own life, and to discover the gifts that emerge when you trust the flow. Together, we will deepen our connection to the sacred waters that sustain us and explore how the labyrinth can guide us through the twists and turns of our personal and collective stories.
Join us in this sacred space of reflection, creativity, and transformation—let the river’s wisdom guide you on the labyrinth for your own journey.
This is a Veriditas Qualifying Workshop for those who wish to take the Facilitator Training.
Barrie Carter Gibby:
A long-time educator, writer and avid traveler, Barrie interweaves her background in design, music, theater production and ritual-making to facilitate labyrinth workshops across the nation on a variety of themes. Her many pilgrimages to the 13th c. Chartres Cathedral labyrinth and others worldwide have guided her passion for the layers of symbology, cultural understanding and synchronicities in her labyrinth work. As an Advanced Certified Facilitator and on faculty at Veriditas, Barrie finds sacred spaces everywhere.
Lynn Karegeannes:
Lynn Karegeannes is a native of South Carolina. She completed her undergraduate degree in art history at Rice University and then her Master’s, also in art history, at the University of Texas, Austin. After a short time working in arts education, she returned to South Carolina to complete her second Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. She worked in the New York Public Library system and then returned to the Southeast with her husband to raise their children in Asheville, North Carolina. In Asheville she has devoted her time to professional and volunteer work with organizations centered on issues relevant to women and the arts. Lynn first learned about labyrinths through Lauren Artress’ book, Walking a Sacred Path. Lynn’s interest in and experience with labyrinths has grown over the years. She currently works as an artist, and expressive arts and labyrinth facilitator through her business, Full Life Arts. Her website is at https://full-life-arts.com/
