Notes from your ED
Board News
Staff News
Kathleen Stewart
Lars Howlett
Staff Directory
The Green World We Envision
Labyrinth at Artist-in-Residence Celebration
Facilitator Corner
New Facilitator Community Hub

Coming Soon: Emerging Leaders Scholarship
Quotes on Slowing Down
Discover Labyrinth Treasures at Our Store!
Fundraising
Auction news
Mid-Year Campaign
Fundraising Spotlight: Airline Miles
Featured Labyrinth
Did you know?
Little Miracles on the Path

Spring 2025

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Notes from your ED

Recently while supporting one of our Friday Walks led by Judith Tripp, I was captured by the metaphor she presented of "Holding the Center." What a calming thought! This concept might be defined as "creating or finding space for a strong center where we can feel a sense of grounding, and community around us. The labyrinth offers the grounding we all need in these uncertain and chaotic times. By finding our way to a strong center that will hold us, we have a strategy for navigating through these choppy waters.

So far this year, Veriditas has held two online Facilitator Trainings, 
two Qualifying Workshops, a Facilitator Renewal Day, an Advanced Facilitator Training, and a very successful Women's Dream Quest; and our Friday Walks continue.  We have not missed a week since we began holding them in April of 2020 - that comes to 264 handheld finger labyrinth walks! We are metaphorically "holding steady – holding the center" in community.

What if it's up to each of us to find and hold the center? If you can relate to this concept of holding the center, send me a quick email about your experience of the labyrinth helping you to hold the center and we'll publish some of your stories in the next newsletter.

Don't forget World Labyrinth Day is May 3:
www.worldlabyrinthday.org - hold a labyrinth walk to celebrate labyrinths and create a rolling wave of peace - Walk at one as one!

Pilgrimages to Chartres in June and September are filling up and for those wanting a week-long program all about labyrinths in the US, join us at Labyrinth Summer School to be held at the Mercy Center in Burlingame, California in July. Don't miss our Grand Finale Women's Dream Quest at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco this August.

See you on the Path!

“The labyrinth initiates the soul’s organic unfolding process which expands for beyond the specific act of walking the labyrinth.” ~ Lauren Artress

Board News

It is with excitement and sadness that the Veriditas Board of Directors announces recent changes. Stephanie Reib will be missed as Vice Chair and Treasurer, in addition to other invaluable roles, as she leaves the Board after six years of service. Twylla Alexander, Board Chair, is stepping down after completing her current term, and will serve as Vice Chair during a transition period, ending in May when she will “retire.” Their vitality and dedication to the growth of Veriditas are greatly appreciated by all who have worked with them.

Patty Kohler was unanimously approved at the February meeting to become the next Board Chair. She and the Board’s newest member, Christine Wiles, bring an abundance of energy and fresh ideas to the governing body of Veriditas. Please read more about them in the feature articles below.

Internal Board changes see Nancy Van Fleet completing her term as Secretary, to be replaced by Leslie Wright, who also serves as Council Liaison. Nancy will continue as Ritualist, inspiring Board members with powerful meditations to open and close the meetings.

Patty Kohler

The Veriditas Board of Directors is honored to announce the appointment of Patty Kohler to the Board. Patty is active in Veriditas as a Certified Advanced Facilitator, member of the Higher Education Committee, co-creator (with Lars Howlett) of the Labyrinth Guide program for university students and faculty and a regular attendee of workshops, seminars and trainings.

In her application Patty stated, “Serving as a board member, I hope to share my voice with others in seeking creative ways to ensure that this ancient tool finds its way into the hearts and under the feet of others. I am especially interested in the use of the labyrinth for end of life and for individuals with disabilities.” Patty’s most recent labyrinth project occurred in the spring of 2023 when on a sabbatical from the University of Central Arkansas, she walked all (40) Arkansas labyrinths listed on the World-wide Labyrinth Locator and visited with their creators. She also heightened the visibility of the UCA labyrinth by creating a 30-minute documentary for the college website, procuring signage for their EDGE labyrinth and adding its location to the college map.

Patty is a recently retired Professor of the Elementary, Literacy and Special Education Department at UCA and Director of the Mashburn Center of Learning. She is the author of numerous professional articles and successful grant applications, experience which will prove valuable as Veriditas expands its search for grant possibilities.

She and her husband, Randy, live in Conway, Arkansas, where Patty can often be found walking one of the three labyrinths in the city and the one in her own backyard.

We enthusiastically welcome Patty to the Board!

Christine Wiles

It is with great pleasure that the Board of Directors announces the selection of its newest Board member, Christine Wiles. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Christine served on the Veriditas Council, and she has led over a dozen Qualifying Workshops for Veriditas, as well as a Friday Labyrinth Walk, and was interviewed by Lauren Artress in the Veriditas webinar, Nature Therapy with Guide Christine Wiles. Christine is an Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator.

When asked what interested her about serving on the Veriditas Board, Christine wrote, “Labyrinth work has truly woven its way into the fabric of my life and my husband's. It's not just a practice-it's a calling. Serving on the Veriditas board feels like the perfect way to deepen that calling by supporting an organization that inspires transformation and renewal through the labyrinth experience. I wholeheartedly believe in Veriditas's mission to foster personal and community change; it's work that feels deeply honest and good.”

Christine brings 25+ years of experience and leadership skills in Human Resources to the Board. In addition, she holds certifications in the healing arts of reflexology, SoulCollage®, and is a guide in Nature Therapy. She serves on the board of WindHouse Healing Arts Center based in Wytheville, Virginia, and is a member of the nominating committee for The Labyrinth Society.

Christine is married to Nathan Wiles, a member of the Veriditas Faculty, who is a labyrinth educator, builder and designer. They live in Vermont.

We welcome Christine, her skills and her passionate spirit to the Board!

“Light a candle to help you be present.”    ~ Patty Kohler

STAFF NEWS

Meet Kathleen Stewart

Kathleen Stewart had an interest in archetypes and symbols from an early age. Growing up in southern California, she asked lots of questions and liked to make observations about the people around her. She also had an interest in spirituality and read Carl Jung in high school. In undergrad school she majored in psychology - with an emphasis in Humanistic Psychology - and felt pulled to the study of the use of symbols throughout history in religion and culture.

Kathleen has been employed by non-profit and government organizations most of her career. When it became possible to re-order priorities, she researched employment with non-profit organizations with inspirational missions. That led to connection with Veriditas.

When asked what her favorite part of her Veriditas work is, Kathleen said it was the labyrinth community because these people are “my people”. Over the years, Kathleen has seen the community expand and grow and she has appreciated witnessing the transformation the labyrinth brings so many. Although since the pandemic, Kathleen’s Veriditas duties have involved much more online work and she misses the personal contact she once had with the Veriditas community, Kathleen remains very happy and fulfilled through her role with Veriditas.

Meet Lars Howlett

Lars Howlett wears many hats at Veriditas. He serves as a member of the Veriditas staff, he designs and builds labyrinths, and he teaches labyrinth making, qualifying workshops, and facilitator training as a member of the Veriditas Faculty.

Lars’ background is in photography. He was a professional photographer who also taught photography for fifteen years. At one of the schools where he taught, an 11-Circuit Chartres labyrinth was created by Marty Kermeen in 2004. Curious, he began walking the labyrinth during his lunch hour. Finding it calming and centering, he began inviting his students on the first day of classes to walk the labyrinth and set an intention for the semester. On the last day of class, students walked the labyrinth again to reflect on their shared journey and consider what their next step as a photographer might be. In 2008 Lars used labyrinths to heal from a painful breakup, heal and begin a new chapter of life.

Two years later a new girlfriend told him about the monthly candlelight labyrinth walks at Grace Cathedral where he met Lauren Artress. Afterward, he picked up a Veriditas brochure and learned about Robert Ferre's labyrinth construction workshop that summer. Robert shared his love of sacred geometry and passion for Chartres Cathedral so Lars knew he had to go and take the facilitator training in France with Lauren next Summer. He tells the surprising story of his first pilgrimage in this video:

After walking labyrinths in France, Scotland and Sweden that summer, he wondered if he could shift careers from photography to labyrinths. He Googled “Labyrinth Builders” and learned there were very few. Robert Ferre, the master labyrinth builder he had met at Grace, was seeking an apprentice as he was retiring two years later at the age of 70. Lars enthusiastically took him up on that offer! He assisted Robert on every professional project he had for three years and shadowed him in teaching Veriditas workshops. Lars inherited his mentor’s tools and techniques, and in 2015 launched Discover Labyrinths LLC when Robert retired. He begin teaching Veriditas Labyrinth Summer School, first at IONS and then in New York, Australia, New Harmony, and last year near his new home in Silver Spring, Maryland.

During the pandemic, Dawn Matheny asked Lars to become part of the Veriditas staff assist with webinars, social media, and resource development required by the cultural changes the world was experiencing. Now his expertise bridges three areas: labyrinth maker, teacher, and staff member. We are truly fortunate that Lars discovered labyrinths and that he is part of Veriditas. To view more of his work visit DiscoverLabyrinths.com, Facebook.com/DiscoverLabyrinths, and YouTube.com/c/DiscoverLabyrinths

Staff Directory

	Lauren Artress, Founder lauren@laurenartress.com Media interviews, facilitator trainings, Grace and Chartres pilgrimages
	Dawn Matheny, Executive Director dawn@veriditas.org Leading Veriditas, managing staff and budget, liaising with Board, planning event calendar, contracts, fundraising
	Annika Moore, Communications, Marketing & Technology Manager annika@veriditas.org Communications & marketing, website, supporting registration, lodging, internal systems and VIA membership. Handles event listings, graphics & materials
	Kathleen Stewart, Event Coordinator, Facilitator Support kathleen@veriditas.org Event support & coordination, facilitator certification, scholarships, canvas labyrinths, Friday fiinger labyrinth walks, facilitator list serve

“Kinship is healing; we are physicians to each other.”    ~ Oliver Sachs

The Green World We Envision

Patty Kohler, Ed.D.

As a recently elected member of the Veriditas Board of Directors, I have been searching for understanding of my place among my fellow seekers in this worldwide community that has as its vision: “We envision a world of greater mindfulness, connection, and peace through experiences with the labyrinth.” I have pondered the meaning of this incredible statement of possibilities, and I am overcome with profound wonder; wonder at our big, wide, beautiful world and all that she gives us through her continuous cycles of growth, renewal, connection, and reconnection. With this penetrating wonder, I seem to have a deeper understanding of how the word, Veriditas, signifies all of this through the simple notion of greening.

I love the color green, and the significance that the connection “greening” has with Veriditas is not lost on me. Recently, I was studying one of the logia from the Gospel of Thomas with a friend, and this logion (# 40) focused on grapevines and growth. In the accompanying commentary, I read a passage about gardens, seeds, and growth by Christopher Bamford. He suggests that gardens “must be cultivated in time, living time. All depends upon the right gesture at the right moment, and each moment is alive and drawn beyond itself by the whole in which it participates. Living time is immanent in the seasons, in the daily, hourly rhythms of climate, weather, and the moon, sun, and stars. Such time is fecund and enclosed, like the garden itself is. It seems to flow backward and forward, and round about, continuously circulating” (not unlike the path of the labyrinth).”Throughout the garden, fruit calls to seed and seed calls to fruit, and through the stages between seed and fruit, time nurtures and proliferates the infinite, harmonious infolding of the vitality, the regenerative power, the freshness of nature.” Bamford continues to note that Hildegard of Bingen calls this invisible vitality “veriditas, greenness–the greenness of a paradise that knows no fall”(Bamford, 2003).

As we know, Hildegard's use of the word veriditas is often associated with spiritual and physical health and the greening of the human soul. She believed that there was a connection between the Divine Presence and the physical world. She suggested that the inner shows itself in the outer, and the outer reflects the inner (again, not unlike a labyrinth). Veriditas moves through human veins like blood.

As we ponder this miraculous capacity of the invisible “sap” that flows through each of us, may we all collectively seek to create a world of greater mindfulness, connection, and peace through experiences with the labyrinth. This is the world we envision through Veriditas.

Labyrinth at Artist-in-Residence Celebration

Twylla Alexander and Patty Kohler

Imagine a labyrinth lined with soup cans topped with tea lights, its path leading to a golden tree in the center. Around its edges are strewn brown leaves and bare branches, mimicking a walk in the woods on a blustery winter day. You might wonder if it could be real.

Attendees of the Artists in Residence 25th Anniversary Reception at the University of Central Arkansas on March 3, discovered not only that the labyrinth was real, but an interactive experience they were eager to explore. The labyrinth installation was one of the highlights of the reception created by former Artists in Residence, featuring a variety of art forms. Sue Schroeder, Founder and Creative Director of Core Dance, and Jay Stailey, Veriditas Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator, collaborated to create a “Rambling Rose” labyrinth design for the event.

The “Wish Tree" in the labyrinth’s center was inspired by Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace project. Walkers were invited to select an ornament such as a dove, heart or peace symbol at the entrance and place it on the tree when they reached the center. Following the walk, the soup cans were donated to local food pantries.

As a finale to the reception, the UCA choir performed as they circled the labyrinth’s outer ring, their voices reminding all present to walk in peace.

Facilitator Corner

New Facilitator Community Hub

Veriditas is continuing to upgrade and evolve our modes of communication to support your labyrinth work in the world. This month we are retiring the email List Serve due to cost, labor, and lack of use. In its place we hope you will use our Community Hub on our private social platform called the Veriditas Circle to ask questions of the Veriditas Labyrinth Community and share your labyrinth creations, walks, and workshop experiences. 

Over 300 people have already signed up and if you have an account for our Online Learning Platform on Teachable, you can use the same login and password for both. The Veriditas Circle has public forums to ask for advice, share labyrinth love, and connect with fellow labyrinth facilitators, makers, and keepers. If you do not have a Teachable account with us and would like to sign up for Circle directly, use this invite link to create your account. 

Other ways to stay connected with our community include our Free Friday Online Handheld Finger Walks and the Free Meetups organized by the Veriditas Council (next event May 17th at 10:30am Pacific). Veriditas Trained Facilitators can also join VIA which includes bimonthly ‘Conversations with Lauren’ (or Veriditas Faculty) to ask questions and share experiences. VIA Members also get access to a private Facebook Group just for VIA members on that platform. For more information about joining VIA, click here.

Coming Soon: Emerging Leaders Scholarship

Thanks to a generous supporter and donor, we will soon be offering scholarships for people under the age of fifty to participate in Veriditas programs. The Emerging Leaders Fund would cover the program fees for In-Person and Virtual Qualifying Workshops and Facilitator Trainings. Special offerings will also be included, such as Labyrinth Summer School, Women's Dream Quest, and partial funding for Chartres Pilgrimages. The intention is to engage more people in their 20s, 30s and 40s and inspire the next generation of labyrinth builders, facilitators, and faculty. The fund would not cover food, transportation or lodging, but would allow for multiple candidates to attend the same program or a series. Referral and application forms will soon be available-- to be notified about the launch, email Lars@Veriditas.org or keep an eye out for future Veriditas emails!

Discover Labyrinth Treasures at Our Store!

Visit our online store this spring to find a wonderful selection of unique labyrinth items!

More than just a beautiful design, a labyrinth is a powerful tool for meditation and mindfulness.

• Finger Labyrinths: These portable treasures allow you to trace the labyrinth's path with your finger or stylus, bringing a moment of tranquility wherever you go.
  
  
• Labyrinth Jewelry: Carry the symbolism of the labyrinth with you always. Our handcrafted jewelry pieces serve as gentle reminders of your inner journey.
• Labyrinth Books and Guides: Deepen your understanding of the labyrinth's history, symbolism, and practical applications with our selection of books.

By purchasing these items, you're not only selecting something special – you’re also directly supporting the work of Veriditas. Every purchase helps us continue our important work within the labyrinth community.

Visit www.veriditas.org/shop to start browsing!  And stay tuned – we’re planning a special custom engraving option for labyrinths this Spring from some of our favorite labyrinth makers and will be sharing details soon!

Fundraising

We may just be starting Spring, but the Veriditas team is already planning ahead for our beloved autumn event – the Veriditas Annual Online Auction! You'll have the chance to bid on incredible items and experiences, all while supporting the important work of Veriditas. Our Fall Auction is slated to run October 1st -October 15th . We hope you’ll join in the bidding fun this fall…

Interested in donating an item? Our website is open and ready to accept items from our appreciated donors! You can get started by visiting www.biddingforgood.com/veriditas and click on “donate items” to get started! Do you have questions about the event? Feel welcome to reach out to jenny@veriditas.org.

Mid-Year Campaign

Next month, Veriditas will be launching our Mid-Year Campaign, centered around interconnectedness and the rippling effect of positive change created through the labyrinth experience. With the help of our generous supporters, we can embrace and celebrate building a foundation of financial support, ensuring we can continue to offer accessible labyrinth spaces and educational programs. Your contribution, large or small, helps us weave together a stronger community. If you feel called to make a donation to our campaign early, please feel welcome to reach out to our new Development Manager, Jenny Slama at jenny@veriditas.org, or visit www.veriditas.org/donate to make a donation now.

Fundraising Spotlight: Airline Miles

Unlock the potential of your unused airline miles! Veriditas can use gifted airline miles to help offset travel costs for staff to attend our events. If you have miles to donate, please reach out to Dawn Matheny (dawn@verditas.org) or Jenny Slama (jenny@veriditas.org) to explore this option. Your generosity can make a significant difference, one flight at a time.

Featured Labyrinth: Mercy Center

"Fr. Thomas Hand, S.J. (“Hando”) founded the East-West Meditation Program at Mercy Center in 1985 and built the Mercy labyrinth in 1997 as a place for walking meditation. All the work was done by hand by a small group of volunteers under Fr. Hand’s direction. Fr. Hand chose the jagged central stone of serpentine as a reminder of the stone Jacob erected at the site of his dream of Heaven." https://mercy-center.org/about/sacred-spaces/

Another fun fact (shared by Jennifer Redelle Carey) is that the Mercy Center is the setting of Chapter 10 in The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd where she credits her awakening to the Divine Feminine after viewing a replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s Cartoon of St. Anne.

Did You Know? 

• By popular request, we are experimenting with offering recordings of our Friday handheld labyrinth sessions! You can now watch an edited video or listen in as a podcast via Substack. If you subscribe to the Veriditas Labyrinth Substack  you will receive an email notification when the recording is posted each week. This is a new platform for us, so please let us know how it works for you and any feedback by emailing Lars@Veriditas.org

• For those of you who are new to Zoom and would like to learn more about how it works, there are training videos available here.

• If you attended Veriditas Facilitator Training prior to 2022, you can order an updated Facilitator Training Manual.

Little Miracles on the Path

"Little Miracles" is produced by Linda Mikell. Each month she shares an inspirational story from a labyrinth experience that is sent to her by a facilitator. She welcomes YOUR story. I'm sure you're got one, and we all benefit from this sharing. Thank you, Linda! 

Please send your story to Linda Mikell at edlinmik@optonline.net