Veriditas Staff
Founder and Creative Director
Lauren Artress
lauren@veriditas.org
Lauren is the Founder and Creative Director of Veriditas. She is the author of Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool (Putnam/Riverhead Books, New York), The Sand Labyrinth Kit, (Tuttle Publishers) and The Sacred Path Companion: A Guide to Walking the Labyrinth to Heal and Transform (Riverhead, 2006).
Lauren is a priest of the Episcopal Church, and her home parish is Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, California. From 1986 to 1992, she served as Canon Pastor and then as Canon for Special Ministries until August 2004. In May of 2006, her rediscovery of the labyrinth was honored by Grace Cathedral and she was designated Honorary Canon, a lifetime title.
In 1991, while on a brief sabbatical, Lauren walked an informal taped labyrinth through the work of Jean Houston. The idea gestated for a few months and then she was compelled to go to Chartres Cathedral, where she moved the chairs and walked the medieval labyrinth. This courageous act has led to the rediscovery of the labyrinth. Lauren not only introduced the walking meditation back into the Christian tradition but also introduced the labyrinth back into Western culture. By December 1991, she had replicated the Medieval Eleven Circuit Labyrinth at Grace Cathedral beginning in canvas form. Due to the enormous response of people desiring to learn a walking meditation, the tapestry labyrinth was installed inside the Cathedral in 1994.
The outdoor terrazzo labyrinth was installed in the Interfaith Meditation Garden in 1995. In 2007, Grace Cathedral installed a permanent limestone labyrinth in the floor to replace the tapestry labyrinth. Veriditas is storing the carpet until it can realize its vision of a retreat center where the tapestry labyrinth will once again have a home.
In 1995, Lauren created the non-profit Veriditas as a 501c3, with the initial vision of "peppering the planet with labyrinths". After successfully launching thousands of labyrinths in churches, hospitals, cathedrals, prisons, spas, community parks, hospices and other settings, a new mission for Veriditas emerged: To facilitate the transformation of the human spirit through offering the Labyrinth Experience.
Lauren travels worldwide offering workshops and lectures on the labyrinth, Hildegard of Bingen, Opening the Divine Imagination, Taking That Creative Leap ~ Navigating A Life Transition, and on other topics related to the spiritual journey and the mystical life. She creates large group experiences that nurture the connection between the human and divine such as Walking a Sacred Path held twice a year in Chartres Cathedral.
Lauren is a much sought after Keynote speaker, an Episcopal priest and licensed as a psychotherapist in the State of California. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from Ohio State University and a Master's of Education from Princeton Theological Seminary. She received her analytic training in Object Relations and Systems Theory at The Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute at The Institute of Religion and Health in New York City. Her Doctor of Ministry degree was granted in 1986 from Andover Newton Theological School in Boston Massachusetts in Pastoral Psychology.
Lauren is the Director of the Spiritual Direction program at Wisdom University. She is a Diplomate in the American Association for Pastoral Counselors and a Clinical Member in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists and a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California. She sits on the Editorial Board of Presence Magazine and is a Panelist for the On Faith series sponsored by Newsweek Magazine and the Washington Post.
Executive Director
Dawn Matheny, Ph.D. dawn@veriditas.org
Dawn Matheny is a seasoned administrator who has worked for over 30 years, running programs in local government and non-profits. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from University of California in Santa Cruz, a Masters Degree in Counseling from Sonoma State University, and a Doctorate in East West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Dawn started her work life in the non-profit sector, working in a children's residential treatment program and a volunteer bureau and then as an executive director of a shelter program for women and children who had been victims of domestic violence where she supervised 11 staff and 40 volunteers. She worked with the board to raise funds for both operational and capitol budgets. In 1984, she was hired by the County of Sonoma to create a volunteer program that would serve County departments. That program grew to over 2,000 volunteers who do a wide variety of tasks from tutoring kids in juvenile hall, walking trails in parks, to cat cuddling in the animal shelter. Dawn's job expanded over the years and involved many projects and assignments including producing on large scale recognition events, editing a 12 page monthly newsletter, and culminating in the coordination of two public sector commissions, the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on Human Rights. She ended her career in county government to accept the position with Veriditas.
Dawn's doctoral dissertation was titled Dreaming: the Relationship to Self, in which she explored the various ways that people have of relating to their dreams. Dawn is a member of the Association of the Study of Dreams and has made numerous presentations in classes and at conferences on dream related topics. After getting her Ph.D., Dawn taught Qualitative Research and Research Methods as adjunct faculty at John F. Kennedy University and the Institute of Integral Studies.
Dawn got involved with the labyrinth by attending and then assisting with Women's Dream Quests over the past six years. With strong administrative, organizational and people skills, Dawn is delighted to join Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress in building Veriditas to promote the wisdom of the labyrinth.
Women's Dream Quest Coordinator, and Veriditas Master Teachers and Master Teacher Apprentices
Judith Tripp, Coordinator, Woman's Dream Quest
judith@veriditas.org
Judith Tripp has a Masters in Counseling and is a licensed Marriage/Family Therapist. She is a transpersonal psychotherapist, a Veriditas trained facilitator, as well as a musician with several CDs in circulation. She has been leading Veriditas sponsored Dream Quests at Grace Cathedral and around the country for almost 20 years. She is member of the Veriditas Council and works for Veriditas to coordinate, develop and lead programs specifically focused on women.
Jo Ann Mast, Master Teacher
joann@veriditas.org
Jo Ann Mast's first steps onto a labyrinth in 1998 felt immediately like beginning a partnership of intimacy with Spirit. She "intuitively felt its power to connect others effortlessly to their own inner language of meaning". In the years that followed, learning how to help others discover the same richness and depth became her passion.
Jo Ann has been involved in the labyrinth movement since its inception, working closely with the Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress and Veriditas. She was a member of the Veriditas Board from 2000 - 2006 and an active founding member of the Veriditas Council. As the labyrinth movement started taking form, she began to gather to herself, through Lauren and modern mystics such as Andrew Harvey and Matthew Fox, rich experiences that shaped her skills as a professional labyrinth facilitator certified by Veriditas.
Over the years, working in the US, Canada and Europe, she explored crafting an array of labyrinth experiences - creating programs, walks and retreats as well as consulting, designing and building labyrinths of all kinds. She also made five pilgrimages to the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in France, using her facilitation work there to infuse her offerings with the Cathedral's rich legends, intense beauty and mystery. In all of these, she found new ways to open hearts and imagination to the challenging and unlimited opportunities available when we walk the labyrinth.
Jo Ann brought all of these experiences to her two-year residency as Theologian in Residence for the First United Methodist Church of Boulder, where she helped design and create a labyrinth as well as weekly programs blending liturgy, Taize music, ritual, and holy day celebrations. Jo Ann possesses the rare ability to create sacred labyrinth space that invites people to discover their own unique spiritual journey while in community.
In 2009, Jo Ann became the first Veriditas Master Teacher, certified to teach Veriditas educational labyrinth programs internationally. From her home and office in Boulder, Colorado, she consults and teaches in faith communities, universities, and seminaries and for community organizations of all kinds.
Recently, she founded the Colorado Labyrinth Group, a gathering of people whose purpose is to promote the use of the labyrinth, and to deepen and enrich the labyrinth experience. As a businesswoman, spiritual companion, mother, grandmother and partner, she invites and encourages everyone to embrace life fully and to have their own intensely personal labyrinth experience.
Di Williams, Master Teacher Apprentice
Di@veriditas.org
Di Williams met her first labyrinth on a beautiful summer walk along the coastal path of South Wales. That encounter began a relationship with labyrinths which has deepened over the last 15 years.
She began her working life in a comprehensive school teaching mainly Religious Education, Physical Education and a little Drama. After eight years she took some time out to do some study in Adult Education, followed by an MA in Religious Studies at Lancaster University, then continued her theological learning as she trained for the Anglican ministry. She worked in two parishes and as a member of the adult development team for her home diocese of Liverpool. She qualified as a Massage Practitioner whilst in Liverpool. In 1996 she went back to Lancaster University as Anglican Chaplain where, amongst other things, she set up a Natural Health Care Centre in the Chaplaincy for staff and students. For the last eight years she has worked as Chaplain to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She has developed a Chaplaincy provision within the University which is for all faiths and none. She has a deep interest in the variety of spiritual journeys we humans find ourselves making. One of her joys has been to develop the use of the labyrinth within the University and the wider Edinburgh community. She initiated, and saw through to completion, the building of the beautiful Edinburgh Labyrinth in the peaceful setting of the 18th century George Square Gardens in Edinburgh's Old Town, right opposite the main University Library. She loves travel, images, walking in the countryside...and people!
On December 10, 2008, Di was invested by the Queen at Buckingham Palace as an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) The MBE is a national award. The Prime Minister, on advice from the Cabinet Secretary and the expert Honors Committees submitted her name to The Queen who approved her appointment. She received the honor for 'services to Higher Education', including her interfaith and labyrinth work in Chaplaincy.
Kay Mutert, Master Teacher Apprentice
kay@veriditas.org
Kay is a member of the Veriditas Council and a certified Veriditas Advanced Facilitator, now serving as Veriditas' USA Southeast Regional Representative. Her current business is called "DaySpring - a source of creative expression and renewal of spirit". She uses her experience as musician, minister, and teacher in working with groups and individuals from all arenas of life, inviting them to discover the possibilities of the labyrinth in the journey to experience a reconnection with the sacredness of life. She has worked with labyrinths for the past 12 years. Kay's focus is on helping others find ways for renewal of mind, body, spirit and creative energy, through retreats, workshops and sacred events. Kay served congregations in the United Methodist Church and the British Methodist Church. Before that she worked as a music educator and musician in Florida and Alabama. She is a conductor, composer and pianist, wanting to let her love for the spirit of music and movement speak to the hearts of others. Her work has included compositions and concerts for those affected by cancer and AIDS.
Kay has served as musician and program presenter at Iona Abbey, and has been an associate of the international ecumenical Iona Community based in Scotland. She offers workshops and worship experiences utilizing the resources of Iona, Taize and global music.
Kay believes the ancient archetype of the labyrinth serves as a strong source of possibility for today's world, in meditation, reconciliation, peace-making, for young and old, for cross-cultures, for community and personal use. Through her experience in the a variety of settings, Kay works to honor the non-verbal expression of meaning, as felt in the labyrinth, through movement, and through visual and musical expressions.
Kay's strengths lie in the areas of group facilitation, understanding where persons may be and bridging the gaps of language or expression, so that they may be open to new experiences. Her approach is invitational. Her training and experience in creative arts, in movement, and in pastoral care, ministry and teacher education provide strength for her work with the labyrinth.
Kay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Mississippi State University, graduating 1st in her class, Master of Arts in Vocal Music Education from University of South Florida, where she served as a teaching assistant, Doctor of Education in Secondary Music Education from University of Alabama, where she served as teaching assistant and then faculty/staff member, and Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, as a Woodruff Scholar. She has published a set of her musical compositions, Songs for the Journey, with Joe Elmore, among other vocal/choral/piano compositions. Her upcoming book At the end of the day tells the story of her first year of life and ministry in England.
Kay Sandor, Master Teacher Apprentice
kays@veriditas.org
Dr. M. Kay Sandor is a Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing (SON). She teaches across programs in the SON with an emphasis in the Master’s and Doctoral programs where she teaches face-to-face and online courses. Dr. Sandor actively promotes interprofessional education in the Spirituality and Clinical Care course funded by the Templeton Foundation Grant through the George Washington Institute of Spirituality and Health (GWish). She has been co-director of the nationally recognized required course for UTMB nursing, medical, and allied health students for 9 years. Dr. Sandor is nationally known for her research with the spiritual development of health professions students. Dr. Sandor is also interested in international health education and received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach Community Health and Transpersonal Nursing in Hungary at the University of Pécs and at Semmelweis University in 2005-2006.
Dr. Sandor is a member of several international organizations including the American Holistic Nurses Association, the American Association of Public Health, and the American Nurses Association. In addition to her nursing credentials, Dr. Sandor is also a Board Certified Advanced Holistic Nurse (AHN-BC), a Benedictine Oblate (OSB-Obl), and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She is a Certified Grief Recovery® Specialist, a Metta Institute End-of-Life Care Practitioner Program graduate, and she has completed the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) program and she recently completed the “Being with Dying” course for health care professionals at the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Sandor’s expertise as a counselor and educator is with grief, loss, and bereavement as well as working with the actively dying. She is often called to present in-service and education programs to hospice and hospital staff.
Kay has been a labyrinth facilitator for 10 years. She also has an active research program that focuses on the biobehavioral and spiritual responses to a program of meditative walking (labyrinth). She weaves the labyrinth into her end-of life work and frequently facilitates labyrinth walks in Galveston. She has been organizing and facilitating Full Moon walks and Seasonal Sunrise walks since she first became a facilitator. Kay is an avid sailor, watercolorist, and gardener. Her granddaughters are the light of her life.
Office Manager/Administrative Assistant
Anne Bull, Administrative Assistant
anne@veriditas.org
Anne Bull was born and raised in South Africa, where the stark life-quality contrasts, of mansions on one side of the street and makeshift shantytowns on the other, was so glaring that it inspired her to dedicate her life to making a meaningful difference in the world. She moved to the US in 1996 and enrolled at the University of South Africa (a correspondence university) where she completed her BA in Health Sciences and Social Services with Specialization in Applied Psychology for Professional, Contexts. Together with her training in graphic design, this communications-based degree has helped guide her work with non-profit organizations over the last 8 years.
Anne’s spiritual journey has included many years of meditation practice. She is now an assistant Zen Teacher and an ordained Soto Zen Buddhist Priest. She served on the High Mountain Crystal Lake Zen Community Board of Directors for seven years. During that time she also worked part-time as their Communications Director In June 2008, she moved to Montague Massachusetts to support the work of the Zen Peacemakers, an organization dedicated to social service. She served as their Communications Director, Event Coordinator, assistant to the Vice President and Office Manager.
At the end of 2009, Anne relocated to California with her dog Emma, to be closer to family. She and her niece, who is one-going-on-two, share a bundle of giggles! In addition to walking the Labyrinth, Anne enjoys yoga, meditation, reading, playing guitar & singing, and playing Native American flute. She is also pitching in, with her boyfriend, on the development of an organic farm in Sonoma County.
She is delighted to have joined the Veriditas team as Administrative Assistant. The position is an ideal match for her life path and she is looking forward to contributing to furthering this meaningful work in the world.
Contractors
Roberta Sautter, Technical Consultant and Webmaster
roberta@veriditas.org
Roberta ran the office at Veriditas for the 4 years until the move to Petaluma, when she became Technical Consultant and Web Master. When not working for Veriditas, you can often find Roberta at Grace Cathedral, where she is a parishoner and Education for Ministry Mentor. Her other interests include her cats, Wiglaf, Alban and Freya and knitting.
Pam Cole, Bookkeeper
accounting@veriditas.org
Volunteers
Newsletter Production Team: Robin Bradley Hansel, Maya Scott and Tina Margason, with Marjorie Connelly, Newsletter Desktop Publisher.
Facilitator Certification Committee: Catlyn Fendler, Anna Cook
...and many, many more volunteers who help with our events!
