Labyrinth Building as a Spiritual Practice
Dates: Thursday, August 13, 2026 – Sunday, August 16, 2026
Opening Ceremony for the Labyrinth: Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 2pm
Exciting News: Cathedral of the Trees of Rise Above Guest House is building a Labyrinth
and you are invited to be part of it
Thanks to seed money from Cathedral of the Trees and a generous donation from an anonymous donor, as well as an offer to match funds in a soon to be launched donation campaign we have the required funds to begin the hard landscaping for a Labyrinth at Rise Above Guest House (as soon as the snow melts). Additionally, this means we can offer this August 13-16 retreat at a significantly reduced rate.
What is a Labyrinth?
Labyrinths are a spiritual practice tool for mindfulness, meditation and healing. Variations of Labyrinths can be found in ancient cultures all over the world.
Unlike a maze that includes dead-ends, a Labyrinthine path winds its way to a centre and then back out again. You can’t get lost. As such, people will often walk them mindfully as a symbolic journey through life.
Walking a Labyrinth can:
- bring clarity during times of confusion,
- provide a tool for contemplation,
- and/or encourage transformation and renewal.
What is a “Labyrinth Building as a Spiritual Practice” Retreat all about?
A labyrinth retreat often means learning about the practice and then walking a labyrinth with intention, openness, and reflection. For this time together we will also engage the wisdom that links physical labour with prayer, literally laying down the rock paths that will be used for our meditations. All of the hard landscaping will be concluded before anyone arrives except for the final stages of laying the rocks along the edges of the pathways. It is not assumed that everyone who comes must be able to lift and place rocks. Other activities will include prayer, meditation, music, evening campfires, and more. This retreat is open to and geared to all spiritual paths.
Guided by our Labyrinth Facilitator, Michele Rizoli, and together with the gifts and talents that each retreat participant brings, we will complete the final stages of building the Labyrinth on the land as we explore our personal labyrinth journey.
Michele Rizoli will be our Guide on this Journey.
Michele Rizoli is a semi-retired pastor and a grandmother. She is a trained labyrinth facilitator who has found the practice of walking the labyrinth to be an excellent path to meditation and reflection, especially for those of us who find it hard to sit still.
Accommodations – cabins/rooms/camping/commuter options
Fees – include three nights accommodations, all meals and snacks, and retreat fees
Fees for a 3 night 3 day retreat (accommodations, meals, snacks and facilitator fees) would normally range from $395 (commuter) to $850 (single occupancy) or more, but we have been able to offer significantly discounted fees thanks to our donors. Therefore the fees will range from $255 (commuter) to $575 (single occupancy in the house). Your participation in this retreat will benefit not only you in the moment, but also untold numbers of retreat participants in the future of all that Rise Above Guest House is becoming.
Fees: include: 3 night and 3 day retreat accommodations, all meals and snacks, and facilitator fees.
commuter: (all meals, snacks, plus discounted retreat fee) $255
camping: – $255 per person plus $60 per tent
cabins: $375 per person shared or $525 single occupancy.
Rooms/Loft in the house: – $390 per person shared or $575 single occupancy
Retreat begins Thursday August 13 at dinner and ends late Sunday afternoon after the 2 pm Opening Ceremony of the Labyrinth.
