Educating the Heart
THERE ARE MANY jewels in our fair city, but one of the lesser known ones is the Sophia Institute which offers a variety of opportunities for exploring things of a spiritual nature through lectures and retreats that help people understand and appreciate the world—ancient and new—around them.
Frankly, it took me a while to fully understand what the Sophia Institute was about, but I knew that I was interested and glad that it was in the holy city where tradition can sometimes seem stifling. At the same time, the idea of a place that focuses on spiritual growth and transformation has a way of making some people wary. So I thought I would try to unveil some of the mystique.
As I attend more lectures and events at the institute, I become increasingly excited about opening my mind to new ideologies and schools of thought. As a dancer, I have experienced the harmony of mind, body, and spirit working together to create a moment in time where the physical expresses a thought and uncovers the soul. However, this is not the norm, and when people hear of these concepts, it can seem abstract and “new agey.” But those involved at the Sophia Institute have put a lot of thought into the union of these entities, as well as a lot of effort into creating a place and community that can field a vision for a more conscious world.
The Sophia Institute is a nonprofit organization that offers workshops and retreats led by teachers, authors, artists, and specialists of national and international acclaim who provide diverse programs for people engaged in personal and interpersonal transformation. In the words of the mission statement, “The Sophia Institute fosters wisdom, wholeness, oneness, sustainability, peace, and interaction of the sacred feminine and masculine for the transformation of self and society.”
Spearheaded in 2001 by Carolyn Rivers, the idea for Sophia came from a transformation of her own self-purpose. As she explains, “Before leaving my career of 27 years, 15 of which were spent working for a major publishing company, I studied with many of the extraordinary teachers that we now bring to The Sophia Institute… opening me to new vistas within my own heart. Creating The Sophia Institute was a profound calling for me that emerged out of my own deep work.”
Founder, Carolyn Rivers
Each year the program includes an ever growing and impressive lineup of presenters. Dr. Jean Houston, Marion Woodman, Joan Boreysenko, Andrew Harvey, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Natalie Goldberg, and David Whyte are just a few of the lecturers, writers, and teachers who Carolyn has brought to town. In addition to the lectures and weekend retreats that can amply fill your calendar, there are ongoing events such as “Women’s Circle” with Carolyn, “Men in Transition” with her husband Henk Brandt who is a poet and psychologist, meditation sessions and discussions with Dr. Lee Irwin, a series of Ecumenical evenings, and yoga classes.
A strong base of Charlestonians attend these events, but Carolyn points out that, “There is a national presence, too, with 49 states and three other countries represented by those who are willing to come here to do our work.” The Sophia Institute has also been working with other organizations including the Fetzer Institute, the Kalliopeia Institute, the Global Peace Initiative of Women, and the Aspen Institute. As Carolyn says, “Institutes can serve as bridges between the old forms and the emergent ones. We all know that much change is needed now, and it needs to be meaningful, conscious, and in alignment with the values that are sustainable—that honor the sacred at the center of life.”
Henk Brandt
Recently, I attended a screening of the film “Fierce Light” hosted by The Sophia Institute. It was a moving documentary by the award-winning Canadian filmmaker, Velcro Ripper, who followed a group of people that felt enough compassion about a particular cause that they did all they could to prompt change through the basics of hope, love, and determination.
Afterwards I was talking to Henk Brandt about the institute and at one point he commented, “So many people are glad that the Sophia Institute is here in Charleston, even if they do not come out for every event. It is mainly a sense of community, of being with like-minded people who have similar concerns and interests.” This is a basic human need, and in today’s world we need all the support we can get. •
Learn more about the Sophia Institute.
Charleston is lucky to have a place and a state of mind like Sophia, and the people who embrace it (and vice versa) are part of the city’s most interesting populaton.