“The birth and integration of Feminine consciousness at this necessary moment in history has been referred to by scholar, Joanna Macy as “the Turning”. It is a privilege to witness this immense, though sometimes anguished Turning in human experience. And it is especially thrilling to witness its emergence and flourishing at The Sophia Institute in Charleston.”

“At Sophia Institute we are learning how to open our hearts. We are learning how to form. We are learning how to be great. We’re learning how to be grand and not grandiose. We’re learning how to live lives as sober, conscious, powerful adults, and not just kind of shrinking because of whatever forces have made us feel we are less than. We are not less than. We are sons and daughters of God. We are created in love, and we’re here to love. And with places like the Sophia Institute you don’t have an excuse not to take part.”

“So I think one of the things that Sophia does beautifully is help people at those crucial moments, those moments where ground turns to ocean, and it’s not only where a person needs shelter at times but also where they are just about to blossom and take a creative step, that’s not only going to be a gift to themselves, but also to their loved ones and to their greater society. It’s this invitation to the generosity inside a person, the generous ability to give of themselves in whatever form that is that I think is at the heart of our being here in this world, and I’m very glad that Sophia Institute is here in this world and thank you for the opportunity to come here and work with you every year.”

“Carolyn Rivers has her hand on the pulse of the emerging sacred feminine. Rightly she sees this emergence not as an end in itself, but one that brings the gifts of the feminine into an eternal movement that includes both male and female. With the Sophia Institute, Carolyn has created a unique and intimate container for creativity, beauty, and intelligence, warmed by southern hospitality, to foster the dance of being fully human. The arts, music, our relationship with a divine center, our natural inclination towards inclusivity, diversity, and social justice, all find a place in Carolyn Rivers’ garden. Let yourself blossom in this exquisite container called the Sophia Institute. I loved teaching there.”

“The Sophia Institute is a sacred grove, a source and beacon in today’s world for transformation and spiritual growth. It’s a gathering place for those on the journey, a place committed to awakening the conscious heart in all of us. In my time here, I’ve seen this happen. The Sophia Institute works like a greenhouse for the soul.”