Highlights of the Journey

Registration Now Open

Sacred Sites & Symbols: A Swedish

Midsummer Labyrinth Retreat

June 15 - 22, 2025, Gotland, Sweden

You’re invited to join Valarie Budayr (Mongata), and Lars Howlett (Discover Labyrinths), for a magical midsummer retreat on the enchanting island of Gotland, where we will immerse ourselves in the timeless wisdom of labyrinths and sacred symbols. Over the course of this special gathering, we’ll explore labyrinths as ancient symbols of transformation and reflection, visiting sites that carry the stories and threads of the ancient mothers.

Our retreat will include visits to labyrinths and other sacred places scattered across Gotland’s breathtaking landscapes. These sites connect us to the island’s deep-rooted history, weaving together nature, spirituality, and the energies of those who walked before us. Together, we will honor these spaces through ceremony and song, using the labyrinth as a place of ritual, inspiration, and personal discovery.

Beyond the labyrinths, we’ll explore Gotland’s stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Our tour of the island will include visits to historic landmarks, charming villages, and serene coastal views, offering a full sense of Gotland’s unique spirit.

  • Explore Mythic Sites
    Immerse yourself in the energy of Gotland’s sacred places. Walk where myths were born and stories carved into the ancient stones.

  • Ancient Labyrinths
    Step into powerful, meditative journeys as we walk age-old labyrinths that have guided seekers for generations.

  • Creative Art & SoulCollage® Sessions
    Create meaningful, personal art to reflect your inner wisdom in a practice that nurtures both self-expression and self-discovery.

  • Labyrinth Soul Songs

    Labyrinth soul songs are deeply emotive and reflective melodies, intertwined with traditional music from Gotland and the Baltics. Drawing from the rich heritage of these regions, they blend meditative rhythms and introspective tones, creating a soundscape that resonates with spiritual journeys and personal transformation.

  • An Historic Setting
    Stay in a beautiful 12th-century hotel with breathtaking charm. Nearby stands an ethereal cathedral ruin, where our classroom for the week will blend history with inspiration.

Why Attend?

Whether you are drawn to the labyrinth’s mysteries, looking to connect with sacred spaces, or seeking a deeper creative practice, this retreat will offer an unforgettable midsummer experience, rich with wonder, reflection, and connection. Step into the magic of Gotland and join us on this soulful journey!

Each evening, we will gather in a nurturing circle to reflect and create. On selected nights, these circles will include engaging SoulCollage sessions, a powerful process to explore your inner landscape through the art of collage. Together, these moments of connection and creativity will deepen your retreat experience.

During our stay, we’ll have the pleasure of calling Visby, Gotland’s ancient and UNESCO-listed city, our home base. Here, cobbled streets and medieval history meet a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We’ll stay at the lovely Hotell St. Clemens, a charming and peaceful retreat that combines comfort with character, offering the perfect place to rest and rejuvenate. Our classroom at the Hotell St. Clemens, is a 12th century Gothic Cathedral Ruin.

Whether you are drawn to the labyrinth’s mysteries, looking to connect with sacred spaces, or seeking a deeper creative practice, this retreat will offer an unforgettable midsummer experience, rich with wonder, reflection, and connection. Step into the magic of Gotland and join us on this soulful journey!

Registration is now open.

Space is limited for this intimate experience, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary week. Click on the details button to visit our WeTravel page and pay your trip deposit.

Meet Your Guides

Valarie Budayr

Through her diverse expertise and heartfelt dedication, Valarie creates empowering experiences that support personal growth, self-discovery, and the honoring of sacred traditions. Whether leading labyrinth journeys, facilitating breathwork sessions, or curating retreats, she invites others to step into deeper alignment with their true selves and the world’s cherished stories.

Valarie’s ancestral roots run deep in Gotland, her family’s homeland, where she spends nearly every summer immersed in the island’s stunning beauty and timeless traditions. It is here that she finds inspiration, sharing and preserving Gotland’s unique customs and heritage. Her deep love for cultural traditions extends beyond Gotland to include the songs and stories of Karelia and the Baltic Region, which she has studied extensively.

Fluent in nine languages, Valarie embodies a global perspective that informs her work and her teachings. Since 2012, she has had the privilege of guiding Sacred Site Retreats in Scotland, France, Spain, Iceland, Norway, New Mexico, Alaska, and many other destinations in the United States, helping participants connect with the living landscape, the spiritual, and historical significance of these extraordinary places.

Valarie Budayr is a dedicated Teacher/Guide, celebrated Author, Board Certified Sound Therapist, Clinical Musician, Trauma-Certified Breathwork Facilitator, Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator, SoulCollage® Facilitator, Transformational Human Design Coach, and Labyrinth Builder. With a deep passion for weaving together ancient wisdom and modern practices, she helps others explore transformation, healing, and connection to self and the world around them.

Lars Howlett

is a leading expert in the design and creation of sacred space for walking meditation, centering prayer, personal healing, conflict resolution and community building. Lars is a practitioner of mindfulness and student of sacred geometry since 2003, experimenting with a wide variety of designs, materials, intentions and settings in his personal and professional projects. Universities, churches, health centers, retirement communities, mental health centers, retreats, and individuals find Lars for inspiration and insight in creating exact replicas of historical patterns or one-of-a-kind artistic installations. 

Lars was a three year apprentice to Robert Ferré, inheriting the tools, techniques, and teaching curriculum of a master builder. Lars is a Veriditas Faculty Member and Certified Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator trained by the Reverend Dr. Lauren Artress at Grace and Chartres Cathedrals. He was the Chairperson of World Labyrinth Day from 2013-18.

Lars is an inspiring teacher and passionate speaker on the history, spirituality, and practice of walking labyrinths, leading workshops to cultivate inner wisdom for personal transformation with slideshows of personal projects and visits to sacred sites on four continents.