We are delighted to welcome the scientist and philosopher Dr Bernardo Kastrup to discuss the power of mythic and symbolic understanding for our age. We will talk with Bernardo about his book ‘More than Allegory’ and the relationship of intellect, emotion and belief in religious and mythic narratives and their importance today, followed by a discussion and Q&A with participants.
We will think about why and how Plato uses myths in his Dialogues, and what kind of ‘truth’ he is wanting to tell us using the language of the ‘likely story’. We will follow the themes of the creation, the nature of knowledge, erotic love as a spiritual path, and finally the experience of the afterlife, and consider the importance of these stories for us now.
In this interactive talk, Victoria Field will explore some of the ways in which the poetic can enhance our lives and expand our sense of connection with ourselves, the world and the transcendent. Mindful reading of poems and writing in response can offer solace, pleasure, new insights and even awakening experiences. We will look specifically at how metaphor, form and rich ambiguity work in poems. No previous experience or knowledge is required. Please bring a notebook and something to write with.
The theme of this talk is beauty, love and ecstasy, and how they may save us and the cosmos. In particular I will talk about love as a response to the theophanic beauty of the world and human persons. This ecstatic movement of eros is a personal call which lifts me out of my ego-centred self, abandoning myself to realise the divine presence and dignity of the other (whether human or non-human) as an icon of God. It is however a slow process and indeed it will never end, continuing, deepening, expanding for ever. This is an ecological vision which includes the afterlife, as it should.
INTRODUCTION TO HEART SENSE WITH DR LOUISE LIVINGSTONE Six week personal development course via Zoom: Mondays 7:30pm – 9pm (UK Time) 17th Jan, 31st Jan, 14th Feb, 28th Feb, 14th March, 28th March 2022 £60 “I’m so grateful to Louise for her Heart Sense...
In Shakespeare’s plays, and particularly his late plays, forgiveness and reconciliation often occur via the transit through particular realms, whether pastoral, ‘green worlds’ which regenerate human communities or sacred spaces such as chapels and temples where the co-mingling of mortals and divinities is dimly felt.
