Tuesday Evening Lectures
Gaia Alchemy with Dr Stephan Harding – Tuesday 25th January 2022 via Zoom – 6.30-8.00pm UK Time – £10
About 400 years ago during the scientific revolution science and soul were drastically separated, propelling humanity into centuries of a valuable yet one-sided style of empiricism and rationality which has fundamentally disconnected us from each other and from nature. In this perspective, there is no room for the soul (anima or psyche), or for the development of empathy, intuition and feeling in relation to nature. This tragic separation is at the root of the serious ecological, climatic and psychological crisis which we currently experience all over the planet.
Now, for the first time, we have access to detailed scientific knowledge of the dynamics of the Earth, while depth psychology has shed light on the functioning of the human psyche. In this talk we will explore how combining these apparent opposites – science and psyche – can help us recover our intrinsic wholeness to heal ourselves and the earth. We’ll do this by integrating the science of Gaia (Earth System Science) with alchemical ideas and images from our pre-scientific past in relation to the evolution of our planet throughout geological time
The Truth is Right Here: the UFO phenomenon with Professor Jeffrey Kripal – Tuesday 8th February 2022 – 7:00-8:30pm UK time – via Zoom – £10
On the surface it might seem as if UFOs are limited to science fiction, but when you really start to unpack these phenomena, it’s easy to see that they play a significant role in the story of humanity. They’re some of the most powerful experiences people ever have in their whole lives. To quote a tagline from “The X-Files” TV series, “The Truth Is Out There” — or, in the Archives of the Impossible, it’s right here. Let’s explore it.
The Unsayable in Platonism with Professor Gregory Shaw – Tuesday 22 February 2022 – 8.00-9.30pm UK time – via Zoom – £10
It is widely recognized that the foundations of Western culture lie in Greek philosophy, specifically in the intellectual achievement of Platonism. What is less known, however, is that the leading teachers of the later Platonic schools did not embrace the metaphysics that are now identified with “Platonism.” At the heart of their philosophy was a radical skepticism about what can be known and the recognition that the Platonic tradition is rooted in an awareness that defies rational expression. This non-representable and indescribable awareness was nevertheless believed to be the source of all discourse and available to anyone who learned how to receive it. This reception requires that we come to terms with our inability to grasp the unknowable and recognize that rationality itself is rooted in the unknown.
Archetypes, Synchronicity and Magic with Dr Becca Tarnas – Tuesday 8th March 2022 – 7.00-8.30pm UK time – via Zoom – £10
In recent years, astrology and magic have caught the collective imagination and are enjoying an unexpected renaissance through new social platforms. Astrology and magic have ancient roots and have persisted across the centuries through multiple evolving world views before being disavowed by the modern, scientific mind. As these disciplines re-emerge, what does it mean to practice astrological magic in the contemporary world?
Interspecies Communication and Community with Anna Breytenbach – Tuesday 24 May 2022 – 6:30pm-8.00pm (UK time) – via Zoom – £10
A natural birthright of all beings is the ability to communicate across apparent species boundaries. This creative and constructive imperative is at the heart of coexistence. We modern humans have fallen into a fog of forgetfulness – yet our true nature is that of connection and kinship. Beyond words and behaviour, we are in a dynamic quantum dance with the more-than-human world. Bringing our conscious awareness to these unspoken conversations is a great remembering. Through Anna’s stories and gentle guidance, we come to appreciate how accessible and intimate our intuition is. Interspecies communication is a beautiful way to restore our reverence for all life.
