International Women’s Day
This day event consists of four presentations by four distinguished women speaking on an aspect of their active spiritual life.
PROGRAMME
10.00 am
Brief introduction to the day: Julie Parker, Manager of the Fintry Trust
Host: Elizabeth Medler will introduce each speaker
10.05 – 10.50
Getting to the heart of Yin and Yang
Dr. Tamara Russell
In this presentation Tamara will draw on perspectives including Daoism, martial arts, neuroscience and psychology to try to make sense of where we are in the world today as men and women. She will start with the heart to help contextualise this discussion within the broader expansive energies of our universe beyond Yin and Yang. She will then drill down into the nitty gritty of the “Yin/Yang” rotation and what this means practically for each of us, as well as collectively, in these times. The need for balance is more pressing than ever, but what can we expect at this tipping point where Yin comes more into prominence? How does this appear in our meditation practice and what does this mean for the emergence of embodied “real world” spirituality?
Coffee Break
11.30 – 12.15
Finding Inner Peace
Josephine Chia
This physical incarnation has been a great learning curve for Josephine Chia, propelling her into deeper spiritual experiences. Born in Singapore, Phine (as she likes to be known) did her degree in literature and philosophy. She searched for truth via Catholicism, Buddhism and then yoga, becoming a certified yoga teacher with the British Wheel of Yoga. From Hatha Yoga she was gradually led into Raja Yoga which focuses on the spiritual quest. Phine will be seventy in March 2021 and is happy to say that after numerous trials, she has managed to find an inner sense of peace. Today she shares her journey with us.
Lunch Break
14.00 – 14.45
Establishing Roots and Wings ~ What is important in Education?
Dr Pat Preedy
Hodding Carter quotes a wise woman who once said to him, “There are only two lasting bequests that we can hope to give our children—roots and wings.”
There have been many systems of education and curricula throughout the centuries. However here we are in 2021 with many concerns about the well-being and development of our children. For example, 1 in 4 children and young people show some evidence of mental ill health including anxiety and depression (ONS, 2016) and, according to estimates from Public Health England, two thirds of adults and a quarter of children between two and 10 years of age are overweight or obese. The impact of children spending large amounts of time on electronic devices is now becoming apparent including cyber-bullying and a generation of children suffering from insomnia.
As we move through the crisis of Covid-19 we are forced to reflect on what is important in education. How can we give our children the opportunity to establish strong roots which enable them to fly high? Can Plato’s Laws enable us to reflect upon what is important in education (paideia)? Do The Laws help us to clarify our beliefs and principles as educators? Although Plato refers to education in its widest sense and lifelong learning – the focus of this presentation is early childhood education.
15.00 – 15.45
Paneurhythmy ~ A living circle of Beauty, Harmony and Unity with Nature
Sarah Dawkins
Sarah has been exploring the wisdom traditions and concepts of pilgrimage and our relationship with Nature for over forty years. She has a special interest in Paneurhythmy – a joyful, meditational exercise-dance originating in the Rila Mountains of Bulgaria, arising from the work of the great Bulgarian mystic, Peter Deunov. The word ‘Paneurhythmy’ means ‘Supreme Cosmic Rhythm’. Sarah will share her experiences of Paneurhythmy within the context of pilgrimage and our daily lives, and how it can enrich life as a living circle of beauty, harmony and unity. Sarah often incorporates her work into events which she helps to lead, usually under the auspices of the Francis Bacon Research Trust, the Zoence Academy, or the Gatekeeper Trust.
15.40
Farewell & thanks ~ Elizabeth Medler
Speakers
For more information about our speakers for the day click here..
How to attend the presentations
You are welcome to attend any or all of the presentations free of charge, but you will need to register on this page in order to receive the Zoom link and passcode. One single link enables you to join at any point.
Session instructions
As a courtesy to speakers, please join at the beginning of a session, and if joining after 10.00 please keep your video and microphone turned off in order not to interrupt any ongoing presentation.