Please Read - January News&Views from Wrekin Forum

As we enter a new year and a new decade, we know that the days are getting longer and the light is returning. Although growth and forward movement into new beginnings have remained invisible for a while, the sturdy shoots of spring bulbs are now emerging. Snowdrops are taking the place of snowdrifts, and we see the great cycle of renewal fulfilling its promise. Although the wisdom of experience tells us that winter is not yet over, the urge is stirring to explore new possibilities and make plans for the future.

Here at the Wrekin Trust we are looking ahead to the focus of our work for the coming year. The network of regional round tables is growing, and we welcome the new groups as they come into being. In addition, we are strengthening our links with associate organisations, and undertaking several collaborative projects and events in the months ahead. In particular, we look forward to closer collaboration on a regional level.

Spiritual education has always been at the core of Wrekin activities, and we are delighted to present two residential weekends this Spring, with our friends Ravi Ravindra in April and William Meader in May. As you will see from the Forthcoming Events column, a wide range of workshops and courses on spiritual topics is offered by our associates. This is just a small sample of what is available - if you are interested in finding out more about their programmes, do use the links to make enquiries. If you are interested in a particular subject please contact us, as it might be possible to arrange for an event in your area.

Go well in the coming year

With love and blessings

Carol Duncan

connect@wrekinforum.org


"Thank God our Time is now when wrong Comes up to meet us everywhere, Never to leave us till we take The longest stride of soul men ever took. Affairs are now soul size." Christopher Fry The Sleep of Prisoners

Message from Janice

This short extract was so often quoted by Sir George Trevelyan and inspired the publication of his book 'Summons to a High Crusade'. Even more now than in his day "wrongs come up to meet us everywhere".

All too true. But we also know that "what we resist, persists" so maybe, rather than give energy to all the wrongs, we need to muster our inner resources, cluster with others, envision more holistic and sacred ways and pursue these with trust in a higher hand and with what one colleague describes as "fierce intentionality" so that the new society coming into being reflects the values of an awakening consciousness and, before acting, considers the needs of "seven generations down the road".

If you are already doing this, then do please tell us about it to encourage others.

Alone it can seem daunting but, if we group together, maybe we can take "the longest stride of soul men ever took". May 2010 be the year that the tide can turn.

Janice Dolley
info@wrekintrust.org

"This is the time of waking.

Clusters of imaginal cells are gathering everywhere;

they are beginning to recognise each other;

they are developing the orchestration tools

for enhancing connectivity, to drive the next stage

of our human society into manifestation,

to bring about a new society

that would compare to the present one

as a butterfly with a caterpillar.

A new dimension of life, a compassionate and just society,

a humanity rooted in joy and mutual understanding.

You are all imaginal cells; join the others, cluster, congregate,

and let's all build an Alliance for a New Humanity together."

Deepak Chopra

Parliament of the World's Religions

Nigel Anthony, an associate of the Wrekin Forum, recently attended the Parliament in Melbourne in his capacity as Interfaith Officer for Wales, and found the experience very inspiring.

The Parliament was first held in Chicago in 1893, and brings together the world's religious and spiritual communities, their leaders and their followers to a gathering where peace, diversity and sustainability are discussed and explored in the context of interreligious understanding and cooperation. It is held every five years and is the world's largest interfaith gathering. A central theme this year was "strengthening religious and spiritual communities" by providing a special focus on indigenous and Aboriginal spiritualities.

For more information, visit www.parliamentofreligions.org or contact Nigel at nigel.anthony@interfaithwales.org.

"Spiritual practice involves the transformation
of the whole of ourselves - body, mind and heart.

For this an impartial self-knowledge is necessary,

with all of one's contradictions, fears and wishes.

Daily life is the material for a true self-knowledge.

It is precisely where we live.

Our life is a hologram:

any part of it contains the whole

and can reveal the whole."

Ravi Ravindra

Pilgrim Without Boundaries

Weekend Workshop with Ravi Ravindra

We are delighted to announce that our old friend Ravi Ravindra will be visiting the UK in April, and we are arranging a weekend workshop with him on 23-25 April at historic Aylesford Priory in the beautiful Kent countryside. The theme will be Spiritual Practice in Daily Life in the Light of the Great Traditions.

Ravi is a spiritual visionary, scholar, and leading international speaker on religion, science, and spirituality. He is the author of fourteen books. Those of you who have heard Ravi speak before will know that this is a very special opportunity.

Early booking is essential in order to secure a place. Please click here for further details and booking form.

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift
and the rational mind is a faithful servant.

We have created a society that

honours the servant

and has forgotten the gift."

Albert Einstein

Book Review Corner

David Lorimer reviews:

THE MASTER AND HIS EMISSARY: THE DIVIDED BRAIN AND THE MAKING OF THE WESTERN WORLD by Iain McGilchrist

(Hardcover - 30 Oct 2009) Yale University Press,�18.09

The book is impressive not just in its scope, but is beautifully written, positively bristling with insights and creative intelligence on every page. (For full review, click here.)

Have you read an interesting book recently, and would like to tell others about it? If you think it would also interest readers of this newsletter, do please send us the details together with a short review and we may be able to feature it in Book Review Corner.

HOLISTIC MAP UK

A free directory - helping you to connect and network

with like-minded people and organisations

Well being for all - there are many thousands of us

in all walks of life with a common aim -

to build a better world and bring well being to everyone.

Great project - You'll find a community offering

resources and support all across the nation;

a group of people aiming to create

a coherent voice for tangible and lasting change.

To join the map or search for listings visit: www.holisticmap.org

HolisticMap UK is a not-for-profit project enabled by the

Foundation for Holistic Spirituality (www.F4HS.org) .

The Wrekin Trust is working in collaboration with F4HS

to support and enable local and regional Groups across the UK.

WELCOME TO OUR MAILING LIST!

If you have enjoyed reading this newsletter and would like to become part of an active Forum for Contemporary Spirituality, why not support the work of the Wrekin Forum by becoming an Associate. If you would like us to send you further information, please contact connect@wrekinforum.org, or click here for details and an application form.

A PRAYER FOR NOW

Our Creator, who is the Universe,

Your Divinity is our birthright.

Our light is glorious:

our power is awesome.

Our life is to be unto others

as we would wish them to be unto us.

Let us love each other in the way

that we know You Love us.

And help us - always - to remember

there is no separation.

We Are All One