But unlike the roads in Robert Frost's familiar poem

they are not equally fair.

The road we have long been travelling is deceptively easy,

a smooth super highway on which we progress with great speed,

but at its end lies disaster.

The other fork of the road - the one less travelled -

offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination

that assures the preservation of the Earth."

Rachel Carson, Silent Spring 1965

Reading Silent Spring in the late 1960's was a seminal moment for myself and a few of my generation.  From then on a few people pledged ourselves to "the road less travelled" and in the 40 years since then, thankfully, environmental awareness in the sense of behavioural change has significantly grown.  But there is still a long way to go in terms of fostering deeper connection with the natural world, with the essence of life, with the anima mundi or soul of the world.

We now seem challenged on our collective journey towards finding that "the heart of the universe does not have a particular location; it's not somewhere out there. It is contained in every being".  (Eckhart Tolle)   So we have chosen as the theme for our next Round Table "Evolving Consciousness and the Soul of the World: the Anima Mundi".

Do please note the dates now:  23-25 September 2011.  Further details will be available in the next News&Views.

Janice Dolley

"In our time we have come to the stage

 where the real work of humanity begins.

It is the time where we partner Creation

in the creation of ourselves,

in the restoration of the biosphere,

 the regenesis of society, and in the

assuming of a new type of culture;

the culture of Kindness.

Herein, we live daily life reconnected

and recharged by the Source, so as

to become liberated and engaged

in the world and in our tasks."

Jean Houston

Every year the annual Round Table of associates and friends of the Wrekin Forum is a very special get-together, when we meet at Hawkwood College to enjoy a varied and stimulating weekend of ideas and activities with like-minded companions.  This year's events will be even more special as we celebrate 40 years since Sir George Trevelyan's vision launched the embryonic Wrekin Trust, which went on to play such a key part in the spiritual journeying of many. 

It may be hard to believe when reading the long list of forthcoming events on the left that 40 years ago such events were simply not available to the spiritual seeker.  Under Sir George's guidance, the Wrekin Trust pioneered a programme of courses and workshops which were seen as quite revolutionary at the time.  Those of us who were fortunate enough to take part in some of these events may recognise the ground-breaking effect which they had, both individually and collectively.

This year we are focussing on the theme "Evolving Consciousness and the Soul of the World: the Anima Mundi" and would like to invite contributions to the programme for a collaborative, co-creative weekend together.  Naturally we cannot promise to include every suggestion put forward, but trust that a rich range of offerings will emerge.  Do please contact Carol or Janice with details of any input which you would like to make on this theme. 

To celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Wrekin Trust and in honour of Sir George Trevelyan, we invite you to take part in a pilgrimage across the Preseli hills in West Wales, from Tuesday 26 July to Friday 29 July.  We will walk in silence, reverence, meditation, in song and poetry, through panoramic landscape, entering deep into nature's sacred secrets and ancient mysteries.

We shall stay in the medieval town of Newport, with access to sands and beach to enjoy a good swim after a day's walk.  Accommodation is for three nights with breakfast, packed lunches, and two evening meals provided at the Newport YHA.  Alternatively, a list of B&Bs is available on request.  Participants will need their own or shared transport.

The pilgrimage will be led by Karen Bishop and Roger Orgill.  For further details please contact Roger, 01432 277410 or roger.orgill04@gmail.com

Forty years on, the Wrekin Trust continues to provide regular opportunities for spiritual education by enabling visiting speakers and presenters to offer talks and workshops in different parts of the country.  This year we are making arrangements for three friends from overseas to be available for events on a regional basis.

David Karchere will no doubt be remembered by those who attended last year's Round Table as an inspiring contributor on the theme of Evolutionary Consciousness.  David will be here again this Spring, and you can catch up with him in Fishguard on 16 April and Evesham on 20 April.  For further details on the Fishguard conference, "Evolutionary Consciousness: Exploring Vision, Connections and Challenges of Our Time" please contact Jayne, jaynemacgregor@yahoo.co.uk.  For the day in Evesham, "Pioneering the Evolution of Consciousness" please contact Tessa, tessamaskell@btinternet.com.

David will also be in this country from 27 September - 2 October, when he will be available for further regional events.  If you would like to help co-create one of these, do contact Tessa to discuss further.  

William Meader, a writer and teacher of the Ageless Wisdom Teachings, visits the UK twice a year.  In May he is offering talks on "The Soul of Humanity Evolves Through World Crisis" in Reading and Forest Row, and "An Introduction to Esoteric Astrology" in Edenbridge and Bosham.  In addition he is presenting a one-day workshop in Bosham on Sat 28 May on a new theme "Turning Point: The Dawning of the Seventh Ray".  (details)

In November William will be here again for a programme of events which will include a residential weekend.  If you would like to arrange a talk or workshop with William in your part of the country at this time, do let Carol know on carolduncan8hl@btinternet.com and we will see if this can be accommodated in his schedule.

Ravi Ravindra, a speaker at our International Conference in 2006, will be in the UK again this year and we have arranged a two-day workshop/retreat entitled "Faith, Hope and Love in Practice".  This will be held on 24-26 June at the Carmelite Priory near Oxford. Further details and registration form.  (Early bird prices before 1 April.)

Many of us have now received our Census form, and read through the list of questions which we are all asked to answer.  This is just a reminder of the important campaign which suggests that people might write 'holistic' in the Religion Box - the word 'holistic' being shorthand for an approach that is open-hearted, open-minded and respecting the essence of all spiritual traditions.

We understand that 'holistic' may not seem to be exactly the right word for you, but because of the way in which the government will analyse the statistics, it is important that the same word is used.  'Holistic' here does not mean the creation of another religion, but is an approach that reflects the feelings and thoughts of an increasingly large proportion of the population who are currently unrepresented.

The purpose of the campaign is to support, for example, all those teachers and healthcare workers whose basic approach is spiritual but not religious, but who do not have any backing from those decision-making bodies which determine policy in religious education and pastoral care.  The use of the same word by many of us will help to influence and guide local and national policy.  Wouldn't you like to see a quiet room in every school?  And holistic pastoral care in hospitals and other organisations?

For more information visit http://www.whyholistic.org

THE RETURN OF THE FEMININE AND THE WORLD SOUL

Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee

The Golden Sufi Center, 2009

This book has been read, enjoyed, and discussed by members of the Wrekin core team for some time and provides the inspiration for the theme of this year's Annual Round Table, "Evolving Consciousness and the Soul of the World: the Anima Mundi".

It is a compilation of talks given by Sufi teacher Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee who points out that "the light we discover in our own depths is a spark of the World Soul, and the world needs this light in order to evolve."

 "The physical world needs to be realigned with its own energy source, with the life force that is within it.  The quickest way to realign anything is to acknowledge its divine nature.  Through the interaction of humanity and life, conscious awareness of God interacts with the unconscious knowing of God that exists within all of creation.  Creation can then return to the divine axis that is at its core, and through this axis life will flow in its divine purity, its essential joy."

This beautiful and thought-provoking book provides a rich source of nourishment and inspiration for the soul, the heart, and the mind.  It is highly recommended reading both for quiet reflection and as preparation for the Round Table in September.

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.