logo purple lotus
 Sancta Sophia Seminary News
 
31 Years Providing Quality Spiritual Education
 August 2008
In This Issue
Reincarnation and Life Review
Spiritually Centered Psychology
Agni Yoga: Bridging the Gaps Among Traditions
Agni Yoga: Life from a Modern Ethical Perspective
Skills Day
Working Effectively with the Basic Self
Training of the Initiate
Sancta Sophia Seminary
Blue Sophia

Carol E. Parrish, Ph.D.
Academic Dean
 
Linda Oliver, M.A.
Administrative Dean

You're Invited!
2008 Turkey Group

We have a new interactive feature that you are invited to fill out; the SSS Survey.


Your input is valuable to us. Tell us what you think!

Please take our
Graduate Degree
Fall Program Schedule
Books and Glasses
September 13
Saturday: Graduate Program Orientation

September 15 - 19
Monday - Friday, AM

GRADUATE PROGRAM TRIMESTER III:
CONVERGENCE OF SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY
Being Divine: The Emotional Basis of Dis-ease
James Schrenker, MD, CMD

September 13, 14, 20
Saturday AM & PM; Sunday PM; Saturday AM & PM

WELLNESS GUIDE PROGRAM
Wellness of Mind
Director, Linda Oliver, RN

September 13, 14, 20
Saturday AM & PM; Sunday PM; Saturday AM & PM

SPIRITUAL MENTOR PROGRAM
Legal and Ethical Values and Issues
Director, Rev. Carol E. Parrish, PhD.

Off-Campus Events
On the Road with Carol
  Theosophical Society in America, 2008 National Conference:
The Mystical Heart of Christianity: Moving Beyond Literalism


Oct. 31 - Nov. 2
Holyoke, Massachusetts


My talk:
Nov. 1, 3:15 - 4:45 pm
The Return of the Absent Mother

Brenda Cutrell's
Newly Published Book

The Emancipated Person
The Emancipated Person book cover
Emancipation is a state of being that is a stepping-stone towards Life unimaginable to the average person. Yet it no longer should be unimaginable. In fact, it should now be regarded as an achievable goal. The author has strived to put what is a deeply subjective experience for each individual-and yet something very basically impersonal-into a form that is a sort of map of the territory of the condition of spiritual emancipation. Although this subject can be and is approached through religion, it is in no way limited to that. This book describes the state of spiritual emancipation as it would have seemed in the past, as it is now, and how it perhaps may be in the future, as well as a detailed description of aspects of emancipation during the present years.

Quick Links...
Join Our Mailing List
Greetings!

The summer is about over, children are returning to school, another cycle begins. Even into adulthood, we can be influenced by Back to School time. How many of you find yourself beginning a class, starting a program for fun, enrichment, or personal growth at this time of year? Now is always a good time to start tending to your dreams, intentions, and goals. Our classes and programs offer you the chance to enrich your life and stimulate your personal transformation. We invite you to explore that possibility. Just take a look at the fall classes we have to offer.

Editor
Sancta Sophia Seminary News
Contact information
September 8 - 12
REINCARNATION AND LIFE REVIEW

Rev. Carol E. Parrish, Ph.D.

Carol ParrishAn in-depth look at a suspect topic-is it fact or fiction? Does a belief in reincarnation inhibit Christians or enrich the Faith?

It is estimated that 75% of the world believes in the theory of rebirth. Benjamin Franklin wrote his epitaph to read, "The Body of B. Franklin, Printer, Like the Cover of an Old Book, Its Contents torn Out and Stripped of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies Here Food for Worms, But the Work shall not be Lost, for it Will as He Believed Appear Once More In a New and more Elegant Edition Revised and Corrected by the Author."

We shall deeply explore this controversial topic by offering theory and history, emphasizing the experimental. This can be a life-changing experience for many. Come and have your own experiences; discover your personal opportunities to integrate new insights.

September 22 - 26
SPIRITUALLY CENTERED PSYCHOLOGY
(Esoteric Psychology)
Rev. Margaret Stephens and Rev. Brenda Cutrell
 
Head with colorsDuring this week, students will explore the evolution of the psyche from its identity as personality to its identity as soul. There will also be an introduction to ideas that are rapidly emerging about the work of the present and of the future: unfolding of the true Heart Center, learning to deal with the 9-Headed Hydra, and alignment with the Spiritual Triad.

AGNI YOGA-
Bridging the Gaps Among Traditions
by Rev. Carol E. Parrish, Ph.D.

Banner of PeaceA modern and ecumenical rendering of the perennial wisdom is only now surfacing around the world. Shrouded behind heavy cultural veils for over seven decades, Agni Yoga emerges today to present inclusive teachings which could bridge the gaps that separate traditions.

Agni Yoga is known to only a limited number of dedicated students of the ageless wisdom. Yet it projects a vision of universal ethics for humanity's future spiritual leaders. Holding to the concept that only a few are ready at any given time to undertake the rigors demanded by an ethical lifestyle, Agni offers a set of teachings to inspire those ready to uplift their lives and to serve as guides-by-example toward a consciousness of the principles of metamorphosis.

Read More
September 29 - October 3
AGNI YOGA: Life from a Modern Ethical Perspective
Rev. Carol Parrish,
with contributions by
Rev. Margaret Stephens and Rev. Brenda Cutrell

Trigueirinho
A modern approach to spirituality, Agni Yoga emphasizes the daily practice of ethical living, devotion, and purification of our physical, emotional, and mental bodies. Formation and application of a living ethic and development of virtues in the personality are based on a series of themes, not rigid disciplines. Students learn to integrate ideology, theology, and service into their lives. The Agni path affirms the importance of meditation to the work of clearing glamours and illusions to connect to our inner wisdom. Connections of these enigmatic teachings to Kabalah and the Bailey materials will also be explored.

October 4
SKILLS DAY
Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Open to all
2008 Turkey Group
This insightful day begins at 10 AM with a lecture and message service ($4 donation). From 11:15 to closing, students and others share a variety of their personal intuitive skills. Each Skills Day showcases different offerings, and can include astrology, numerology, psychic and Shustah attunements, Reiki, Healing Touch, and others in 15 or 30-minute private appointments ($8 or $16 each)

Why Learning to Work Effectively with the Basic Self is Important to the Training of the Initiate
by Rev. Margaret Stephens, MA

Margaret Stephens 1"As energy is expended in the effort to evoke the super-consciousness, under the Law of Action and Reaction, there is an equal and opposite energy expended in relation to the subconscious mind. It is this that produces the rapid and often drastic crises peculiar to the disciple who is orienting his entire conscious effort towards the higher integrations and the service of the Plan."
(From Weavers in the Light Study Set 7, Headquarters Letter 3)

In the early stages of development, we're not really in dialogue yet with the soul. When we're in the process of growing ourselves up and out, the first work we usually do is to get in touch with our high self. And to do this successfully often requires that we first deal with our personality issues.

As we continue to do our work on the path of initiation, we absorb more and more of the soul energies that are held in trust for us by the high self/solar angel. Much to our dismay, the illuminating light of the soul can bring us face to face with our "stuff."

Read More
October 6 - 10
TRAINING OF THE INITIATE:
Techniques of Maturing the Basic Self
Rev. Margaret Stephens

Butterfly in HandsOn the Path of Return the aspirant must learn to develop a loving and balanced relationship with the instinctual nature, called "basic self" in the Huna wisdom tradition, and to appropriately utilize each level of consciousness. During this class the subconscious or basic self (which remembers everything) will be respectfully invited to move beyond the defense systems it constructed in its attempt to protect the vulnerable self within. As the basic self learns to trust the safety of the class environment, it will be shown how to release old memories and scar tissue that block the full expression of the authentic inner self. Harmony and balance can be restored and the conscious mind can experience a renewed sense of well-being and authentic power.

c e pThank you for the valuable support you provide to Sancta Sophia Seminary. We appreciate all the time, talent, and resources that you share with us in our effort to prepare world servers.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who you think may be interested in receiving a quality spiritual education. 
Blessings,
 
Carol E. Parrish
Academic Dean
Sancta Sophia Seminary