TO THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE MILWAUKEE LODGE WELCOME TO OUR WINTER/SPRING 2013 PROGRAMS

Transcription

1 TO THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE MILWAUKEE LODGE WELCOME TO OUR WINTER/SPRING 2013 PROGRAMS This semester we will present, as usual, a varied and eclectic series of programs featuring the return of some noted guests. Rabbi Yoseph Samuels, Steven Vedro, and Philip Mereton will be joined by new presenters, Nancy Lynn Smith and Amanda Lyon. There will also be a Saturday talk by Jay Cleve on May 18. The series will be rounded out by the usual suspects. The Study Group will discuss five of the Upanishads. Note that due to scheduling conflicts, there will be two study group sessions in February and no study group in April. Please note the January 9 start of our series of presentations. This late date allows holiday revelers to recover from the joys of the season. Be sure to review the entire schedule and plan to attend often! Bob Bendykowski, Program Chairman Theosophical Society of Milwaukee 1718 E. Geneva Place Milwaukee WI Call One block South of E. Locust St. Two houses West of N. Oakland Ave. Enter on N. Bartlett Ave. from E. Locust Ave. North N. Bartlett Ave. E. Locust Ave. Riverside University HS One Way N. Oakland Ave. T.S E. Geneva Pl.

2 THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN MILWAUKEE WINTER/SPRING 2013 PROGRAM SCHEDULE JANUARY 9: HEALING 101 Bob Bendykowski will wrap up his investigation into healing with a summary of the basic tenets of his model. There may also be a few controversial ideas meriting discussion. JANUARY 16: UPANISHAD STUDY GROUP Tom Wroblewski opens the study group sessions with the Prashna Upanishad. Six seekers ask sage Pippalada basic questions about Reality. This allows the sage to begin with the process of creation or emanation of the worlds forms from the Devine and then to continue deeper into practical mysteries of human existence. JANUARY 23: THE INNER MYSTICAL SECRETS OF THE TORAH Rabbi Yoseph Samuels returns to continue his exposition of the generally inaccessible knowledge hidden in the Torah. These first five books of the Bible, handed down directly by God, contain secrets only available to the most dedicated students. JANUARY 30: NEOPAGAN WICCA: EARTH RELIGION AND WITCHCRAFT Nancy Lynn Smith, a licensed psychotherapist and a Wiccan, will give her perspective on the late-20th Century Pagan Revival, Occultism, and modern Wiccan practice. FEBRUARY 6: W. B. YEATS AND STUDIES IN SACRED SOUND Yeats was an occultist associated with Theosophy and the Golden Dawn group. Jeanie Dean will talk about Yeats' exploration of sound and chanting, and lunar cycles. FEBRUARY 13: UPANISHAD STUDY GROUP Diana Soria will present an overview of the Chandogya Upanishad and lead the group in discussion. This Upanishad deals with "Song and Sacrifice."

3 FEBRUARY 20: MOVIE AND POPCORN NIGHT Extraordinary Nature of The Ordinary Mind, by Joy Mills This interesting DVD lecture was given by Joy in Australia some years back and speaks to our potentials with the use of our mind. FEBRUARY 27: UPANISHAD STUDY GROUP Broadly speaking, the theme of all the Upanishads is the deathless Self, the need for and the way to its realization. In the Katha Upanishad this theme comes to life via a dialogue between a teenager and his teacher, Death. Kathleen Neuman leads the group in this discussion. MARCH 6: THE MONAD In philosophy a monad is a unit and the term can be applied to anything from a genus to a god. Tom Wroblewski will discuss the Monad as it is used in Theosophical literature. MARCH 13: UPANISHAD STUDY GROUP Terry Wysocki introduces us to the Taittiriya Upanishad, subtitled "Ascent to Joy." Dealing with the individual and society it is a bit more down to earth than other Upanishads. MARCH 20: LOST AND FOUND IN THE CLOUD Steven Vedro, author of "Digital Dharma," returns to update his earlier presentation with a talk on the spiritual metaphors of our communication grids, including simple practices to keep us from being overwhelmed by our demanding social media stimuli. MARCH 27: THE GOD THEORY Bob Bendykowski reviews this recent book by Bernard Haisch in which the author combines cutting-edge science and mystical knowledge into a new worldview. Perhaps future presentations can be scheduled to discuss the convergence of science and spirituality. APRIL 10: UNDERSTANDING AYURVEDA Amanda Lyon, a clinical Ayurvedic specialist, joins us to explain this ancient healing system's underlying principles and how they can be applied in today's society.

4 APRIL 17: THE FOUNDATION OF TIBETAN MYSTICISM, PART ONE Diana Soria, teacher and lecturer in esoteric spirituality, offers a two part series based on this book by Lama Anagarika Govinda, which is an in depth study of the most sacred mantra Om Mani Padma Hum. Part one will cover the Om-path of Universality, the Mani-path of unification and equality, and the Padma-path of creative vision. APRIL 24: DOES GOD EVOLVE? Philip Mereton returns to discuss his article of this name which appeared in the Spring 2012 Quest magazine, and which posits that perhaps God's being is not as static as we tend to believe. Bring your thinking caps for this presentation. MAY 1: MIRCEA ELIADE AND THE CONCEPT OF ETERNAL RETURN Mircea Eliade ( ) was a Romanian historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago. One of his most influential contributions to religious studies was his theory of Eternal Return, which Dr. William Rogers will address this evening. MAY 8: WHITE LOTUS DAY In her will, HPB suggested that her friends might gather together on the anniversary of her passing (May 8, 1891) and read from Sir Edwin Arnold's "The Light of Asia" and from the "The Bhagavad-Gita." Lotuses grew in unusual profusion one year later. Hence, May 8th became known as White Lotus Day. This evening the public is invited to join the Lodge in honoring HPB's request. Refreshments will follow. MAY 15: UPANISHAD STUDY GROUP Dave Margetta will facilitate the study of the Mandukya Upanishad. Shankara declared that if one could only study a single Upanishad it should be this one. MAY 18: THE PATH OF THE SACRED PIPE This is a Saturday afternoon presentation. See description on back page. MAY 22: THE FOUNDATION OF TIBETAN MYSTICISM, PART TWO Diana Soria concludes her study of Govinda's book by examining the Hum-path of integration, Om Mani Padma Hum-path of the great mantra, and the Ah-path of action.

5 MAY 29: ANNUAL MEETING We conclude our season with reports, induction of new members, and socialization. Programming suggestions will be welcomed. *** MAY 18: THE PATH OF THE SACRED PIPE Jay Cleve will show how the Pipe can facilitate transformation on both personal and planetary levels. He will also explain its use in rituals such as the sweat lodge and the vision quest, and conduct a pipe ceremony with those in attendance. His book, "Path of the Sacred Pipe," will be available for purchase. Jay Cleve, Ph.D., psychotherapist and ordained spiritual healer, trained extensively in the Sacred Pipe and other aspects of Native spirituality with Chippewa and Lakota elders. For over forty years he has studied energy training, shamanic healing, hypnosis, and breath work. Director of the Community Mental Health Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, for seventeen years, he continues to give workshops on holistic approaches to psychology. He is the author of "Out of the Blues: From Depression to Renewed Vitality" and "Path of the Sacred Pipe." This presentation will be given at the Lodge on Saturday, May 18 from 1:00 P.M.to 4:00 P. M. Plan to attend. **** The Theosophical Order of Service at the Milwaukee Lodge supports a battered woman s shelter throughout the year. We have a drop box within our Lodge where donations of toiletries, household cleaners, personal hygiene items - toothpaste toothbrushes liquid soap and shampoo etc., over the counter medical supplies and non-perishable food items not typically found at food pantries such as coffee may be donated. Your generosity in helping us help others will be greatly appreciated.

6 Biographical Sketches Jay Cleve, Ph.D., psychotherapist and ordained spiritual healer, trained extensively in the Sacred Pipe and other aspects of Native spirituality with Chippewa and Lakota elders. For over forty years he has studied energy training, shamanic healing, hypnosis, and breath work. Director of the Community Mental Health Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, for seventeen years, he continues to give workshops on holistic approaches to psychology. He is author of Out of the Blues: From Depression to Renewed Vitality and Path of the Sacred Pipe. Jeanie Dean is a student of occult and world religions and performing poet with four books and various works published in assorted journals. Amanda J. Lyon is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Panchakarma Specialist;Certified Yoga Instructor; Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist; Advanced PulsePractitioner, and Reiki Master/Teacher. Amanda has worked for thecalifornia College of Ayurveda as Director of Herbal Studies and Internship; and as a Master Teacher. At Shaktiveda, Inc., she has taught advanced classes for Ayurvedic practitioners with Dr.Mary JoCravatta. Currently, Amanda is the Ayurveda Director forkanyakumari Ayurveda Education in Milwaukee and Spirit Path AyurvedaEducation in Anchorage where she teaches Certified AyurvedaPractitioner programs. Philip Mereton is a practicing lawyer with a philosophy degree whose mission in life is to expose the fallacies in our current materialistic worldview and to advance a more promising and rational outlook. In his book The Heaven at the End of Science: An Argument for a New Worldview of Hope, Mereton argues that the opposite perspective to the Big Bang is instead true: mind came before matter, and we are in fact God in the process of dreaming the universe, and evolving to the point where it finally realizes this truth. He is also the host of the radio show, Conversations Beyond Science and Religion, on webtalkradio.net, which features guests who discuss ideas bridging the space between spirituality and science. He lives with his wife and daughter in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Kathleen Neuman, treasurer of the Milwaukee Lodge, is a twenty-year member of the Theosophical Society. A retired K-12 educator and school counselor spanning thirty-five years in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, she now lives with her mother as her primary care-giver. William G. Rogers, Ph.D. is a historian/educator lecturing at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee/Department of Africology. He is the Executive Director of Nirvana Institute, Inc. and Chairman of the Board for the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum. A member of the Theosophical Society, he is a frequent lecturer at the Milwaukee Lodge.

7 Rabbi Yoseph Samuels has devoted his life to Jewish education of children, teens, and adults in individual and group setting. Subjects he teaches include Talmud, Kabbalah, Jewish Mysticism, Jewish Law, Torah and Hebrew literacy, as well as bar and bat mitzvah training. He creates personal curricula for individual study and lectures for groups of every denomination and ilk. Nancy Lynn Smith is a licensed, practicing psychotherapist with a background in behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance. She practices Wicca with a small group of people - currently all women. She lives in Franklin, Wi. Diana Soria/ Newman former president of the Milwaukee Theosophical society used the esoteric map the Theosophical Society studies gave her 40 years ago to begin her meditations, Tai Chi, and whirling which led to her remember sacred teachings from over 31 life times. She has been a National and international teacher and lecturer for over 30 years. As founder and presentor of Golden Wings International, a group that worked with personal and group healing techniques, sacred music and dance she traveled around the US including Hawaii, Spain, Egypt, India, and Thailand lecturing and presenting. She has studied massage, Jin Shin Jyutsu, and Acupuncture, Middle Eastern dance, Hindu Temple dancing. She teaches pendulum polarity treatment, Tai Chi, Whirling, Atlantean sacred paths to Enlightenment, personal and group healing techniques, sacred music and dance. Steven R. Vedro, MA, AEH, is a writer, lecturer, and nationally recognized telecommunications consultant. He is the author of Digital Dharma (Quest Books), which is now in four languages. He has spoken at numerous conferences, including the Institute for Noetic Sciences, and been interviewed on New Dimensions Radio. Thomas Wroblewski is the current President of the local Lodge in Milwaukee. He first fell in love with Theosophy in the mid and late 1970 s with the reading of the Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky. Terry Wysocki s interest in Mystic studies began with a class on comparative religions while a student at Viterbo College, LaCrosse Wi where she earned a Bachelor Degree in Education. She was an elementary school teacher for 7 years before starting her own business in direct sales in She has been an active member of the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women since 1979 and continues to serve Amen-Ra Lodge in Milwaukee. A recent widow, she lives in Port Washington and joined the Theosophical Society in 2011.