THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN MILWAUKEE 1718 E. Geneva Place, Milwaukee 53211. Call 414-745-9297 with questions. Encouraging open-minded inquiry; Respecting the unity of all life; Exploring spiritual self-transformation TO THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE MILWAUKEE LODGE WELCOME TO OUR 2018 SPRING SCHEDULE OF PROGRAMS WEDNESDAYS, 7:00 8:30 PM New Speakers to our Lodge: On March 28, Barbara Hebert President of the Theosophical Society in America will speak, in person, on Practical Spirituality. And on May 2, Maha Elgenaidi will speak, via a live webinar, on Muslims in America and Their Faith On another note The Kabbalah lessons are being written by Richard Smoley, editor of the Quest Magazine Find us online on Facebook, Meetup.com and our website: Milwaukee.theosophical.org
Emblem of the Theosophical Society The emblem or seal of the Theosophical Society consists of seven elements that represent a unity of meaning. It combines symbols drawn from various religious traditions around the world to express the order of the universe and the spiritual unity of all life. The Sanskrit word Om, a very sacred word in India, symbolizes the Absolute expressing itself as the three-in-one divine intelligence or Logos from which the universe emanates and to which, at the end of time, it returns. A whirling cross within a circle, a very ancient symbol, found all over the world in India, among American Indians, and in many other cultures around the globe. In Sanskrit it is called a swastika, meaning good, its clockwise motion suggesting the dynamic forces of creation. This symbol was called by the ancient Greek Gnostics and alchemists ouroboros. The serpent swallowing its tail represents the cycles of nature, the bounded eternity of the world, and the infinite order of life. The area inside the serpent s circle represents the whole universe and everything in it. Upon that background of the universe are two interlaced triangles, another worldwide symbol. The hexagram or six-pointed star that they form is universal. The upward-pointing triangle, which is light in color, symbolizes spirit or consciousness. The downward-pointing triangle, which is dark in color, symbolizes matter or substance. At the center of the six-pointed star of spirit and matter is the Egyptian cross or ankh, symbolic of life. The six points of the triangles and the ankh at the center represent the seven principles of the universe. The ankh represents the idea that life results from the interaction of spirit or consciousness (the upward triangle) and matter or substance (the downward triangle). There is no religion higher than truth is an English translation of a Sanskrit motto, which might also be translated as Nothing is greater than truth. The motto is not specifically about what we think of as religion. Instead it is saying that none of our commitments or social conventions or ideas can measure up to the reality of what truly is. Reality is greater than any of its parts and is beyond all our notions about it. MARCH: 7 - The Need for Perennial Wisdom in Today s World DVD featuring
Rabbi Rami Shapiro Perennial Wisdom refers to the Oneness of all Life and the essential divinity of all that exists. 14 - Kabbalah Class Lesson 6: The Four Worlds 21 - Introduction to Distant Healing - After forty years of research, Bob Bendykowski, has developed a distant healing technique which can be easily learned by suitable students. He will outline the basics of this method and the possibility that healig will, and, indeed must, replace the current medical system. 28 - Practical Spirituality with Barbara Hebert At the Feet of the Master provides several core concepts in living Spiritually. Now, more than ever, it is difficult to live spiritually on a daily basis. Using these core concepts, we will explore ways in which they can be implemented to facilitate daily spiritual living. APRIL: 4 - The Controversial Book of Enoch Jeannie Dean This program hosted by Jeanie Dean continues an inquiry that began with a quest for the treasure of the Knights Templars, then followed ancient map-makers to the hidden lands of inner earth and Antarctica, which opened up to a controversial biblical texts of anti-antediluvian proportions. The contested Book of Enoch is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Ethiopian Bible. Enoch the grandfather of Noah, part-witness, part-visionary and part-prophet, describes the pre-flood story between Genesis and Exodus that leads to Revelations. Enoch recounts fallen angels, Adam and Eve, the Nephilim, giants, Babel, and the flood suggesting a long hidden presence on earth that shares in the mystery of Revelations. 11 - Kabbalah Class Lesson 7: The Kabbalah in Practice: Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malkut 18 - Dances of Universal Peace Session 1 The Dances of Universal Peace are spiritual practice in motion, creating experiences of embodied spirituality, rhythm, and heart awareness. Hal Dessel and Judith Kubish, drawing inspiration from many spiritual traditions, will blend chant, live music, and evocative movement into a living experience of unity, peace, and integration. Those wishing to participate in the simple dances should dress comfortably. 25 - Dances of Universal Peace Session 2 With Hal Dessel & Judith Kubish Each session will involve different spiritual traditions. MAY: 2 - Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith A live webinar featuring Maha Elgenaidi 9 - White Lotus Day Celebration 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 Bhagavad-Gita. Lotuses grew in unusual profusion one year later. Hence, May 8 th became known as White Lotus Day. This evening the public is invited to join the Lodge in honoring HPB s request. Kevin Reger will add to the celebration with live music on his guitar which he composed specifically for this occasion. 16 - Kabbalah Class Lesson 8 to be announced 23 - The Angelic Hosts a CD featuring Geoffrey Hodson In this lecture Geoffrey Hodgson explores the hierarchy of spiritual beings existing from the smallest elementals to the Masters of the Cosmos. 30 - The City of Eleven Gates with Kathleen Neuman Based on the Katha Upanishad and Eknath Easwaran s book Essence of the Upanishads, these eleven gates are the first stage in the Journey of Self-Discovery. Kathleen will summarize the importance of these eleven gates and who controls them. JUNE: 6 - The Living Language of Light with Peig Myota Living Light Language permeates our solar system and human consciousness as hidden symbols to help us understand the meaning of existence and guide our process of awakening. Peig will discuss the many symbolic forms living light energy takes and how to train ourselves to recognize and work with this special language. 13 - Kabbalah Class Lesson 9 to be announced 20 - Sacred Geometry with Jeannie Dean Jeanie researches the fundamental principles of Sacred Geometry distilled from several excellent scholars: Pythagoras, Hermes, Archimedes, and moderns. This program explores the golden mean, Phi, the Fibonacci series, Vesica piscis, and other principles to discover the significance of numbers in alchemy, building and measures and will surely be very interesting. 27 - Ahriman, Christ & Lucifer in the Teaching of Rudolf Steiner with Sharleen Leonard In Christian theology the forces of Christ are set against the forces of the devil who represents in one figure all that is evil. Steiner divides the devil into two beings, Lucifer and Ahriman and shows us how neither is bad per se, each provides gifts to human beings that further our evolution, and that it is us who must learn to balance these gifts in our individual lives. Sharleen will discuss in greater detail Steiner s teaching on this topic.
SPEAKER BIOS Bob Bendykowski divided his working career between music and electronics. He is currently researching and promoting distant healing as a scientific and teachable discipline. Jeanie Dean is the author of several poetry books including The Whole World Stopped and a dedicated metaphysical scholar. She also teaches college English and edits the Milwaukee Theosophical website. Hal Dessel and Judith Kubish are certified mentor-teachers and leaders of the Dances of Universal Peace. They have led dance meetings and special DUP events for over 25 years. When they are not dancing, Hal is a psychotherapist and addictions counselor in private practice at Reconnections. He specializes in recovery from and relapse prevention for traumas and addictions. Judith is a Lifecycle Celebrant, interfaith minister, and wedding officiant; her business is Heartland Life Ceremonies. She creates individualized celebrations of significant human events across the lifespan. Maha Elgenaidi is the Executive Director of the Islamic Networks Group (www.ing.org), a non-profit organization with affiliates and partners around the country that are pursuing peace and countering all forms of bigotry through education and interfaith engagement while working within the framework of the First Amendment s protection of religious freedom and pluralism. Maha received an M.A. in religious studies from Stanford University and B.A. in political science and economics from the American University in Cairo. She has taught classes on Islam in the modern world at Santa Clara University, Stanford University, and the University of California at Santa Cruz, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Civil Rights Leadership Award from the California Association of Human Relations Organizations and Citizen of the Year Award from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Dr. Barbara B. Hebert is the Director of the University Counseling Center at Southeastern Louisiana University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Barbara is a third generation theosophist and has served in local, regional, and National offices throughout her thirty-six years of membership in the TSA. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Theosophical Society in America. Sharleen Leonard has been studying Rudolf Steiner s philosophy since 1983. Steiner, a spiritual scientist who lived from 1861 to 1925, named his body of work Anthroposophy, or wisdom of the human being. Included in his writings were
Peig Myota, BSN, MSW, OD has a background in Nursing, Psychology and Energy Healing. She has been studying and teaching the Science of Light Energy Consciousness and the Language of Light for 20 years. She facilitates a monthly Enlightened Consciousness Study Group and specializes in Light Energy Therapy, Soul Readings, and spiritual mentoring. Kathleen Neuman has been a TS member for 26 years and is currently president of the Milwaukee Lodge and a member of the board of directors of the TS in America. Now retired, she was an educator and counselor in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin spanning 35 years. Kevin Reger has been the Milwaukee area coordinator for the Edgar Cayce Foundation (ARE) for the past 23 years. He has been organizing spiritual retreats and programs since 1980. A student of the spiritual teachings of all religions, he has been meeting weekly with fellow seekers for reading, discussion and meditation for over 40 years. In addition he practices a musical ministry, playing guitar and singing original compositions at churches, shelters, the Theosophical Society in Milwaukee and other venues around the Milwaukee area. Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Ph.D. is a renowned spiritual teacher across faith traditions with a focus on the Perennial Wisdom. He is the author of over thirty books and will be presenting at the 132 nd Summer National Convention July 20-24, 2018. Richard Smoley is editor of Quest: Journal of the Theosophical Society in America. He is the author of ten books, of which the most recent is How God Became God: What Scholars Are Really Saying about God and the Bible. His next book will be based on the monthly lessons he is writing on The Kabbalah. He encourages feedback and critique from those who are reading and discussing these monthly lessons.