News
Embracing All Life: A Celebration of Human Kinship with Nature
- 07 Oct 2023
- Events
- Various
- 10:30
"Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad, whatever is done and suffered by her creatures. All scars she heals, whether in rocks, or water or sky, or in our hearts". - John Muir
Join us in person or online on Saturday 7th October 2023...
...for a special one-day event celebrating nature and the Natural World, while exploring a theme of 'spiritual awareness'.
What is this?
This is a day about awareness, in the belief that our spiritual awareness of nature is the beginning of our resolving the problems of human involvement with the wider world. The celebration day will explore this concept and hope to take it further through fascinating talks and discussion from a variety of speakers, including Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
We can develop awareness so that we shun cruelty; we can develop awareness so that we discover our own healing in nature; we can develop awareness so that we replace goals of ever-increasing growth with those of regeneration and mutual survival with other species and forms of life.
Awareness can open us to the subtle spheres of life; it can also help us fully and consciously live as part of a whole, giving and receiving. Within the whole, endangered peoples just as much as endangered animal species are important.
Our programme is not so ambitious as to believe it can offer a simple solution to the world’s problems; instead, it aims to broaden and enrich the understanding from which a full and transforming approach can be developed.
Temple of Light
The celebration day will be held in the Temple of Light on New Lands estate in Hampshire (UK), home of White Eagle Lodge.
Surrounded by nature, and with its unique minimalist design, the Temple of Light is the perfect setting for this event. The Temple and surrounding gardens were completed in 2022, and the complex has recently been shortlisted for an award at the World Architecture Festival 2023 in Singapore.
As well as a calming space for quiet reflection, relaxing spiritual activities, talks, meditation and other events, the temple also serves as a multi-cultural meeting point for individuals and groups from across the world.
All sessions are in the White Eagle Lodge Temple unless otherwise indicated.
10:30 - Introduction. Colum Hayward
Musical Interlude from June Boyce-Tillman
10:40 – 11:00 – Colum Hayward. 'The Vision of Nature in Spiritual Teaching' - a look at how we regard nature, and how spiritual thinking can help.
11:00 – 11:20 – Michael Dent. 'Bringing our world back to life through the triple challenge of food, nature and climate' - how do we balance the needs that lie before us?
11:20 – 11:50 - Break
12:00 – Noon Attunement
12:10 – 12:30 - Hein Fleuren. 'Solving World Hunger: Nourishing the Oneness of All Life'. Far-reaching consequences from a simple awareness of the tools we have.
12:30 – 12:40 - Jane Upchurch. 'A Love Relationship with Gaia'
12:40 – 13:00 – Q&A + discussion
13:00 – 14:20 – Lunch
14:20 – 14:45 - Walk with Anna Hayward
14:45 – 15:05 – June Boyce-Tillman. 'Finding our own Voice' - all of nature is in vibration, including sound, music, biophony, geophony, anthrophony. We can be aware of nature by sounding its note.
15:05 - 15:25 - Philip Lymbery. ‘How to Save the World through Kindness and Compassion’
15:25 – 15:45 – Short break
15:45 - 15:55 – Jane Upchurch
15:55 – 16:10 – Meditation/Contemplation
16:10 – 16:30 – 'Points of Action' Panel
16:30 – 16:55 – Further discussion/conclusion
17:00 - Close
Philip Lymbery, CEO of Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) | Michael Dent, Fundraising Director at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) | Justine Huxley, of the Centre for Reconciliation, St Ethelburga's Church (London) and Cofounder of Kincentric Leadership (KL) | Hein Fleuren, Tilburg University/World Food Programme (WFP) | Jane Upchurch, Christians Awakening to New Awareness (CANA) and WholeWorld-View (WW-V) | June Boyce-Tillman, author and composer | Colum Hayward, for White Eagle Lodge (WEL) | Anna Hayward, for White Eagle Lodge (WEL)
How to find us
Directions to New Lands Retreat House, Temple and Gardens:
White Eagle Lodge, Newlands, Brewells Ln. Liss, GU33 7HY
Extra information
White Eagle Lodge hosts retreats, events, activities, courses and offers venue hire and volunteering opportunities.
- Full-board accommodation for overnight retreats
- Delicious vegetarian/vegan-only meals cooked by our allergy-friendly chef, Kam Sokhi
- Access to an additional self-service kitchen for overnight retreats
- Free parking
- Access to a beautiful 28-acre estate, garden and grounds
Train
Nearest stations are Liss and Liphook.
Car
New Lands Temple and Retreat House is 9 minutes from the A3
Taxi
A2B Taxis Liss +44 (0) 1730 233 299, Liss Cars +44 (0) 1730 892 051, Billycars +44 (0) 1730 777 555
For further information, please email events@white-eagle.org.uk
