The School of Earth & Soul

John Philip Newell

Hartford International University will host The School of Earth & Soul (formerly The School of Celtic Consciousness) over three consecutive summers. Celtic Wisdom 1 will be held from July 22-24, 2022. This face-to-face program will be taught by John Philip Newell, a Celtic teacher, and author of spirituality who "calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of the earth and every human being." 

The School of Earth & Soul (SES) 

The school states its purpose as "reawaken[ing] awareness of the sacred in all things through the recovery of Celtic wisdom for today and to help translate this awareness into compassionate action and justice."

Three-Year Curriculum

The School follows a three-year cycle of teaching and spiritual practice in its annual retreats. Participants may join at any stage in the three-year cycle and attend any of the Earth & Soul venues across the country. Visit the website here.

Celtic Wisdom 1: Sacred Soul (reawakening to the sacredness of every human being through the teachings of Pelagius, St Brigid, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)

Celtic Wisdom 2: Sacred Earth (reawakening to the sacredness of the earth and every creature through the teachings of Eriugena, the Carmina Gadelica, and John Muir)

Celtic Wisdom 3: Sacred Vision (reawakening to the sacredness of the human imagination and compassionate action through the teachings of Alexander John Scott, George MacLeod, and Kenneth White)

SUMMER 2022 AT HIU

Celtic Wisdom 1: Sacred Soul
Reawakening to the sacredness of every human being through the teachings of Pelagius, St Brigid, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

The daily schedule will consist of prayer at the beginning and ending of each day, presentations by John Philip Newell, meditative and spiritual practice, silence, and sharing. Some meals will be shared in common and there will be free time to explore Hartford and rest as well as a reception on the second evening to celebrate our time together.

Tentative Schedule and Required Reading

(A final detailed schedule will be released closer to the event)

Friday, July 22

6:00 - 6:45 p.m. – Check-In / Registration / Light refreshments                                
7:00 p.m. – Evening Prayer (please enter in silence)                                        
7:30 p.m. – Session 1: Introductory Presentation
8:45 p.m. – Sacred Silence (until breakfast)

Saturday, July 23

8:30 a.m. – Coffee/Tea
9:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer (please enter in silence)
9:30 a.m. – Session 2: Teaching I (please enter in silence)
10:30 a.m. – Morning Break
11:30 a.m. – Session 3: Spiritual Practice I (please enter in silence)
12:30 p.m. – Lunch and free time to walk and read
2:30 p.m. – Session 4: Teaching II (please enter in silence)
3:30 p.m. – Afternoon Break
4:00 p.m. – Session 5: Spiritual Practice II (please enter in silence)
5:30 p.m. – Wine & Cheese Reception and Book Signing

Sunday, July 24

8:30 a.m. – Coffee/Tea
9:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer (please enter in silence)
9:30 a.m. – Session 6: Teaching III (please enter in silence)
10:30 a.m. – Morning Break
11:00 a.m. – Session 7: Thanksgiving (please enter in silence)
12:30 p.m. – Departure

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options will be available for meals. When you fill out the CONTACT FORM below, please select your dietary preference/needs. If you have other dietary restrictions that will not be met by these options, you will need to bring supplemental food.

Required Reading: Sacred Earth Sacred Soul by John Philip Newell. The recommended prayer book for the School is Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter by John Philip Newell.

Fees and Housing

Registration will be capped at 70 people. Fees include the entire weekend's teaching program plus Friday evening light refreshments, Saturday coffee/tea, Saturday lunch, a Saturday evening wine and heavy hors d'oeuvres reception, and Sunday coffee/tea.

Cost -- not including housing -- is $375. Payments are final after May 22.

Participants coming from a distance must make their own arrangements for housing.

For a listing of hotels in Hartford, visit this link.

Registration and payment options:

Option 1
If you are paying for the event by credit card, please register and pay by clicking on the link below:
For credit card payment, register here.

Option 2
If you are paying by check, please register and see payment instructions by clicking on the link below:
For cash payment, register here.