The School of Earth & Soul 2023

This is the second of three consecutive summers that Hartford International University will host The School of Earth & Soul. Celtic Wisdom 2 will be held from July 7-9, 2023. Please note: The programs are numbered (Celtic Wisdom 1, 2 and 3) but can be taken individually or in any order.

This face-to-face program will be taught by John Philip Newell, a Celtic teacher and author 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. Again, 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 Earth 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 2023 AT HIU

Celtic Wisdom 2: Sacred Earth
Reawakening to the sacredness of Earth through the teachings of Eriugena, the Carmina Gadelica, and John Muirn

Each day begins and ends with meditative prayer and chant. John Philip teaches from the wisdom of Celtic prophets over the centuries, applying this ancient wisdom to the most critical challenges of today. Cami Twilling, Director of Earth & Soul, invites us into spiritual practice bringing our inner attention to the presence of the sacred within us and within all things. In the early afternoon there is silence and free time for resting and walking. Some meals are shared in common and on the evening of the second day there will be a reception to celebrate our time together. On the final morning before lunch, we share in a time of teaching followed by a closing ritual of thanksgiving.

Tentative Schedule and Required Reading

(A final detailed schedule will be released closer to the event)
(*asterisk indicates entering meeting space in silence)

Friday, July 7

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 8

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

Sunday, July 9

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

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options will be available for meals. When you fill out the form to register and pay 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 $400. Payments are final after May 22. Before then, a 75 percent refund can be issued.

We recommend that participants make their own arrangements for accommodations. For a listing of hotels in Hartford, visit this link.

A limited number of participants may be able to stay with a host family. If you would like to be considered for that option, please email Joe Chung at jchung@hartfordinternational.edu 

Accommodation with a host family is NOT guaranteed and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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. Eventbrite fees apply.
Click here to register and pay by credit card

Option 2
If you are paying by check, please register and see payment instructions by clicking on the link below:
Click here to register and pay by check 

Donations

Donations can be made to Earth & Soul here: https://givebutter.com/donate2earthandsoul