Next Events at 50 Gloucester Place W1U 8EA Three events on Sunday 20 November 2011 11.0am- 4.0pm THE JOY OF MEDITATION Sunday Intensive - beginners welcome Dhyana Centre of The Theosophical Society.  Leader: Alan Perry The Dhyana Centre holds regular introductory courses for beginners on weekdays, dovetailing with weekend intensives that cover the same ground in a truncated form. Courses teach the theory and practice of meditation as a spiritual discipline. Admission free, donations welcome For details of retreats and other events, go to www.dhyanacentre.orgor info@dhyanacentre.org

4.45pm THEOSOPHY: HIGHWAY TO SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT Introductory Course on the Ageless Wisdom, with Edward Archer Sunday afternoons 18 September – 4 December, 4.45 – 5.45 pm An informal session in which the basic teachings of the Divine Wisdom are explored and discussed. Everybody on this planet is in the Great School of Life - of spiritual development. Over the weeks we shall look at the great hidden truths which make sense of our lives and which gives them purpose. This is a basic grounding in The Eternal Mysteries, and it has absolutely no strings attached! The book The Key To Theosophy is recommended for newcomers. Leader: Edward Archer, who has been a member of the Theosophical Society in England for 35 years. Free admission. Arranged by Foundation for Theosophical Studies 6.0 pm BROTHERHOOD AS A LIVING REALITY IN DAILY LIFE Wayne Gatfield There is much talk nowadays about ‘Brotherhood; but it is mainly of a political or social nature. True Brotherhood arises from Soul Solidarity and the dissolving of the sense of Separateness that keeps us apart from our fellow human beings. Spiritual ideas of Brotherhood are based upon the essential Oneness of ALL living things and the fact that not a thought or action can be done without affecting others. This talk looks at ways we can try to activate True Brotherhood in our day to day lives. Wayne Gatfield is President of Bolton Lodge and the editor of the North Western Federation Journal of the Theosophical Society in England. He is a national lecturer for the Foundation for Theosophical Studies and contributes articles and poetry for the Theosophist and other publications. £7, £5 concessions. Arranged by the Foundation for Theosophical Studies

THE NEW LONDON FEDERATION

It is eighteen years since the Theosophical Society in England had a functioning London Federation.  The purpose of a Federation is to work with the Branches and Centres within its area, to organise conferences and lectures and to promote theosophy generally.  It also keeps a register of the National members who are not attached to either a Branch or Centre.

Twenty five years ago London had several Branches besides the Blavatsky Lodge which held its meetings at 50 Gloucester Place.  Sadly, today other than it and the Dhyana and Gnostic centres which also meet at HQ, there are no functioning Branches in the London area.  This means that most of the roughly 350 TS members in London do not attend any meeting on a regular basis.  Some come to the public lectures and study groups held at HQ but many have little contact with other theosophists.

For several years the National members nationwide have received a quarterly magazine, The Link, which keeps them informed and now all members receive a free copy of Esoterica which has taken over from Insight.

With so many National members living in the Greater London area it seemed right to resurrect the London Federation in a way that would bring them together and make them feel part of such a unique International Organisation.

A steering committee, therefore, has been set up, much debate taken place and some decisions made. The following was agreed: “The purpose of the Federation is to promote awareness of Theosophy, encourage and facilitate contact between Theosophists, networking and to arrange public events.”

So, how are we going to do this?  We are doing a demographic survey of the London members so we know the best areas in which to hold public meetings and social gatherings, thus putting members in touch with each other for friendship and discussion and study of Theosophical concepts.

We are also setting up an internet Blog called The London Theosophical Post enabling those of you with computers can keep in touch with what is happening in and around London.  Those of you without computers will, of course, be kept informed in the usual ways. 

We want to move into the 21^st Century and to make use of the fantastic modern technology available to us and we hope you will be as excited about it as we are.  Any comments or items for the Blog can be sent to london.theosophical.post@gmail.com .  In addition, if you would prefer to receive your copy of The Link electronically please send your email address to jbaker@theosoc.org.uk so that we can have this in place by the next edition.

Jenny Baker