THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN MILWAUKEE
Encouraging open-minded inquiry; Respecting the unity of all life; Exploring spiritual self-transformation.
WELCOME TO OUR 2018 FALL SCHEDULE OF PROGRAMS
August 1, 2018 through November 28, 2018
August 1: “Punch Lines of Human History”
Phoenix Suvayas presents a close look at the growth and development of mythological and religious traditions and how they can give us a greater insight into what some mystics refer to as “The Cosmic Joke.”
August 8: Kabbalah Study Class: Lesson 10: “The Triad of Spirit.”
These lessons are written by Richard Smoley, editor of the Quest Magazine.
August 15: “History of Mystical Practice in Harlem” – William Rogers, Ph.D.
It is well known that mysticism was a major practice of African Americans during the 1920’s and 30’s. It was often combined with their Protestant religious practice and beliefs. The discussion will address the definition, origin, reason, and framework of this movement. It was a well-engrained family practice among African Americans.
August 22: Sacred Geometry – Part 2: “Earth Measure” Jeanie Dean 
continues our introduction to the fundamental principles of esoteric geometry and number. Topics include: the Fibonacci Series, the Golden Mean in nature and art, the Five Platonic Solids, the Merkaba, Universal Measure, and sacred geometry of timekeeping and architecture.
August 29: Study Group on Sacred Geometry – Session 1: Discussion on Chapter 1: “Practice of Geometry” and Chapter 2: “Metaphor of Universal Order”. Workbook 1, 2, 3 and insights from coloring images.
September 5: “The Essential Simplicity of Healing” – Bob Bendykowski will describe his simplified technique for distant healing and explain the rationale behind it. He may also attempt a personal treatment if time permits.
September 12: Kabbalah Study Class – Lesson 11: “Moving Toward the Divine”
September 19: Dances of Universal Peace – 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. Come prepared to participate.
September 26: “O Hidden Life” – An Exposition by Joy Mills. In a small booklet Joy gives a detailed explanation of each phrase in the “O Hidden Life” invocation. Her insights will be shared and discussed this evening (facilitated by K. Neuman).
October 3: Study Group on Sacred Geometry: Session 2 – Discussion on Chapter 5: “Proportion Golden Section” & Chapter 6: “Spirals”. Optional activity: Coloring Workbook: pp 5 & 6. Refer to Study Guide for more info.
October 10: Kabbalah Study Class: Lesson 11 – “Moving Toward the Divine”
October 17: “Understanding Your Dreams – The Edgar Cayce Way” – Presenter: Kevin Reger. Edgar Cayce says “Nothing significant happens in a person’s life without having first previewed it in a dream.” This evening Kevin will take some actual dreams and work through Edgar Cayce’s 5 step approach to understanding them. If possible, bring along a dream to work on. If you are brave, we should have time to analyze it as a group.
October 24: “Sacred Geometry and Temples” applies ideas from Jeanie Dean’s previous lectures on sacred number and geometry to the architecture of sacred places. This research looks at several major temples from Egypt, Babylon, India, Asia, Mesoamerica, and Catholic Cathedrals to discover esoteric philosophy encoded in stone through common patterns of shape, form and number.
October 27: Saturday workshop presented by David Bruce on “The Voice of the Silence” from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. During this workshop, we will touch upon topics such as paradox, mysticism and the Path. Primarily, we will examine the first of the three Fragments while touching briefly upon the second and third. There will be time for discussion as well as quiet reflection.
November 7: Study Group on Sacred Geometry: Session 3 – Discussion on Chapter 7: “Squaring the Circle,” Chapter 10: “Cosmic Solids; and Chapter I1 “Anthropos.” Workbook 7 & 9.
November 14: Kabbalah Study Class: Lesson 12 – “Further Dimensions”
November 28: A Night of Social Gathering (weather permitting). Bring a dish to pass (gentle reminder: the Theosophical Society promotes a vegetarian diet).
BIOGRAPHIES
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.
Joy Mills (1920-2015) was a much loved Theosophist who delighted international audiences with her talks for several decades and was also a prolific author, having received the prestigious T. Subba Row Medal for her contribution to Theosophical literature. She served as President of the Theosophical Society in America from 1965–1974, and then as international Vice President in Adyar, India from 1974–1980. During 75 years of membership, Joy taught numerous courses, lectured in over 50 countries and authored several important books.
A Milwaukee gal, her theosophical journey began as a “young theosophist” at the Milwaukee Lodge while attending UWM-Milwaukee.
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.
William Rogers, Ph.D. is a historian focusing on religious history. A retired UWM professor now living in Atlanta, he still lectures at seminaries and for religious groups. He also hosts an internet based radio program called “The Black Reality Think Tank.” Dr. Rogers continues his membership in the Milwaukee Lodge from a distance.
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. For the past year he has been writing a book on “The Kabbalah,” a work still in progress.
Phoenix Suvayas is a founding member of Saint Rosenkreuz Abbey, an interfaith gnostic center of research in Milwaukee, WI. Virtually raised in a seminary, he comes from a family of pastors, ministers and theologians representing multiple traditions.