welcome...
to the Tree of Life School… a Kabbalistic School of the Soul.
Who are we?
We started in 2000 as The Devon Kabbalah Group, which was set up by Sam Wernham in association with The Kabbalah Society. Sam now co-ordinates the group with fellow Kabbalah Society tutor, Joyce King.
For our tenth anniversary, together with our companion Kabbalah students, we re-focussed and renamed our work to better express our intention to be an inspiring and down to earth Kabbalistic School of the Soul… the Tree of Life School.
What is Kabbalah?
Kabbalah explores what it means to be a conscious, moral, engaged human being. As a tradition it is rooted in Judaism, although it has also influenced Christianity and Islam over many centuries.
Kabbalah has many lines and schools and this school focusses primarily on the Toledano Tradition dating back to medieval Spain, where mystics from all three of the Abrahamic paths met and studied together. For more information visit the Kabbalah Society website. The Tree of Life School emphasis is on core spiritual principles that people of any faith or none can practically apply to everyday life to the benefit of themselves and others.
Our vision
• To enable spiritual awakening by exploring Kabbalah through meditation, study and reflective living.
• To consciously co-create a school of the soul which enables each participant to learn more about themselves and their connection to others, their awareness of Spirit and their purpose in the world.
• To engage in this learning, creating and awakening for the benefit of all.
our courses...
At the core of our work are ongoing fortnightly study groups, which give a context for real spiritual unfoldment by meeting regularly over extended periods of time.
Each meeting includes meditation, study and discussion and has anything from four to twenty participants.
We find these small groups encourage real honesty and a depth of meeting and sharing that is both inspiring and supportive.
All regular groups are based in Dartington, near Totnes in South Devon.
The Garden of Kabbalah
From Spring 2012 we have combined our two regular study groups into one as follows:
Fortnightly on Tuesday mornings from 10-12 noon, starting on 14th February.
Meetings are open to all and welcome visitors. Following on from last term's study of Kabbalistic teachings on the Physical or Assiyatic World, this term we will be starting to explore more deeply into the Psychological or Yetziratic World.
Bible Study
On the ‘in-between’ Tuesday mornings at 10-12noon from February 7th, we have been exploring the Torah portions but have currently paused until later in the year. In this group we take an open, interfaith and non dogmatic approach to scripture. We explore the historical context, the psychological meanings of biblical stories and the spiritual inspiration of their metaphors and symbols. This meeting is open to all and is a blend of study, discussion and meditation.
An Introduction to Kabbalah – Session Structure
Each session effectively starts two weeks before the meeting with questions for reflection and exploration. The structure for each meeting is simple and intended to be a balance of spiritual study, meditation & reflection on our experience of applying spiritual principles to everyday life. Each group will be co facilitated by 2 tutors from the Kabbalah Society.
The outline structure is as follows:
Opening – A moment of silence for each to open to Spirit… Lighting candles as a conscious marking of entering sacred time & space.
Study – Sharing reflections from questions? Receiving and discussing study material including notes, diagrams, pictures & poetry.
Meditation – with a blend of guided meditation and silence.
Reflection – on meditation and spiritual practice and reflective living over the last fortnight.
Closing – with a moment of silence and blowing out candles.
Tea & biscuits.
Introductory Course Session Plan
Examples of questions for reflection and exploration and key study themes:
Session 1) Vision
• What are your core values and vision for your life?
• Study input on Kabbalistic visions of life and how to live well.
Session 2) Models of Reality - The Four Worlds of Kabbalah
• Do you have a picture, idea or ‘model’ for understanding yourself and wider reality?
• Study input on the ‘Four Worlds of Kabbalah’
Session 3) Coming Down to Earth
• How do you understand/experience the relationship between matter and spirit?
• Kabbalistic teaching of the ‘Seven Halls’ with an emphasis on ‘Malkut’
Session 4) Exploring Personality or Foundation
• How do you understand and experience the role of the ego?
• Kabbalistic teaching on the ‘Personality Triads’ on the Tree of Life with an emphasis on ‘Yesod, Hod and Nezah’
Session 5) The Grail Quest
• What is your understanding and experience of the soul and how do you, or could you, nurture this aspect of your life? What stands in the way?
• Study input on the ‘Awakening and Soul Triads’ with an emphasis on ‘Tiferet, Geburah & Hesed’
Session 6) Heaven and Holy One
• Have you had a ‘peak experience’ or ‘God moment’? Explore recontacting that or imagine what it might be like.
• Study input on the ‘Spiritual and Divine Triads’ with an emphasis on ‘Daat, Binah, Hokmah, Keter’.
We also recommend the Gospel Study and Contemplative Prayer meetings offered by our sister school in Christian Mysticism, Open Spirit. On Monday afternoons from 1.30-3pm, Open Spirit meets for alternating sessions of Contextual Bible Study and Meditation.
Drawing the Tree of Life
We started last year's Autumn/Winter Term with a retreat day on the ‘Gardens of the Soul’. For this term we are planning a day in which to learn how to draw your own Tree of Life on Sunday May 6th. More details coming soon… please do get in touch if you are interested.
one~day workshops...
Woven into our ongoing fortnightly groups are occasional one day workshops at weekends. For 2012, we are delighted to once again be welcoming two visiting tutors from the London centre of the Kabbalah Society.
Workshops are held in a beautiful venue on Dartmoor, Devon.
The Visionary Company
Poet, publisher and lecturer Peter Brennan of The Visionary Company will be returning to inspire us with two one-day workshops on the transcendent art of poetry.
This follows on from his previous successful days with us on the poetry of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats and William Blake.
Peter is a wonderful blend of the scholarly and spiritual, with a good dash of down to earth humour (and a keen nose for a fine wine!)
The date for his first day is Saturday 30th June for an exploration of Milton.
Astrology and Sacred Sound
We hope that Jewish Kabbalist and Astrologer, Jonathon Clark, will also be returning to take us deeper into the mysteries of Kabbalistic Astrology.
In addition to a day on ‘Drawing the Tree of Life’, our Devon tutors will also be offering a day on Sacred Sound. More details to follow soon…
Kabbalah Art and Spirituality Retreat
After an enthusiastic response, plans are now underway for a very special Tree of Life School Retreat on Iona in the Autumn of 2013. Peter Brennan will be joining Sam and Joyce to offer a deep immersion in the spiritual arts. Dive into great poetry, story and meditation through a blend of study sessions, deep discussion and stillness. All this in a comfortable hotel with delicious food in the natural beauty of the Isle of Iona! More details soon...
Please do get in touch if you are interested.
get in
touch…
If you would like to know more about Kabbalah or Tree of Life School courses and workshops, please get in touch!
For more details about workshop venues and bookings, please contact Joyce King
For more details about on going study course venues and to arrange to visit a meeting or join a course, please contact Sam Wernham
We look forward to hearing from you!
e : enquiries@treeoflifeschool.co.uk
w : www.treeoflifeschool.co.uk
Joyce King
t : 01647 221496
Rev. Sam Wernham
t : 01803 865199
