In 1998 I taught a course of eight lessons on Star Mythology in a room above the Penny Black in Farringdon. In somewhat cheeky fashion, I referred to it as the Penny Black University. My great hope was that others would be inspired and join me in forming the faculty of a free university providing high-quality adult education on culture, politics and spirituality. Sadly but predictably, no one else was inspired to join in, and the project folded, although good things came out of the circle of actors and musicians that were my main students.
As a result, the syllabus I created for follow-on courses was never implemented as such, although I have lectured on many of the topics in other contexts. Both for nostalgia and to remind myself of what seemed worth teaching in 1998-1999, I'm sharing the Live Learning Syllabus of what became The School of Orpheus. It's only fair to say that the way I described these subjects was influenced by the American author John Lash, but that influenced ceased in 1999.
1. ALCHEMY
2. GNOSTICISM & ROMANTICISM
3. REICH, LAWRENCE AND SOMATICS
4. THE MYSTERIES AND MAGIC
5. EASTERN WISDOM
6. NIETZCHE AND PHILOSOPHY
7. SHAMANISM AND THE ARCHAIC REVIVAL
8. NEW SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALCHEMY
Unlike many other spiritual traditions, alchemy emphasised co-operation with Nature. This involves augmenting and perfecting natural processes already at work, and implied that humanity is an important part of nature’s plan, rather than some ‘transcendental’ being.
Apart from its vital influence on psychology and the arts, and its prefiguring of holistics and Gaia-theory, the mysterious symbols of traditional alchemy encode profound knowledge, and are proven keys to unlock the power of imagination. This course is also informed by the alchemically-inspired science of the great poet Goethe,
GNOSTICISM & ROMANTICISM
The term Gnosis is best translated intuitive knowledge. Gnosis is knowledge rather than belief; insight against dogmatism; vision over word games. But the quest for ‘vision’ has often been heretical. In tribute to the Gnostic sects and their abuse by the ‘orthodox’ church, we shall examine the history of gnosis from the Manicheans, Cathars to the Romantics of the 19th century.
REICH, LAWRENCE AND SOMATICS
The philosopher Descartes is often blamed for the ‘mind-body dualism’ that has tainted the thought and the life of Western civilisation. However dualism lies at the heart of Western intellectual culture through the dual influence of Platonism and Christianity (which Nietzche pithily called ‘Platonism for the masses’). Environmentalists and feminists have indicated the need for a body-affirming outlook. We will study two pioneering examples of this: the body-centred psychology of Wilhelm Reich and the novels, poems and essays of D.H.Lawrence. Calling this area somatics we begin to see past ‘spirituality’ to the prospect of vibrant, vital knowing.
THE MYSTERIES AND MAGIC
In place of ‘higher education’, many ancient peoples had The Mysteries. Although these operated in an atmosphere of secrecy and sanctity, we know that initiates investigated the metaphysical matters often trivialised in the New Age. Lacking knowledge, there is too much space for fantasy and wild speculation. By combining academic accuracy with intuition and creativity, Live Learning looks to the mood of The Mysteries, which aims to produce truth that is both beautiful and useful!
EASTERN WISDOM
In any organised study of humanity’s spiritual heritage, the great books of the East come first. Having worked with the great texts of Hinduism, Buddhism or Taoism, one has a point of reference which is essential to approach Western philosophy as well as the many esoteric and practical system which lead one beyond books. These ‘tried and tested’ thoughts are a powerful antidote to the stupidity and ‘dumbing down’ of the spiritual supermarket. They are also an essential groundwork for the spiritual practices of meditation and contemplation.
NIETZCHE AND PHILOSOPHY
From Plato’s time until the 19th Century, there was a broad continuity to the assumptions of the humanistic, philosophical tradition . But this was traumatically disrupted by the social and scientific developments of the last two centuries. Nietzche’s thought is an important marker of the sea-change in our culture. If more individuals had been able to follow his prophetic insights into our cultural situation, the standards of the great Western tradition might have prevailed against the mass mediocrity which so imperils us.
SHAMANISM AND THE ARCHAIC REVIVAL
Living at the end of the 20th century, we are aware of our desperate need to rediscover the culture of so-called primitive societies - and realise the harm done by colonialism . Their great longevity and indomitability makes a painful contrast to our own social chaos. This study includes the long-term questions of human ‘evolution’, or perhaps better said, survival. It also throws world ‘spirituality’ in a very different light, giving historical support to our approach to alchemy and somatics.
NEW SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Engaging critically with attempts to interpret new science to the New Age, by authors such as Capra, Bohm, Sheldrake and Lovelock, we will pose deeper questions about the role and scope of scientific thinking. We will also consider the tension between science and occult thinking, and the social role of technology.
c James Cavendish 1999
As a result, the syllabus I created for follow-on courses was never implemented as such, although I have lectured on many of the topics in other contexts. Both for nostalgia and to remind myself of what seemed worth teaching in 1998-1999, I'm sharing the Live Learning Syllabus of what became The School of Orpheus. It's only fair to say that the way I described these subjects was influenced by the American author John Lash, but that influenced ceased in 1999.
1. ALCHEMY
2. GNOSTICISM & ROMANTICISM
3. REICH, LAWRENCE AND SOMATICS
4. THE MYSTERIES AND MAGIC
5. EASTERN WISDOM
6. NIETZCHE AND PHILOSOPHY
7. SHAMANISM AND THE ARCHAIC REVIVAL
8. NEW SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALCHEMY
Unlike many other spiritual traditions, alchemy emphasised co-operation with Nature. This involves augmenting and perfecting natural processes already at work, and implied that humanity is an important part of nature’s plan, rather than some ‘transcendental’ being.
Apart from its vital influence on psychology and the arts, and its prefiguring of holistics and Gaia-theory, the mysterious symbols of traditional alchemy encode profound knowledge, and are proven keys to unlock the power of imagination. This course is also informed by the alchemically-inspired science of the great poet Goethe,
GNOSTICISM & ROMANTICISM
The term Gnosis is best translated intuitive knowledge. Gnosis is knowledge rather than belief; insight against dogmatism; vision over word games. But the quest for ‘vision’ has often been heretical. In tribute to the Gnostic sects and their abuse by the ‘orthodox’ church, we shall examine the history of gnosis from the Manicheans, Cathars to the Romantics of the 19th century.
REICH, LAWRENCE AND SOMATICS
The philosopher Descartes is often blamed for the ‘mind-body dualism’ that has tainted the thought and the life of Western civilisation. However dualism lies at the heart of Western intellectual culture through the dual influence of Platonism and Christianity (which Nietzche pithily called ‘Platonism for the masses’). Environmentalists and feminists have indicated the need for a body-affirming outlook. We will study two pioneering examples of this: the body-centred psychology of Wilhelm Reich and the novels, poems and essays of D.H.Lawrence. Calling this area somatics we begin to see past ‘spirituality’ to the prospect of vibrant, vital knowing.
THE MYSTERIES AND MAGIC
In place of ‘higher education’, many ancient peoples had The Mysteries. Although these operated in an atmosphere of secrecy and sanctity, we know that initiates investigated the metaphysical matters often trivialised in the New Age. Lacking knowledge, there is too much space for fantasy and wild speculation. By combining academic accuracy with intuition and creativity, Live Learning looks to the mood of The Mysteries, which aims to produce truth that is both beautiful and useful!
EASTERN WISDOM
In any organised study of humanity’s spiritual heritage, the great books of the East come first. Having worked with the great texts of Hinduism, Buddhism or Taoism, one has a point of reference which is essential to approach Western philosophy as well as the many esoteric and practical system which lead one beyond books. These ‘tried and tested’ thoughts are a powerful antidote to the stupidity and ‘dumbing down’ of the spiritual supermarket. They are also an essential groundwork for the spiritual practices of meditation and contemplation.
NIETZCHE AND PHILOSOPHY
From Plato’s time until the 19th Century, there was a broad continuity to the assumptions of the humanistic, philosophical tradition . But this was traumatically disrupted by the social and scientific developments of the last two centuries. Nietzche’s thought is an important marker of the sea-change in our culture. If more individuals had been able to follow his prophetic insights into our cultural situation, the standards of the great Western tradition might have prevailed against the mass mediocrity which so imperils us.
SHAMANISM AND THE ARCHAIC REVIVAL
Living at the end of the 20th century, we are aware of our desperate need to rediscover the culture of so-called primitive societies - and realise the harm done by colonialism . Their great longevity and indomitability makes a painful contrast to our own social chaos. This study includes the long-term questions of human ‘evolution’, or perhaps better said, survival. It also throws world ‘spirituality’ in a very different light, giving historical support to our approach to alchemy and somatics.
NEW SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Engaging critically with attempts to interpret new science to the New Age, by authors such as Capra, Bohm, Sheldrake and Lovelock, we will pose deeper questions about the role and scope of scientific thinking. We will also consider the tension between science and occult thinking, and the social role of technology.
c James Cavendish 1999