Dear ,
I hope you are all well. It’s been a busy period for me, as my book Spiritual Science was officially published last week,
and my publisher has arranged a lot of radio and podcast interviews. I’ve given a few public talks too, and have a few more coming up (see below). I've also been to a couple of academic conferences, where I gave presentations. The first one was about my research on bereavement as a transformational experience, and the other was called 'Moving Beyond Materialism', about the idea that we're in the midst of a cultural shift. (If you would like me to send you a copy of the slides for these
presentations, send me an email at [email protected])
I gave my ‘Moving Beyond Materialism' presentation as a keynote speech at the conference of the Transpersonal Section of the British Psychological Society in Newport, South
Wales. The conference was a great experience - so many inspiring people offering different forms of healing and wholeness! There were a few people whom I met for the first time but felt an immediate close connection with, as if we’d known each other for years. I love it when that happens - there's such a feeling of warmth and ease. (I’ve just been elected to the role of chair of the Transpersonal Section, which is a privilege.)
Another interesting thing that happened recently is that I was asked to participate in a BBC1 documentary about religion and spirituality. I went down to London for the afternoon for filming, and had a great discussion with the TV presenter Cherry Healey about her spiritual experiences. My role was to suggest that awakening experiences are a natural human potential and often occur outside a religious
context - and don't necessarily have to be connected with religion (or even traditional spirituality) at all. Like a lot of people I've met, Cherry was amazed and relieved to find that you can be spiritual without being religious. I remember giving a talk about awakening experiences at a bookshop a few years ago, and a woman coming up to me at the end, saying, ‘I’m confused - I’m an atheist, but I’ve had one of these experiences. Is that possible?’ I said to her, ‘Of course! The experiences
don’t have to be religious at all. Most people who have them aren’t religious, and may not even know anything spirituality.’
The documentary is going to be broadcast in December - I’ll let you know when it’s on.
Article In The Psychologist
On the subject of awakening experiences, I was really pleased to publish an
article about them in The Psychologist (the journal of the British Psychological Society). It’s a mainstream psychology magazine, so it really shows that mainstream psychology is opening up to more holistic or spiritual perspectives. You can read it here.
Funnily enough, in the July-August edition of The American Psychologist - the US equivalent of The Psychologist - there was a great article by
Etzel Cardena entitled ‘The experimental evidence for parapsychological phenomena: A review.’ It concluded that ‘The evidence provides cumulative support for the reality of psi, which cannot be readily explained away by the quality of the studies, fraud, selective reporting, experimental or analytical incompetence, or other frequent criticisms. The evidence for psi is comparable to that for established phenomena in psychology and other disciplines, although there is no consensual understanding
of them.’ So that’s other evidence that a shift is underway!
Spiritual Science - Bill's Book Sculpture Last week, just before the official publication of Spiritual Science, I received 30 copies in the mail. I opened the box then went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, and when I came back my 9 year old son Bill had made this impressive 'book sculpture'
I had an online
launch for Spiritual Science last Sunday evening, which you can watch here. It began (and ended) with some of my guitar playing, while I was waiting for people to join. It took a while, so I ended up playing for a few minutes! I love playing the guitar - both the acoustic six string and my four string bass. Every time I pick them up, something new comes out. It’s spontaneous and endless. By the way, if you would like to read an
excerpt from the book, you can do so here.
Events
I have a few events coming up over the next
two months.
October 5th, London - To mark the publication of Spiritual Science, I’m holding an event in London: 'Spiritual Science: Why science needs spirituality.' at the London College of Psychic Studies. Book tickets here.
Oct. 27th, Glastonbury - 'Making the Leap: Five Steps towards Spiritual Awakening’ in the Avalon Rooms, Glastonbury on Sat. 27th October 2018 (10.30 - 5pm). Cost £45.) For further information or took a place, contact me at [email protected]. . Nov 17th, London - One Day workshop on 'Waking Up - Awakening through Presence,
Gratitude and Acceptance.' Further details here. Events In The US
If you’re in the LA area, on November 7th, I’m giving a free talk called ‘Making the Leap’ (based on my book The Leap) at the Mystic Journey bookstore in Venice.
A Poem I love these beautiful bright autumn days - the sunlight is so pure and white that it's almost translucent, and the sky seems so high and perfectly blue, it makes me feel really grateful to be alive! Here's a poem I wrote four years ago, on a day just like
today:
I Am Eternally Grateful
“Now that you know what life is like
would you have chosen to be born?”
a pessimistic friend once asked.
He seemed surprised when I said,
“Of course!”
I ponder the question again this morning
this ecstatic autumn morning
that fills me with right-ness and yes-ness
this morning of brilliant astral sunlight
that makes the whole world seem transparent
and this blue-beyond-perfection sky
with the smooth still purity of consciousness itself
and the foaming forming
merging clouds
nuzzling and wrestling like new spring lambs.
Yes, I am grateful to have been born.
I am eternally grateful
for the gift of this brief life
to be a guest of time and space
hosted by this bountiful beautiful world
to taste the sweetness of substance
and the firmness of form and flesh.
I am eternally grateful
to be eternal
to never have been born
and to never die.
All best wishes and blessings, Steve
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