B. Hebert, M. Parisen, P. Sender
The Golden Stairs: A Guide for Spiritual Living

Annual TS Members’ Intensive, only via Zoom
Saturday 10 am – noon
Sunday – Thursday 10 am – noon PST
Afternoon sessions to be announced.

This Members’ Intensive, held in cooperation with the KIT Partners in Theosophy initiative, explores “The Golden Stairs,” a short statement published by H.P. Blavatsky in 1890 which, according to her, came “from the letter of a Master.” The Golden Stairs are ethical principles required to reach the “Temple of Divine Wisdom.” Its 13 steps lead the seeker on an ascent that involves self-development, a right relationship with fellow aspirants, and a spiritual attitude in dealings with the world. Topics to be explored include the search for Truth, spiritual practice, working with others, the true Teacher, and more. Presenters will include Partners’ director, Pablo Sender, and other mentors in the Partners project.

1. Saturday 22 Living the Life of an Aspirant Barbara Hebert
2. Sunday 23 Discipleship and the Learning Mind Pablo Sender
3. Monday 24 Loyalty and Duty: Dynamics of the Teacher-Student Bond Maria Parisen
4. Tuesday 25 Following Truth in Everyday Life Pablo Sender
5. Wednesday 26 A Disciple’s Attitude about Injustice Pablo Sender
6. Thursday 27 The Arresting Power of the Ideal Pablo Sender
7. Friday 28 Partners Projects Presentations

Registration for this program is open only to Theosophical Society members.
The workshop is offered as a full series only, no single sessions.
Pre-registration is required. No tuition fee. Donations are welcome.

Click here to register.

Barbara Hebert, PhD, president of the Theosophical Society in America, is a third–generation Theosophist who has held local and regional positions throughout her 40-year TS membership. As an adjunct professor at Southeastern Louisiana University in the health and human services department, she also served as executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center–Hope House and maintained a private mental health practice. She now presents internationally for the Society and writes regularly for Quest magazine, the American Section’s journal, and for the Society’s international journal, The Theosophist.
Maria Parisen, director of Krotona School of Theosophy, also serves on the Institute’s Board of Directors. A TS member since 1969, during her many years with the Detroit TS she also served on the governing Boards of the TS in America and the Theosophical Order of Service. Maria has presented programs and retreats internationally and compiled the Quest anthology, Angels and Mortals: Their Co-Creative Powers.
Pablo Sender, PhD, has been a member of the Theosophical Society since 1996. He has lived and worked at the international headquarters of the TS in Adyar, India, at the national center of the TS in America, and is currently residing in the Krotona Institute of Theosophy in Ojai, California. He has presented programs and retreats in India, Europe, Oceania, and the three Americas. He writes for many Theosophical journals and is the author of The Evolution of the Higher Consciousness. www.pablosender.com

Catherine Ann Jones
What Story Are You Living?

February 8 – 11 (Krotona Classroom and Zoom)
Tuesday – Friday 10 am – noon PST

“How do I know about the world?
By what is within me.”
Lao Tzu
Our lives may be determined less by past events than by the way we remember them. If we learn how to re-frame the pieces of our past and re-vision our life story so that suffering becomes meaningful, we can radically boost our chances of healing and growth. As we begin a new year, this workshop will be an inspiring way to enjoy some introspection and self-reflection for both writers and for those who simply enjoy writing exercises or keeping a journal. There will be time to share, get feedback, meet other participants from around the world – both ‘live’ in Ojai, CA and via Zoom. One of her recent students commented, “As an award-winning writer and teacher, Catherine Ann Jones brings not only a wealth of practical tools, but healing balm for anyone’s soul.” What you’ll need: A notepad and pen/pencil – and courage. (Bring a photo of you as a child or teen.)
Single Session $15, Series $50

Click here to register.

Catherine Ann Jones has played major roles in over 50 productions on and off-Broadway, as well as in television and film. A Fulbright Scholar to India studying shamanism, with over 30 years teaching graduate school as well as at the Esalen and Omega Institutes, Catherine is the award-winning author of several books including Heal Yourself with Writing, The Way of Story, and What Story Are You Living?. www.wayofstory.com

Rev. Jim Burklo
Mindful Christianity: Practicing with the Mystics

February 18 – 20  (Krotona Classroom and Zoom)
Friday 7:30 – 9:00 pm, Saturday 10 am – noon and 2 – 4 pm,
Sunday 10 am – noon PST
Rev. Burklo will begin by leading us in mindfulness practice, and then reflecting on our experience. What or who is being mindful during this practice?  The awareness implicit in this question is the doorway into contemplatio, or union with the divine. Through this opening, we will survey the experiences and insights of the mystics of Christianity throughout the history of the faith.  What steps did the Christian mystics take toward contemplatio?  How did they describe the spiritual journey?  How can we integrate contemplative practice with public liturgy and private devotion?  How can we participate in the Christian mystical tradition in forms fitting for our time? Rev. Burklo will describe and interpret monastic concepts, and lead participants in practices including lectio divina, adoration of the blessed sacrament, the Jesus Prayer, and hesychasm.  Participants are encouraged to read Rev. Burklo’s book Tenderly Calling: An Invitation to the Way of Jesus to prepare for this program.
Single Session $15, Series $50

Click here to register.

Rev. Jim Burklo is the Senior Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California and is co-founder of Mindful USC, which offers free introductory courses to thousands of students and staff.  An ordained United Church of Christ pastor, he is the author of seven books on progressive Christianity and his weekly blog, “Musings,” has a global readership. Rev. Burklo is an honorary advisor and frequent contributor to ProgressiveChristianity.org, as well as a board member. He is the founder of Souljourning.org, providing interfaith resources for nurturing the natural spirituality of people aged 0-21.  He formerly served as a parish pastor, campus minister, and organizer/executive director of an interfaith ministry for people experiencing homelessness. He lives with his wife Roberta in Ojai, CA; together they are blessed with three children and four grandchildren.

Joslyn Lawrence
Let’s Talk About Death

March 7 – 28 (Krotona Garden or Library Patio)
Four Mondays 10:30 am – noon PT
How do we walk more consciously into the fact that all of us die? Come together in a space of inquiry, sitting with fears and revelations around the subject of our mortality as we presence ourselves with this complex subject. We will look at cultural constructs and share personal stories that guide us to know ourselves deeper as we walk towards one of the two most significant events in our lives. The month-long series includes meditation homework and journaling to take home in between. All are welcome.
Single Session $15, Series $50

Click here to register.

Joslyn Lawrence is trained in Death Midwifery and Hospice. She holds a degree in Spiritual Psychology, with 550+ hours of Yoga studies, is a parent and a long-time Fine Artist. She weaves years of personal practice and experience into a unique way of holding space for life transitions and grief literacy. Joslyn is a firm believer that if we embrace, and even love the fact that we are all going to die someday, it could greatly impact our lives and our culture. She facilitates open discussions around what it means to be an Elder and an Elder-in-Training, and holds Grief Circles, Death Cafes, plus dance, movement, and sound classes focused on being present with What Is as an essential daily practice.

Ravi Ravindra
Yoga and the Journey of Self Transformation

11 Classes 10 am – 12 noon PDT (Krotona Classroom and Zoom)
March 15 – 18 and 22 – 25 Tuesday – Friday
March 29 – 31 Tuesday – Thursday
All serious teachings insist on a radical self-transformation in order to make any connection with the Truth or God or the Real. Although the description of the demands of transformation vary, in general the transformation leads to freedom from my usual self. This necessitates an impartial self-inquiry in order to understand the self of which I need to be free and the call of the Self which I need to understand and follow. The Self [or Purusha] is a part and parcel of the Highest Reality and the call is for each one of us is to become an instrument of the Divine will, bringing our own unique talent of service. A searcher soon becomes deeply interested in the long but adventurous journey of inner transformation. We will undertake a detailed study of the Yoga Sutras, the classic of Yoga, and will explore how the practice and theory of Yoga corresponds to this inner voyage of transformation.

Click here to register.

Single Session $15, Series $150
Ravi Ravindra, PhD is professor emeritus at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, where he taught in the departments of physics, philosophy and comparative religion. He has authored many papers in these fields and several books, including Pilgrim Soul; the Gospel of John in the Light of Indian Mysticism; Science and the Sacred; The Wisdom of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita: A Guide to Navigating the Battle of Life.

Munju Ravindra and Ravi Ravindra
Science and Spirituality: Truth, Beauty and Order in Nature

March 25 – 26 (Krotona Classroom and Zoom)
Friday 7:30 – 9:00 pm, Saturday 10 am – noon and 2 – 4 pm PDT
A weekend of practical exercises, philosophical presentations, and group discussions.The workshop will inspire participants to understand their relationship with nature, especially with respect to the similarities and differences in the nature of truth, beauty and order as revealed by the sciences and by spiritual searchers.
Single Session $15, Series $40

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Munju Monique Ravindra is an award-winning writer, naturalist, and yoga teacher. She holds a Masters in Ecological Design, a BSc. in Biology and International Development, and consults for National Parks and museums on creating transformative visitor experiences. She is a certified Yoga teacher and is soon completing her training in Yoga Therapy.
Ravi Ravindra, PhD is professor emeritus at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, where he taught in the departments of physics, philosophy and comparative religion. He has authored many papers in these fields and several books, including Pilgrim Soul; the Gospel of John in the Light of Indian Mysticism; Science and the Sacred; The Wisdom of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita: A Guide to Navigating the Battle of Life.

Cynthia Overweg
One Earth, One Humanity

April 19, 20, 21 (Zoom)
Tuesday – Thursday 10 am – 12 noon PDT

The Earth is our origin, our nourishment, our educator,
our healer, our fulfillment.
Thomas Berry

At this time in human history, we are being called to love the Earth and to recognize our oneness with it. The Earth is not an object ― it is a living being that sustains us and all other life forms. This three-part series explores our sacred relationship with the Earth. To better understand this relationship, we’ll explore the perennial wisdom that brings us together with nature, with each other, and with the mystery of creation. We’ll celebrate the wonder of our own existence and the possibility of wholeness in the midst of our apparent fragmentation and divisions. We will also explore Eastern and Western viewpoints about the priceless gift we have been given and how we can approach ways of caring for the Earth, while we nurture our own spiritual life. The aim of this series is to engage with the inner wisdom that sees the whole of life as one symphonic movement in our life’s journey on the Earth.
Single Session $15, Series $40

Click here to register.

Cynthia Overweg facilitates workshops and retreats that focus on self-transformation and inner stillness. She is the author of Silent Awareness: The Revelation That Changes Everything (2021) and numerous articles and essays about the spiritual quest. Her love of the natural world began in childhood when she lived on an island and had the freedom to roam and explore some of nature’s hidden treasures. www.cynthiaoverweg.com

A One Day Retreat
Cynthia Overweg
Being with the Earth

Saturday April 23 Retreat (Krotona Classroom and Gardens)
10 am – 4:30 pm PDT

Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of
strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
Rachel Carson

To be in harmony with the beauty of the Earth is also to be in harmony with ourselves. And this inner harmony points to what is silent and sacred about us and the Earth itself. If we know how to look and listen, the sacred reveals itself in the whole of creation. This retreat is designed to help us recover and embrace our deep connection with the timeless, pulsating aliveness of the natural world. Our aim is to take a restful pause from the busy activities of daily life to be in a peaceful and beautiful setting where we can relax, de-stress and be in the presence of what unites us with nature and with each other.
Our day together includes quietude in nature, a gentle practice of listening and seeing with inner awareness, walking meditation, meditative inquiry, sacred music and body/mind relaxation. Together we’ll explore how our senses and our attention connect us with the vitality and beauty of nature and with our own innermost being.
Morning or afternoon session $20, Day $35

Click here to register.

Bring your own vegetarian lunch, or enjoy a Rainbow Bridge box lunch for $12.
Cynthia Overweg facilitates workshops and retreats that focus on self-transformation and inner stillness. She is the author of Silent Awareness: The Revelation That Changes Everything (2021) and numerous articles and essays about the spiritual quest. Her love of the natural world began in childhood when she lived on an island and had the freedom to roam and explore some of nature’s hidden treasures. www.cynthiaoverweg.com

Rabbi Rami Shapiro
How to Be an Authentic Mystic:
Four Rules You Must Follow and Then Break

April 26 – 29 (Zoom)
Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 12 noon PDT
A mystic is someone who seeks to move beyond the secondhand gods of religion to experience What Is directly. A mystic is someone at home with the formless. A mystic is someone at home with not knowing. A mystic is someone at home with uncertainty. A mystic is someone at home with insecurity.
In this highly interactive conversation with Rabbi Rami students will explore what it takes to become a mystic: both the rules and practices one must adapt (Part One) and the apophatic practices to let them go (Part Two). Our conversation is rooted in the teachings and practices of many traditions collected in Rami’s two anthologies Perennial Wisdom for the Spiritually Independent and The World Wisdom Bible.
Single Session $15, Series $50

Click here to register.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro is an award–winning author of over 36 books on religion and spirituality. He received rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and holds a PhD in religion from Union Graduate School. A rabbinic chaplain with the USAF for three years, a congregational rabbi for 20, and a professor of religious studies for 10, Rabbi Rami currently co-directs the One River Foundation (www.oneriverfoundation.org). Rami is also a Contributing Editor at Spirituality and Health magazine where he writes the Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler column for the print magazine, the Spirituality & column for the digital magazine, and hosts the podcast, Essential Conversations with Rabbi Rami (www.spiritualityhealth.com).

Sue Prescott
Relationships: A Path to Spiritual Awakening

May 3 – 6 (Krotona Classroom)
10 am – 12 noon PDT

As individuals, we engage with others using our everyday, personal self.  This consists of our minds, emotions, and bodies. However, Theosophy teaches that the essence of who we are is our inner, spiritual Self.  This is what we use to express love, understand others through our intuition, and connect with them unconditionally. This workshop will begin with exploring why we get stuck in problematic patterns of behavior. The Levels of Consciousness of a human being will be used to understand how to curb our defenses and open to the Higher Self. Skills to enhance relationships, including a powerful technique from Paramahansa Yogananda on healing tension between two people, will be taught. This culminates in exercises to awaken to our Spiritual, Higher Self through mindfulness, witnessing, breath-control techniques to aid meditation, and listening to your inner voice to surrender to your Self. A free copy of Sue’s book, Realizing the Self Within, is included in the workshop.
Single Session $15, Series $50

Click here to register.

Sue Prescott, MSW, is a therapist in private practice in Seattle, Washington, and has worked for over 40 years with children, couples, families and individuals. Since she was a young adult, she has been a member of the Theosophical Society and currently, is one of its national speakers. She is the author of Realizing the Self Within—an overview of the concepts of spirituality that can be applied to relationships and self-improvement.

Andrew Harvey
Revolution of the Divine Feminine

May 7 (Zoom)
Saturday 10 am – noon PDT

The great mystical fact of our time is the return of the divine feminine. Andrew Harvey will show that this return has two aspects – the destruction of all illusions and structures that breed hubris and separation and the blessing of a new vision of divine embodiment that prepares the next level of human evolution. He will offer a detailed description of the full Mother force in its majesty, tenderness and demand and show how sacred activism is an essential part of the great revolution of all human affairs that the divine feminine is now urgently pursuing. He will offer two major practices, one from the Hindu and one from the Christian tradition, to help seekers align with the great potential our current apocalyptic crisis is offering us – the potential of the birth of a new embodied divine humanity.
Fee $40.00

Click here to register.

Andrew Harvey is a poet, novelist, translator, mystical scholar, and spiritual teacher who has taught at universities and spiritual centers around the world. He has written and edited more than 30 books, including the bestselling titles The Hope and The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. He is the founder and director of the Institute of Sacred Activism. www.andrewharvey.net

Fin de Semana en Español
Eneida Elena Carbonell y Luz Tamarit
Mayo 20 – 22, 2022, (en el aula de Krotona y vía Zoom)
Viernes 7:30 – 9:00 pm; sábado 10 am – mediodía y 2 – 4 pm;
Domingo 10 am – Mediodía, hora del Pacífico
Una sesión $15, Serie $50

Click here to register.

La existencia e inmortalidad del Alma según la Filosofía Perenne
Luz María Tamarit

Esta presentación estudiará la significación que se ha dado a través de las edades al concepto del Alma y de su inmortalidad.  Desde el tiempo de las filosofías ancestrales hasta el presente, grandes pensadores, sabios y Maestros han tratado de indagar y profundizar en esta realidad invisible para los ojos humanos, pero fundamental en nuestra evolución transpersonal y espiritual.
Luz María Tamarit nació en Valencia, España, y vive en USA. Desde muy joven buscó el camino espiritual, comenzando por Krishnamurti. Es trabajadora social y continúa trabajando con jóvenes con problemas de aprendizaje. Es la Bibliotecaria de la Logia España en Los Ángeles y también ha servido en la junta directiva del campo teosófico Far Horizons.

Regeneración Humana y la Naturaleza de Nuestra Búsqueda
Eneida Elena Carbonell

La renovación de nuestras mentes y corazones es fundamental en una búsqueda sincera y detenida de las verdades eternas sobre la vida y su propósito. Estudiaremos algunos escritos de N. Sri Ram sobre la Regeneración Humana y la Naturaleza de Nuestra Búsqueda con el propósito de liberarnos de preocupaciones que puedan estar obstaculizando el poder de encontrar esas verdades eternas en las profundidades de nuestro ser.
Eneida Elena Carbonell es la actual Tesorera de la Logia España en Los Ángeles y es un miembro activo de esta Logia en donde guía estudios teosóficos. También ofrece seminarios de Teosofía para la Escuela Teosófica de Krotona y para la Federación Teosófica Interamericana. Es Maestra de Matemáticas para el programa de Educación de Adultos en Los Ángeles.