Reflections on the 2025 TSEW Summer Convention
This year’s Theosophy summer conference returned to Swanwick in Derbyshire for the second time running. I attended last year and I have to say that somehow - this year was even better. I was greeted by Andrea at reception, allocated my room and headed off to unpack before making my way to a delicious buffet dinner to meet my fellow Theosophists. I recognised a number of faces from previous years and felt at home instantly.
Mindful Meals and Morning Rambles
The food has considerably improved since last year and there were plenty of healthy and delicious options at breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as the tea and cake breaks twice a day. To compensate for my increased daily intake, I managed to get away in the mornings for an early walk and jog, exploring the footpaths and the numerous fields that surround the centre, avoiding the cows, sheep and goats along the way!
My en-suite room was large and comfortable, and on the ground floor - another improvement on last year. This year all the talks took place in a smaller room, rather than an echoey stage, which created a more intimate atmosphere. It felt that we were amongst friends sharing guidance and direction with one another, rather than something detached and official.
Sacred Geometry and the Wisdom of Symbols
The talks were very well organised with some standouts in particular from Pamela El-Hosaini who produced a riveting workshop on Sacred Geometry that spanned two days. We covered a wealth of material including the original human 12-strand DNA, the initiations that took place within the pyramids, the Platonic solids, the significance of the dodecahedron, the building block of the hexagon evident in insect nests as well as the cells of a fertilised egg, and the infinite fractal zoom of the Mandelbrot set.
Truly, computer modelling has helped us to visually understand abstract mathematics that was previously incomprehensible. I am not a mathematician but I found this talk fascinating - it was my favourite workshop not just of the conference but of my entire year. (If you wish to see it, I have no doubt a copy will be made available on the main website) It is clear that the secret of sacred geometry does not reveal itself instantly. It cannot be accessed purely through intellectual linear means. This is where meditation by the higher mind can help.
The Blavatsky Lecture:
‘Living a Spiritual life in challenging times’
Wayne Gatfield led the headline Blavatsky lecture, ‘Living a Spiritual life in challenging times,’ sharing with us excerpts of poetry by Rumi and quotes on nurturing love and compassion within ourselves and others.
A reminder for us to slow down and see the beauty in ourselves and one another, during these trying times.
Meditation, Movement, and Inner Stillness
The short morning and evening meditations were incredibly calming, and the resonance that arose in the group setting only amplified the serenity. I attended the early qi-gong session along with a dozen others, led by Terri King. The different movements helped shake off blocked energy and set us up for the day.
From Platonic Solids to Paper Models
I was delighted to take part in the geometric block building session also led by Terri. The icosahedron was tricky to glue together, however I had much better success with the cube and took both my trophies home to dwell upon further.
AI and the Digital Blavatsky
During this live session, he asked a number of questions, sharing the results on the large screen. The only requirement was that the response came in the style of Blavatsky.
Was this the digital equivalent of a modern seance? I asked myself. Where it did fall down was when the conjured AI personalities of Buddha and Jesus cited the term theosophy in their responses. An anachronism clearly, and a reminder that AI responses will be tailored to whatever the user wishes to hear, not necessarily what is factually correct. Still, the results provided much food for thought.
Evening Entertainment
On the first night, the evening entertainment was thoughtfully provided by tech and sound engineer extraordinaire Damon. A video montage was played, ranging from classical to Paul Simon to inspirational life journeys. A mini documentary showing the impact of reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone Park was an eye-opener, as we watched the ecosystem flourish and re-balance itself. The following evening, Neville Crofts delighted us with an uplifting music montage including singers such as acapella choral group Voce 8, closing with a wickedly funny French parody by Kenneth Williams.
Quantum Truths and Cosmic Beginnings
One of the closing talks was led by the excellent Petra Meyers whose slides and talk on Cosmogenesis were incredibly well-researched and left me scribbling away with notes to follow up on. We sat stationary in the room even as we deep-dived into the world of quantum mechanics.
The Book Table Temptation
Of course what conference would be complete without picking up a few books from the table sale? Even though I had vowed not to add any more to my vast book collection, I spied a copy of Gurdjieff's 'Meetings with Remarkable Men' which has been on my wishlist for a while. I congratulated myself as the proud new owner after handing over the princely sum of four pounds!
A Soul-Enriching Experience
In short, the 2025 summer conference was the highlight of my year and the memories will nourish me until the next one.
It was a very well-balanced four days that touched upon the topics of karma, compassion, poetry, sacred geometry, and quantum physics. I can only express my deepest thanks to the wonderful souls who attended and shared their wisdom and most of all to the hard working people who helped make this happen - President Jenny Baker, Andrea and Damon.
Surrounded by good friends and enriched by good food, the theosophical conference was a unique blend of philosophy, science and revelation. I found it joyful, uplifting and inspirational and I came away feeling energised and blessed. Coming together reminds us that we are not alone in our progress along the Way.
By Tuanne Mac
