Classic Greek tragedy, comedy and epic poetry has so many lessons on psychology, sexual desire, activism and gender equality that resonate powerfully today. This will be a fun session on storytelling, morality and consequence.
Project Category: Traditions and Beliefs Events
Tantra: Art, Science & Sexual Rituals
In Tantric thought the human body is visualised as a microcosm of the universe. The whole body with its biological and psychological processes becomes an instrument through which the cosmic power reveals itself. Tantra is both an experience of life and a scientific method by which man can bring out his inherent spiritual power. In this talk we will explore myths and facts connected to Tantra.
The Dark Side of the Enlightenment
In our third talk on the history of the Devil, we examine the role the outwardly demonic played in this Age of Empire, with a particular focus on the English. Empire is now synonymous in many minds with Evil. So too, increasingly, is the intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment...
Witchcraft and the Early Modern Satan
In the second of his talks on the Devil, Gavin Baddeley discusses the post-medieval period. Europe was convulsed with barbaric violence. Countless people were brutalised and often burnt alive during ‘the Witch Craze’. In our talk, Gavin focuses on the oft overlooked Satanic aspect of the phenomenon, before examining some of the other colourful individuals accused of being in league with Lucifer.
The Roots of the Demonic and the Devil in the Middle Ages
In the first of four talks on the Devil and his disciples, author and journalist Gavin Baddeley traces the evolution of Evil, from the dawn of civilisation, to the Middle Ages. Gavin’s unusually qualified, as an ordained Reverend in the Church of Satan, so this event promises to offer a fresh perspective on the matter. ‘The Problem of Evil’ – why there is cruelty and suffering in the world – is a question that’s exercised generations of theologians and philosophers.
Folklore, Myth and Romance
In this talk, just in time for Valentine's Day, we delve into romantic tropes of folklore and myth to derive a rich symbolic and cultural meaning from tales beloved and unknown. We will explore common story patterns and symbols to see what the tales we were told as children can tell us about the world we have come to inhabit.
Celebrating Chinese New Year and Culture
Each culture has its unique expressions through symbols. What are the must-know symbols when it comes to understanding Chinese culture? In this talk, you will be introduced to a number of Chinese symbols, their history and meaning and how they still influence Chinese life and art.
I’m Dreaming of a Weird Christmas: a Festive Feast of Fracked Up Films
Join cult film expert and trash movie aficionado Gavin Baddeley, as he beckons us to venture past the tinsel of Tinseltown, to investigate the dark underbelly of Hollywood’s obsession with Christmas, unwrapping the forgotten films that put the X-Rated into Xmas and the ho ho ho into horror?
The Art of Making – the Secret Behind the Japanese Quality
When it comes to Japanese products, they are known all over the world for their quality, precision, and reliability. Japanese quality of products and services gained an outstanding reputation for local producers. What is the secret to achieving such quality? What stands behind this fascinating approach to quality of products and service and customer care?
Beware The Moon: The Unholy History of Lycanthropy
A baleful presence on the primal fringes of Western culture, the werewolf remains one of the most intriguing of the world's mythical monsters. In a sister talk to his previous investigation into the lineage of Halloween's best loved creatures of the night, we will focus on werewolves.