New Acropolis Events

Dante’s Divine Comedy is not only considered to be one of the greatest works of world literature, it is also a timeless description of the ascending path of the Soul, full of psychological insight.

This workshop will give you an introduction to this masterpiece and a key for understanding the text that will enable you to discover its deeper meaning for yourself. It will consist of both theory and practical exercises that will help you to experience various stages of the journey in a deeper way.

In light of the current situation, this workshop will run as two 3-hour zoom sessions, the first on the evening of Friday 24th 6-9pm and the second during the morning of Saturday 25th 10-1pm.

Tickets are £45 (£35 cons) please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dantes-divine-comedy-an-allegory-of-the-souls-journey-tickets-101972546632

Most often the idea of play is something that adults reserve for the child’s world. As adults, we have responsibilities of work and associated money issues, running our homes and performing daily chores, reading the news and responding to global issues.

So, do we have time for play? As play is important for the child’s wellbeing, it is also important for the adult's wellbeing. In this talk about the philosophy of play, we will have an opportunity to explore what play means to us and have space for uninhibited experimentations into the play-world (in a virtual sense).

Come along, but please leave your inhibitions in another room.

For tickets please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-talk-philosophy-of-play-tickets-110951633322

This talk will focus on the practical applications of philosophy, based on the idea that every human being has a philosopher inside, i.e. one who wants to become a wiser and better human being, able to deal with the different situations of life and think of others as well as oneself.

Topics will include some of the most common issues of our everyday lives, such as time management, problem solving, improving communication or dealing with fear - all from a philosophical perspective based on a deeper understanding of life.

For tickets please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/philosophy-for-living-practical-teachings-for-everyday-life-tickets-101970017066

The first World Bee Day, proposed in 2014 by the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association and unanimously adopted by the United Nations, was celebrated on the 20th of May in 2018. The 20th of May was chosen as the date because it is the birthday of Anton Jansa (1734-1773), one of the first teachers of modern beekeeping, who was appointed by the Empress Maria Theresa as a teacher at the beekeeping school in Vienna, Austria.

This year we will be celebrating it on Saturday 23rd May and in view of the current uncertain situation, this will run as an online talk between 1pm and 2.30pm.
This talk will cover fascinating details about the hidden life of bees and will include the opportunity for questions and answers. There will also be video footage of the two beehives at our Melissa Bee Sanctuary.

The proceeds of this event will go towards the maintenance of our Bee Sanctuary.

For tickets please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/world-bee-day-celebration-tickets-101967647980

This talk will look at Tesla the idealist and his ambitious vision for raising humanity to a higher level of existence, with the help of science and technology. The talk will explore a little of the the mystery that was this innovative and forward-thinking man.

Tickets are free but we are asking for donations to help support the school, suggested amount for those who can afford it £8 (£5 cons) and can be made on eventbrite at the following link -

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nikola-tesla-and-his-vision-of-an-ethical-science-tickets-103605448686

According to the teachings of classical philosophy, we all possess a ‘Philosopher within’ - a part of us that asks questions and searches for the meaning in our lives and the world around us. This deep but often quiet voice within can be cultivated and brought more readily into our daily lives through simple principles and practical techniques. A stronger connection to your ‘Inner Philosopher’ will help you to practise the art of living well and become more conscious of your relationships and roles within society as a whole.

Based on the classical philosophical traditions of East and West, this workshop will aim to draw out and develop your ‘inner philosopher’. We will look at methods for developing clear thinking both about ourselves and the world around us. We will learn useful techniques to improve our concentration as well as understanding of the principles of inner serenity that can help us deal more effectively with life’s challenges.

The workshop will consist of the following seven sessions:

•Introduction:Principles of philosophy in the classical tradition.
•Self-Reflection: Tools for learning from every day (practical exercise).
•Stoic Philosophy:Teachings of the Stoic philosophers on the art of living well.

Lunch break (home cooked healthy food provided)

•Philosophical Perspectives:Reflecting on the world around us - develop the skills to analyse events in a philosophical way.
•Tibetan Wisdom: The art and science of concentration, based on Tibetan traditions.
•Man, Know Thyself: Self-discovery exercise; Guided imagination exercise.
•Conclusion: Refreshments and recap of the day - consolidation of experiences and techniques.

This talk will now be held online, please email to inbox@acropolisuk.org to receive a link for the event or to request a refund.

This talk will explore some of the remarkable monuments and artefacts around the world that indicate that civilization could be much older than we think.

We will look at a number of archaeological remains that have often been mistaken for more recent constructions, and consider how it is possible that, separated by so many thousands of miles, ancient civilizations could have used the same techniques and skills and also shared very similar traditions and myths.

Philosophy means love of wisdom (philo-sophia) and is an active attitude of awareness towards life. In this sense, we are all born philosophers, with an innate need to ask questions and with the intuition that there are answers to be found. Every civilization has passed on to us its experience and understanding of life.However, most of us have had little opportunity to learn about the vast heritage of ideas that have inspired and guided humanity throughout history.

This 16-week course will introduce you to the major concepts of Eastern and Western Philosophy and explore their relevance and practical application for our lives.

Course Framework

This 3-week beginners course will introduce you to the basic language and building blocks of astrology. We will try to answer questions such as: what is astrology for? and what is a birth chart? We will look at various approaches to birth chart interpretation and try to unlock the spiritual and transformative potential found in astrological symbolism.

The civilisation of ancient Egypt is a continuing enigma – from its hieroglyphs to its gigantic pyramids and temples. What was the mentality behind it, how were the pyramids built and what knowledge did the ancient Egyptians have of the laws of life in this world and the next? This short course, covering four topics over two evenings, will attempt to suggest some answers.

The first part of this seminar will give a general introduction to the religion of ancient Egypt and explore the symbolic meanings of some of its gods and goddesses, including Isis, Osiris and the Sun God Ra.

In the second part, we will look at the rich symbolism of the Book of Emerging Forth into the Light, more commonly known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Can it give us some guidance on the art of living, as well as some clues about the nature of the afterlife?

The pyramids in general and the Great Pyramid in particular have been a source of continuing fascination to scholars, archaeologists and scientists. The first part of this evening will examine and try to understand these great wonders of antiquity and how they were built.

In the second part of this seminar, we will look at the typical elements that constitute an Egyptian temple complex, which had a defined symbolism and certain specific functions. One of the main objectives of the awe-inspiring temple architecture of ancient Egypt was to create a bridge between human beings and Gods.

This short course is aimed at people who would like to expand their understanding and appreciation of classical music and discover more of the beauty that has enchanted generations of listeners. We will listen to selected pieces (on CD) and each evening will be dedicated to a particular epoch, starting with Baroque, followed by Classical and finally Romantic music. The evenings will also give an overview of the historical times and the ideas that inspired each of these movements, as well as some information on the composers. By the end of this short course, you will hopefully feel that you have gained in general knowledge and developed your inner senses to connect with music in a deeper way.

This year, New Acropolis in London has decided to dedicate World Philosophy Day to an eclectic selection of British and Irish Philosophers. How have these philosophers, from a range of different eras, contributed to the growth and development of culture in Britain and Europe? And can their contributions still help us navigate our lives today?

1. John Scotus Eriugena.
2. Thomas Hobbes
3. Lady Ann Conway
4. R.G. Collingwood
5. Bertrand Russell

There will be buffet-style refreshments provided both during the break and after the event with time for philosophical conversation.

Symbols are a language we can all recognise but few of us can read. Over thousands of years, symbols have been used to express the ineffable and to create a bridge between the invisible and visible dimension. Learning to understand them better will help to develop our imagination, which is one of our most important and powerful faculties. Symbols have the power to re-connect us with a world full of meaning.

This 3-week course (1 evening per week) will introduce you to symbology - the study of symbols. The course will explore some of the most important symbols of different cultures and reveal deeper layers of meaning in art and architecture.

Topics of the 3 evenings

1. Introduction to symbology and the universal symbols of numbers, geometric shapes and nature.
2. Sacred Art and Symbols of India (Buddhism, Hinduism).
3. The symbolic dimension in Sacred Architecture.

Our mind has a much bigger impact on our life than we usually realize. Knowing how our mind works allows us to take responsibility for our lives and to become creators rather than remain victims.

This short course (3 consecutive Tuesday evenings, starting on 17th September) will explore the mind and mind-related topics such as consciousness, imagination, creativity and meditation. It will also look at collective mindsets and paradigm shifts throughout history. Each evening is led by a different speaker and will consist of both theory and practical exercises.

Topics of the 3 evenings

1. How our mind creates our experience of reality. Mindsets: what they are and how they work. Learning to see things differently. The importance of distinguishing between “two realities”.
2. Develop your innate creativity. Creativity and different modes of thinking. IQ vs creativity. Imagination and the ability to create what does not yet exist. What can help us to become more creative.
3. Consciousness and self-awareness. The stages of inner awakening according to Tibetan Buddhism. Meditation and its different interpretations and practices. Achieving a state of relaxed concentration.

'Truth is one', say the Upanishads, 'though the wise call it by many names'.

Shamanism is an ancient and almost universal tradition among societies that live close to nature, and many seekers in the Western world feel that there is a lot that can be learnt from this natural form of practical wisdom.

Using Mircea Eliade's seminal work on Shamanism as a starting point, this talk will look at the universal aspects of this inner path, such as the concepts of initiation, death and rebirth, and renewal of the individual and society through deep inner transformation.