Saturday & Sunday 6-7th July 2024
2nd Annual Symposium 2024: Visions of a New Paradigm
The Students of Spiritual Science Symposium showcases the work of students of spiritual science. We invite all academics, artists, musicians, and ceremonialists to be part of the symposium. If you are a student exploring new paradigms for consciousness, new earth technology, social justice, eco-justice, climate solutions, heart resonance, feminist perspectives in Transpersonal Psychology, holistic solutions to mental health; if you are a practitioner of holistic practices that support our evolution; if you have made music or art which is provocative and transformational and carries a vision of a new paradigm, we invite you to submit an application.
The symposium is open to all students of spiritual science, including but not limited to undergraduate, postgraduate, and next-generation members of the SMN at all stages of their studies/career, from a variety of disciplines, and from all educational backgrounds, whose research/work addresses the aims, mission, and vision of the SMN in its broadest sense. Specifically, this means that the symposium is envisioned to be a creative force for education, learning, and transformative change. Additionally, all participants must have an appreciation of the importance of the scientific method in a practical sense, but be open to exploring and expanding, in a spirit of open and critical enquiry, frontier issues at the interfaces between science, health, consciousness, wellbeing, love, and spirituality, to explore how to rediscover a meaningful spirituality to help rebalance life itself.
The symposium aims to create community and build bridges between different ways of knowing and experiencing the world through the written and spoken word, art, poetry, comedy, spiritual practice, and music.
Apply to present!
With the context of the symposium theme, Visions of a New Paradigm, we are open to accepting submissions that are related to the work of the SMN and any of the sub-themes listed below. We invite you to consider how your work/research makes a difference in the world – in theory, professional practice, methodology, and other illuminating perspectives; particularly welcoming arts-based practices including music, story-telling, artwork, poetry, ceremony, etc.
In thinking about your submission, we have detailed some issues below that you may feel moved to address through your work:
- What could a new paradigm offer to present and future generations?
- How might postmaterial understandings of consciousness affect social justice and relationality?
- What does a new paradigm mean in a world riddled with wars?
- What alternative worldviews and philosophies might help to develop our collective vision of a new paradigm?
- How might we envision a reciprocal relationship with the natural world, filled with respect, interconnectedness, and awe?
- In what ways could a new paradigm influence well-being?
- How can you contribute in your own way, to engaging with these, and any other, issues that may be of concern to you through your work/research/practice?
This is an online event that will take place on Saturday and Sunday, July 6-7, 2024. Attendance is open to our undergraduate, postgraduate, next-generation members, general members of the SMN, and all people who care about the world we are manifesting for future generations.
The conference will comprise academic paper presentations and panel discussions, workshops and experiential practices, and creative offerings of music, poetry, storytelling, and art.
The wide range of offerings available during this symposium aims to reflect the many ways that science and spirituality can come together in harmonious and inspirational ways. Specifically, we aim to show how similar insights can be reached through different avenues of exploration that honour spiritual, scientific, and artistic enterprises. In this sense, we may pair papers and workshop presentations with related art/music/poetry pieces to demonstrate how both creative and academic ways of knowing are integral to holistic understanding.
Paper presentations and panel discussions
There will be two separate panel discussions on key themes (to be decided upon following abstract selection). One panel will take place in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. Each panel will comprise four presenters, with Chairs selected from members of the SMN. Participants will present their ideas in 15 minute slots. Each of the panel sessions will be followed by 30 minutes of open discussions with the audience.
Workshops – experiential practices
We will be creating a space for us all to practise what we preach. The sessions that take place within this category will be woven into the fabric of the event schedule. The workshops are primarily aimed at facilitating change in the community of attendees to support the flourishing of our world. These experiential sacred spaces will bring something nourishing and ineffable, to not only facilitate integration and reflection space for all of the information disseminated during the event but also support the cultivation of deeper intuition, offering the potential for healing and bridging connection with the sacred.
Creative offerings – music, poetry, etc
Within this space, we will create time to enjoy the outpouring of those who share the fruits of their creative process. Some may be activists in their agenda and bring moving revelations to support the flourishing of our hearts and our world through social activism. During these performances we will gather together in a circle around a virtual sacred fire; honouring the vulnerability and courage of the performers with our sacred witnessing.
Eligibility
All students of spiritual science, including undergraduates, postgraduates, next-generation members, artists, and practitioners from any educational background are welcome to apply for one of the categories detailed above.
We encourage submissions from all of our actively studying/researching undergraduate, postgraduate and next generation members; we particularly encourage applications from new academics and practitioners who have not presented at a conference before or showcased their creativity in front of others. We are happy to hear from participants if they have any concerns or need advice about presenting, or attending if there are any barriers to their participation.
All submissions should be sent by 30 April 2024 at the latest, using the forms provided on the respective section pages.