Required Reading for this Wisdom School
If you’ve not been to a wisdom school and/or Cynthia’s teachings are new to you, we request that you read The Wisdom Way of Knowing: Reclaiming An Ancient Tradition to Awaken the Heart by Cynthia Bourgeault, if at all possible, before you attend.
Additional Reading and Preparation Resources
Additional reading materials or resources may be added to this list as they are introduced during the event.
Cynthia’s Suggested Reading List
Boehme for Beginners – article by Cynthia Bourgeault (linked here)
People of the Lie by Scott Peck (challenging but insightful groundbreaker)
Will and Spirit by Gerald May (another oldie but goodie)
Ever-Present Origin by Jean Gebser
Beelzebub Tales to his Grandson by G. I. Gurdjieff (pdf)
Good and Evil in Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson Chapter 44 – Commentary by Lee Van Laer
Other writings by Lee Van Laer
Writing on Conscience by Josh ‘the Enigma’ Denny (pdf)
Egregore – as defined on Wikipedia
Obligolnian Strivings – from Beelzebub’s Tales – G. I. Gurdjieff
Maps/Charts
Gebser’s Structures of Consciousness – Chart
Related Resources
A Different Way to Live Virtuously – Podcast with Cynthia Bourgeault
Chants & Hymns
By Paulette Meyer, various chants including:
Surrender to the beauty, become a mighty kindness by Elizabeth Combs
With You is the Well of Life by Susan Latimer
From Psalm 42 – As the Dear Longs by Tony Martin
Also see the Chant and Centering Prayer session in Day 2 Recordings
Night Prayer for Protection
Visit this place oh Lord. Drive far from it all snares of the enemy. And let your holy angels dwell among us to preserve us in peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. May the Lord grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.
Prayer by J. G. Bennett offered by Heather after Movements
All life is one and everything that lives is holy: plants, animals, and humans.
All must eat to live and to nourish one another.
We bless the lives that have died to give us food.
Let us eat consciously, resolving by our work to pay the debt of our existence. Amen.
Practice and Preparation Materials
We encourage you to visit this Practice and Preparation webpage (password: Encounter) created to support the Encounter with Evil Wisdom School, offering group practices facilitated by Heather Ruce. In addition to the readings and resources listed above, there are a number of recordings that highlight key points in the readings, that could be very worthwhile to look over.
Gurdjieff Exercises
You can find an audio recording of Heather guiding the following exercises, about half way down the Practice and Preparation webpage (password: Encounter):
- Lord Have Mercy
- Make Strong
- Atmosphere Exercise
- The Web Exercise
For more instruction and commentary on these Gurdjieff Exercises, see Mystical Courage by Cynthia Bourgeault