What we understand is no longer external to us. The truth is that I am what I understand. If I understand nothing, I am nothing, because my understanding is also my will. What I understand has penetrated right into my being. There is no conflict between me and my understanding.

J. G. Bennett

Gurdjieff/deHartmann Music
Elan Sicroff interview with Reijo Oksanen

Special Events

G.I. Gurdjieff Movements

We announce a special opportunity for Movements in the coming year. We invite you to join in twelve weeks of Movements classes on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. at Camp Caravan, starting Saturday January 7. We will be learning new movements, as well as those we may have learned before. $60 per person covers the cost of our hired pianist, and additional donations are welcome. We invite you to make a commitment; as you know, the group knowledge and understanding can build from class to class if the same group attends. That said, it is understood that in everyone's life, there may be days when attendance is not possible. Some of you may be coming from a distance-- if you cannot make a commitment, we'd rather have you attend whenever you can, rather than decline to participate because you cannot commit. And if you haven't done movements for a while……..come again, renew, rediscover how the movements can reconnect the 3 centers, can connect us with group work, and can connect us with something higher.

Introducing the Gurdjieff Movements Project

2012 Movements Seminar As we become aware of the importance of discovering, developing, and preserving this precious teaching, we bring forward a proposal for an in-depth study of the Gurdjieff Movements. Gurdjieff entrusted these legomonisms to us, and we value their correct transmission, based on the perception and understanding of their purpose, and of the inner work enclosed within the Movements. This is fundamental not only for our personal and group knowledge, but also as a responsibility towards future generations. Margit Martinu leads the project and teaches the Movements. She continues to make the Movements her lifelong work, and shares the results of her dedication through this project. Read an English version of Margit's biography and background at www.gurdjieffmovements.it. We focus the spring and summer 2012 seminar cycles on the Thirty-nine Series. Other Movements may be included, as well.

An Invitation to Movements This project involves people from all over the world. Because the intention is to develop the Movements, a core group of people already familiar with the Work are needed at its outset. We welcome people working at every level, and we envision reaching out to "new" people as the project continues. This outreach might take the form of special seminars for beginners, open days, intensive training for aspirant Movements teachers, the study and development of Women's and Men's Movements, as well. Possible public demonstrations and other public activities could develop as the Project unfolds.

Choosing Camp Caravan We choose Camp Caravan as main location of this project for the special energy built up throughout the years by different source of Help and through the efforts of the MREC community and visiting participants.

Movements for the Future Help make this project a reality. There are many ways to participate, and if you wish to volunteer there is a place for you. We need help with fundraising, marketing, communications, technology and organization. Contact Contact Patrizia Brownto learn about these opportunities.

2012 SPRING AND SUMMER GURDJIEFF MOVEMENTS SEMINARS

Weekends

Fee of $150 for each weekend. Arrive Friday, 6:30 p.m., end Sunday after lunch

Day Sessions

Fee - $50 for each session

Evening Sessions

(International participants in the Movements Seminar may wish to arrive early to attend)
Fee of $10 for each day's session, held 7:30 p.m.

Movements Seminar for All

Fee of $480, all inclusive

Immediate Response Requested

Please share information about your interest as soon as possible. March 31 is the strict deadline by which your deposit must be received. In lieu of deposits, international participants may provide copies of purchased air tickets.

For three-day weekend seminars, please deposit $70. We request a deposit of $150 for the eight-day seminar. Deposits are non-refundable. The balance of payment is due upon arrival at Camp Caravan.

Contact Patrizia Brown to let us know of your intention to participate in the single day and evening Movements classes. No deposits are required for those sessions.

Please make your check payable to the MREC
Millers River Educational Cooperative
255 South Royalston Road
Royalston, MA 01368
U.S.A.

Awakening Being--Turning Inward

A five day retreat, mostly in silence, working deeply with Morning Exercise, Mindfulness Meditation and Movements

With Jerry Toporovsky and Walter Goodwin

April 11-15, 2012,  Claymont Court, West Virginia

Cost: The price of room and board at Claymont - $340 for the entire retreat

If you are interested or have questions contact Bonnie, the registrar at: bkutch@troweprice.com

Jerry and Roni Toporovsky have begun a group in New York City. If you are interested please contact them at: jgbnygroup@gmail.com

SYSTEMATICS GATHERING

by Anthony Blake - DuVersity

For more information contact Anthony Blake directly

Gathering XIII March 16-18, 2012, West Virginia

The 12th Gathering (2011) continued to unfold new aspects of systematics. Just to recap in the briefest terms: over more than a decade, we had introduced the 'monadic ring' which led us into Ring Composition as a thinking method, made a connection with TRIZ the Russian system of innovation, made extensive use of LogoVisual Technology, investigated the higher term systems such as the Decad and Undecad, entertained meaning games and formulated the strategic moves of Systematics as kinds of game, developed the Pythagorean tetraktys into a systemic method, and many other things. In the 12th Gathering: we went into the deep mathematics of the triad (not the outer combinations) to encounter the rudiments of self-remembering, we looked at what are called combinatorial hierarchies (a branch of mathematical physics) particularly in relation to the Dramatic Universe, uncovered the dynamic structure of the four books of the latter, studied the form of the present moment and laid the foundations for what then soon became the lattice of understanding. An exciting bonus was a video made by Richard Heath on his view of number derived from astro-archaeology which included a new presentation of Gurdjieff's law of heptaparaparshinokh. Work in the Gathering enabled me to present a paper on The Language of Will at Cambridge this Summer. Due to Richard's stimulus I ventured into making three videos on how I see systematics. The leading idea has become the lattice. Through this simple device it becomes possible to 'think through' the progression of the systems and see that there is 'really' only one system - appearing in various guises - and move between its multiterm systems: it is as if we now have access to the 'life-blood' of the systems and I can even claim there is a useful analogy with Gurdjieff's law of reciprocal maintenance. I am much indebted to the stalwart crew who turn up year after year to support and join in the enterprise and particularly to Karen Stefano for hosting the event for many years. And also to the Board of the DuVersity for providing a working framework. The venture is not a popular one since we are breaking new ground and challenging old assumptions. God knows where we might end up! The 13th Gathering will take place in West Virginia from Friday evening March 16th to Sunday lunchtime March 18th (2012). My idea at this time is to go into how the lattice might illuminate cosmology and decision making and even reveal a 'mathematics' of society. This is an invitation to brave souls who are not afraid to think. Participants are asked to find accommodation and pay for food as well as a fee.