Exploring the complementary roles of scientific and mystical approaches to reality for over 4 years.
Mystics & Scientists 2025
Grounding and Flourishing in an Era of Complexity, Chaos and Transformation
Online ~ Friday 11 – Sunday 13 April
“The Warriors arise when the people need protection. We step into this role of contribution and service, learning to assess what is possible and what is not. We are broken-hearted in witnessing what is being lost. We are exhausted from efforts that can no longer bear fruit. Yet we have abiding faith in the human spirit, in the capacity of people to be generous, creative, kind and compassionate–no matter what. It is our faith in the human spirit that inspires us to undertake the discipline of training to be of service for this time.”
– Dr Margaret Wheatley
An Ecology of Mind
Pre-conference Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Online ~ Thursday 10 April
Come and share in this provocative cinematic journey as part of your overall Mystics and Scientists conference experience.
An Ecology of Mind is a film portrait of Gregory Bateson, celebrated anthropologist, philosopher, author, naturalist, systems theorist, and filmmaker, produced and directed by his daughter, Nora Bateson. This screening will be followed by a live panel discussion.
The film includes footage from Bateson’s own films shot in the 1930s in Bali (with Margaret Mead) and New Guinea, along with photographs, filmed lectures, and interviews. His youngest child, Nora, depicts him as a man who studied the interrelationships of the complex systems in which we live with a depth motivated by scientific rigour and caring integrity.
For over 40 years since 1978 the annual Mystics and Scientists conferences have been dedicated to forging a creative understanding of the complementary roles of scientific and mystical approaches to reality. These conferences provide a highly engaging and creative opportunity to come together with like-minded people in a spirit of exploration and dialogue leading to new contacts and friendships to continue the conversation.
History
The first Mystics and Scientists conference was held in 1978 as ’The May Lectures’ in conjunction with Wrekin Trust. The event was so successful that it became an annual event run by Malcolm Lazarus and Sir George Trevelyan and has featured well over 150 distinguished speakers in the 42 conferences held so far.
The Network took over the running of the conferences in the early 1990s.
Testimonials
“A wonderful, stimulating, through provoking and warm-hearted weekend”
“Non-stop delightful discovery and endless conversation.”
“I value the people and connections as much as the subject and speakers.”
“My second event. It gets better and better. I feel isolated in London. Here I get a sense of ‘group’. Fabulous talks.”
Notable scientists who have spoken include:
Sir John Eccles FRS
Sir Fred Hoyle FRS
Prof Richard Gregory FRS
Prof David Bohm FRS
James Lovelock FRS
Prof John Barrow FRS
Prof Paul Davies
Dr Fritjof Capra
Dr Larry Dossey
Dr Rupert Sheldrake
Prof Ervin Laszlo
Prof Karl Pribram
Prof Chris Clarke
SMN Presidents
Dr Peter Fenwick
Prof Bernard Carr
SMN Vice-Presidents
Prof Arthur Ellison
Prof Brian Goodwin
Prof Marilyn Monk
Prominent mystics have included:
Fr Bede Griffiths
Anne Baring
Thetis Blacker
Dr Kathleen Raine
Prof Ravi Ravindra
Fr Matthew Fox
Ven Sumhedo
Douglas Harding
William Anderson
Satish Kumar
Irene Tweedie
Bronwen Astor
Fr William Johnston
Dr Neil Douglas-Klotz
Programmes
2024 – 1978
2024
Online
Love, Forgiveness and Compassion Where Spirituality Meets Science
Speakers
- Prof David Cadman
- Ricky Derisz
- Prof James R Doty
- Dr Natalie Dyer
- Prof Paul Gilbert
- Audrey Kitagawa
- Satish Kumar
- David Lorimer
- Prof Jenny Mascaro
- Dr Caroline Myss
- Dr Judith Orloff
- Prof Stephen Post
- Yehuda Tagar
- Dr Athena Potari
- Scherto Gill
- Prof Marjorie Woollacott
- Prof Everett Worthington
2023
Online
The Healing Power of Sound and Light
Speakers
- Peter Mark Adams
- Phyllida Anam-Áire
- Githa Ben-David
- Chloë Goodchild
- David Lorimer
- Lars Muhl
- John Stuart Reid
- Dr Glen Rein
- Therese Schroeder-Sheker
- Anders Holte
- Cacina Meadu
- Anna Maria Matziorinis
- Prof Elvira Brattico
2022
Online
Music, Order and Beauty
Speakers
- David Lorimer
- Dr Edi Bilimoria
- Nicola Graves-Gregory
- Prof Joscelyn Godwin
- Prof John Butt, FBA
- Painton Cowen
- Tom Bree
- Dr Kayleen Asbo
2020-21
Online
Re-Enchanting the World
Speakers
- Dr Rupert Sheldrake
- Pea Horsley
- Heidi Hermann
- Judith Prager
- Fred Hageneder
- Dr Peter Fenwick
- Shakti Caterina Maggi
- Anna Breytenbach
- Prof Paco Calvo
2019
University of Greenwich
Technology, Spirituality and Wellbeing
Speakers
- Dr Jeffery Martin
- Dr Julia Mossbridge (videolink)
- Dr Iain McGilchrist (videolink)
- Jules Evans
- Dr Ben Marder
- Charlotte Lorimer & Georgia Parkin
- Heather Mason
- Jose Montemayor
- Katherine Ormerod
- Dr Alexander Stell
2018
Latimer Place, Chesham
Eastern & Western Perspectives on Science and Spirit
Speakers
- Dr Bhakti Niskama Shanta
- Dr Bhakti Vijnana Muni
- Catherine Thom
- Prof Keith Ward FBA
- Prof Ursula King
- Dr Joan Walton
- Prof Max Velmans
2017
Horsley Park, East Horsley
The Continuing Quest for Unity and Integration
Speakers
- Dr Fritjtof Capra
- Dr Jude Currivan
- Prof Marilyn Monk
- Prof Ravi Ravindra
- Dr Merlin Sheldrake
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