Regular Community Events

Claymont Society for Continuous Education Summer Seminar
July 18-21, 2019

Living in Unity

Download the Flyer

The experience of unity resounds at every stage of the spiritual path. With body awareness and sensation, unity comes in the form of wholeness. Various practices engaging our attention unify that core of who we are. Consciousness opens us to the unity of the seamless, boundless, silent awareness that includes everything in our immediate experience. The inclusion of all that we are opens us to presence, unified in our I. Entering the sacred realms, we enter the one, boundless and all-pervasive light. Love springs as the essence of the global unity that embraces all, including us. The ultimate unity of the divine will that creates and sustains this wondrous universe touches our very core, without intermediary. And throughout our way, sharing the path with our spiritual sisters and brothers opens us to the unity in community.

In this seminar, we will engage in spiritual practices that support us in moving toward the experience of unity in all its forms. With the remarkably effective inner exercises, meditations, and Gurdjieff movements of the Fourth Way, in addition to practices adapted from other traditions, we will pursue the deepening of our spiritual life.

Can we live our daily life in unity?

The seminar will be facilitated by Joseph Naft. He is the author of www.innerfrontier.org and of six books, most recently The Way of Presence: Tools and Strategies. He studied with John Bennett at Sherborne, England in 1974.

The seminar will begin with dinner at 6:30 pm on Thursday July 18 and end after lunch on Sunday July 21. All activities will be at the Barn.

You are cordially invited to join us in our work and exploration.

Suggested donation for the weekend is $225 if you are staying overnight at Claymont and $135 if you are not staying overnight. However, do not let the cost prevent you from coming, financial assistance is available.

For more information and to register please contact the registrar, Amy Silver, at Claymontgathering@hotmail.com.

Claymont Society Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for Sunday November 17, 2019 beginning at 9:30 am. 

The AGM will be held in the new classroom in the Barn.

In addition, there will be a work day including a movements class from 1:00 to 3:00 on Saturday, November 16th (more details to follow).

You are encouraged to come to the AGM to find out what has been happening at Claymont over the past year and provide your input on the focus, direction, activities and endeavors for the future.

Claymont Society Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for Sunday November 17, 2019 beginning at 9:30 am. 

The AGM will be held in the new classroom in the Barn.

In addition, there will be a work day including a movements class from 1:00 to 3:00 on Saturday, November 16th (more details to follow).

You are encouraged to come to the AGM to find out what has been happening at Claymont over the past year and provide your input on the focus, direction, activities and endeavors for the future.

UPDATE:

In an effort to make the Higher Moving Center seminar at Claymont as affordable as possible, we are rolling back the fee to what was charged last year – $450 if paid before March 31 and $495 afterward.   As you might imagine, DuVersity barely breaks even on these seminars, but we think it is important to keep the fees as low as possible for people.  Please sign up before March 31 for the lower fee.

Here is a link to a short video of Anthony Blake talking about the seminar:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vfp5k0iy65x4elc/HMCvideo.mp4?dl=0

This is the third in a series of seminars devoted to exploring the movements and potential of the moving centre as indicated by Gurdjieff.

Download PDF Version of this Event Info

Movements explore the ‘hidden depths’ of the body and the pivotal role of action in realising who we are. The primary thing in this is movement and not consciousness (which is a secondary phenomenon). We will use Gurdjieff movements to reflect the inner reality to us.
In this event we will take as a centre of gravity the Gurdjieff movement known as The Great Prayer. Various dimensions will come into play, including aspects of sensation and feeling elicited by the methods of Moshe Feldenkrais as well as a understanding of the gestural language it manifests as a manifestation of death and resurrection.

Work on movements will be bracketed by music, poetry, art, visualisation, virtual reality and even algebra. We will begin with the movement of babies and may end with our prayers and the discovery of ourselves on the world stage. A great deal depends on our imagination!

Many contributors will be involved. Here is the line up as it stands now in January (it may evolve further).

Curt Golden: Guitarist. Senior member of Robert Fripp’s Guitar Craft

Lavinia Plonka: Feldenkrais instructor and movements teacher

Molly Forde: Pianist and movements teacher

Darlene Franz: Classical oboist and pianist

Steven Rhodes: Researcher in the spontaneous development of movement in babies

Mattias Ribbing: Grandmaster of memory

Jason Joslyn: Developer of Virtual Reality systems

Michael White: Travelogue writer and poet

Leslie Schwing: Artist

Travis Jarrell: Dancer

Anthony Blake: Philosopher and writer. Head of research for the DuVersity

This is a participatory seminar based on Gurdjieff’s principle of the harmonious development of the Thinking, Feeling and Moving centres. Gurdjieff spoke of higher centres of thinking and feeling and we seek to complete the trinity. This is supported by the belief that over the last few thousand years, the felt centre of gravity of intelligence was first intellectual and then in the heart but, in our time, it is moving into the body. What the ‘body’ really is, is mysterious. It may be the closest thing to will.

Dates:  May 7-10, 2020.  The seminar will begin with dinner on Thursday evening and end with lunch on Sunday.

Location:         The Claymont Society for Continuous Education

Charles Town, WV  25414

(See www.society.claymont.org for more information about the Claymont Society)

The cost of the event including lodging and meals is $545.  ($495 if registered and paid before March 15, 2020.)

All events will be at the Historic Claymont Mansion

For more information and to register:

Please contact Matt Zenkowich – mattzenkowich@gmail.com

UPDATE:

In an effort to make the Higher Moving Center seminar at Claymont as affordable as possible, we are rolling back the fee to what was charged last year – $450 if paid before March 31 and $495 afterward.   As you might imagine, DuVersity barely breaks even on these seminars, but we think it is important to keep the fees as low as possible for people.  Please sign up before March 31 for the lower fee.

Here is a link to a short video of Anthony Blake talking about the seminar:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vfp5k0iy65x4elc/HMCvideo.mp4?dl=0

This is the third in a series of seminars devoted to exploring the movements and potential of the moving centre as indicated by Gurdjieff.

Download PDF Version of this Event Info

Movements explore the ‘hidden depths’ of the body and the pivotal role of action in realising who we are. The primary thing in this is movement and not consciousness (which is a secondary phenomenon). We will use Gurdjieff movements to reflect the inner reality to us.
In this event we will take as a centre of gravity the Gurdjieff movement known as The Great Prayer. Various dimensions will come into play, including aspects of sensation and feeling elicited by the methods of Moshe Feldenkrais as well as a understanding of the gestural language it manifests as a manifestation of death and resurrection.

Work on movements will be bracketed by music, poetry, art, visualisation, virtual reality and even algebra. We will begin with the movement of babies and may end with our prayers and the discovery of ourselves on the world stage. A great deal depends on our imagination!

Many contributors will be involved. Here is the line up as it stands now in January (it may evolve further).

Curt Golden: Guitarist. Senior member of Robert Fripp’s Guitar Craft

Lavinia Plonka: Feldenkrais instructor and movements teacher

Molly Forde: Pianist and movements teacher

Darlene Franz: Classical oboist and pianist

Steven Rhodes: Researcher in the spontaneous development of movement in babies

Mattias Ribbing: Grandmaster of memory

Jason Joslyn: Developer of Virtual Reality systems

Michael White: Travelogue writer and poet

Leslie Schwing: Artist

Travis Jarrell: Dancer

Anthony Blake: Philosopher and writer. Head of research for the DuVersity

This is a participatory seminar based on Gurdjieff’s principle of the harmonious development of the Thinking, Feeling and Moving centres. Gurdjieff spoke of higher centres of thinking and feeling and we seek to complete the trinity. This is supported by the belief that over the last few thousand years, the felt centre of gravity of intelligence was first intellectual and then in the heart but, in our time, it is moving into the body. What the ‘body’ really is, is mysterious. It may be the closest thing to will.

Dates:  May 7-10, 2020.  The seminar will begin with dinner on Thursday evening and end with lunch on Sunday.

Location:         The Claymont Society for Continuous Education

Charles Town, WV  25414

(See www.society.claymont.org for more information about the Claymont Society)

The cost of the event including lodging and meals is $545.  ($495 if registered and paid before March 15, 2020.)

All events will be at the Historic Claymont Mansion

For more information and to register:

Please contact Matt Zenkowich – mattzenkowich@gmail.com

Summer Seminar 2022: Making Space for Grace

“When I know, I cannot speak.
When I can speak, I do not know”. 

           Rumi

Words used intentionally are indispensable. Automatic words – whether spoken, thought or even read – waste energy that might otherwise be used for our transformation. Mahesh Maharshi said we could judge our spiritual development by the degree to which we can stop our thoughts. So how developed are we? And Saint Augustine observed that before God can fill my cup, I must first empty it. How can we make such space? And especially how can we hold inner space open in life?

The more essence is part of our awareness, the fewer automatic words. We see this with practices we know such as relaxing and filling as preparation for morning exercise. Zikr can also interrupt formatory apparatus and bring positive emotion into awareness. Such activities can help bring essence into awareness, but can we live in a way that holds and enhances that awareness? Let’s try.

In memory of Bob Brown who spoke often of making space

The seminar will be led by Hardy Mason.  Hardy is a Mevlevi Sufi sheik and long-time student of the Fourth Way.

Practices to include zikr, Movements, practical work outside (weather permitting), turning, and adab (if the group seems ready).   In addition, the aim of conscious food preparation and preparation of the dining room in service to all who attend.

Ground Rules: No electronic devices.  In case of true emergencies, a telephone number will be provided where calls can be directed.  Intentional talking only, with a practical purpose and while sensing. The next activity after each meal will begin after the kitchen bashi says the kitchen and dining room are in good order.

The seminar will begin with dinner at 6:30 pm on Wednesday July 13 and end after lunch on Sunday July 17.   Suggested donation for the event is $340 if you are staying at Claymont, and $220 if staying off-site.  However, do not let cost prevent you from attending as financial assistance is available.

For more information, and to register, please contact Amy Silver, Registrar, at  Claymontgathering@hotmail.com

Claymont Society Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for Sunday November 20, 2022 beginning at 10:00 am. 

View a presentation by Claymont board member Jack Chromey.

A Five-hour Experiential Category II Workshop for Social Workers, A Learning Experience for Counselors and Anyone Who’s Interested.

Download Requirements and Application

We explore a practical method in a safe environment for using all emotions as guidance to solutions, happiness, and safety. This notion is often in contrast to seeing emotions as needing to be controlled, eliminated, or at odds with being reasonable. Emotions used productively supports changing our patterns of thought to match the energetic patterns of our ideals.

The five-hour experiential workshop includes lunch, coffee, and tea at the historic Washington family mansion—Claymont Court. Each participant will share with peers an event, old or current, that has left a lingering negative emotion. Choose one you feel ready to explore.

This time between the most stressful holidays of the year is perfect for examining how the technique works and possibly bringing relief to our own situations. However, this needn’t be our choice of event.

Size of the workshop is limited to only six people so that everyone is able to actively experience the technique as we would in personal therapy. A small group setting provides the added advantage of hearing an array of examples which contribute to knowledge that strengthens each person’s own leadership role.