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Work Weekend with Lee van Laer
July 10-13, 2025
A Cosmological Sensation
When Gurdjieff wrote Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson, he mentioned the words cosmos and cosmic 750 times, give or take, in the 1140 pages of the book. Mr. Gurdjieff was, it’s clear enough, bent on reminding us that we live in a cosmos; and that we’ve lost touch with our cosmological nature. He speaks of a lost world where mankind was able to see more colors than we do now; to hear more tones than we do; to sense the emanations of the sun, moon, and planets—and even the sorrow of God Himself.
How do I live within this cosmology which Gurdjieff presents? It’s in the book, but not of the book.
Here are some of the questions we’ll explore from a practical point of view through guided meditation, discussions, and community activity.
- What are Spiritual molecules? Can one re-align one’s molecular Being? If so, how?
- How can I form an inner relationship that has enough strength to maintain a right attitude regardless of external conditions?
- I live in the disordinary: a wrongly ordered state. Yet somewhere in me is an inner voice that speaks softly, perhaps even wordlessly, through my sensation of Being. It tells me the cosmos has a right order. And I’m thirsty for that. I’m searching for it. In the midst of all this confusion, how do I say yes, and bring the good? Where is my center of gravity?
Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own questions for all of us to explore.
The weekend will be led by Lee van Laer. Lee is a long-time member of the New York Gurdjieff Foundation, a group leader, an editor at Parabola Magazine, an author, a podcaster, a musician and an artist. His website is https://zenyogagurdjieff.substack.com
Movements will also be offered as part of the weekend.
The weekend will begin with dinner at 6:30 pm on Thursday July 10 and end after lunch on Sunday July 13. All activities will be at the Great Barn.
Suggested donation for the weekend is $350 if you are staying overnight at Claymont, and $210 if you are not staying overnight at Claymont. However, do not let the cost prevent you from participating, financial assistance is available.
For more information and to register please contact, the registrar, Amy Silver at Claymontgathering@hotmail.com.