The seventh online course from Under the Ancient Oaks is now open for registration. Pagan Monasticism as a Solitary Practitioner begins on August 4 and will run for six weeks.
About a year ago I started hearing a message on a fairly regular basis:
“Build the monastery.”
The first thing I had to do was figure out what that meant. I was – and remain – certain it didn’t mean building a physical monastery. I was pretty sure it didn’t mean founding a monastic order – at least not yet.
But as I simultaneously felt frustrated by the ordinary would and also called to deeper communion with my Gods and allied spirits, it became obvious that what I needed to do was to incorporate elements of monasticism into my spiritual practice. Some things I was already doing – I needed to take them deeper. Other things I needed to start doing. Still more I needed to learn for the first time.
As I studied and practiced and learned, I started working on a presentation for Pagan gatherings. But before long I realized I had far more than an hour’s worth of material. And so I began to work it into a class.
While Buddhists and Catholics have a long and formal monastic tradition, we modern Pagans don’t. We’re having to figure it out as we go. I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve found some things that work for me, and I’ve found some other people doing things that work for them.
This course will look at the history of monasticism in the East and in the West, related traditions in the ancient Pagan world, monastic practices that can be helpful to Pagans today, and how we can adapt the monastic model for our contemporary world – without living a cloistered life or taking a vow of silence.
The Modules
1: An Introduction to Monasticism
2: A Foundation of Spiritual Practice
3: Makeshift Monasteries
4: Devotion, Discipline, and Contemplation
5: Your Monastery Job
6: Building a Monastic Life
The Details
As with the previous classes, Pagan Monasticism will be on-demand. Video classes will be released once a week – do them on your own schedule. Most of them will run 50 to 60 minutes, though I expect more variation in length than with previous classes.
Module 0 – the syllabus module – is available now. Module 1 will go up August 4, and a new module every week after that. The final module goes up September 8.
There will be required reading for this class. Polytheistic Monasticism: Voices from Pagan Cloisters (edited by Janet Munin) is an excellent resource for anyone interested in monastic practices from a Pagan and polytheist perspective. I reviewed the book back in April. It’s available from the publisher and from the usual on-line sources.
And since I’m not an expert on monasticism (though I’m learning in a hurry) I’m bringing in three guest speakers: Janet Munin, Syren Nagakyrie, and Kimberly Kirner. So you’ll get my perspective, but also the perspective of others who are following this path right now, in rather different ways.
There will be homework for this class, but as with the past couple of classes I won’t be reviewing it. Instead, this class will include two video Q&As. You send me your questions – I answer them on video and post it for all the participants.
Of course, if you have private questions, I’ll answer them privately.
K.D. Echols has once again graciously agreed to provide written transcripts for those with hearing difficulties, and for those who like to read as well as listen.
Costs and Registration
Registration is open now. Send me an e-mail or use the contact form on the Under the Ancient Oaks website and tell me you want to sign up. I’ll send you a PayPal invoice. Once you pay it, I’ll register you for the class. Most times this will be done within 24 hours, but if you catch me while I’m occupied it may take longer.
The cost is $60 for the entire course.
A limited number of scholarships are available for those experiencing financial difficulties. If you’d like to apply for a scholarship, just ask. I’ll take applications until July 30, and I’ll hold all applications until then. I’ll notify everyone of their application status by August 1.
If you’re in good financial shape, I hope you’ll consider sponsoring a scholarship. Each sponsorship fully funds one scholarship student, and it also counts toward the paid registrations that determine how many scholarships I can fund.
Questions?
If you have any questions, contact me here or at any of the usual places.
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