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Universal Gnostic Ministry & Study
Affirming Unity + Celebrating Diversity
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  Past Events
 


Circle of the Free Spirit was founded in 1992 as a spiritual and cultural association.

As an open ministry we are rooted in the independent sacramental apostolic lineage and the Way of Gnosis (knowing) as found in pre-Nicene Christianity.

As a spiritual association we seek Wisdom - Sophia - wherever She may be found. As such we openly draw from Buddhism, Vedanta, and other traditions, with a focus on classical Gnostic texts and insights.

As a cultural association we advocate a cosmopolitan libertarian society where spiritual and cultural traditions and personal lifestyles may be practiced side-by-side in peace and friendship.

As individuals and friends we are inspired by -- and express ourselves in -- a variety of art forms. In addition to official Circle events, relevant arts events are also posted below.

If you are interested in joining us, and to find out more, please contact:

Circle of the Free Spirit
Box 230316 Ansonia Station
New York, NY 10023

Bishop + Mark Aelred
MarkAelredCFS@aol.com

HERE ARE SOME PAST EVENTS:

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Great Neck School of Dance and American Ballet Russe present:

HOLIDAY HEAVEN
* 2007 *
A Celebration in Dance for the Winter Holidays


Featuring:

A KLEZMER HANUKKAH BALLET
"De Kleyne Likhtelekh" (The Little Lights)

Music: Traditional Israeli, Yemeni, Hassidic, Moldavian, Ukranian and Klezmer


and

THE NUTCRACKER
"Land of Snow" and "Kingdom of the Sweets"

Music by Tchaikovsky

Osamu Uehara, Production Manager

Performances by the artists of The American Ballet Russe,
New York's Folk Dance Theater,
with students of
The Great Neck School of Dance.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 15th at 7:00 PM
SUNDAY DECEMBER 17th at 3:00 PM

AT GREAT NECK NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL
77 POLO ROAD
GREAT NECK, LONG ISLAND

Port Washington line, LIRR: Trains depart Penn Sation, NYC, twice per hour.
Cabs park outside the Great Neck station.

General Admission $25

FOR TICKETS & INFORMATION, CALL: 516-466-3515

*********************

"CT MEETS NY DANCE FEST 07"
Fri/Sat, November 2nd & 3rd

Spend your weekend evenings with 18 modern dance companies from Connecticut and New York.

Two totally different programs -
COME SEE BOTH!

DANCE NEW AMSTERDAM

280 Broadway, 2nd FL, NYC, Entrance on Chambers St.

Program Info/Directions: www.dnadance.org

NY Tickets: Ticket Central 212-279-4200, ticketcentral.com

Presented by Bernier Dance

*********************

GNOSTIC EVENTS

October 30 & 31, 2007
Timothy Freke, in New York City

Two public events with the Stand-Up Philosopher and
co-author of the new book with Peter Gandy,

THE GOSPEL OF THE SECOND COMING:
Jesus Is Back, and This Time He's Funny!

Read what happens when Jesus returns and reveals to Mary Magdalene and Peter that He does not really exist, that they don't exist either, and neither does the reader -- instead we are but one Author imagining the whole story in which our "historic" personalities play their different parts.

Playful, lucid, passionate, authentic, edgy, audacious, fun… stand-up philosopher Time Freke invites you on a blind date with the naked truth – it just might be the start of something beautiful!

In their groundbreaking books The Jesus Mysteries and Jesus and the Lost Goddess, Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy explored the secret teachings of the original Christians that lead to gnosis or spiritual enlivenment. In his seminars, Tim presents the essence of these teachings in a revolutionary new way, making this ancient wisdom easily accessible and relevant today.

Gnosis is the experience of lucid living, a state of consciousness comparable to lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming is being conscious that we are dreaming whilst asleep at night. Lucid living is being conscious that life is like a shared dream that we are dreaming right now. If you want to wake up and experience gnosis for yourself you have found what you are looking for.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 7:00 PM
One Spirit Learning Alliance

330 West 38th Street, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10018
Requested Donation: $15.00 per person

Tim Freke will also make this second appearance:

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 from 7 to 8 PM
East-West Books

Fifth Avenue and 13th Street
New York City

Happy Halloween!

*********************

October 13, 2007:
700th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the
Knights Templar +
Liturgy 11 AM, October 14. Contact the Alexandrian Gnostic Church:
www.alexandriangnostic.org

*********************

SPECIAL GATHERING

Saturday, June 16, 2007
At the Fourth Universalist Society
Central Park West & 76th Street
Manhattan, New York City

Donations accepted to cover costs.


11:30 AM: Gnostic Study Group on early Christianity

1:00 PM: Liturgy in memory of +John-Noel Murray

2:00 PM: "Green Hermeticism" talk by Peter Lamborn Wilson

We mourn our loss in the passing of
Bishop John Noel
on November 30, 2006.

A memorial was held in Connecticut on January 6, 2007.

We offer our condolences to his friends and family,
and to his partner Jim.

+ John Noel's birthday is June 16th,
on which date in 2007
+ Mark Aelred and the Circle of the Free Spirit
will remember him with a special Liturgy.

*********************

GNOSTIC STUDY GROUP
In Manhattan, New York City

New Series Beginning in May 2007:
The Jesus Mysteries and the
Origin of Christianity

We will be reading and discussing two important books side by side:
The Jesus Mysteries by Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy (1999)
and The Origin of Christianity by Charles Vaclavik (1989).

+++

From our previous study, an excerpt from "The Secret Book of John":

Behold, the heavens opened, all creation under heaven lit up, and the world shook.
I was afraid, and behold, I saw within the light a child standing by me.
As I was looking, he became like an older person.
Again his appearance changed, and he was like that of a servant.
Not that there were several persons before me.
Rather, there was one figure with several forms within the light.
These three different forms came into view one after another, and three forms appeared.
He said to me,
"John, John, why are you doubting? Why are you afraid?
Are you not familiar with this figure? Then do not be fainthearted!
I am with you always.
I am the Father,
I am the Mother,
I am the Child.
I am the incorruptible and the undefiled one.
I have come to tell you about what is, what was, and what is to come,
that you may underestand what is invisible and what is visible;
and to teach you about perfect Humanity."



*********************

ORDINATION

ORDINATION OF REV. MICHAEL ELLIOT
to the Apostolic Priesthood
May 6, 2006
In the chapel of West-Park Presbyterian Church
Amsterdam Avenue & West 86th Street

*********************

PERFORMING ARTS:
THEATRE, BALLET, MODERN DANCE

Friends of the Circle of the Free Spirit are often engaged in the visual, performing, and literary arts.

Listed below are performing arts event in which Circle friends are involved:

Great Neck School of Dance and American Ballet Russe present:

SYLVIA
ou la Nymphe de Diane


(Sylvia or the Nymph of Diana)


A Mythical Romp in Music and Dance
Based on Tasso's Aminta

Music: Leo Delibes
Original Choreography: Louis Merante
Libretto: Jules Barbier and Baron de Reinach
Production: Osamu Uehara

Sunday, June 10, 2007, 3:00 PM

Great Neck South High
341 Lakeville Road, Great Neck, Long Island
$20 General Admission
Info/Reservations: 516-466-3515

+++

ARTISTS FOR PEACE

The evening of April 14, 2007
In Norwalk, Connecticut. Hosted by Bernier Dance

For further information:

http://www.bernierdance.org/Calendar.html

+++

HOLIDAY HEAVEN
(A Holiday Celebration In DANCE)

Featuring:

THE FEAST OF LIGHTS
An Original Ballet on the Story of Hanukkah
Choreography by Osamu Uehara
Music by Handel

THE NUTCRACKER
"Land of Snow" and "Kingdom of the Sweets"
Choreography by Osamu Uehara
Music by Tchaikovsky

Starring guest dancers from the New York City Ballet, the Royal Ballet of London,
the Bolshoi and Joffrey Ballets, and dancers from the Great Neck School of Dance.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 16th at 7:00 PM
SUNDAY DECEMBER 17th at 3:00 PM

AT JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
1A GRASSFIELD ROAD
GREAT NECK, LONG ISLAND

Port Washington line, LIRR: Trains depart Penn Sation, NYC, twice per hour.
Cabs park outside the Great Neck station.

General Admission $25
Priority Seating $50 (includes post-performance
Meet & Greet Dancers Reception on Sunday)

FOR TICKETS & , CALL: 516-466-3515
A portion of the proceeds benefit the Great Neck College Scholarship Fund.

Launched: July 7, 2006

Latest update: March 18, 2008