Minutes of General Meeting 8th December 2008

Minutes Staff Meeting 8th December 2008-12-14

AGENDA

1) Human Rights Events

2) Upcoming Events and Ideas

3) Mystic Bazaar

1) Human Rights Events: The program for the Human Rights Festival was discussed and agreed. Dragon Shichiroji and Scott Boronski added in an event on the opening day of 10th December – a live concert to start at 2.30pm SLT at the new Music Centre on Matara.

2) Upcoming events and ideas: a) Dragon suggested that finding someone who could give advice on financial problems that members may have. We may have someone within the Academy who could fulfil that role. To be investigated.
b) Management Training: Dragon talked of a type of management training that uses archetypes, legends and myths as metaphors for management and for training practice. He would like to see a seminar or a series of seminars in this at MA or on the MA campus. Equally it might be possible for MA to have outreach facilities on other sims. StarRose has already set something like this up with the Elves and is approaching the Dragons. Geni Figaro has knowledge of this training. To be contacted. ACTION: Elborath, StarRose
c) Gold Serpent put forward a notecard with some thoughts about interactions in Mystic Academy. it is called TRANSCENDING BARRIERS – the transcript is included below. It is to be hoped that Gold may be able to work up a seminar from these ideas to present to the MA staff.
d) The Staff are asked to put their minds to Christmas events. ACTION: All Staff

3) Mystic Bazaar: The Mystic Bazaar is still low on ppl renting the stalls. Dragon asks that there are plenty of free gifts available at the Bazaar.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

None

DATE AND TIME NEXT MEETING

Monday 15th December – time approximately 2.45pm SLT
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Transcending Barriers: Answering the Challenges of an Esoteric Community

A Charge to the members of the Mystic Academy

Spiritual growth can be thought of as transcending barriers -- personal, social, cultural, and religious -- each with its own challenges. Indeed, it is the due bounds of the Esoteric Community that enable many of us to begin transcending,
literally "climbing across," the barriers that might otherwise keep us at a distance from the greater benefits of our Mystic Tie. As Members of the Mystic Academy we must be especially committed to answering those challenges.

One of the first challenges in our shared interest is establishing a working agreement on what we mean by Esotericism. In
modern usage, it frequently refers to philosophical, psychological, and spiritual concepts and practices that are believed to be especially revelatory with regard to the great mysteries of existence. It is in this vein that the
esotericism of Mystic Academy is rightly focused on the revelatory
concepts and practices implied by the rituals, symbols, and teachings of various world religions. However, because such implications are very much a matter of perception
and interpretation, our members must respect the highly individualized nature of our common interests. We therefore must ensure that no concepts or practices beyond those inculcated in this charge become codified as tenets of Esotericism at the Mystic Academy.

In order to discuss the deeper implications of religious symbolism, it is often necessary to use the words from many different systems of religion. However, the Mystic Academy challenges us to communicate in ways that transcend the barriers of narrow religious perspectives. Nevertheless, each of us is best equipped to communicate in terms of our own traditions, education and experiences. Therefore we must all be diligent in listening for the meanings behind the words of our companions, searching for mutual understandings among the various ways we attempt to communicate the ineffable inspirations of wisdom. When
speaking, we must acknowledge that we are limited in our abilities to transform Light into words, being mindful that one's own views are inevitably biased, and thus remain open to the reality that the same truth often appears to have different faces to other eyes. It must also be our intention to speak as plainly as possible, neither veiling meanings behind unnecessary allusions nor pretending to greater understandings than can be clearly communicated.

It has been agreed that a prime aspect of our conferences shall be the opportunity to enjoy spiritually uplifting activities, such as classes, discussions, meditation, and contemplation. However, for some of us the bonds of religion may dictate that various activities are appropriate while others are not. All activities of the Mystic Academy shall therefore remain entirely voluntary, with facilitators as well as attendees expected to exercise forethought and tolerance. When attending an activity, every individual is expected to do so with an open mind and heart, and should quietly remove themself if they judge that continued attendance would seriously conflict with their beliefs or obligations.

The Mystic Academy is made possible by a significant number of
wonderful people who have answered the initial challenges of Esotercism. It is our goal to enjoy warm fellowship while sharing the brilliance of the Divine Light. In order to fulfill that vision, and thereby do honor to Deity, each of us is admonished to join in a
commitment to the principles inculcated in this charge.