Wednesday 10:00am - Introduction to Sacred Geometry (In-person - short course)

£42.00
/

Time: 10:00am- 11:30am (GMT) on Wednesdays

Term Date: 26 February - 26 March 2025

Presenter: Barbara Ryan

Location: Mandeville Place and Online via Zoom

For the last five weeks of term (Feb 26, Mar 5,12,19, 26) we shall be continuing our exploration of sacred geometry in-person at Mandeville. THE PATTERNS COVERED AT MANDEVILLE WILL BE THE SAME PATTERNS COVERED IN THE ONLINE SESSIONS.

This term we will experiment with the creation of  thickened lines to create pathways rather than just the single lines of a pattern. Designs inspired from Islamic tiles and Jali Screens housed at the Victoria & Albert Museum will be used. It would be useful to have access to a small compass for this work.
 
Sacred Geometry can be thought of as the art of visual philosophy. It is not merely the practical art of drawing patterns with a compass, although this too has much to teach us about attention, creativity and relationship. All patterns begin from a single point, expanding outward in lawful and orderly movement revealing harmonious proportions and obvious relationships. The primary relationship is between the centre and the circumference, the inner and the outer, the invisible and the visible. 
In philosophical language we see this as the relationship between the universal and the individual. Shri Shantananda Sarasvati said, "There is never a moment when this relationship is not working, but we forget it. The relationship is always there. It comes alive only when consciousness comes into action."
Pythagoras also tells us:
“For one thing to be known by another there must be a linking relationship, a ratio, a joining together, that is harmony.  Without harmony, there is no possibility of a relationship between the one and the many, no possibility of unity and wholeness.”  
Dabbling in the creation of Sacred Geometry gives us an opportunity to experience and explore the possibilities and potential of harmony. After having seen the emergence of harmony on a geometrical drawing, one will naturally begin to remember it more and look for it in the world around.
All are welcome. Previous experience with being able to manipulate a compass to produce a circle is helpful but not essential. Come and discover how easy and appealing the creation of something beautiful is.
Barbara Ryan loves the study of sacred geometry and has been practising it for several years, having been introduced to the practice and study of it by Tom Bree through The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. She has taught classes to both children and adults.
Students comments:
“I found peace, and I found a stillness that I haven’t had for a long time. So I could be in that moment, and that moment just stretched on forever.”
“Inspiring teacher and teaching made the whole subject accessible and utterly magic”

WHAT MATERIALS DO I NEED?

  • Pencils, 2H and 2B
  • Eraser, sharpener and ruler (at least 30 cm)
  • Coloured pencils and coloured fineliner markers
  • a standard compass with an extension bar. I recommend the Mars Staedtler 551 02 Comfort Bow Compass

(but if you already have one at home don’t buy another – most stationery shops will sell basic compasses if your budget doesn’t allow for the above recommendation)

  • A3 paper
  • Masking tape