Arts & Lectures Series on Wednesdays, 7pm
+ Additional Special Events
World U Auditorium, 107 N. Ventura, Ojai
(If you have interest in speaking or presenting your arts, please contact the Director of Arts & Lectures, Sequoia Hamilton at sequoiahamilton@gmail.com or (805) 669-7373.)
Wednesday, April 25
LECTURE: Lanny Kaufer – “MEET YOUR LOCAL PLANT COMMUNITY”
Come learn about Ojai’s ecological communities, communing with plants, and more. Lanny will take us on a slideshow tour of our local native plant habitats from the local creeks through the meadows, the river bottom, the chaparral and even up to the pine forest. Along the way, he’ll discuss the interdependence of the communities of plants and animals that live around us with a special emphasis on our place, as humans, in the ecosystem. As time permits, Lanny will share information about uses of specific plants by the Chumash, early settlers, and both historical and modern American herbalists.
Starting in MAY 2012 all Lectures and Arts – $10
Wednesday, May 2
LECTURE: What is Mediumship? Learn about John of God & Oprah’s Recent Visit to See Him in Brazil.
Learn about the legendary Brazilian healer “John of God” (www.JohnofGod.us) and the fascinating practice of Mediumship with two John of God guides, Ojai residents Deb Court and Sequoia Hamilton.
Wednesday, May 9
ARTS: Raymond Power presents “Sound Meditation Healing Journey” with flutes, zither, frame drum, singing and humming.
The first musicians, the pioneers, were not really trying to create music, they were trying some way to convey the silence, the beauty, the calmness, the soothingness that they felt in meditation. In fact all the arts have their origin in meditation, but music comes the closest, because music is the closest, because music is nothing but a play between sound and silence. To the ordinary musician the sound is important. To the master musician the silence is important. He uses sound only to create silence. He raises sound to a high pitch and then drops it so suddenly that you fall into a deep silence.
Wednesday, May 16
LECTURE: Ojai Valley Green Coalition presents “Food Talk” with Dulanie Ellis
Includes short film on Food Gardening Movement.
Wednesday, May 23
LECTURE: “Legend of the Sphinx” presented by Mike Schultz
Film producer Mike Schultz will present a lecture on legendary creatures, and animal/human hybrids in our mythological past such as the Sphinx and Centaur. He will also present a film clip of ancient stone ruins from Europe, South Africa and distant sites. Could these be the remnants of the Annunaki, or the elusive Nephilim mentioned in the Bible? He’ll bring forth evidence from the ancient Sumerian Clay Tablets…Come explore the fascinating Ancient Alien Theory, and bring an open mind! Find out more about Mike’s films at www.mysteryislands.net
Wednesday, May 30
LECTURE: “Reconciling Individuality and Universality through Interdependence” presented by Nancy Gross, Editor and Publisher of The Bubble
The Bubble, a Feature and Literary Magazine for Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, appeared on the scene with the following assertion: “There is really no limit to what The Bubblecan contain…” It is growing up with this self-definition: “Finding the Universal in the Local.
Wednesday, June 6
LECTURE: presented by Jacob Sluijter of The Krishnamurti Foundation of America
SPECIAL EVENT: Sunday June 10
World U “Founders Day” – World U Open House, 2-5pm
3pm – “Son of My Father” by Thor Reyes, Chairman of Board and son of Benito Reyes, WorldU Founder
Wednesday, June 13
LECTURE: Raymond Powers presents “SoundTrack of The Soul: How Music Tells Our Story.”
A multi-media enriched experience.
Wednesday, June 20
ARTS: Aviva Gold presents “Tapping Your Creative Source”
Spend an evening with the author of “Painting From the Source” (book and workshop), and experience a taste of channeling from your creative dream body with crayon and paper. Many writers and painters have cleared creative blocks with this natural Source-given process.
Wednesday, June 27
LECTURE: Cynthia Waring Matthews presents “The Power of Creativity”
Creativity – a doorway to changing your life!
Wednesday, July 4 – (No event tonight. Enjoy the fireworks!)
Wednesday, July 11
ARTS: Film – TBA
Wednesday, July 18
LECTURE: Carrie Triffet
Wednesday, July 25
LECTURE: Gwendolyn Alley
Wednesday, August 1
LECTURE:
Wednesday, August 8
ARTS: Film – TBA
Wednesday, August 15
LECTURE:
Wednesday, August 22
LECTURE: “Self-Exile: A No Land Experience” presented by Dr. Claudia Volpe-Konieczny, Professor at California State University Channel Islands
“I was born in Colombia, South America – a daughter of an inmigrant “gringa” (American mother), and an Italian father. I experienced “reverse racism” in a Chicano-based culture: the lack of belonging and the absence and distance from that particular culture. And how, today back in the U.S., with my thick Spanish accent, I feel a sense of exile too, and a lack of belonging. All of this is a journey to find “oneness.”
Wednesday, August 29
LECTURE:
NOW SCHEDULING Speakers for SEPT – DEC ARTS & LECTURES
(If you have interest in speaking or presenting your arts, please contact the Director of Arts & Lectures, Sequoia Hamilton at sequoiahamilton@gmail.com or (805) 669-7373.)
UPCOMING IN FEB 2013 – during Black History Month
FILM & Q&A with Sequoia Hamilton. “BRIARS IN THE COTTONPATCH: The Story of Koinonia Farm” (The Birthplace of Habitat for Humanity)
Possibly the most daring social experiment in the South during the last century, Koinonia Farm—where races of all color lived in ONENESS and on equal terms— found itself faced with terror, boycotts and intimidation in the years leading up to the tumultuous Civil Rights era. Broadcast on PBS stations nationwide and featured at the Ojai Film Festival in 2003, this award winning documentary (Emmy for writing) is a compelling chronicle of heroic humility and uncommon courage.
Introduction and post-film Q&A with one of the producers, Ojai resident Sequoia Hamilton. Sequoia lived at Koinonia Farm with her family, was the International Director of Special Events with Habitat for Humanity International in Americus, Georgia, and has volunteered with HFH for 25+ years including leading numerous Global Village Trips (building trips) around the world.
PAST ARTS & LECTURES SPEAKERS & TOPICS
Feb 6 – LECTURE: Thor Reyes, M.D. – “THE MEANING OF ONENESS”
World U’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and son of the founder Benito Reyes kicks off the new Monday night Arts & Lecture series with a deep look into Oneness.
Feb 13 – LECTURE: Dr. Shauna Mathis, founder of Humanity Lab – “HUMANITY: The Laboratory of Oneness”
Humanity Lab is grounded in the science of brain neurology, evolutionary psychology and epigenetics. The scientific foundation of the labs is based upon the work of the most respected leading edge scientists such as Candace Pert, Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow, Joan Borysenko, and Bruce Lipton.
Feb 20 – LECTURE: Larry Chambers – “SHAME: THE ONE THING EVERYONE HAS IN COMMON.”
What is shame and what is it doing to the quality of your life? Learn how to recognize its grip on your life and turn it into your biggest asset. We are all on an equal playing field when it comes to dealing with shame in our lives.
February 27 SPECIAL EVENT: Prana Miller - ”OVER AND BACK”
Spend an evening with Prana Miller, as he describes in great detail his Near-Death Experiences.
What is it like to die, and then return to your “Earth-Suit” (physical body)? How does life on earth relate to the workings of the greater physical and non-physical universe? Why were you born?… On this particular planet?… At this particular time in history?
Come hear Prana’s amazing stories about his time spent outside of his physical body, and his suggestions about how we can apply that wisdom into our daily lives to experience a more joyous time on the “earth-plane”.
March 7 LECTURE: Bob Salas - ”The UFO Phenomena Brings Us Closer to Oneness on Earth”
There are many indications the UFO phenomena has been experienced by humans for thousands of years. The modern era of encounters with these ‘unidentified’ craft flying began in 1947 and continues to this day. There is testimony of literally thousands of credible witnesses who have had experiences related to UFOs. A significant number of these experiences cannot be explained by the application scientific or practical reasoning. As a result of this overwhelming evidence, Mr. Salas has concluded that these objects and their occupants are of extra-terrestrial origin. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that we are not alone in the universe and that we are a part of a greater community of living, intelligent beings.
This presentation will center around the reality that earth’s humanity and its cultures, societies, and intelligences are not solitary but part of the fabric of life in the universe. If we accept this reality, how should we now consider it implications? How should we speak as one voice for earth?
March 14 FILM: Dr. Wayne Dyer’s movie “SHIFT: AMBITION TO MEANING: Finding Your Life’s Purpose”
In this compelling film, explore the spiritual journey from ambition to meaning. The powerful shift from the ego constructs that we’re taught early in life by parents and society—which promote achievement and accumalation—are shown in contrast to a life of meaning, focused on serving and giving back.
March 21 LECTURE: Gay Hendricks, Ph.D. – “ONENESS IN RELATIONSHIPS: The Hidden Barrier That Blocks It, The Practical Step That Invites It”
In working with more than 4,000 couples during the past 35 years, Dr. Hendricks discovered a barrier to closeness that almost all the couples were unaware of. Dr. Hendricks explains: “In the early 70s when I was working on my doctorate at Stanford, I had the opportunity to learn from the great developmental psychiatrist, Margaret Mahler. Her work centers on the two powerful developmental needs of the first year of life: oneness and individuation. She argues that you cannot have successful oneness if you do not also have full individuation. I realized that this insight applied particularly well to couples in their relationships, and began using it in my practice. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to see many couples as they blossomed into a greater ability to be in harmony and oneness with each other by opening up a greater sense of themselves as autonomous individuals.”
Dr. Hendricks will demonstrate the techniques he and his wife, Dr. Kathlyn Hendricks, have developed for moving through barriers to closeness and intimacy. A Q&A period will follow.
Special Events during OJAI WORDFEST, March 24-31:
POETRY NIGHT, hosted by local poet Akka b, Monday, March 26. A vibrant, irreverent, and fresh collection of works by Ojai Poets and Spoken Word artists.
BEFORE YOU DIE Writing Workshop: “Five Important Lists to Write Before You Die” with Sequoia Hamilton, Wednesday, March 28. We are all going to die. So take one hour to pen “legacy gifts” for those you love. Whether you are 88 or 18, share your dreams and wishes in your own words.
Wednesday, April 4
LECTURE: Rev. Marilyn Miller – “INNER HERO: PERSONAL TRANSCENDENCE and the SYMBOLIC MEANING of PASSOVER & EASTER”
Sharing a chapter in your book, America’s Holidays & Heroes, Miller will explore the roles of three mothers during the Spring holidays of Easter and Passover: Moses’ mother, Pharaoh’s daughter & Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Wednesday, April 11
LECTURE: Darina Stoyanova – “BEST OF TED – World Changing Ideas You’ve Never Heard Of”
Did you know that there is a proven technology to print human organs, real & transplantable ones that has been applied for more than 10 years? Or that there is a way to test water instantaneously & cheaply, with a new device called ‘water canary’? Or that there is a brilliantly simple solution for correcting vision at the lowest cost possible – amazing adjustable liquid-filled lenses & a global plan to distribute them to billion people in need by 2020?
Have you heard that there is a laser that zaps malaria, a lab the size of a postage stamp or a 3D printer the size of a ball? Not to mention the driverless car & the car for the blind & the prosthetic eye that treats blindness & the prosthetic arm that ‘feels’.
Open your mindheart & learn about all these & many more world changing ideas & inventions in this insightful & interactive presentation of the Best TED ideas & beyond.
Wednesday, April 18
SPECIAL EVENT: Diane Silvester, owner of Soul Centered – a Metaphysical Shoppe presents “RAISE YOUR VIBE HEALING”
Be immersed in a compilation of Energy modalities, resulting in a palatable experience of the elevation of your vibration. (Warning: This can be life changing!)