Verena’s professional work involved translating Dutch, German, French and English.  At Art in Action, the School’s large arts festival, she and her husband used to organise the section for Russian Arts where Robert developed a love of icons. Later she took the next step in learning how to write icons. Read on to discover where that has led her. 

Translating the Imperceptible: Writing Icons 

Verena Watson, UK

Waking up to writing icons

It started with an explanation and demonstration of Russian icon painting at Art in Action. My husband Robert was instantly enamoured.  We bought that icon, hung it facing East as it should be – and for a while I ignored it.  It didn’t look like my image of Christ.  

Then one day whilst saying the Lord’s prayer, that image of Christ arose very clearly in mind.  It was my first experience of the power of an icon. I experienced its presence and energy in the heart.  Sometime later whilst reading a book, ‘The Meaning of Icons’, the thought arose “Paint icons”.  That same week, at an exhibition, Robert found a leaflet advertising a workshop, quite near our home.  

The next step in writing icons

Learning to ‘write’ icons with the Prosopon school was like learning a new language.  Following the Russian tradition, we used a lot of Russian names and expressions.  Then there was learning about the symbolisms, and the board. Then how to grind pigments and mix them with egg yolk, then wine or vodka as a preservative.  Nevertheless, with patience it was relatively easy to produce a good-looking icon. On the course they gave us the design and mixed the pigments for us. 

Eventually I had learned enough to attend some of Aidan Hart’s workshops in Shropshire.  A well-known English icon painter, Aidan follows the Greek tradition. He is more realistic using bright, often contrasting colours.  It’s stronger, some say, than the Russian tradition which is more mystic, expressionist, emotional, using muted colours.  Aidan would start each workshop with a lecture. We would copy one of his own icons.  It was more demanding but freer – no rules like “never use black”! 

A different perspective

One of the techniques to learn was that of ‘inverse perspective’.  Since the Italian Renaissance we have been used to looking from our eyes out to a vanishing point in the creation. In other times and in other cultures, (rather than a lack of knowledge) things have been looked at differently.  

In Byzantine times, at the beginning of iconography, one did not look out. Instead we let impressions come in. The image was not meant to be looked at but to come into the heart.  Furthermore icons depict the heavenly world beyond time and place. Thus chronology is not important, nor is anatomical accuracy.  

Why do you say ‘writing’ an icon? 

An icon starts with the idea, the name of a saint.  This word initiates the ‘writing’; after this it’s the saint’s characteristics, more words.  Whereas most Orthodox people have grown up knowing the lives of the saints, I have to do the research.  We can recognise each saint by his or her traditional coloured cloak, hair and facial features. These have to be known thoroughly in mind and heart.  For example, St Paul’s high forehead, St Peter’s short grey hair and beard, Mary’s purple or blue cloak with three stars to indicate her purity of body, mind and heart.  

The name of the saint is the very last thing we write on the board. So the icon begins and ends with a word. This is why we talk about writing an icon.  The vibrations which prompt the hand of the painter, then reside in the painting and radiate outwards to connect with the receptive heart of the venerator.  Indeed many Orthodox supplicants when praying with the icon at home or in church consider it to be alive and kiss it.  

Monastic experience of writing icons

On a friend’s recommendation I joined workshops with a Belgian iconographer, Joris van Ael.  We stayed in the guesthouse of the Norbertine monastery in Averbode, east Belgium.  After breakfast Joris would start work with a lecture, then we would paint till mass at 11.45am.  Then it was lunch in silence with the monks.  After washing up, we worked until evensong followed by dinner with the monks.  I loved the chanting of the mass and psalms, the simple days living in a loving community.  Worldly problems seemed far away.  

Often, we continued work in the evening, unless we took a stroll to the ice-cream vendor nearby.  The week ended with an assessment of each icon followed by a ceremonial blessing of the paintings by one of the priests, thus making them holy.  Far from being simple wall decorations, icons are called doors to heaven, mirrors of the soul.  They are created to aid with prayer and contemplation. 

Writing icons today

With no formal art training, drawing is difficult for me so I really appreciate the help of a teacher.  Guidance comes from Peter Murphy in a Canterbury church where he runs icon courses.  One of the loveliest workshops was with Peter in Venice.  Every morning we walked to the Santa Elena church in a quiet part of the city.  Here we painted from the drawings we had prepared at home.  What a joyful experience, writing the Madonna of Victory (looted from Byzantium and now living in the Basilica San Marco), then ending each day with convivial evening meals in local trattorias.  

When working at home, my bed disappears into a cupboard and the room becomes my studio.  Usually I work flat on a desk. But the next projects, two large icons of Mary and St John the Evangelist I may have to paint on the floor!

Whether at home or away, work on an icon always starts with prayer and sometimes listening to Russian or Byzantine Orthodox chanting.  This helps concentration and connects me with the saint I am painting. 

The presence of saints

It is said that the famous icon of Our Lady of Vladimir saved Moscow from invaders several times.  The Venetians looked to the Madonna Nicopeia (Victory) for protection against the plague and to provide victory in times of war.  Many other icons of saints are believed to have powers of healing.  Experience has given me a sense of this presence.

While writing the icon of St John the Forerunner, the Baptist as we call him, I first experienced the real presence of the saints. During previous workshops, it had been a joy to paint Archangels Michael and Gabriel but this St John was hard for everyone.  All sorts of mistakes happened which were difficult to rectify.  We all struggled, including the teacher.  Then, on the last day it was as if a heavy blanket lifted and we finally found the peace, which was then shining out of our icons.  Reading again my research notes about the saint, I understood that we had experienced some of St John’s difficult life.  

Visiting icons

Another occasion was when visiting the chapel of Our Lady of Kazan, south of Paris.  A bearded hermit opened the gate.  ‘Are you living here alone?’ I asked.  He didn’t answer but showed me to the chapel then disappeared.  The chapel built between 1940 and 1960 by one man had walls frescoed by Fr Gregory Krug.  The simple shapes and muted colours of his figures were imbued with a love that dissolved all comment and thought. In the stillness I sat down to meditate.  

After a while, the space became alive with voices – still, small voices but very distinct.  I realised that the hermit was far from alone.  Jesus, Mary, angels and many saints were all so strongly present there that I could only listen.  Now I understood what one of my teachers once said… that the space around us is not empty.  It’s full of beings. 

The heart of the matter

Iconographers refer to a state called hesychasm, a deep stillness of the heart.  Whilst engaged in writing an icon there is only unity.  The heart is open to the universe through the saint which they are portraying.  The saint then guides the hand.  When I observe the hand going to a particular pigment and adding another to produce just the right colour, there is only peace and joy.  In pondering on the meaning of the icon the answer comes as if from the saint, not in words but as understanding.

Aidan Hart agreed when I suggested that iconography appears to be the act of translating the imperceptible into something visible.  In fact, he goes further in saying to his students, ‘Be careful, icons will change your life!’ 

See one of Verena’s teachers, Aidan Hart on YouTube:

Enjoyed this article? Read another like this: Flutemaker

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Jenny was a successful entrepreneur in the IT industry.  What made her start working with children?  With experience from her own children and grandchildren she went on to open a Montessori school in Pretoria.  How did this all start and where is the project now after 25 (long) years?  

25 Years: Guided by One Thought

Jenny Miller, Johannesburg, South Africa

The inspirational thought, 25 Years ago

The moment that changed everything occurred during a retreat conducted by Mr. Donald Lambie, Leader of the School of Philosophy, when he said, “Be a beacon of light in the community”.

The words resonated deeply. It wasn’t just advice, it was a call to action. What did it mean? How could I bring these words into my daily life? Ultimately these questions shaped the path I took.

From the IT Industry to the unknown 

I was an ordinary middle-aged woman, who had entered the IT industry just at the right time.  Within a few years I had become a director of a small but growing company specializing in construction industry software. By 1997 I was a 50% shareholder and from the outside it seemed like success. On the inside however, I faced ethical dilemmas and challenges relating to the business. Corruption had become increasingly common and I no longer wanted to be part of it. 

When a buyer came forward offering to take over the company, my business partner and I accepted. Suddenly I found myself unemployed for the first time in my adult life. This brought a mix of fear and excitement. My inner voice asked, “What now?” but I heard Mr Lambie’s words echoing softly. 

Sitting on a park bench one day I asked myself, “How do I do that?”  and the answer came back, “You don’t do it, you become it.”  Bewildered, I decided just to be still and trust that the way would become clear. 

The following year I slowly adjusted to simply attending to the needs of each day. I wasn’t sure what it would lead to but I believe service has the power to reveal purpose.

My grandson was born around that time and when my daughter had to return to work I stepped in. He was an irritable and cranky baby so I took an infant massage course to see if it might help.  

A few months later, my granddaughter was born and within a short time her mother too had to go back to work. Then two friends of my daughter-in-law asked if I would also take care of their babies. What started out as grandparenting duties had become something rather more.

The opportunity of 25 Years

My eternal gratitude goes out to my late mom, my philosophy group and others who provided guidance and practical help. As more children joined the group, one mother even offered weekly music sessions. 

The additional help allowed me to stand back and take stock of what had just happened – this was the opportunity to “be a beacon of light in the community”. What work could be more important than to help children connect with Truth and the ever-present stillness of their own Self. Surely this work could not start too soon.

Preparing for the job

Although the spirit was willing to heed the call, knowledge was sadly lacking. I also needed to clarify exactly what it was that I believed in. What was needed for children to access their own “Light”? 

During visits to childcare groups and schools I saw some very unhappy children which made me question the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. I also studied the conversations between the Philosophy School and Shri Shantananda Sarasvati on the education of children. Inner reflection and further enquiry helped me conclude that a holistic view of the child was needed. This could best be provided in a gentle, non-competitive, respectful setting. Now I had to find a system that supported it. 

After much research, one pedagogy stood out which promoted the values I was looking for, that of Dr Maria Montessori. 

Dr Montessori

In her earliest writings Dr. Montessori, a remarkable woman of her time, speaks of the capacity for concentration, attention and memory in young children. They have intense need for order and natural ability to develop intrinsic motivation and self-control without inducement. She understood that education is a process of continuous discovery and achievement. Montessori felt the focus should be on a collaborative work ethic, especially in the early years. What touched me most was her deep belief in the sacredness of human potential lying dormant within each child. 

Without closing down my children’s group, I enrolled in the College of Modern Montessori, attending classes after hours until the curriculum had been covered. I graduated with distinction but within a short time I realised more was needed to do the job effectively. I enrolled for further studies but also attended every workshop and every short course I deemed to be of value to understanding the young child.

Being true to one’s purpose for 25 Years

The children’s group became known as ‘Morning Star’. The name is from ‘One Hundred and Eight Names of God’. It symbolises guidance, hope and new beginnings. This was exactly what I wanted the school to represent. It was growing and I was learning as fast as the children were.

My studies prevented me from attending the Philosophy School for a while. But throughout that time meditation practice remained steady and I studied whatever spiritual material I could lay my hands on. 

Always in the back of my mind was the conviction that these children could become beacons of hope and light, learn the truth, learn goodness and have the courage to stand up for it when it was needed. 

After three years of giving all my time to developing Morning Star, I re-joined classes at the School. Soon I was back in my previous Pretoria senior group where new connections could be made and old connections renewed. I was “home”. 

The new schoolhouse

Since those early days when the schoolroom was my TV lounge, we have outgrown our premises a number of times and our current location is a refurbished nursery school.

Over ten years ago, parents began asking for a primary school to provide continuity. In searching for premises suitable for older children, I discovered a neighbour’s property was for sale. However, before making an offer I asked Mr Lambie for his blessing. He was concerned that the responsibility and volume of work would be too much for me and asked who would assist me. I said I was hopeful that my daughter would help out. 

With finance from my family trust the new property was purchased. After some minor improvements we moved in. I discovered that teachers aren’t anything like computer programmers and a whole new species was uncovered!

Aligning my vision with that of the parents, teachers and education bodies required all the skill, patience, stillness and prayers imaginable. But it was worth the effort and I was determined not to give up. In remaining steadfast and holding on to the aim, the strength was there to meet everything and everybody with absolute love and patience. 

Even so, Mr Lambie’s concerns proved to be right. I did bite off more than I could chew and have paid the price. Which is to say, worldly responsibility takes up much time, energy and fortitude!  Some days I even feel I might rather stay in bed with my cat Max for a while longer, sip coffee with my friends and catch up with some general trivia before immersing myself in study of wisdom!  

I now have to trust that, having come so far, the children will be protected and follow the path that was intended for them.  

A New Image

One of the parents, a member of the Philosophy School, helped design a new logo for our growing school. Inspired by Michaelangelo’s painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, Adam is reaching out to touch God’s hand. It is accompanied by the motto ‘Every Soul Seeks the Good’. These words from Plotinus (d.270AD) have helped us to remember our purpose, explain our methods to puzzled parents, train teachers and calm even the most furious child.

Subjects unfamiliar to most Pretoria parents, have entered our curriculum. Thinking Through Philosophy, Sanskrit and the works of Shakespeare open up young minds to a finer way of living and knowledge that would otherwise remain hidden.

Reflections

Over 300 children have passed through Morning Star Montessori. Today the school stands strong and continues to grow with the acquisition of a third adjacent property for children in grades 4 to 7.  

But beyond the numbers, the real success is in seeing children develop into thoughtful, capable individuals. They reaffirm the power of that single idea. An idea which inspired the resilience to overcome the challenges and provided the bedrock for service to education.

My wish is simply: May every child go from strength to strength, retaining enough wisdom to hear a philosophical thought and live by it’.  

Visit Jenny’s website: Morning Star Montessori

Enjoyed this article? Read another like this: What Makes your Heart Sing

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Serving as a paramedic in London during Covid left Pat exhausted.  So he decided to take some time out – and cycle from London to Melbourne!  18 months and 13,000 miles later he describes his journey. Read on to hear his adventures.  Pat has attended philosophy classes both in London and Australia.

Pedalling the Planet

Pat Tibballs, Melbourne, Australia

In 2023 I decided to call it quits, leave my job, pack my worldly belongings and start pedalling. I had moved to the UK in 2015 to work as a Paramedic for the London Ambulance Service and had enjoyed many beautiful opportunities. Travelling and meeting incredible people enabled me to grow as a person. I had enjoyed adventures with friends on many short cycling trips and the idea to try something bigger had been floated on occasion. Now I finally decided to roll with it.

Decision to Pedal the Planet

The decision to leave came after receiving a call informing me that my father was in hospital with a serious heart issue. This timely reminder of my family’s mortality, and a significant dose of burnout after working through the Covid pandemic led me to decide on a date in the Spring to head home.

With bags loaded I left the ‘family’ I had made in the UK and cycled to the ferry. I spent the next 18 months cycling 13,000m (21,000km) through 23 countries. My steed, a sturdy green touring bike that earned the name Frieda, was laden with panniers containing equipment for camping, cooking, bike maintenance, my clothes and other necessities. With my tent, it totalled 40kg.

I was fortunate to have friends throughout Europe offering to accommodate me so route mapping became a game of joining the dots. The GPS in my phone took me (mostly) the right way but my contacts became fewer as I progressed East. More frequently I was graced with the hospitality of strangers.

Pedalling solo

Travelling solo comes with a multitude of challenges, facing the unknown, being self-sufficient, and responsible for all the decision making. The most difficult challenge for me was loneliness. The wanting to share with others all the highs and lows of the experience, which can easily evolve into wanting to be elsewhere, with the comfort of familiar faces. Feeling tired, hungry, uncomfortable, and having plans go awry, or equipment breaking all add complexity to these challenges.

Fortunately, I was equipped with a handful of tools. Being present and listening to the needs of my body before they became overwhelming made fatigue preventable. Not being attached to particular outcomes and surrendering instead to the moment melted intense frustration with broken equipment or misinformation into problem solving. Remembering the loving nature of other beings allowed trust for those curious to help to do so. A variety of other lessons from the wise also helped me to overcome most challenges.

These practices helped cultivate my mind-set, training it to confidently deal with one challenge at a time. If I believe I can get from here to there, this body will meet that goal, a plan will present itself, the challenges are possible and there is no need to quit. There were plenty of opportunities to put this to the test but gradually I became comfortable moving through the unknown.

Wildlife

In Romania I was forewarned that a group of bears had been sighted along a mountain pass that I planned to take. The fear of rolling past carnivores the size of small cars that can run at a speed of up to 30m/h (50km/h) certainly presented itself. Descending down winding switchbacks through incredible woodland I would meet these terrifying animals. After listening to other road users who were generally quite helpful with appropriate warnings I felt ready. But the sedentary bears didn’t pay me a second thought.

In India’s hot, humid, weather, tackling the busy, chaotic roads, I had multiple bouts of food poisoning. The exhaustion that comes with interrupted sleep, the difficulty for an unnourished body to travel even short distances and the demands on the senses to survive amidst the overwhelming chaos of the traffic made for some of the most difficult days of the adventure.

Had the journey been solely hardship, it would have been significantly harder to stick to. Sweating and struggling up hills and mountains slowly became one of my favourite activities. I developed a deep satisfaction from being in tune with and challenging this body, the accomplishment that comes at the summit of a climb, the views that feel earned, and the thrill of the wind as one rolls back down the other side.

“The road provides” is a mantra I became familiar with especially when meeting fellow cycle tourists who quickly became companions whilst we travelled in similar directions. To swap stories, share advice and simply have company felt nourishing to the soul.

Pedalling the Planet with Friends

In Turkey I met Max, a Dutch cycle tourist on the road. We rode together for a couple of weeks, discussing our experiences, sharing war stories. All this while delighting in the highs and lows of the Turkish countryside. Winter was showing itself as we climbed into the mountains. Immobilising mud clung to our tyres and snow coated the roads at various points. Having someone there to share the experience made the hardships easier to deal with. I still have fond memories of sitting around our campfires, rugged up and laughing at the joyous insanity of what we were doing.

The kindness of strangers wasn’t restricted to cyclists. Often locals would remind me of the brilliance and generosity of human nature. They offered food, conversation and even a place to rest for the night.

Most nights I found a space in nature to set up my tent and tuck myself away until dawn. Occasionally my routine would be interrupted. Once, while cooking dinner on a roadside park bench in Romania, some local farmers arrived to water their small field of grass. We had an extensive conversation primarily consisting of gestures and laughter, them not speaking English, and me not speaking Romanian. Eventually I was invited to their home where their daughter spoke English, and where I was treated to share in their dinner. They also offered me a prime place to pitch my tent for the night.

Healing through Pedalling the Planet

I left the UK after Covid with a lot of big questions, and feeling somewhat demoralised at the way of the world. The journey back to Australia highlighted beautifully the small interactions that I had so often overlooked. It put into perspective how convenient life is in the West and the opportunities I had very much taken for granted.

Having been back in Australia for some months, I still occasionally look at a washing machine with adoration. I marvel at how fortunate we are to have hot, clean, running water. I am ever grateful for the warm comfortable bed I can sleep in.

Transitioning back into a “normal” way of living has been interesting. I found incredible beauty in the slow pace of life that cycle touring provided. It goes against the upbeat pace of city living. Day to day life has demanded more conscious attention. It’s easy to get carried away in the momentum of society. So it has helped to set a practice to remain present. Now and then I take myself off on a micro adventure. It’s a reminder to slow down and recalls the joy I found in nature.

I have loved immersing myself in life with my family, friends, and familiar places but I could not more highly recommend taking the opportunity to experience somewhere or something new. Experiencing the culture, history, food and natural environment of a new place and simply being with its people have been fundamental to the bliss of the journey.

Enjoyed this article? Read another like this: scroll down to Marathon Man and Seeking Adventure.

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The leaders of all the overseas Schools meet every six years for a conference at Waterperry. This year the meeting was one week, from August 23-31st.

The Schools are joined together, not by any contract or legal bond, but by goodwill and freewill. So it’s good to gather everyone together periodically, to strengthen the unity and friendships that hold everything and everyone together. Mr Donald Lambie, leader of the School, invited 37 people. In order to manage the smooth running of the event there was also a service team of 33 international volunteers.

Preparations

Preparations for such a major event start 18 months in advance. The ladies in Colchester had the impulse to make ‘welcome gift bags’ for the service team. And welcome cards were written in calligraphy for everyone attending the week.

The gift bags variously contained a selection of Waterperry tea towel, socks, a scented candle, a bar of scented soap, fridge magnet, key rings, notebook etc.

One member of the team wrote: “I remember being pleasantly surprised by the gift bag, I felt appreciated before even starting, so I captured the moment.”

Several of the international Schools also brought gifts for the other Schools: publications that had been finished, translations (London, Cyprus), calligraphy (Melbourne), a photo (Sydney), a 2026 calendar (Brisbane) etc. So on the first evening all these gifts were exchanged to everyone’s delight. This photo captured some of the items, each of which is the product of careful work.

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School Leaders Conference: Daily programme

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Each day included an extended period for reflection and study.

Lovely gardens at Waterperry – a beautiful place to experience calm. Sometimes you don’t really stop until you take off your shoes!

The daily programme also included periods of work; cleaning, catering, logging, gardening, sewing, polishing etc. Gathering for work assignments.

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Two of the School leaders wrote after the event: “We fondly think back of the Satsanga week 2025 at Waterperry and would like to thank you for your love and effort to make it all possible.  It’s a wonderful feeling to be united with people all over the  world.  And we feel encouraged to continue the beautiful work of the School with enthusiasm. Many thanks”, (Belgium)

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School Leaders Conference: the Amazing Service Team

We hired in a cameraman to film some statements from the team about their experience of service on the week.

Others wrote about their experience: “I am very grateful … for all the blessings we all received from this beautiful and well-organized event.  The gifts I received were many and precious!  It was a most profound experience in my spiritual journey …I am delighted meeting you and Mrs Lambie and all the Leaders and the people in the service group.  The greatest spirits and human beings. I appreciate every single moment.  This week is written in the heart of my heart.  Always grateful!”

“It was the best team spirit I have ever experienced.” Perth, Australia

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“Work is love made visible.  It was wonderful to see the Self shine out from everyone.  It will inspire me always.  Love, Samantha”, Canada

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“I came as a stranger. I am leaving in unity with All and life-long new friends”, Ireland

Photo credits: Oxford Atelier, Anthony Renshaw and many others

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Johan and Claudia are both physicists, working in the field of research in quantum computing.  They met as students at university and got married later.  Both attend the School in Pretoria.  Read on to hear about this exciting area of physics, where this year the motto is “100 years of quantum is just the beginning” in celebration of the United Nations having declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

Quantum Computing: Where Physics Meets Philosophy

Claudia and Johan van Rensburg, Pretoria, South Africa

What drew you both to physics research?

Claudia: From a young age both Johan and I have been curious about how the physical world works. To his mother’s astonishment Johan was able to (mostly) reassemble things he took apart in order to figure out how they worked and sometimes even improve them. Becoming an experimental physicist was no surprise. In my case I tried to get hold of as much information on how the universe works as was possible. I also really enjoyed mathematics, so becoming a theoretical physicist followed naturally.

From 2000 we studied together at the University of Pretoria after which we were both fortunate in getting lecturing positions there. I had completed my PhD but Johan was still busy with his. I joined the Philosophy School in 2008 and after we were married Johan joined too.

Do you have a common research interest?

Johan: Our common interest is quantum physics, in particular quantum computers. 

Just as the space race in the 1960’s was driven by the desire to prove technological superiority (with the ultimate goal of landing on the Moon), the quantum race is driven by the desire to achieve cutting-edge technological breakthroughs. The nation that achieves a “quantum advantage” — where quantum computers can outperform classical systems in real-world applications — will be seen as leading the way in one of the most transformative fields of the 21st century.

Today, nations want to be seen as global leaders in science and technology. This enhances their national prestige and influence on the world stage.

Just as the space race had military applications (e.g. missile guidance systems, satellite technology), the quantum race also has significant implications for national security. Quantum technologies could lead to new ways to break encryption, harness quantum communication networks, or even create unbreakable encryption systems. The ability to safeguard sensitive data and outpace adversaries in cybersecurity is a key reason why quantum research is seen as a matter of national security. Countries that control quantum technology could dominate cybersecurity, supply chains, and international trade.

The first nation to achieve meaningful breakthroughs in quantum computing, communication, and related fields will gain a strategic advantage on many fronts — from scientific leadership to economic and military power. Just like the space race, the quantum race is not just about technological superiority but also about shaping the future in profound ways, with the potential to change industries and redefine global power structures.

Can you explain something about quantum theory?

Quantum theory applies to the microscopic realm and is different to our normal macroscopic world where we live and perceive things.

All quantum technologies exploit specific quantum mechanical properties, a fundamental one being superposition of different states. The famous Schrödinger’s cat* thought experiment tries to illustrate how counterintuitive this is to our usual experience and understanding of the world. Superposition leads to a phenomenon called entanglement. Entangled states are a crucial resource for many quantum applications. Einstein himself struggled with the implications of entanglement, thinking that the theory of quantum mechanics was not complete.

Superposition (in the simplest terms):

Imagine you’re flipping a coin. When you flip it, it can be either heads or tails when it lands. This is like how regular (classical) objects work — they are in one state or the other.

Now, imagine that instead of just flipping the coin, you could have the coin both heads and tails at the same time while it’s in the air. You can’t actually see both at once, but the coin exists in a kind of “both-heads-and-tails” state while it’s still spinning in the air. It’s only when it lands that it “chooses” one of the two possibilities (heads or tails).

Quantum Superposition:

In quantum mechanics, particles like electrons or photons can do something like this, but on a much smaller scale. These particles can exist in multiple states at the same time—sort of like the coin spinning in the air, being in both heads and tails, until it’s measured or observed.

For example, a quantum bit, or “qubit” (the basic unit of information in quantum computing), doesn’t just represent a 0 or a 1 like a regular bit in a computer. Instead, it can represent both 0 and 1 at the same time with variable probability, thanks to superposition. Only when you measure it do you “force” it to pick one of those values, just like the coin when it lands.

Why is this important?

Superposition allows quantum computers to process many possibilities simultaneously, which can make them extremely powerful for certain kinds of problems. Instead of just trying one path at a time, quantum computers can explore many paths at once — just like how the spinning coin can be both heads and tails before it lands.

Entanglement (in the simplest terms):

Imagine you have two magic dice. These aren’t ordinary dice — they have a special property. When you roll them, no matter how far apart they are, they always land on the same number. If one die shows a 4, the other will show a 4 too. If one shows a 1, the other shows a 1. This happens instantly, even if the dice are on opposite sides of the world.

At first, this might seem impossible. After all, how could they “communicate” with each other that quickly? But that’s what makes these dice “entangled”.

Now, imagine that you roll one die, and it lands on 4. Even though you haven’t rolled the second die yet, you already know it will also land on 4 — even if the second die is thousands of miles away.

Quantum Entanglement:

In the quantum world, particles can become entangled in a similar way. When two particles are entangled, their properties (like their spin or polarization) are linked, no matter how far apart they are, provided they do not get disturbed in any way. So, if you measure one particle’s property, you instantly know the property of the other particle, even if it’s light-years away. 

For example, if you have two entangled particles, one might be spinning “up” and the other “down”. Once you measure one particle and find that it’s spinning “up”, you immediately know the other particle must be spinning “down”, even if you measure it on the other side of the universe.

Why is this special?

Entanglement seems strange because it challenges our everyday understanding of how things should work. Normally, objects need to be close together to “communicate” or influence each other. But with entanglement, particles can affect each other instantly, even across huge distances, without anything traveling between them. This phenomenon has been called “spooky action at a distance” by Albert Einstein, but it has been shown that it does not violate special relativity, which says that information cannot travel faster than the speed of light.

Is there a philosophical aspect to quantum physics?

Claudia: My interest has always been the foundations of quantum physics, trying to understand what it really is, especially entanglement. The interpretation of the theory remains an open question for more than a hundred years. Quantum mechanics also challenges our understanding on ideas such as what is the role of an observer, what is the nature of time and even what is the nature of consciousness, so it is an area where Philosophy and Physics meet.

What has personally intrigued me are the descriptions of space, time, matter and even essentially the early universe in scriptures such as the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Mahabharata and the Upanishads.

Johan: Despite the open questions, we know that the theory of quantum mechanics works superbly well, so my interest is in the practical applications of quantum physics including the software side of quantum computers and experimentally for instance creating quantum dots with a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) machine with which one can grow single atomic layers at a time on a substrate. With this technique very interesting devices can be created that exhibit a range of quantum phenomena that otherwise do not exist in nature.

What is quantum computing and what are the possible applications for this in future?

Johan: Quantum computers operate on fundamentally different principles. They rely on quantum bits (qubits), which can exist in multiple states simultaneously (superposition), and they use quantum entanglement for processing. These properties enable quantum computers to solve certain types of mathematical problems faster, but they also require entirely new ways of thinking about computation. Although a lot of progress has been made, current quantum computers are still large, very complex systems, requiring very special laboratories and facilities for them to function.

Quantum computers could for instance simulate complex biological systems at the molecular level, thus greatly facilitating the development of new therapeutic drugs. A lot of research is going on worldwide both on the hardware and software side. In theory, quantum computers would be able to solve complex mathematical models exponentially faster than the best possible classical supercomputers.

Unfortunately, in practice these entangled states are very susceptible to any environmental influences, which makes the hardware development extremely difficult and expensive. Access to quantum computers would remain via traditional computer networks and they would only be used to solve problems where classical computers would take up to billions of years. Current quantum computers are not yet able to be applied to any real-life problems such as climate or in the medical sciences, but the race is on.

Claudia: There are, however, a number of other quantum technologies which are already being successfully applied in medicine and secure communication. Quantum cryptography is a flourishing field, whether it’s via fibre or satellite communication. Here the fact that entangled states are so fragile is actually being used to ensure that sender and receiver of a quantum key will necessarily know if there has been eavesdropping, thus allowing them to decide whether the key is safe to use for encoding normal classical information. If eavesdropping did occur, the key is discarded and a new key is sent. One very promising medical application is quantum-based brain scanning, both for early detection of neurological problems and for offering insights into those conditions which have previously been difficult to study using conventional scanning.

Any weird ideas to dispel?

Johan: Some misconceptions that exist is that quantum computers will replace classical computers completely and that it will also be able to solve all the problems that classical computers cannot do. There is also no foreseeable future where you will have a quantum computer in your home as was the case with the advent of personal computers in the late 70’s!

Claudia: Quantum mechanics is just a theory, although one of the most successful and well-tested theories in science. It has been experimentally validated for over a century, and its predictions are accurate to an extraordinary degree. Technologies like semiconductors, lasers, and MRI machines rely on principles from quantum mechanics. The double-slit experiment, quantum tunnelling, and quantum entanglement have all been experimentally observed and verified. The theory is highly reliable in explaining and predicting the behaviour of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels.

There is also the myth that quantum mechanics provides a complete explanation for everything in the universe. While in reality, quantum mechanics provides a fundamental description of the behaviour of matter and energy at the microscopic scale, it does not explain everything. For instance, quantum mechanics does not provide answers to larger-scale phenomena like gravity (which is described by general relativity). The search for a unified theory that combines quantum mechanics and general relativity is still ongoing (known as the theory of everything).

How has philosophy influenced your work?  

Johan: Patience and creativity for research experiments, paying attention to fine detail and having an open mind to new ideas. In terms of lecturing and supervision of students, communicating effectively with undergraduate and postgraduate students from a variety of backgrounds, making students feel at ease and heard, and giving general guidance.

Claudia: In terms of teaching, trying to apply the Socratic method, guiding students to answer their own questions and trying to teach them to ask themselves those questions. For quite a few years, I have been interested in physics and the mind, however, the Philosophy School has given me insight that consciousness cannot be explained by physics as we know it. 

Anything else readers would like to hear about?

The official website of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology is: https://quantum2025.org/

There is a very nice book called “How to Teach Quantum Mechanics to your Dog” by Chad Orzel, our Scottish Terrier has enjoyed us reading it to him as it doesn’t involve equations!

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (online) is a comprehensive resource with all their articles listed under Quantum Mechanics and then under Quantum Theory. These have long bibliographies, mainly of philosophy journal articles.

* Schrödinger’s Cat is a famous thought experiment in quantum mechanics that illustrates the concept of superposition. In the experiment, a cat is placed in a sealed box with a device that has a 50% chance of killing the cat. Until the box is opened and the cat is observed, it is said to be in a superposition of states, meaning it is both alive and dead at the same time. 

Try watching a short video to summarise this article:

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Waterperry House, the School’s retreat centre in the South of England, is familiar to many members of the School all over the world. David has been its Bursar for nearly two decades and has overseen many developments in that time. Here he writes about one of them. 

Let’s Get Some Druids in!

David Hockley, London/ Waterperry

It was about 2013, and Simon Buchanan had just arrived at Waterperry House and Gardens, newly appointed as Steward. We were in our weekly meeting – me as Bursar, the action man for the house – and he with overall responsibility for the estate. We were talking about the Yew Henge, a garden feature planted about eight years earlier in yew and box. This is a replica two thirds the size of the original Stonehenge, a site of druid practices. 

Being early June, mid-summer was just around the corner. I mentioned that I’d seen a circle of druids all in white gowns celebrating the Summer Solstice in the 1970’s. And Simon suggested: ‘Let’s get some druids in!’

I phoned around and found someone with a Summer Solstice text prepared by a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates (people in second stage in the druid training focussing on the nourishing and healing aspect of herbs and trees) and Druids. I printed out a few copies and asked residents on the estate to gather at dawn on the 21^st. A motley bunch paraded down to the Henge, not in white but earthy greens and browns, staffs in hand looking for the direction of the rising sun.  A sacred circle was cast, Awens chanted (sacred syllable invoking supreme spirit), the four directions acknowledged, respectfully asking the spirits of the season to bless our ceremony. 

I was hooked.

This resonated with my Quaker background. Not sitting in silence and waiting to be moved by the Holy Spirit. But instead, the sanctifying of all life with respect for people and creatures on the planet; peace and love for all.

By the power of star and stone!

By the power of the land within and without! 

By all that is fair and free, we welcome you to our rite of Alban Hefin.

Encouraged by our success of the Summer Solstice, we celebrated the Winter Solstice, then added two equinoxes (midpoint between the Solstices). I had no direct connection with the source of the ritual texts and struggled to contact the mysterious author. I coaxed copies of previous years texts from a member of a druidic grove (a group of druids), and eventually added the final four festivals – start of spring, May day, corn harvest and Halloween all reflecting their own character and significance at their own time of the year. 

This … is sacred space. 

This … is sacred time.  

Let all disturbing thoughts and energies be set aside. 

Druidry seems to be a loose term for the study and practice of unity with everything, particularly the natural world as we know it on earth and all the unseen powers which affect us. Indigenous peoples around the world have similar ideas and although no ancient written texts have survived in druidry there are recent (last thousand years) myths and legends from Ireland and Wales which provide a wealth of material on the subject. This is our own ancient tradition, religion for the religious, and our own slice of existence in the forever.

Ancestors and kindred, all, of Earth, Air and Water. 

You, whose breath we now breathe…

After a few years of carrying out the rituals I had a load of questions. The language of Irish and Welsh terms was new to me. What was the authority of these rituals? Why was I finding them so special, significant, interesting? My questions finally found a sympathetic ear, but all I got was – ‘Do the training.’ Not to be entered into lightly. It would mean many years of practising connecting with the elements, tree lore, the value and message from plants, astrology, rituals, meditations, incantations. However, …

Welcome Great Spirit. 

May Your free-flowing Spirit move around us, drawing together all the threads of our weave.

It was lockdown and I had a bit of time to settle in to ‘The Training- Bardic Grade.’ I chose to hear the material rather than read it and enjoyed the four-part approach. Part one – aphorisms for reflection; Part two – history, myths, the elements, legends; Part three – practical exercises for the week; and Part four – eisteddfod (poetry or song).

Tradition has it that this bardic section of the training might take twenty years or more. Hundreds of stories and songs had to be learned by heart. 

Breathe … Slowly… Deeply.  

Feel the earth beneath your feet.

Hear the breeze dance through the trees and caress your skin.

The second grade is the Ovate grade getting close to trees and creatures. Spending time communing, listening, respecting the living bodies as they follow the natural annual cycle of growth, flourishment, withdrawal and rest. I had always been an outdoors sort of guy, but this awakened a much deeper connection and appreciation. To ask a tree if, in humility, you can approach its space, to awaken to its story, to be nourished by what it can reveal. Wondrous stuff indeed.

We know that the elements are hugely significant, gods in the Vedic tradition, but spending time reflecting on one in turn was a delight. One exercise was to write about the aspects of fire, the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of this mighty force. Wonderful.

Today the sun is high, the light is bright, and the earth is warm. As the Lord of the Sun blazes above, the fire of our celebration shall flame below.

I have taken people of stature in the druid tradition to Yew Henge. They have confirmed the power, energy and strength of the site. 

As I proceed with the practices, I become humbled by the scale of the task. Slow and steady. I return to past exercises, dwell deeply on present exercises, avoiding any concern for results.

Sacred Solstice Healing Fire,  

Lift our Spirits, Take us Higher! 

Circle Spirit, Spiral Light, 

Bless us with Your Sacred Light!

Now all are welcome and ten to fifteen regularly attend. We see people from Waterperry village who have become interested in the festivals. Someone recently said, ‘I’ve been looking for this for years. So pleased to be a part of this.’ People ask to attend if they are training and searching for a group that celebrates the festivals.

We invited members of the School to a special gathering last Winter Solstice. They enjoyed talks about sacred sites, ley lines, druidry today and the cycle of festivals. Early morning is best for the spring and summer festivals and early evening for the autumn and winter events. This allows the privacy we value as the garden and Yew Henge are quiet at those times. We take it in turns to lead the rituals and several from our community are starting to train in the tradition.

Blood-kin, Soul-kin,

Guardians and guides,

We thank you for your presence, in this, our rite of Alban Hefin.

Initially in training I was keen to discover any similarities with the Vedic tradition. So when I heard there are only four elements, I challenged my druid tutor. I learned that the element ether is firmly included as the centre of the other four. As part of my course, I have written an article on the circle of nine points – the creation from unity to manifestation. I now see my work with druidry as informing, extending and nourishing my work with Indian and Sanskrit teachings.

Attending an early morning or evening festival has its difficulties. Everyone has other commitments but the loyal support in the preparation, management as well as catering for the feasts that follow is testament to their commitment and appreciation of the events. 

The henge has become a significant, asset to the members. I have been to druid events where a back garden is the best site available, but we have a magnificent, imposing, sacred place to hold our festivals… boy, are we lucky.

Deep, within the stillness of our being, may we find peace. 

Silently, within the sacred gathering, may we share peace.

Gently, within the circle of all kind, may we radiate peace.

Thank you, Simon. Your suggestion has made my life fuller, richer and far more interesting; along with the lives of a growing number of people in the area.

Photo shows Stonehenge. Yew Henge at Waterperry is a working model adjusted for position, and two thirds of the size of Stonehenge in living yew and box hedge.

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Ben is an architect. His interest in philosophy and yoga led him to explore Vaastu architecture. What could Vaastu architecture offer, in addition to his western training? Read on to hear some of his discoveries.

Another Architecture – Vaastu architecture

Ben Farugia, Malta

As a practising architect, what drew you to explore Vaastu architecture?

I found it fascinating to see that Vaastu architecture looks beyond the design of physical buildings to understand the impact of the built environment on the lives and experiences of its inhabitants.

As Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” Vaastu architecture embodies this truth, recognizing that spaces, when designed in harmony with natural principles, can enhance life on many levels.

So what is Vaastu architecture?

Vaastu architecture is a time-honoured and holistic system of architecture which is founded on a unique science called Sthapatya Veda. It was discovered by the ancient Tamil scientist, poet, linguist and architect, Mamuni Mayan (date disputed, but say at least 500 BCE as can be dated from archaeological evidence and literature from that period.) 

Sthapatya Veda describes the orderly manifestation of energy and matter through rhythm and form. Mayan further developed this science and applied it across the fivefold Tamil art forms: poetry, music, dance, sculpture and architecture which all share a common “grammar” based on rhythmic order. This rhythmic order is measured in time through the actions like the beat of a dancers foot, the clap of a musician’s hand, or metre in poetry. In architecture, this same rhythmic order is applied as proportionate measurement and spatial arrangements. This is why the traditional sculptures and buildings are proudly termed frozen music or musical forms. 

The building grammar and design principles that have been codified in the ancient texts used to create harmonious architectural forms is known as Vaastu architecture. 

Its principles are not only limited to temple architecture but also have their application in residential design and town planning to name but a few. 

What Are the Characteristics of Vaastu architecture?

Vaastu architecture deeply understood the interconnectedness between individuals, their living spaces and the environment, creating a harmony between the outer space, the built space and the inner space of the in-dweller. 

There are three core principles outlined in the Vaastu architecture which define a well-designed building. These are functionality (comfort), aesthetics (beauty) and spiritual ambiance.   

As a western trained architect, functionality and aesthetics were not new concepts, however spiritual ambiance took me by surprise. I felt as if I discovered something timeless and sacred, a design process curated by nature herself. 

This design process is built on four key practices: site selection, building orientation, mathematical calculations and building design principles. The result of following this process is buildings which foster qualities of balance, well-being, and a sense of tranquility.

Site Selection

Vaastu architecture views the relationship between the land and building much like the relationship between soil and seed. Good soil ensures and promotes healthy life on earth. Similarly, Vaastu architecture places importance on the selection of a building site and prescribes a series of site tests to determine whether it is suitable for human habitation. 

Some considerations include the five types of terrain, contours, five qualities of soil, the depth and flow of water, vegetation, flora and fauna, shape of plot and location of site. 

Building Orientation

Vaastu architectural tradition sees the earth as a living organism, a manifest form (Vaastu) that emits energy (Vastu) from within. These energy waves form a grid on the earth’s surface, similar to latitudes and longitudes. From this, the directional lines are conduits of energy. This grid is very meaningful and significant in the context of building orientation. 

The building is an instrument which channels and orders this energy, like a radio tuning into a frequency of a local station. If the frequency is not exact, then the sound isn’t clear. When buildings are aligned with respect to the cardinal directions, it establishes a spatial harmony between the building and the earth, and therefore the people who live in them. Here the cardinal directions means true north, true south etc, not magnetic north, south, east and west.

Mathematical Calculations

In Vaastu architecture, both buildings and human beings are seen as material forms with energy vibrating from within. Each vibrates in a particular way and Vaastu technology, with aid of mathematical calculations, aligns the building’s vibration with that of its inhabitants, creating harmony. We can achieve this through precise spatial measurements and proportional layouts, creating an environment that radiates energy from within and resonates with those who occupy it. This phenomenon is responsible for the spiritual ambience component of Vaastu architecture. 

Building Design Principles of Vaastu architecture

When a building encloses the free space according to the principles of Vaastu architecture, it becomes a vibrant, energetic form full of qualities. 

The traditional grid pattern and a system of precise proportionate measure serve as an architectural grammar for designing a building. This grid structure is not arbitrary but is based on an understanding of the structure of a particle of energy and how energy flows within it. When building elements such as doors, windows, and walls are positioned within this grid it creates a harmonious, vibrant and balanced energy within the built space. 

What Are the Benefits of Vaastu architecture?

The aim of Vaastu architecture is to create spaces that are in harmony with both the physical and subtle forces of nature, resulting in a vibrant, energetic environment. When a building follows Vaastu principles, it produces what’s known as the Vaastu Effect. It’s a balanced, peaceful space that supports well-being, vitality, health, and prosperity for its occupants. This establishes a harmony between the earth and the building, then between the building and its occupants.

How can Vaastu architecture enhance life compared with 21st century architecture?

Vaastu views space differently from contemporary architecture. Rather than seeing empty space, Vaastu regards space as a source of energy that sustains life. By designing spaces that are in harmony with this energy, Vaastu architecture promotes lasting well-being. 

For example, Vastu considers irregularly shaped spaces as disrupting energy flow. Stable shapes like squares or rectangles encourage tranquillity and balance. This concept of spiritual ambience and spatial harmony within Vaastu provides benefits that 21^st century architectural methods may overlook. 

By integrating Vaastu principles into modern contemporary design, architects can create spaces that feel balanced and supportive for occupants thus enhancing overall well-being for those who live and work in such spaces.

“The free space is the unified field of energy and matter and source of all forms that we see in the material world” – Mamuni Mayan  

How can we apply Vaastu architecture, given constraints on finances, time, and site size?

We can apply Vaastu principles to a range of building scales and budgets. A project does not need to be large or expensive to benefit from the concepts of Vaastu design. Thoughtful consideration of key elements, such as site selection, orientation, mathematics and proportionate measure, can be implemented on a smaller or more economical scale. So we can design a small studio, art room, or yoga space following Vaastu principles on a limited budget.

The availability of a suitable site in today’s densely built-up modern cities can be more challenging. That’s firstly due to orientation of the existing urban grid, and secondly due the size and shape of building plots. In the Vaastu texts related to urban planning, the principles for the layout of towns and villages take all these factors into consideration. Nonetheless, there are still specific design principles for smaller urban plots. 

However, a more practical alternative is to locate a Vaastu building on the outskirts and peripheral areas. Here land may be more readily available. Here buildings or groups of buildings can be holistically designed according to the principles of Vaastu architecture. 

Where will you take this new-found knowledge of Vaastu architecture?

I designed a number of buildings during my Vaastu architecture course. These include residential buildings (single family homes) and also commercial buildings (yoga centre, health centre and retreat house). However these were projects for the course and have not been constructed.  

Vaastu architecture offers the opportunity to create something timeless and unique, a marvel which can be benefited for many generations. 

My vision for Vaastu architecture is to bring this experience back into the architecture of our homes.

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From an early interest in maps, Martin developed a career creating maps for industry, publishing and elsewhere.  How do cartographers approach their work?  Do they see the world as a map?  Read on to hear more about this fascinating aspect of design. Martin is a senior philosophy student in London and runs the School’s branch in South East London.

A life in Maps

Martin Lubikowski, London

Early interest

It began one Christmas before I was 10 years old when my father presented me with an atlas. I was fascinated by the maps and what they represented. Around the same time I found a free ‘treasure island’ map in a box of breakfast cereal which only furthered my interest!

In my teens, I would sit at the back of the class, drawing maps and diagrams of battle scenes in my exercise book. One teacher eventually caught me and called me ‘a wicked boy’ but now I earn my living doing just that!

I loved being outside in nature and spent a lot of time cycling with my friends around the south of England, all guided by Ordnance Survey maps. An inspirational geography teacher unlocked the door to my future career and I went on to study for a Diploma in Geographical Techniques. It was one of only two courses in the country at the time that focused on the creation of maps. 

Working in Maps

I eventually became a cartographer with BP (British Petroleum) in the City of London. For 5 years I worked with a team creating maps for their geologists and geophysicists. They needed maps to locate prospects around the world where the company could drill for oil and gas.

During that time, having just married and needing a home, I looked for ways to supplement my income. I figured that the easiest source of freelance work was the publishing industry. I spent many lunch hours racing to meet with various London publishers carrying a heavy portfolio of my work. Soon I began to get commissions for individual maps for books.

The day came to take the plunge and I resigned from BP to go freelance. After Friday lunchtime farewell drinks, I went home and worked through the weekend to deliver a deadline on the Monday morning. And that was the beginning of my new way of life.

Maps for publishing

The venture was both exciting and challenging. It was 1983 and all the work was done with pen and ink. It was only after the late 1980s that computers took over. My office was a spare bedroom and our young children played around me as I created the artworks. Once I became more established I took offices in London and employed one or two additional people. The business grew and we were able to take on more significant projects. 

An interesting one came recently from a publisher contracted to create a book outlining the history of Saudi Arabia. It was to be presented to the King at the opening of a national heritage centre at Diriyah. This was the old capital on the outskirts of the new one, Riyadh. The ruined, mudbrick, old city had been redeveloped with museums and visitor facilities. So they needed maps and diagrams within a tight deadline which necessitated my being on site for six weeks.

How do you start work in creating maps?

Initially it’s a matter of asking questions and making decisions. What map reference do I need, what detail do I need, where can I acquire the source map data and is it copyrighted? Will the client supply the data to be mapped or do I need to do the research myself? Is the map for a book, a poster, an exhibition panel? Will it be printed or displayed online? Do I create a unique design for the map or must I follow an in-house style? 

Then it’s about adding the creative eye.  Most publishing work for fiction and non-fiction requires black and white artwork. This has to be clear and uncluttered with careful use of tints, line weights and typography. More glossy books use colour in their mapping which gives more scope to be creative. Some projects require a more decorative approach with line illustrations of key features and decorative map borders. Others are more atlas-like so require a less elaborate approach with emphasis on the pure geographical information.  When an illustration goes across pages, I create the artwork so that important information isn’t lost in the gutter.  

I make full use of Wikipedia and Google maps as reference sources to locate places. But all of my map artwork is created from scratch. Every map is different and every map needs a unique approach.

What else is involved in creating the maps you do?

Listening! A map is an interpretation of complex information. Most of my work is customised to carry a specific message determined by the client. My job is to understand it, then design the map, diagram or information panel so as to clearly carry that message. 

One of the marketing lines I use is ‘complex information made simple’. For this to work in mapping, there has to be an understanding of how best to portray hierarchies of information. I need to make decisions on what is most important ie which elements must catch the eye first. Then the secondary information will be less visually prominent but nevertheless gives context. I have to make judgement as to what to exclude. Some authors intentionally omit certain features to give emphasis to the things they want to show, thereby highlighting their message. Maps from the Soviet Union, for example, do not always show churches, due to the atheist regime.

Who are your clients?

Requests for maps come from all over the world and mostly from people I’ve never met. So the majority come from book publishers. But often I work for museums, government departments, universities and heritage bodies, etc..

What maps have you created?

One map that stands out in my memory was the floor plans of the UK Foreign Office. (I had to sign the Official Secrets Act for that one!).  I’ve also done maps in novels by John Le Carré, Alistair MacLean and Jeffery Archer to name but a few.  There was also a map plus signage graphics for the Hadrian’s Wall heritage area in the north of England; exhibition maps for the V&A Museum in London and a map for signage on the Barbican Estate in the City of London.

How has your work in the School influenced your mapping work?

When I first started as a professional cartographer I used to feel my work in maps was less glamorous than that of other graphic designers. The wisdom in the teaching and the group discussions helped me see that creating maps was a skill I had been given – and I should give myself fully to perfecting it. 

Acceptance and trust in that has seen me through some difficult times. When depression has hit other sectors of the graphic design industry, often my work has kept flowing. 

Being true to the commission means working to the highest possible standard and not accepting second best. The ability to listen and truly hear what the client wants is a real strength and in itself attracts people. Listening to what is there and not to what I think is there is the skill and is most valuable.

The work in School has helped in overcoming the limitations which might hamper that process. Limitations such as cutting corners, and not giving full attention come from a mechanical and habitual way of working. So the discipline we learn in the School guides us to be present and give fully of our talents. This gives life meaning and is much more satisfying.

What aspect of maps do you love most?

Maps tell a story. They tell a story of the geography and history of a place. This can lead to a greater understanding of present events. The perspective of history and geography can give us breadth of vision; it can give detachment. And it helps us avoid being caught up in the doom and gloom so prevalent today.  

Do you have a favourite map? 

If I had to pick one map I would select M. Minard’s map of Napoleon’s march on Moscow as being a brilliant example of how a map or graphic can illustrate a complex subject in a very direct way without the need for many words.

One last word – I remember Leon MacLaren, (founder of the School) saying to me, ‘One day you’ll draw maps of heaven!’  So I’m sure that the commission will come one day.

Are you looking at a map? See if there’s a credit to ML Design!

See more of Martin’s work on Facebook.

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Michael is an architect, working in New Zealand, where buildings can be subject to sudden earthquakes.  How do you create structures that will withstand abrupt lateral and vertical movements?  And how do you strengthen existing buildings to preserve life in the event of a big quake? What about the School’s building? Read on to understand more about these challenges; this is necessarily quite a technical article. Michael is a senior student in Wellington, shown here in front of the School building in Wellington.

Designing for Earthquakes

Michael Davis, Wellington

New Zealand is located on what is known as the Pacific Ring of Fire – a string of volcanoes and areas of earthquake activity around the edges of that ocean caused by the junction of two tectonic plates. This has produced some dramatic scenery like our Southern Alps, but also active volcanoes and geothermal areas. In addition there are thousands of earthquakes every year in New Zealand, of which an average of 250 are felt in some part of the country.

When is the big earthquake?

Despite growing up in Wellington I’m still uncomfortable when there’s a detectable earthquake, asking myself: ‘Will this be the big one?’ Some quakes are short and sharp; others are gentle with prolonged swaying. Often preceded by a low rumbling as they approach, they usually go sideways but sometimes up and down. Although I’ve not experienced it, they can be large enough to knock you off your feet. Their power can cause major structural damage, landslides, liquefaction where shaken water causes the loss of soil strength, or even cause tsunamis. 

Wellington – HQ for earthquakes!

Wellington is something of the earthquake headquarters of New Zealand because it is located over a number of fault lines. Some are in evidence as large visible steps in the ground while others are yet to be discovered. Seismologists and geotechnical engineers have worked hard to assess the hazards and forces our buildings will be subject to for timescales up to 2500 years. The longer the period, the greater the likelihood of a large event. In Wellington, this could easily shift the ground a metre or more, in less than a second.

Training as an architect I learned the basics of good seismic design and various techniques to achieve it. But I must acknowledge that structural engineers have the detailed understanding. Whilst working in the UK for a time, it was shock to see how slender the structural members were in buildings. Typically UK buildings only have to deal with the loads imposed by gravity and strong winds. The lateral forces that we have to consider in Wellington can be as high as 1g or more – in other words – applying the force of gravity sideways on the building. 

How do houses perform in earthquakes?

Much of New Zealand’s housing stock consists of lightweight timber framed houses.  They perform quite well in earthquakes by swaying from side to side and in the process absorbing the imposed forces. For small earthquakes, damage is usually nil or limited to some cracked plaster. A vase or ornament might be slid sideways or knocked over. A slightly larger earthquake might knock over shelving or a TV.  Encouraged by a government campaign a few years ago, many households make sure their ornaments are adhesive-fixed to the shelves. The shelves themselves are screw-fixed back to the walls. Larger earthquakes can topple an unreinforced brick chimney, dislodge a brick cladding, or push a house off its foundations . The worst situation for houses is when they are impacted by a major landslip caused by the quake.

Lessons from the Christchurch earthquake

The approach to designing buildings (large and small) to withstand earthquakes in New Zealand has always been focused on life safety. Our building code sets out requirements to ensure that a building remains standing in a large event and that people can exit the building safely. This was well demonstrated in an earthquake centred on Christchurch city in 2011. This was part of a series of earthquakes in the Canterbury region, leading to the loss of 185 lives – 115 of which were due to the unexpected collapse of a single 1980s building.

Many modern buildings remained standing but with irreparable damage. Their demolition imposed significant cost but we learnt valuable lessons about how the design of ceilings, services and exit stairs had impacted on the egress paths of those trying to leave these buildings. 

Engineers from around the world visited Christchurch to see first-hand how buildings performed. The sharing of seismic knowledge continues, within both academia and engineering practices across the globe. 

What can we do to mitigate the effects of earthquakes?

I have worked on several projects that demonstrate a range of approaches to earthquake-resistant design. These range from simple approaches involving cross-bracing and stiff concrete shear walls to more sophisticated technologies.

In 2010 I worked on a project which included the strengthening of an 18-storey 1960s building. Massive shock absorbers called viscous dampers were added to dampen the impact of an earthquake. This is similar to the function of shock absorbers on a motor vehicle.

More recently I led a project for a major addition to New Zealand’s first ‘base isolated’ building. Base isolators are a technology developed in New Zealand whereby the building is placed on top of a series of rubber bearings (isolators) which incorporate a core of lead. When the ground moves, the lead absorbs the energy and turns to liquid while the rubber moves from side to side isolating the building from the earthquake’s movement. The building consequently moves a lot less than it might otherwise have done.

What is the situation for School’s building?

The Wellington School of Philosophy is based in Philosophy House in an area known as the Aro Valley. Originally built for the Salvation Army in 1913-14, the School bought this magnificent building in 1982. In 2011 it was identified as being ‘earthquake prone’ by the City Council and is required to display a ‘yellow sticker’. This identifies the building as meeting less than 34% of the New Building Standard (NBS). Therefore it must be strengthened (or demolished) within a certain timeframe.

In 2016, we commissioned a structural engineer to carry out a detailed seismic assessment to better understand the building’s seismic performance. Then the School embarked on a programme to strengthen the building to 67% of NBS.

While the land has good ground conditions, the unreinforced brickwork of the building could perform poorly in a large earthquake. Technologies like base isolators could be adopted but the costs to retrofit these would be extremely high.  So the approach has been to remove, strengthen or restrain the existing brick walls, and to create what is called a structural diaphragm in the roof.

Strengthening of brick walls against earthquakes

One way to restrain an unreinforced brickwork wall to prevent it toppling over in an earthquake is to build a new steel or timber framed wall next to it. Then we tie that to the bricks as shown in the photograph.  The steel members are then covered up with lightweight timber framing and plasterboard.  The skirtings and cornices are then reinstated so the strengthening is reasonably discreet.

Preventing the brick parapets from toppling is particularly important for main building exits. The photograph shows how steel members are used to restrain the parapet that sits above the front door.

Creating a diaphragm at roof level

Imagine that you have a cardboard box in the shape of a cube with an open top. Without a top, the sides of the box can be moved around quite easily when you push on them. It’s the same for a building when it is subjected to the sideways forces of an earthquake. If you tape a lid on the box, made from stiff card and cut to the same size, the box becomes strong and not easily distorted. That piece of stiff cardboard is known as a structural diaphragm – something that is strong in its own plane.

In the case of Philosophy House the diaphragm is concealed in the roof space. It’s made of braced steel members. These members are attached to the perimeter and some interior walls to stiffen up the building. They make it resist the horizontal forces of an earthquake much better.

How has practical philosophy influenced your work?

The teaching of the School of Philosophy has helped in many ways, but three main areas stand out.

Calmness – people I work with often comment on my calmness in stressful circumstances. This can range from difficult team dynamics to unexpected changes or cancellations to projects. I think meditation is a key reason for this calmness.

Patience – I am currently leading a project that commenced in 2015 and won’t be completed until late 2027. I maintain my enthusiasm and passion for this large, complex and protracted project by bringing to mind some of the teachings about work – in particular that the work is more important than my thoughts about it.

Problem solving through questioning – I often use a dialectic approach to seek out the ‘truth’ of a situation. This can range from trying to get a deeper understanding of a user’s requirements for a project, to working with a consultant to come up with ideas to solve a technical issue. 

And finally,

Architecture is an extraordinarily satisfying career. There are always so many challenges and no two projects are ever remotely the same, so I never tire of the problem solving element. It is also a great expression of the values and technologies of the time of construction. Ultimately though it is about the way that the built environment can support and enrich people’s day-to-day lives.

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Gabriella, right.

Covid drastically changed Gabriella’s plans to make a film in India. So she seized a different opportunity. But it unfolded in a much deeper way than expected, into a Sanskrit pilgrimage. Read how the 6-part series developed and how the process changed Gabriella.  She has been part of the School since childhood.

Sanskrit Pilgrimage

Gabriella Burnel, London

What made you embark on the Sanskrit Pilgrimage?  

For a while had been thinking of going to India to make a film series about Sanskrit, from the origins of its sounds, to the practices that are imbued with it today. To begin with I had a flight booked to Nepal to study Sama Veda and research this more in depth. The very day that flight was booked, the world went into lockdown. I had the choice, fly to Nepal and stay for an indefinite amount of time, or stay here in England.

I chose the latter. About one year later, Piloo, who had been attending regularly the chant and chill sessions I had been running either online or in person, was giving me a lift back home, along with Jon who had also been in attendance. We were discussing all things Sanskrit and whether there were connections on these isles, as well as the great sanctity and ancient spiritual practices here where we live. The idea was born to make a film series here on these isles! 

How long did it take to make the film?  

Throughout 2021 I began collating names of people to contact for interview, places to visit, communities to see, things to investigate, books to read. At the end of 2021 we interviewed our first guest, a former member of the School of Philosophy and Economic Science, Isabelle Glover, but because of Covid it turned out we couldn’t meet her in person, so stood outside her house and logged onto a zoom call with her, which Harvey filmed!

Throughout 2022 we filmed through England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Filming continued through to Spring 2023, and then we went into production and editing. Over 200 hours of footage and interviews whittled down to a 6-hour, 6-part series. The final Sanskrit Pilgrimage series was released in Spring 2024. 

Did you discover new things about your own country?

I realised that for so many years, perhaps since I was 18, I thought of all the places around the world to travel and explore, and connect with spiritual practices, and learn. I began to experience that all of this is present here. There is a sacredness to the land of my home country, England.

It manifests not just in the trees, plants, in nature, but in the evidence of ancient settlements, monuments, stone circles, ley lines, churches and people. I fell in love with England and of course, Wales, Ireland and Scotland in a way that I had never experienced before. I felt a surge of gratitude to be able to call these isles home. 

A pilgrimage is normally a devotional prolonged journey to a destination of significance. Was yours like this? 

This pilgrimage differed, in that the journey was through Sanskrit, and the huge expanse of connectivity with this. If anything, the destination was internal. The whole thing really took on the sense of an internal pilgrimage of a quest, if you will. As TS Eliot stated, “What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” This resonated beautifully because of the visits to the many sacred stone circle sites. 

At the same time, every time we set out to interview someone, that felt like a pilgrimage in itself. Like when we flew to Dublin, hired a car and drove through the windy roads to the chief druid’s house. It was in a green nook surrounded by trees. Every person in themselves carried the sense of ‘templehood’. Every heart I connected with held the sense of that which is to be worshipped. The temples, the churches, all became as though our heart. 

Stonehenge pilgrimage

One moment that did feel like a pilgrimage in a more traditional sense, was arriving at Stonehenge to spend the night there for the summer solstice. The traffic was very dense, so in order that we could start filming in time, Harvey and I jumped out of the car. We jumped over the hedge and made our way across the fields to the entrance. Then we stayed by the stones for the next 15 hours! Everyone was held in unison by the presence of the stones. And for some, just touching the stones, eyes closed, in meditation, was what they needed. 

Did your Sanskrit pilgrimage change your outlook?  Make you a different person?   In what ways? 

The journey changed slowly and surely and continuously, with every day. Every day brought new realisations, new sensations. With every person we met, every place we visited, I practised being completely open, with no preconceived ideas or notions or beliefs.

This was what changed most, the dropping of beliefs and ideas, and slowly the release of reliance on others for security, and the dawning of self-reliance. While growing up, Mum had always told me a quote from Shri Shantananda Sarasvati, ‘yourself is your best friend’. This began to dawn. In a way this was a pilgrimage for me from girlhood to womanhood. I became a woman. 

Did you have obstacles along the way?  What were they?  How did you overcome them?

There were many obstacles along the way. One of the greatest challenges for me was logistics and planning and scheduling interviews so that we could move seamlessly from one to another. I often underestimated how tiring it could be to move from place to place.

And there were the finances to sort, and accommodations to book for the crew. I did find myself trusting always, that all would be taken care of, and inevitably this was the case. About a third of the budget was sponsored by kind donations, including one lady who donated after coming to our event at the Nehru Centre last year. https://youtu.be/Q8otgcbb6Eg?si=ZyyZKzGoS6qTSO1L

Darling Ma

The other challenge was my darling Ma’s declining health which somehow coincided with the making of this documentary. This became interweaved in the journey. It was letting go on so many levels. And it was also a blessing to be able to concentrate the energies in a positive way. For Mum to see me working, it made her happy. I will always wonder what she might have thought of the completed series! 

It was a pilgrimage of love, of tears, of joys and connection. 

What was a high point of the journey?  

There were many high points of the journey, especially singing and chanting with people along the way, and meeting the children in the St James schools in London and Dublin. But the moment that stands out most, was when we arrived at Uisneach, the central point of Ireland, almost like the belly button, the place of the umbilical chord, and meeting a guide there named Ruth.

I remember distinctly, she somehow had an air of dishevelled-ness about her. Her high vis tour guide jacket was falling off one shoulder, hair unbrushed and greying at the roots, and her teeth sticking out. But at the same time she was so beautiful. I said to Harvey, she will be able to tell us what we need to know! But she was looking after a group of American tourists and we had no idea if she’d agree to an interview. But she did! 

Recognised on pilgrimage – thanks to my dog!

Another highlight was in the Orkney Islands in Scotland I was standing by the stones, whilst Harvey had gone off to get some cutaways with Taara following him. (Taara is my white German Shepherd who along with Shambhu the Norfolk terrier accompanied us on much of the pilgrimage) … When they came back they had met a man who asked them, “Is that Gaiea Sanskrit’s dog Taara?!” I couldn’t believe that in this remote location, Taara had been recognised! And the man had been listening at that very same time on his headphones to the Gaiea Sanskrit recordings! 

Learning to surf

We witnessed beautiful synchronicities in the way the process flowed and unravelled. After initiating the project, it picked up an energy of its own which propelled it toward completion. This is something I hope always to remember. I imagine it’s like a surfer riding a wave to the end, maintaining balance and trusting, even in the face of fear. 

I hope also to have the clarity of mind to see what the next project is and the courage to take the plunge and embark upon it.  Then to truly dedicate the work for the good of all and give myself to it with a pure heart. If it isn’t perfect and things could have been done a little differently, or perhaps better, there is always the next project where I can put what I learned into practice! 

Watch the series or See more about the series And don’t miss Gabriella on YouTube

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