A Voyage through Contemplative Geometry
Ten-Week Online Course
Nov 30, 2024, through Feb 1, 2025
Join us for a soulful ten-week exploration of pattern, proportion and harmony, and our deep relation with them. Delight in the discovery of beauty through patterns of order that underly all the universe, as we can observe it in the whole of nature and in ourselves.
Looking for a sense of beauty and clarity in your life? Journey through an introduction to the symbolic language of numbers and shapes and let nature be your inspiration.
This course is open to all seeking a contemplative container where head, heart and hand meet through philosophy, geometry, and introspection.
At a Glance
Location: Online
Dates: Ten classes (of 3 hours duration each) once per week from November 29/30, 2024, through February 1, 2025. NOTE: dates and times depend on your time zone; see below for schedule details.
Focus: Contemplative geometry (theory and practice)
Instructor: Daphne Charles
Language: English
Introduction
Contemplative Geometry is the holistic study of the relationships between shapes and forms as they occur in nature, and as expressed in art, in design, and in architecture. The word “contemplative” highlights that we are taking a reflective, investigative, and philosophical approach to this exploration of shape and form. This includes our own place in the world of shape and form — how we are affected by the geometry of patterns and how we can bring that awareness and sense of peaceful manifesting and creating into our daily lives.
Contemplative Geometry is also the foundation of contemplative/sacred architecture, and as such it is the starting point for explorations of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional design in harmony with nature’s patterns and proportions.
““Come into the light of things; let nature be your teacher.””
Who is this Course for?
This course is accessible and open to all. Course prerequisites are a curious hand and a longing heart.
This course is suitable for you if:
You would like to learn about the patterns of nature and how they express themselves in number and geometry
You are looking to learn and gain experience using a compass and straightedge
You are looking to learn (or continue) in this restful craft
The idea of drawing patterns that have existed and have been used over a long period of time across traditions inspires you
You are looking to carve out a weekly touch-point for yourself to sit and rest in thoughtful material and inspiring discourse
You would like to be in a contemplative container with kindred spirits
You are an artist, designer or architect interested in contemplative/sacred traditions
Dates & Times
Dates: There will be one class per week (held on Zoom) for ten weeks. Depending on your time zone, the classes will start either the 29th or 30th of November, and will take place either every Friday evening or every Saturday morning/afternoon (again depending on your time zone; see below), and will end on January 31st or February 1st, 2025.
Timings: Here are the timings in a few popular time zones where some of our frequent participants live.
US west coast (PST/UTC-8): Fridays at 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Denver (MST/UTC-7): Fridays at 9:00pm – 12:00am
Geneva (CET/UTC+1): Saturdays at 5:00am – 8:00am
New Delhi (IST/UTC+5:30): Saturdays at 9:30am – 12:30pm
Singapore (SGT/UTC+8): Saturdays at 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Melbourne (AEDT/UTC+11): Saturdays at 3:00pm – 6:00pm
What to do if you miss a session? Participants will have access to video recordings of the online sessions during the duration of this course. This is useful if you are unable to make one or more live sessions or if you would like to re-watch a session and/or redo your drawings.
For how long can I access the videos online? Video access ends two weeks after the last Zoom session.
About the Instructor
Essential Supplies
Coloring materials, e.g. color pencils/markers
Masking tape
Drawing pens (useful to have, but not essential)
Paints and brushes (optional)
Paper of your choice (optional): You may choose to bring your own selection of cartridge / sketchbook / watercolor paper. Thick paper sufficient for use with your coloring medium of choice is preferred.
A good drawing compass that can
hold its setting
make small adjustments
large enough to draw a 14cm radius circle
(examples: Steadler Mars, Rotring Master Bow, )
A ruler (suitable for working on A3 sized paper)
Range of pencils (4H-4B)
Eraser ( Zero Eraser or equivalent)
Tuition Fee (Sliding Scale)
As a nonprofit educational organization, Earthville Institute is dedicated to making this learning opportunity accessible to all. Recognizing that our participants come from diverse backgrounds, we provide a sliding scale with three tiers, to make it possible for participants to pay according to their means. The total fee for the ten-week course at each of the three tiers is as follows (in US dollars):
Standard rate
(For most participants)
$180
Supporter rate
(For those with means to help subsidize lower-income participants)
$300
For transparency: The surplus from this supporter rate will support lower-income volunteers to participate at the subsidized rate or below. We thank you sincerely for your generosity in choosing this rate if you can.
Subsidized rate
(For low-income participants who can’t afford the standard rate)
$120
For transparency: This subsidized rate is offered on the assumption that the shortfall might be covered by other participants who choose to pay the “supporter rate” to the right.
Scholarships and fundraising support available
We do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone’s participation, and we’re happy to support potential participants to crowdfund their own participation via tax-deductible donations to Earthville Institute. If interested in this option, you can contact us to let us know your situation and your needs and we’ll be happy to discuss it with you.
Members of the Ute and Diné (Navajo) nations qualify for full scholarships (subject to limited availability).
Important Information
As you prepare for your time at Earthville Institute, please make sure that you have read this entire page, especially the “essential supplies” section above. If you have a question that is not answered here, feel free to contact us here and we’ll be happy to help.
Register for this Course
Space in this program is limited. Participation is by application and is subject to acceptance.
STEP 1 — APPLY: Submit the application form using the button below.
STEP 2 — WATCH YOUR INBOX: We’ll contact you with instructions for making payment for the course.
STEP 3 — PREPARE: After we receive your payment, we’ll send you more detailed information about the course and how to prepare for it.
If you have any questions after reading all the material here on our website, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
We look forward to connecting with you!