Temenos Academy Newsletter 2026

[Temenos Academy]

NEWSLETTER February 2026 Kindness in the Storm: The Later Works of JMW Turner HOWARD HULL Monday 9 February 2026 In the chair Julia Cleave The paintings of JMW Turner are famed for their radical formats and high energy vision, but they are also infused with a kindly, spiritual sensibility which Ruskin memorably called ‘heartsight’. In Turner’s work the substantial is frequently dissolved in light or overwhelmed by fluid motion, conveying an atmosphere that is simultaneously abstract, dynamic and rich in feeling. We will explore the way in which Turner has achieved the at times miraculous representation of these violent elemental forces whilst infusing them with an inherently gentle spirit. Turner’s dedication to landscape painting has led many to believe that the gruff, often unsociable artist lacked the instinct for painting people. The human presence that pervades these late works is vital to understanding them and builds a bridge between universal forces and our own humanity. Howard Hull is the Director of Brantwood, John Ruskin's former home. He has curated many exhibitions, historical and contemporary, lectured widely in Britain and abroad, and written on Ruskin and more broadly on the arts in a wide range of publications. He studied English Literature at Oxford University, before becoming a founding partner of the Support Group, organizing numerous festivals and public celebrations. Prior to moving to Brantwood he was Director of Development at the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, a role he went on to play at the Royal College of Art. Venue & Admission 18 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3ED Doors open 6.10pm, Lecture begins 6.30pm £10 General admission Free for Temenos Academy Members/Full-time students with ID The Harmony of the Inner City: Ancient Greek Platonism and Self-Transformation PROFESSOR MICHAEL GRIFFIN Monday 23 February 2026 In the chair Tim Addey Imagine your soul as a musical instrument. In his Republic, Plato argues that a just life is not defined by power or conquest, but by harmony—tuning the distinct strings of reason, emotion, and desire like the notes of a lyre. This talk explores how this ancient vision of 'inner harmony' offers a vital, radical resource for our modern world. We will look beyond the text as mere theory and discover it as a practical guide for self-transformation. By visiting Plato’s concept of the 'Inner City’, we will examine how cultivating internal peace fundamentally alters our outward behaviour. We will discuss how 'becoming a friend to oneself' is the necessary first step toward becoming a friend to others and, crucially, to the wider ecosystem. Join us to explore how ancient philosophers believed the art of tuning the soul can foster a new, non-oppressive relationship with the human and natural world. Michael Griffin holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford and specializes in the intellectual history of the later Roman Empire. An expert on the Neoplatonic tradition, Michael has published extensively on the reception of Plato and Aristotle and edits the Ancient Commentators on Aristotle series. His research investigates the psychological and ethical training required of ancient students, examining how they used philosophical exercises to shape their character. He is dedicated to recovering these resources to revitalize our understanding of ethics and community today. Venue & Admission 18 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3ED Doors open 6.10pm, Lecture begins 6.30pm £10 General admission Free for Temenos Academy Members/Full-time students with ID Ramana Maharshi and the Question of Experience PROFESSOR CLARE CARLISLE Monday 9 March 2026, 6.30pm Symbol and Style: Kathleen Raine’s Neoplatonic Aesthetics DR JENNY MESSENGER Monday 23 March 2026, 6.30pm For venues, event information and to book please visit the events programme webpage HERE E – temenos...@myfastmail.com T – 07513 883 335 Lent Term Courses & Events Shakespeare’s Hamlet Reading Essential Texts with Dr Joseph Milne For further details click HERE The Inner Silence of the Heart: A Series of Guided Meditation Sessions Begins Wednesday 18 February For further details click HERE Lampeter Study Day In collaboration with The University of Wales Trinity St David With Revd. Malcolm Guite, Julia Cleave and Prof. Mary-Ann Constantine Wednesday 11 March Free admission. Advance booking only. For more information and to book click HERE BECOME A MEMBER You can support the Temenos Academy by becoming a member for £60/year. Members benefits include free admission to our lecture programme, concessionary rates to seminars, study days and online courses, a free copy Temenos Academy Review 28 and Ten Basic Principles that Inspire the Work of Temenos on joining, and complimentary copies of forthcoming Temenos Academy publications as they are issued. To become a member click HERE THE ARCHIVE Our website Archive hosts many audio and video recordings of lectures, digital versions of all thirteen issues of the journal TEMENOS, and the texts of seventy articles from Temenos Academy Review. New material is added regularly. https://temenosacademy.org/main-lecture-archive https://temenosacademy.org/temenos-journal-archive https://temenosacademy.org/temenos-academy-review-archive Many of our audio recordings are available as PODCASTS. PAYPAL GIVING FUND UK The Temenos Academy is registered with PayPal Giving Fund UK. When using PayPal if you choose you may also make a donation in support of the Temenos Academy. Thank you FURTHER INFORMATION EMAIL temenos...@myfastmail.com TELEPHONE 07513 883 335 PRIVACY POLICY https://temenosacademy.org/privacy-policy