Call for Papers and Abstract Submission

The Harmony of Heaven and Earth
Harmony Institute. Sophia Centre and Sophia Centre Press
Lampeter 25 - 26 June 2022

Conference Theme

This academic conference will consider the ways in which human beings seek to harmonise life on Earth with conceptions of heaven and the sky.

The word Harmony is of ancient Greek origin. Amongst its meanings is a 'fitting together' or 'joining together', as in the joining together of musical tones, and to achieve Harmony - to join together - was a primary goal of many classical thinkers and activists.

These ideas actually have a wide basis in many cultures. The idea of interconnectivity, of the world as a single living organism, is fundamental to most if not all of what we know as indigenous cultures. Harmony is central to traditional Chinese philosophies, such as Taoism and Confucianism, as well as Indian world-views, Buddhist and Hinduism, and schools of thought within Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

The concept invariably involves action, and it is the duty of human beings to ensure such harmony through the arts, religion, politics, health, the soul and body.

This conference invites proposals to speak which explore ways in which people have sought to harmonise with the sky and cosmos, and we welcome contributions on any time-period or culture.

Suitable topics include traditional or modern conceptions of the sky, astronomy and astrology in relation to the arts – painting, music, literature, sculpture - , religion and spirituality, politics and society, health, architecture, or the ritual year as long as there is a practical function – to harmonise life on Earth with the wider cosmos.

Deadline: 15 February 2022.

Speakers will be notified 28 February.

Abstracts should be 3,000 characters maximum including an abstract title. We also ask you to include a biography of 3,000 characters maximum. Please use the upload form below.