Celebrating 150 years Theosophical Society and 100 years ITC – a sacred place

Come and join us in the weekend of the 23rd of August to celebrate the 100th birthday of the ITC in a weekend full of inspiring talks, music and dance and of course there will be cake!

Two festive days
The summer of 2025 with be a remarkable season in the history of the Theosophical Society (TS), with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the TS, at Vancouver, Canada, from 23 to 27 July. Then, an additional celebration will take place of 100 years of ITC Naarden, the European home of the TS, with Tim Boyd, the International President of the TS, as Keynote speaker, with a unique programme on different aspects of the history and work of the ITC. An opportunity to meet and celebrate with old and new friends in Europe.

Tim Boyd will open the programme with a reflection on the history of the TS and an outlook to its future, followed by Arend Heijbroek on aspects of the history of the ITC. ITC is a learning organisation in its own right. It appears that the focus of the work changed in different periods, which of course raises the question of what impulses may be expected for the future. And what remains central.

Over lunchtime there will be a Festive gathering, amongst others visualising some new features at the centre.
Then Isolde Sültemeyer will take us along the relationship between Rabindranath Tagore, Mrs. Mary van Eeghen, who donated the centre, and Rukmini Devi Arundale, Head of the ITC for over 50 years. One of the most visual aspects of her work was the development of the Bharatanatyam temple dance as an art form, a revolutionary act. Leela Samson, one of her pupils and biographer, will elaborate on her life as a dance. In addition, this provides a unique opportunity to get a better understanding of the spiritual aspects of the Bharatanatyam dance. Together with her pupil Bhavajan Kumar, this beautiful dance will be experienced.

During the second day, special attention will be paid to work and experience with finer energies. Tim Boyd will give an overview of the work of the different TS centres in the world, each with their own unique role. Then Ingmar de Boer will explore the aspect of the Sacred in our consciousness and how that relates to what is Sacred in a place like the ITC.

In the afternoon, several of our friends will share some of their experiences in a sacred place, be it ITC Naarden or somewhere else. In the early history of the ITC, ceremonial work attracted most attention. This has gradually changed. Parcival van Gessel will introduce how ceremonial work contributes to the work of the TS.

For TS members, the programme ends before dinner. In the evening, there will be another Bharatanatyam dance introduction and performance for the public at large, including teachers and pupils from dance schools. For this, including dinner, another registration is required.

Programme

Friday 22^nd (Arrival international participants ITC programme)
18.00      dinner
20.00      Social gathering, meeting with old and new friends

Saturday 23^rd  (150 years TS and ITC 100 years programme)
8.00         Meditation
8.30         Breakfast
9.30         Welcome day visitors and coffee
10.00      Opening Chairman ITC
10.05      Tim Boyd: 150 years TS, a reflection and outlook.
11.00      Coffee break
11.30      Arend Heijbroek: ITC from past to future
12.00      Lunch and Festive gathering
14.30      Isolde Sültemeyer: Spiritual Radiance from India; Tagore, Rukmini and the Naarden Centre
15.15      Leela Samson: Rukmini Devi, the discovery of the dance
16.00      Tea break
16.30      Leela Samson and Bhavajan Kumar: The history and background Bharata Natya
18.00      dinner
20.00      Leela Samson and Bhavajan Kumar: The element of devotion in Bharata Natyam performance

Sunday 24^th
8.00       Meditation
8.30       Breakfast
9.30       Welcome day visitors and coffee
10.00     Tim Boyd: sacred Places of the TS
10.45     Coffee break
11.30      Ingmar de Boer: The Sacred and the Sacred Place
12.15      Lunch
14.00     Contributions TS sections in Europe; experiences with sacred places.
15.15      Tea break
16.00     Parcival van Gessel: Ceremonial work at the ITC, its contribution to theosophical work
16.30     Departure
18.00     Dinner for those who stay
20.00    Bharata Natyam performance by Leela Samson and Bhavajan Kumar

Registration
As we expect many guests from abroad, it is recommended to register in time as the number of places and lodging in particular, is limited. As we give participants travelling in from abroad, priority on lodging, we request our Dutch members to travel as much as possible from home both days. We will organise transport from the Naarden-Bussum railway station, for which you need to register. Lodging requests from Dutch members will be placed on a waiting list. On the 1st August, we will confirm Dutch applicants whether rooms are available.

Registration can be done through the link to the registration form: https://forms.office.com/e/FqSSY6LLZ6

Pricing and payment
More information on this can be found through the registration link above. Below you may find a quick overview of the prices for this event: