Welcome to the early Summer issue of Integral Insights. We hope you’re enjoying the longer days and shorter nights. Here in the UK, we are not too far away from the Summer Solstice when the light is at its most brilliant, almost as if held in a stationary noon. Nothing is hidden in flaming June; colours are intense – blazing reds, sizzling oranges, vibrant yellows, iridescent blues and greens – all exuding vibrancy and enthusiasm. Nature reaches its apotheosis and declares its presence in forms we cannot ignore. So perhaps it’s time for us to consider our own unique gifts and the different ways we might share those in new and vibrant ways.
Remembering to radiate our own unique colours, each year UNESCO encourages us to celebrate World Art Day on 15 April.
This idea has informed our own Summer School retreat – The Art of Awakening – on 23 to 26 June. There is still time to book, both residential and non residential places are available, plus under 35s discount.
Also, you can read below about the special exhibition at the Summer School by contemporary artist, Freya Purdue and opportunities to meet with her.
NEWS & UPDATES
Kingdom: An Exhibition of Freya Purdue’s Paintings at Fintry
Freya Purdue, Kingdom, Oil on Canvas, 2011
The Fintry Trust is delighted to host an exhibition of paintings by contemporary artist Freya Purdue in the Studio and in the main house during the summer months of 2026. Entitled ‘Kingdom’ – the title of one of Freya’s works – the exhibition brings together a body of paintings that explore the subtlety of philosophical and mystical thought.
Freya’s paintings inhabit a rich and evocative space between abstraction and figuration. Drawing on a wide range of influences, her work invites a contemplative encounter with image, atmosphere and meaning. Her paintings arise through an intuitive and deeply attentive process, seeking an energised sense of consciousness and relationship between people, historical traditions and the shifting borders of perception.
Colour plays a vital role in her work, creating a sense of presence, energy and subtlety, revealed through the process of painting. Freya has exhibited widely in the UK, Europe and China, and has received numerous awards and scholarships for painting.
She is an invited speaker at the 2026 Fintry Trust Summer School Retreat, The Art of Awakening, with a further opportunity to meet and engage with her at Fintry, on Monday 24th August 2026.
The Fintry Trust Summer School – The Art of Awakening
23rd-26th July 2026
Come and experience the transformative qualities of integral art with experienced practitioners, and join a Mandala Workshop led by artist Daniel Bowler, at our retreat house, in the heart of the peaceful Surrey countryside, in July 2026.
Over the course of this immersive programme, we will engage with the deeper meaning of art as a living process that reflects and expands human consciousness.
Together, we will explore the full spectrum of artistic impulse and expression that goes beyond the usual categories of art, to include:
- the pragmatic or ‘useful arts’, including all the arts and crafts that support everyday life;
- the expressive arts, or so-called ‘fine arts’, such as music, literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, drama and dance, that communicate emotions and ideas;
- the remedial arts that facilitate healing and integration, such as the sociological, therapeutic, ethical, legal, and political arts;
- the intellectual arts that engage with ideas, systems of thought, logic, interpretation and critique;
- and the mystical arts, that lead inwards and upwards to the ineffable and the sublime.
These different modes of creative expression have a unique relationship with the universal and transcendent ideals of Beauty, Goodness, Truth and Unity.
By embracing this wider vision of art, participants learn to appreciate how different artistic modes can coexist, complement one another, and contribute to a creative, holistic and elevated life.
The Art of Awakening offers a peaceful, supportive environment where participants can deepen their artistic practice, expand their understanding, and discover how art becomes a catalyst for personal and collective transformation.
Is Man More Than a Biological Machine?
Edi Bilimoria
On 10 November this year UNESCO celebrates World Science Day for Peace and Development, highlighting the important role of science and scientists in society in relation to deepening our understanding of Mother Earth and how we can live sustainably. This inevitably leads us to the question of consciousness – how we think inevitably determines how we act and the environment we create for ourselves.
In his course A Journey Through Consciousness – Exploring our Humanity philosopher and acclaimed author Dr Edi Bilimoria – a prominent figure in the fields of engineering and the practical application of philosophy – asks some profound and searching questions: Do we need a brain to be intelligent? Is man merely a biological machine? What truly underpins modern neuroscience – and where does consciousness fit within the wider order of the cosmos?
What might your answers be? Come and explore these questions with Dr Bilimoria and expand and test your own understanding.
The course addresses the personal aspect of the journey through consciousness, guiding individuals from ignorance to awareness and from fragmentation to wholeness. It highlights the transformative process of moving from form into formlessness, encouraging participants to recognise art, music, and other creative expressions as pathways to understanding the deeper, non-material dimensions of consciousness.
FROM OUR BLOG
Integral Art: The Awakening of Consciousness Integral art is not limited to the traditional expressive forms of painting, sculpture, music, or drama. It also includes the practical, healing, philosophical, as well as the meditative and mystical arts. Read blog
A ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse into the upcoming Summer School: The Art of Awakening. Meet the practitioners, and discover how four days at Fintry could deepen your creative and contemplative journey. Read blog
Reflections on the inaugural Fintry Trust Annual Lecture. In March Murray Morison explored how sacred myths and stories reveal profound insights into the evolution of human consciousness. Read the reflections and access the free recording
Integrating Ubuntu Wisdom in AI for Human Flourishing Wakanyi Hoffman, Head of the Sustainable AI Lab at Utrecht University, explores how the African philosophy of Ubuntu can provide a valuable ethical framework for AI. Watch the full talk
The Physics of Angels Theologian Rev. Dr Matthew Fox explores the fascinating intersection of ancient mysticism and modern quantum physics, revealing how the ‘living light’ of angels can guide our intuition and help us navigate the ecological and spiritual challenges of the 21st century. Watch the full talk
From Earthrise to Earthset – a Renewed Vision of Our Sacred Home Artemis Earthset reveals Earth as fragile, shared home. Amid climate and human crises, it calls for urgent collective action, consciousness shift, and care for our sacred home. Read blog
We hope you find something to interest you in this issue and we thank you, warmly, for your support. The Integral Wisdom Team.
