A virtual journey through history
By Arturo Morales Tirado

Lecture
The Evolution of San Miguel Architecture 
Tue, Jan 27, 1:30pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

Cultural heritage and history of San Miguel de Allende date back 2,500 years, when the ethnic group of Chupícuaro culture (near the current Acámbaro, Guanajuato) raided the northern Rio Grande hydrological basin, now called Rio Lerma. The tributary Rio Laja (main river of the region) was the route of entry through the Mexican semi-desert from the current San Miguel.

Subsequently, the proto-Toltecas (400 to 1100 CE) founded over 100 human settlements with pyramid bases in the current municipality of Allende, popularly called coecillos. Then the Chichimecas (copuses, pames and guamares in the actual San Miguel de Allende) inhabited the region until meeting with the Otomí allied with the Spaniards in the decade of 1530.

Ceramic relics, archaeological sites and especially the ancient symbols of more than 2,000 years of Mesoamerican culture can still be seen in the monuments built since 1542. 

They were in turn influenced by Europe—Spanish Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical, creating a hybrid style that today continues the chronicle of political/business power and its effect on the social, cultural and ecological record of 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico.

The nineteenth century culminated in the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz, who promoted eclectic architecture enjoyed today around the Jardín and in monumental buildings like the Temple of the Immaculate Conception (Las Monjas, the nuns), Teatro Ángela Peralta and Casa de la Cultura. Parroquia architect Ceferino Gutierrez also did Peralta and the Las Monjas dome.

At this lecture, we take a virtual journey in slides through the political, economic, social, cultural and ecological history of San Miguel and the region. With deeper understanding, we can enjoy even more the beauty and cosmopolitan spirit of this unique city. 

Winged winter visitors at El Charco

Lecture
San Miguel’s Little Visitors
Wayne and Susan Colony
Fri, Feb 6, 10am
El Charco del Ingenio
70 pesos, members; 100 pesos, nonmembers

The winter months of December to February bring many visitors to San Miguel. The botanical garden, El Charco, greets its winter visitors, too, as North American birds trade the cold and dark of northern climes for the warmth and abundant food of our area.

The wintering ducks in the presa are easily seen, but there are others, small and secretive, that are frequently overlooked. Flycatchers, wrens, warblers and sparrows arrive during the last days of autumn to feed on the abundance of seeds and berries in the garden. Some travel further south, but many stay. The house wren’s melodious song rings out all winter in El Charco, though the bird is rarely seen. The marsh wren’s scolding chatter is heard along streams, and if those who are patient may see the little bird come out to defend its territory. Flocks of sparrows—lark, chipping and clay-colored—feed industriously along the trails. Observant visitors will find El Charco full of wonderful birds in winter.

Wayne and Susan Colony will present a lecture, accompanied by beautiful photographs, introducing all the colorful winter ducks and the smallest winter visitors. Following the talk in the Bóveda at the garden they will lead a short walk around El Charco to look for these birds.

End of an era? 

Panel Discussion
Center for Global Justice
Wed, Jan 28, 10:30am
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

The presidential election of 2008 combined with the unfolding financial and economic crisis, the exhaustion of military imperialism abroad and the looming energy/climate crisis combine to mark a clear turning point in history. The rejection of the politics of fear in favor of a politics of hope opens new possibilities of social progress.

Not just this historic election makes for an end of an era. What makes this a potential turning point is the convergence of a number of interacting factors. As President Obama has recognized, among them are two unwinnable wars, the economic crisis, a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change. Each by itself would be significant. Taken together they signify the need for and the possibility of fundamental change.

A panel from the Center for Global Justice will take a big-picture look at this moment in history. Environmentalist Rick Welland will be joined by Cliff DuRand and Betsy Bowman, founders and research associates of the Center. They will look at what is ending and at what is exhausted, to more clearly see the new directions in which we now can move.

Playing for keeps
By Professor Guillermo Méndez

Lecture
Ancient Cultures of Mexico: Part II
Wed, Jan 28, 3pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

The names of several ancient cultures of Mexico are fairly well-known: Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec, Aztec, Olmec and Toltec. Less known, perhaps, is the Classic Veracruz culture which flourished from about AD 100 to 900. The Classic Veracruz had a unique art style which revealed itself in yokes, palmas and hachas, stone-carved ritual objects associated with the Mesoamerican ball game, which frequently ended with the sacrifice of the players. Not all the players, of course, but—what would you guess—the winners or the losers? The Classic Veracruz culture’s interest in the ball game was extraordinary. Most architectural sites of the ancient cultures had one to three ball courts. El Tajín, the major site of the Classic Veracruz civilization, had 11.

The Classic Veracruz culture along with the Maya, Zapotec and Mixtec are the focus of a lecture entitled Ancient Cultures of Mexico, Part II. The lecture’s purpose is to aid those interested in distinguishing between the various cultures.

Each culture has a defining characteristic or phenomenon associated with it that sets it apart from the others. Art and architecture also differentiate and distinguish each of the cultures. The lecture will be illustrated with over 200 digital images that reveal the uniqueness and beauty of the ancient cultures of Mexico. The lecturer is Guillermo Méndez, retired professor of humanities and San Miguel resident.

Uncover the soul’s brilliant light
By Judith Jenya

Lecture 
The Path of Mussar
Thu, Feb 5, 3:30pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

Mussar is a centuries-old Jewish tradition that is a way of refining and elevating your inner life and outward actions. The Path of Mussar is illuminating, approachable and contains a highly practical set of teachings for cultivating personal growth and spiritual realization in the midst of day-to-day life.

The goal of Mussar is to become a more whole and holy person, an “extraordinary, ordinary person.” Our work in life is to uncover that brilliant light of the soul. The Mussar practice, part contemplative, part a focus on how we relate to others in our life, helps us to heal and refine ourselves.

In this 10-week program to bring the soul to wholeness, we learn teachings of the Mussar masters, do a contemplative practice, work on specific character traits alone and with a Mussar partner and have group mediation and sharing. This is an introduction to a lifetime practice that applies to practitioners of any religion, spiritual path, study or journey to self-awareness and wholeness.

Judith Jenya has an MA from Harvard, an MSW from UC Berkeley and a JD from the University of Hawaii. She has been a humanitarian, attorney, mediator, psychotherapist, teacher, artist, writer, photographer and workshop leader in California, Hawaii, Mexico and Europe. She practiced Mussar for many years after studying with Alan Morinis, the leader of contemporary Mussar training.

Living the real to approach the truth
By Alejandro Negrete

Lecture Series
Teachings from Spirit
Alejandro Negrete 
Eight-week series; fourth class:
You Will Know the Truth When You Approach the Truth
Fri, Jan 30, noon–1pm
Sala Quetzal 
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

It has been said “you will know the truth when you approach the truth,” but what does it mean to approach the truth? It means following our heart’s guidance, which intuitively knows ageless, universal wisdom. However, in order to contact this wisdom one must learn to quiet the mind. Once the mind is still, then our true essence emerges in all its splendor to guide us back to its eternal abode.

This quieting of the mind requires a profound inner journey into the duality of our soul during which we begin to differentiate personal truth from falsehood. The truth leads us ever closer to an experience of joy, love and peace in our lives. That which is false keeps us in the past, in old, destructive habits that create our suffering. It keeps us in a state of fear, confusion, anger, desperation and depression. 

Living the real means aligning ourselves with the inner voice of spirit and using our thoughts, emotions, and actions as instruments through which the Inner Being can be made manifest. It is only through the guidance and intelligence of our True Nature that we are able to transcend illusions and thereby awaken our consciousness. It is the Heart that leads us to know the truth intimately and directly so that we can be freed from duality.

Alejandro Negrete is a certified facilitator and teacher of the Pneuma System. He has a private practice offering spiritual counseling, Christic Reiki healing, and Pneuma Breathwork sessions. He will also be teaching the second module of the Pneuma System called “The Transpersonal Universe” during January and February. For more information write to alepneuma@yahoo.com.  Information on the Pneuma System is available at www.inkarri.org.