Jan 1 (Saturday) – New Years eve festival to celebrate New Beginnings and the World Day of Peace (Roman Catholic Christian)

Jan 23 (Monday) – Chinese New Year of the Water Dragon; New moon - Jan 23 2012

2 February (Thursday) - Imbolc (Druid Festival of the Rebirth of Spring) and St Bridget’s Day, and Candlemas

Saturday 4 Feb – Imbolc - Ancestors, Family Trees, Spiritual Lineages And The Esoteric Past And Future Of Scotland, The United Kingdom And Europe talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses

Saturday 4 Feb - Birthday of Prophet Muhammad

Sunday 5 Feb – end of Celtic Connections – grand musical festival in Glasgow

Full moon - Feb 7 2012

Feb 8 (Wednesday) – Tub’Shev (Jewish New Year for Trees)

Thursday 9 Feb – Introduction to the project – Why saints and sages ? Why do they matter ? Talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

Saturday 11 Feb – Druidry And Law: Just Justice And The Law, Human Rights And Human Duties, Truth And Reconciliation In The Middle East And Britain And Ireland, talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses

Saturday Feb 11 – National Peace and Justice Networking Day, Holy Cross Priory, Leicester 020 7901 4864 admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk

Feb 14 (Tuesday) – St Valentines Day

Thursday 16 Feb – An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Christian Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

Saturday 18 Feb – Memorial Event to commemorate the life and work of Eileen Daffern, life-long peace and anti-nuclear campaigner and  co-founder of IIPSGP, who has died aged 98, on January 13, 2012 – at the Brighthelm Centre,  North Street, Brighton, Sussex, England, from 2-5pm (refreshment served). Please RSVP To Jane Daffern 01273 670950)

New moon - Feb 21 2012

22 February (Wednesday) – Ash Wednesday

Thursday 23 Feb - An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Buddhist Thinkers

1 March (Thursday) – St David’s Day

8 March (Thursday) - International Women's Day Celebration  (It was first held in 1911 so 2011 is the Global centenary of the event) – Purim (Jewish Festival); Holli (Hindu Festival)

8 March – The Economics of Killing – Book Launch with author Vijay Mehta and Pluto Press 6.30 – 8.30 at London Euston Hotel, 17 Upper Woburn Please, London WC1

Full moon - Mar 8 2012

Friday 9 March 2012 7pm, 2012 Middle East Spirituality and Peace Festival,  the Sanctuary, Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL, Edinburgh. Talk by Dr Thomas Clough Daffern on "Transpersonal History and the Future of Peace in the Middle east: towards a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Middle East"

March 12 (Monday) – Commonwealth Day  - Peace meditation and gathering for Commonwealth Interfaith Network at Castle of the Muses (During the 1975 CHOGM in Kingston, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau of Canada proposed that a “simultaneously observed Commonwealth Day would focus attention upon the association and its contribution to a harmonious global environment); Commonwealth Interfaith Network Study Day At Castle Of The Muses

March 15 – Peace in My Lifetime: an international conference on peacebuilding (or by Uniting for Peace, Fellowship of Reconciliation etc.) from 2.30 – 8pm at London Euston Hotel, 17 Upper Woburn Please, London WC!, with Sir Richard Jolly, Baroness Tongue, Vijay Mehta et al – vijay@vmpeace.org 0207 377 2111

17 March (Saturday) – Druidry, Bards And The Media – Film, Tv, Music And The Arts; St Patricks Day – evening celebration at Castle talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses

18 March (Sunday) – Mothering Sunday

21 March (Wednesday) – Spring Equinox and New Year for Bahais and Zoroastrians and Iran

Thursday 22 March - An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Hindu Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

New moon - Mar 22 2012

Saturday 24 March – Druidry And The Politics Of Contemporary Primal Peoples talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses

Thursday 29 March - An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Humanist, artistic and scientific Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

April 1 (Sunday) – Day of Concordia (Roman Festival of Goddess Concordia and Venus and Aphrodite, origin of April Fool’s Day); Palm Sunday

Thursday 5 April - An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Pagan Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

6 April –Good Friday (Christian Festival commemorating the Crucifixion)

Full moon - Apr 6 2012

Saturday 7 April – Druidry And Ovates: Revelation, Prophecy And Working With Inspiration (Awen) talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses

7 April – Passover (Jewish)

8 April – Easter Sunday Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion.

Thursday 12 April – An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Islamic thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

13 April (Friday) – Vaisakh (Sikh Festival) – Birthday of Guru Nanak

Saturday 14 April – Druidry And Spirit: Working With Meditation And Prayer talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses

Thursday 19 April - An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Jewish Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

Saturday 21 April – Druidry And Working With Ceremony And Esoteric Teachings talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses

New moon - Apr 21 2012

April 23 (Monday) – St George’s Day - INTERNATIONAL PEACE BOOK PRIZE DAY talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses 3.30 – 5.30

Thursday 26 April - An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Taoist, Shinto, Confucian and East Asian Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

Saturday 28 April – Druidry And Theology – What Can Druidry help tell us about the nature of the Divine ?  talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses 3.30 – 5.30

April 30 / May 1st (Monday/ Tuesday) – Beltane – Druid Festival of the Rebirth of Summer

Thursday 3 May – Local elections in the UK  for 131 English local authorities, all 32 Scottish local authorities, and all 22 Welsh local authorities, plus elections for Mayor of London and also referenda in 11 English cities to see if they wish to also have directly elected Mayors.

Saturday 5 May – Druidry And Nature – The Greening Of Education – The Work Of The Global Green University  talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses 3.30 – 5.30

5 May (Saturday) – Wesak (Buddhist festival), Full Moon meditation: Wesak or Buddha day (The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his enlightenment and death.

Full moon - May 6 2012

May 7 – Early Spring Bank Holiday

Thursday 10 May - An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Esoteric, Magical, Occult, Transpersonal and Theosophical Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

Saturday 12 May – Druidry And Relationships – Marriage, Sexuality, Families, Children And Love  talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses 3.30 – 5.30

Thursday 17 May - An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Freemasonic Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

May 17 (Thursday) – Full Moon meditation: Wesak or Buddha day (The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his enlightenment and death.

Saturday 19 May – Druidry And Peace And Conflict Resolution, Practical Exercises In Communication  talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses 3.30 – 5.30

New moon - May 20 2012

Thursday 24 May -  An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Bahai, Jain, Sikh and Zoroastrian Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

Saturday 26 May –  Druids, The Sciences, Medicine, Mathematics And The Politics Of Knowledge  talk by Thomas Daffern at the Castle of the Muses 3.30 – 5.30

27 May (Sunday) – Pentecost-  The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church. TD to airport for India

May 31 (Thursday)  – An overview of the world’s leading contemporary Women Thinkers; talk by Thomas Daffern at Arrochar Village Hall, Argyll 7-9pm

June 2/3 – Periodic Table of the World’s Religions Study weekend

June 3 – Campaign against the Arms trade – Christian Network Day of Prayer – 0207 281 0297 outreach@caat.org.uk

Full moon - Jun 4 2012

June 5 (Tuesday) – Queen Elizabeth 2nd’s Diamond Jubilee

June 9 (Saturday) - St Columba’s Feast Day and Queen Elizabeth 2nd’s official birthday; Centre For Peace Policy Research Study day

June 17 (Sunday) – Fathers Day

Jun 19 - New moon - Jun 19 2012

June 21 (Thursday) – Midsummer Day, Druid festival of Midsummer– Summer solstice day at the Castle of the Muse and special ceremonies around the world, including Stonehenge

June 25 (Saturday) – European Pagan Academic and Education Network conference

29 June to 1st July (Friday to Sunday) - Logos, Mythos, Sophos: Reason and Myth in the Search for Wisdom – Prometheus Trust Weekend, Ivy House, Warminster, Willtshire - http://www.prometheustrust.co.uk/html/conference.html

Full moon - Jul 3 2012

July 4 (Wednesday) – Festival of the Goddess Pax / Eirene (Roman and Greek religious festival when altars to Pax were dedicated)

12-13 July 2012 - The Reception of Newton: An international conference at the Edward Worth Library, Dublin, at The Edward Worth Library, Dublin, Ireland. Information and Registration: eaboran@tcd.ie Speakers include: Professor Mordechai Feingold (Caltech); Professor Sarah

Hutton (Aberystwyth University); Professor Robert Iliffe (University of Sussex); Dr Scott Mandelbrote (Peterhouse College, Cambridge); Professor William Newman (Indiana); and Professor Lawrence M. Principe (Johns Hopkins University). In recent years, considerable attention has been devoted to the elucidation of the precise nature and scope of Newton’s influence on eighteenth-century science in particular, and on Enlightenment culture more generally. The Edward Worth Library is uniquely positioned to contribute to ongoing reassessment. An early eighteenth century library belonging to a Dublin physician, Edward Worth (1678-1733), the Library and its holdings bears witness to the spread of newtonianism in Ireland. Worth’s collection reminds us of the range and depth of the Newtonian impact on Europe and the crucial role played by second generation newtonians in clarifying, classifying and re-presenting Newton’s ideas. To mark Dublin City of Science 2012 the Worth Library is organising a two-day conference to explore the many facets of Newton’s legacy. It is envisaged that a selection of the papers will be published.

July 13 (Friday) - John Dee seminar;

July 13 (Saturday) -  GLOBAL GREEN UNIVERSITY STUDY DAY

New moon - Jul 19 2012

July 20 (Friday) – Start of Ramadan

July 22-26. Department of Philosophy, Political Theory and Religion (PPR) at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem invites submissions for an interdisciplinary conference on “Philosophical Investigation of the Hebrew Scriptures, Talmud and Midrash,” to be held in Jerusalem. Please direct correspondence to meiravj@shalem.org.il In Fall 2010, the Shalem Center in Jerusalem, with the generous support of the John Templeton Foundation, launched an initiative aimed at developing a Jewish “philosophical theology” that will seek to advance the study of the ideas of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Talmud and Midrash in the academic

setting. This initiative is part of a broader “Analytic Theology” project of the Templeton Foundation, which will also support Christian centers for philosophical theology at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Innsbruck, Austria. The Jewish component of the project envisions the development of a uniquely Jewish discipline that will use philosophical tools and methods for examining classical Jewish sources. The project is

open to Jewish and non-Jewish scholars interested in the philosophical elucidation of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Talmud and Midrash.

July 27 – Opening ceremony of Games of the XXX Olympiad or "London 2012 Olympic Games" – special event at Castle of the Muses to celebrate

July 28 – (Saturday) –ISLAMIC AND INTERFAITH MIDDLE EAST PEACE STUDIES ASSOCIATION (IIMEPSA)

July 29 (Sunday) – Tish b’Av (Jewish holiday for commemorating the holocausts of history; A solemn day that commemorates a series of tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people over the years, many of which have coincidentally happened on this day)

August 1 (Wednesday) – Lughnasadh Festival for the First Fruits of the Harvest dedicated to the God Lugh

Full moon - Aug 2 2012

August  4-6 (Friday – Sunday) -  Council Of Monarchs Study Weekend (Including Pilgrimage To Iona)

6 August (Monday) Hiroshima Day commemoration

August 9 (Thursday) - Nagasaki Day (Peace meditation at Castle of the Muses) plus Peace Walk in London from Westminster Cathedral to London Peace Pagoda 0207 228 9620

12 August - Closing ceremony of Games of the XXX Olympiad or "London 2012 Olympic Games", special event at Castle of the Muses to celebrate

August 14 (Tuesday) – Lailat al Qidr

New moon - Aug 17 2012

August 19 (Sunday) – Muslim Festival of Eid ul Fitr

August (exact date to be arranged) - Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Middle East

August  31 –  Full moon - Aug 31 2012

September 8 – 9 (Saturday) -International Metaphysical Film Festival, Arrochar, Loch Long, Near the Castle of the Muses, organised under aegis of IIPSGP (with Dr Lila Moore as Creative Director, plus Dr Thomas Daffern and Nicola Hague showing a wide variety of metaphysical films)

Saturday September 15 – Sunday September 16 - Iranian-Western Peace Philosophy Seminar - This high-level seminar on the philosophy of peace as articulated in Iranian spirituality and philosophy, and Western spirituality and metaphysics, is an important gathering during which we shall be comparing and contrasting the great thinkers of Western and Iranian history and asking whether their teachings and insights on peace cannot give us hope for a solution to the diplomatic and political crises affecting Western-Iranian relations.

New moon - Sep 16 2012

Sep 17 (Monday) – Rosh ha Shana - Jewish Festival of the New Year, Rosh Hashanah (1st day) (Jewish New Year. A two-day festival during which work is not permitted)

September 21 (Friday) – Autumn Equinox, Druid festival for the rebirth of Autumn;

21 September (Friday)  - International Day of Peace. (established by UN General Assembly in 1981 to coincide with opening of UN General Assembly) http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/

21 September – 23 September - Poetry and Bardic Weekend with Thomas Daffern, Kevin Mainwaring and Jeffrey Gayle

26 September (Wednesday)  – Yom Kippur (Jewish Festival), (Day of Atonement - the most solemn day of the Jewish year)

September 29 (Saturday) - St Michael’s Day – Christian festival - Mt Haemus Day, at the Medieval Hall in Salisbury with Dr Thomas Clough Daffern lecturing on Transpersonal History and Druidry

 Full moon - Sep 30 2012

1 October (Monday) – British Peace Museum Celebration of the Arts of Peace plus evening Eisteddfod

2 October (Tuesday)- International Day of Non-Violence (Gandhi’s Birthday);  School of Non-Violence commemorative event; Feast of Guardian Angels (Christian)

4 October (Thursday) – launch of IIPSGP Autumn term course on The History and Future of the United Kingdom, at Arrochar, Argyll, Scotland 7-9pm, launching new Centre for United Kingdom Studies (the first such academic entre worldwide to study all aspect of UK history, policy, politics and culture) as an integrated whole, including English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Northern Irish, Cornish, Manx, etc. – in the course we will be asking about how the United Kingdom came into being, and whether it is time to either renew its fundamental identity, or to end the union between Scotland and the rest of the UK – what would be the advantages and disadvantages either way for all concerned ? (Course taught by Dr Thomas Daffern, a dual British-Canadian citizen, who has lived in all parts of the UK and travelled and taught in over 33 countries worldwide, and who will be considering this matter from a global perspective.)

15 October (Saturday) – New moon - Oct 15 2012; Education Aid Day

October 16 (Tuesday) – Navatri (Hindu Festival of 9 Nights)

20 - 24 October 2012 – European Science Foundation Conference - In search of Peace: Dialogues between theories and practices, Scandic Linköping Väst, Linköping, Sweden

24 October (Wednesday) United Nations Day – Peace Meditation at the Castle of the Muses (On 24 October 1945, the United Nations was formally established after a majority of its founding members ratified a treaty setting up the world body. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recommending that the day be observed as a public holiday by Member States)http://www.un.org/events/unday/2008/background.shtml

October 26  (Wednesday) - Paryushana (The most important Jain festival, it consists of eight (Swetambara) or ten (Digambara) days of intensive fasting and repentance. A time of reflection.)

October 26 (Friday) – Eid al Adha (Muslim Festival)

27 October (Saturday) - 1-5.30pm -  Poseidon seminar – discussion on the ethics, economics, politics and metaphysics of Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent, organised with Centre for Peace Policy Research)

Full moon - Oct 29 2012

31 October (Wednesday) – Samhain, Druid Festival of the Death of the old Year and the onset of Winter, and the Commemoration of the Spiritual Worlds – evening ceremony at Castle of the Muses

1 November (Thursday) All Saints Day – Christian Festival for All Saints (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints of the Christian church.

NOVEMBER 5 (Monday) – Firework and Bonfire Celebration, Castle of the Muses,

11 November (Sunday)  - Remembrance Day commemorating Armistice Day, 1918, ending World War One (in the West) – Peace Meditation in the Castle Of The Muses; Remembrance Sunday (Peace Meditation and prayers in the Castle Of The Muses)

November 13 (Tuesday) - New moon - Nov 13 2012

NOVEMBER 13 (Tuesday) - Diwali (this festival of lights, is the most popular of all the festivals from South Asia. It is an occasion for celebrations by Hindus as well as Jains and Sikhs).

November 15 (Thursday) – Ul Hijra, first day of Muharram, Islamic New Year, commemorating Muhammad’s move to Medina, Al-Hijira (Islamic New Year. Marks the migration of the Prophet Mohammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina) – Sufi Prayers in the Castle of the Muses

November 24 (Saturday) – Ashura (Muslim Festival)

November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (www.unifem.org)

Full moon - Nov 28 2012

November 30 (Friday)  - St Andrews Day

December 1 (Saturday) – Centre for the Study of Divine Intelligence meeting

December 8 (Saturday) - Bodhi Day - On Bodhi day many Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.

Dec 9 (Sunday) – Hannukah (Jewish Festival)

Dec 10 – Human Rights Day

New moon - Dec 13 2012

20 December 2012 - A Big Project culminates – special presentation of art work worldwide inspired by movements for global peaceful change (www.abigproject.org)

December 21 (Friday) – Midwinter Solstice Festival and Yule  in Druid, Pagan, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and Norse pagan calendars;– special ceremony to mark end of Mayan Calendar cycle and start of a new one, plus Golden Gate Project in Jerusalem, and special ceremony at Stonehenge to mark Winter solstice

DECEMBER 24 (Monday) – Christmas Eve

December 25 (Tuesday) – Christmas Day (Christian festival celebrating the Birth of baby Jesus, the incarnation of the Logos)

Full moon - Dec 28 2012

December 31st ( Monday) – New Years Eve – Festival of Endings and New Beginnings

2013 – 23rd World Congress of Philosophy in Athens – please note that IIPSGP will be organising a special mini-conference on the Philosophy of Peace

http://philosophein.web.auth.gr/

2014 – Autumn – Vote in Scotland asking the people “Do you want to become an independent country” with enormous implications for the break up of the United Kingdom as a state. IIPSGP will be organising public debates and discussions hearing all sides of the arguments for and against in the run up to the referendum, carefully weighing the implications, not least the fact that an independent Scotland under the Scottish National Party has pledged to be nuclear weapons free, meaning the UK nuclear submarine fleet could not longer operate from Scotland (currently based near Castle of Muses)