Sophia Wellbeloved facts for kids

Sophia Wellbeloved was born in Dublin, Ireland. She is a historian who studies a special field called Western Esotericism. This means she looks at old spiritual ideas and practices, especially from the 1920s and 1930s in Paris, France. Her main focus is on the life and writings of a teacher named G. I. Gurdjieff (who lived from about 1866 to 1949).

Early Life and Education

Sophia Wellbeloved went to several schools and colleges to get her education. She attended Newtown Quaker School in Ireland from 1951 to 1955. After that, she studied at Beechlawn Tutorial College in Oxford, England, from 1955 to 1956.

Learning About Art

She also studied art at famous schools. She went to the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford (1955-1956), Saint Martin's School of Art in London (1956-1960), and the Central School of Art and Design in London (1961). During these years, she learned from important teachers like Cecil Collins. She also learned from people in the Gurdjieff Society in London, including Henriette Lannes, Maurice Deselle, and Henri Tracol, between 1962 and 1975. Later, she was influenced by the Rev. Donald Reeves and the church community at St. James Church, Piccadilly, from 1984 to 2004.

Advanced Studies

Sophia Wellbeloved continued her studies and earned a special degree called a PhD from King's College, London in 1999. She worked on her PhD from 1996 to 1999.

Her Career and Research

Sophia Wellbeloved has had a varied career, combining art, teaching, and deep research into spiritual topics.

Teaching and Art Shows

From 1984 to 1991, she worked as a part-time teacher. She taught sculpture at Central Saint Martins, which is a well-known art school. She also showed her art in many exhibitions between 1980 and 1992. Her art was displayed at places like the Royal Festival Hall, the Bath Festival, and the Henley Festival. She also had shows at the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Domenga Gallery in Basle, Switzerland. Her work was also featured at art fairs in Basle, London, and Los Angeles.

Writing About Gurdjieff

A big part of Sophia Wellbeloved's work is writing about Gurdjieff. She was a member of the Gurdjieff Society in London from 1962 to 1975. She has written many research papers and books about Gurdjieff's ideas. Some of her books include Gurdjieff, Astrology & Beelzebub’s Tales (published in 2002) and Gurdjieff: The Key Concepts (published in 2003).

What is Gurdjieff's Work?

G. I. Gurdjieff was a spiritual teacher who developed a system of self-development. His teachings are sometimes complex. George Adams, who reviewed Sophia Wellbeloved's book Gurdjieff: The Key Concepts, said that her book is a very helpful way to understand Gurdjieff's ideas. He noted that her book gives a clear structure to Gurdjieff's teachings, which can sometimes seem a bit unorganized.

Publishing and Centers

Sophia Wellbeloved was also the Director of Lighthouse Editions from 2005 to 2012. This company published books related to Gurdjieff's work. In 2006, she also helped start the Cambridge Centre for the Study of Esotericism. This center is a place where people can study and learn more about those old spiritual ideas and practices.

Books by Sophia Wellbeloved

Here are some of the books Sophia Wellbeloved has written:

• Gurdjieff, Astrology & Beelzeub's Tales, Solar Bound, New Palz, N.Y., 2002
• Gurdjieff: The Key Concepts, Routledge, London and New York, 2003
• 48 Trojan Herrings & Tripidium, Waterloo Press, Hove, 2008
• Praying for Flow, Waterloo Press, Hove, 2011