Summer School Retreat 2026
18th - 20th September 2026
Cambridge, UK
"Keith Critchlow's philosophy is that Islamic geometry is not "ornament" but a way of expressing cosmic order and unity. In the Cambridge Mosque Keith developed what is called the "Breath of the Compassionate" pattern - a traditional Islamic geometric system based on repeating octagons and eightfold symmetry." DB
During this year’s Kairos International Summer School, we will be offering an understanding of the geometry that underlies many aspects of our physical experience. This will lead us into an understanding of what lies beyond, helping us to see that geometry underpins our interconnectedness with all things and uplifts us beyond words.
This year's focus will be based around the Cambridge Central Mosque, its garden and the connection it has to Keith Critchlow and the Universe. Our tutors will be leading us through some of the geometry K.C. designed especially for the Mosque. We will cover the Quadrivium and how we can understand all four aspects through understanding the movements of the heavenly spheres above us, music in relation to 'Mevlevi' and the natural world we see before us, as expressed in the geometric forms of the flowers that lift their heads to greet us.
We will have a private group tour of the Mosque, as well as the privilege to walk through the Islamic gardens, with the lead designer, Emma Clark. Emma will give an Introduction to the Principles, Design and Spiritual Symbolism of the Islamic Gardens of Paradise.
If you are interested in joining us please email
Amanda J. Critchlow at: kairos.charity@gmail.com
Cost for workshop including refreshments and tour of Mosque: £330
About the tutors:
Daniel Docherty is Programme Director and Senior Tutor at Sacred Art of Geometry Studios (SAOG Studios), UK. He has been actively engaged in the practice and philosophy of sacred geometry and the arts/sciences of the Quadrivium for the past 20 + years (ever since his first meeting with Keith Critchlow in the early 2000s). He balances his arts practice with regular teaching and lecturing throughout the UK and abroad. Daniel currently lives with his wife and three children in the heart of the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. (www.sacredartofgeometry.com)
Dean Brodrick is an artist, educator, musician and composer. He studied Fine Art painting at Wimbledon School of Art in the late 70s where he first met Keith Critchlow and continued studying Sacred Geometry and the Liberal Arts under his tutelage at the Royal College of Art in London. He has worked with musicians from all parts of the world and travelled extensively. He co-founded 4 small education projects in the West of England putting music and arts at the core of the curriculum. Since 1993 he has been devoted to a syncretic spiritual practice emerging from the Brazilian Amazon.
John Martineau is an author, book publisher and farmer. He studied under Professor Keith Critchlow and Paul Marchant at the Prince’s School (now the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts). He lectures world-wide and will deliver two lectures covering the geometry of the heavenly spheres and other topics of the Quadrivium.
Emma Clark studied under Professor Keith Critchlow at the Royal College of Art, graduating in 1990. Later, she was privileged to join his M.A. teaching team at the newly established Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture, and continues at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. Emma specialises in Islamic gardens, art and architecture and was lead designer of the garden at the Cambridge Central Mosque. She has published two books on Islamic gardens: The Art of the Islamic Garden, and a monograph, 'Underneath Which Rivers Flow', The Symbolism of the Islamic Garden. She is a Trustee of Kairos and a member of the Academic Board of the Temenos Academy.
Amanda J. Critchlow is Keith Critchlow’s middle daughter, who has been running Kairos for the last 41 years, with Keith up until he died 6 years ago. She is involved with all aspects of its output. A textile artist and experienced tutor Amanda now works for the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, in AlUla Saudi Arabia, as Production Manager and teacher of felt making and natural dyeing. Amanda will be leading a 2D geometry class constructing geometry on a flower or two typically found in Islamic Gardens.