About the Academy

The Academy Of European Arts & Culture was founded in 1991 by Mervyn Brady and has Centres in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Mexico. Although it has roots in the recognized system of philosophy known as The Fourth Way, it has evolved over the years into a school of Mysticism and Love.

When an individual becomes a student of the Academy (admission is by invitation following an interview by one of the directors of the school), he or she is immediately exposed to a system of philosophy which is based on an acquired understanding of ’48 laws’, this system of 48 laws is often referred to as ‘the Work’.

The aim of the teaching and of the Work is to provide the willing student with the tools to help them distinguish between their outer world (the world of the body and everyday life) and their inner world (the higher part of themselves which some refer to as the soul). Having been able to distinguish the two, it is the aim of the Academy that the individual student will start to develop the inner, hidden part of him or herself and grow towards enlightenment.

The student is encouraged to base all new understanding on ‘self verification’. This teaching is not based on faith or repetition and as the student goes forward in the work each law will become clear to the student through observation.

Whilst there are some written resources, the academy uses a living word approach to teaching and the knowledge of the 48 laws is primarily discussed in the Academy meetings, which take place at least once a week in the respective teaching centres. The meetings are generally a mixture of explanations and questions and whilst this process occurs students are encouraged to ‘self remember’ or become as ‘present’ as possible. As the body (or machine) becomes passive to the teaching we find that our ‘inner worlds’ or souls have more space and the meetings become the heartbeat of our work. Accordingly, the energy at the meetings is frequently very beautiful.

We refer, both in the name of the Academy and in some of the teachings, to European Arts and Culture. This is because the laws which are taught are based in ancient wisdom and have been understood and depicted through the art forms throughout the ages. European Renaissance and Pre-Raphaelite art is particularly rich in symbolism relating to the Work. Some of the teachings use this art as an aid in passing on the knowledge of the laws.

“We are taught to measure in years and months from our birth, yet my soul is always young … and remains so … regardless of the creature’s concept of time. My soul feels that it belongs to the ages and eons, rather than to the mortal life of the creature.”

Mervyn Brady