Welcome to the first 2019 edition of the monthly eNews. In this edition you will find news concerning three important events: A World Waldorf Alumni Festival and also the Youth Section (AYS) of North America, will both be holding their meetings in Halifax, NS in August. From March 21 - 24 an Economics Conference, 1919 - 2019: A Second Chance for the World, will take place in Vancouver.
Headed by a snow shrouded Goetheanum is our regular letter
From the World Society
by General Secretary, Bert Chase. Then, Toronto member Trinh Huynh contributes another article from his research. And Michel Dongois continues with another journey in Europe, this time to Mount St. Michel
Finally an interesting piece by Susan Koppersmith on connecting with the great-great-great-great nephew of Novalis in Vancouver.
I wish you pleasant and inspiring reading.
Jef
Editor
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World Waldorf Alumni Festival in Halifax, NS in
August 2019
A small but dedicated group of young people under the leadership of Council member, Micah Edelstein, is working hard to create a world-wide Waldorf Alumni Festival which will celebrate 100 years of Waldorf education. This event will take place August 7-12, 2019 in Halifax, NS; it is a collaboration between the Anthroposophical Societies of the US and Canada.
The Anthroposophical Youth Section (AYS) of North America has decided to hold its 2019 conference at the same time and in the same place. The groups are still exploring how they can do a collaborative cross-over-day(s) between the two events.
Micah was inspired to want to create an Alumni Festival by reading a fascinating book: “An Exploration into the Destiny of the Waldorf School Movement” by Frans Lutters, a former Waldorf teacher and anthroposophist. In his book Frans presents research into the karmic connections between the first Waldorf school teachers and students along with Emil Molt and Steiner. It also details the 100 year history of the impulse for an education that nurtures the free human spirit.
Micah reached out to the author and heard in October that Frans would be delighted to travel to Halifax next August and participate in the Festival as the key note speaker! His wife, an art therapist, will give some workshops.
Micah adds: "The international organizing team, which meets once a week through Zoom video, is continually seeking new Alumni and friends who feel connected with the initiative and would like to contribute to the Festival. The team is also currently looking for sponsors to help make the Festival a success.”
The Council is very excited about Micah’s initiative!
We will send more information in upcoming editions of the eNews to keep you informed of what is happening. A website is being created so that people can register. This event is not only open for former Waldorf students but also for any Waldorf teachers or others who want to attend.
Susan Koppersmith
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Dear Members and Friends of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada
On Form and Efficacy
Each November a set of important gatherings take place at the Goetheanum. These meetings can be seen as an inner reflection and preparation that complements the General Assembly (Annual General Meeting) of the General Anthroposophical Society that takes place on the Palm Sunday weekend.
This set of meetings begins with a large gathering of the International Circle of Class Holders whose task has become to work in an ever deeper way with the Executive Committee (Vorstand), to support their task of carrying responsibility for the School for Spiritual Science and the life of the Esoteric (First Class) Lessons of the School. In this most recent November meeting, the four current members of the Executive Council, along with Paul Mackay, each provided a significant contribution to an overarching theme of great significance – Form and Efficacy. As we considered what each of these five individuals contributed to this theme, an awareness gradually developed that behind the question of efficacy lies a deep quest for meaning. Do the forms we have developed over the past century, for the cultivation of our shared anthroposophical life, continue to sustain that life and provide meaning for all members.
This international meeting of class holders consisted of over 250 individuals from around the world, among them the General Secretaries and Country Representatives from almost all of the nations where the Anthroposophical Society and the School for Spiritual Science are established and active. During the days we had together we accompanied these presentations of the Executive Council with intensive working sessions. These exploratory groups were where these themes were elaborated and discussed with the intention that the work of these groups will more and more contribute and support the Executive Council and its responsibilities for the School.
What evolved out of the process is an appreciation of the significance of this theme at this time, as we grow ever closer to the important events of Christmas 2023 when, as a worldwide movement, we are being called to renew ............
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The Intimate Relationship between Sophia and the
Holy Spirit
The traditional Chinese character“Ming” (明) consists of the character of the sun on the left and that of the moon on the right.
It means both “light” and “wisdom”. Did not ancient Chinese wisdom already hint to us that “light” and “wisdom” are intimately related?
“Ming” appears almost literally in the Bible at least twice, one in the very beginning, one near the end. In the Book of
Genesis
, we find that the sun and the moon were first separated on the fourth day of Creation, which was also the day when “light upon the earth” was first mentioned, or created, explicitly. There we read, on the fourth day:
“...God madethe two great lights--
the greater light
to rule the day and
the lesser light
to rule the night--and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give
light upon the earth
, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness...”
Thus was the first explicit appearance of “Ming” in the Bible: the light upon the earth from the sun and the moon. And we also learn that, as Steiner described in the lecture series “Genesis” (GA122), this holy light which was always kept separated from the darkness was the direct working of the Holy Spirit, who is called in the Book of Genesis, in Hebrew, the “Ruach Elohim”.
Then, “Ming” appears explicitly the second time, if not earlier, in Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation, in John’s exalted image of “the woman clothed with the sun”. There we read:
“And an exalted sign was unveiled in the world of spirit: a woman clothed with
the sun
,
the moon
under her feet, her head adorned with the crown of the twelve stars. And she was with child and cried out in the labour and pain of giving birth... And the woman gave birth to a child: a son. He shall shepherd all peoples with an iron staff...”
We know that the woman in this mystical fact is
Sophia
, the divine being of feminine wisdom. Thus putting together these two explicit appearances of “Ming” in the Bible, we can sense an intimate relationship between the Holy Spirit and Sophia. The outward light in
Genesis
becomes the inward light in
Revelation
, and in between the two points of time stands the Mystery of Golgotha, when Christ united himself with the earth, and thus through him, the outward light is becoming the inward light of divine wisdom in the human soul.
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Discovering Michael in the European Landscape
by Michel Dongois *
In this article I shall attempt to convey the feeling of wonder I experienced when discovering how the ancient routes leading to Mont-Saint-Michel, “The Roads to Paradise”, have taken on new life. To date, seven of these pilgrimage routes have been mapped out, one of which begins at the cathedral of Chartres. This latter is the one I chose to take in September, starting at the Royal Portal of the cathedral and journeying on foot all the way to Mont-Saint-Michel. My intention was to connect two of the jewels of our civilisation, all the while strengthening my own connection with the Archangel whose name I bear.
I began my journey on the morning of September 11 as the mist rose over the river Eure. “You are now going to reorient your life by walking from birth to death”: these words were spoken by my host in Chartres who strolled alongside me for the first few kilometres. Indeed, as we shall see later, the very spirit of the two shrines connects the mysteries of incarnation** with those of death. In other words, the path leads from dawn to dusk, from East to West.
I followed rather closely the itinerary suggested by the
Association des Chemins du Mont-Saint-Michel
. On several occasions I became a bit frustrated when I lost sight of the trail markers in the fields and forests along the way, and I sometimes chose to take country roads or even highways, which were more direct. The scenic bike path, “la Véloscénie”, built in 2012 and connecting Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel by way of Chartres, gave me a sense of being on both a pleasure excursion and a pilgrimage.
Three weeks on the road – 320 km, 17 days on foot – filled me with a sense of pure delight. Sunlight and clear skies accompanied me almost the whole time. And, the greatest luxury of all – no cellphone, no computer, no screen. Only an 8 kg backpack. And, to remain in contact with my family in Canada, good old-fashioned letter writing.
Locations associated with Michael
The
Association des Chemins du Mont-Saint-Michel
, created in 1998, promotes the various routes to Mont-Saint-Michel......
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Meeting a Descendant of Novalis
In Vancouver we had several events over the past Holy Nights.
One of them was held at my apartment in the downtown core. Before the event the group was asked to read a Steiner lecture:
The Christmas Mystery and Novalis the Seer
(22 December, 1908). The plan was that we would look at some of Novalis’ poetry as well
Betty and Klaus von Hardenbergas share thoughts about the reading.
Novalis was the pen name of Friedrich von Hardenberg (1772-1802); he was a philosopher and scientist as well as a poet. In the lecture of Dec. 22 1908, Steiner says that, through a life shattering event (the death of his fiancé, Sophie von Kuhn, at the tender age of 14), Novalis’ spirit eyes were opened and he could experience a great vista of past cosmic and earthly events. He experienced the Christ as the power by which the Earth’s body will be transformed into the Body of Christ.
As luck would have it, a friend discovered during these Holy Nights that Novalis’ great-great-great-great nephew, Klaus von Hardenberg, lives with his wife Betty in nearby Maple Ridge. The couple makes beeswax candles which Klaus sells at a local farmers’ market. My friend visited his stall and mentioned the Novalis event at my place and Klaus seemed interested. An invitation followed and he arrived at my gathering bringing many stories of his famous ancestor.
Klaus showed us photos of the birthplace home of Novalis at Oberwiederstedt located 40 kilometres north-west of Halle in Germany. Klaus’ family gave up all claim to the birthplace home, leaving it to those who would restore it. The homestead was in dire need of repair but money was found and now Oberwiederstedt is a Novalis museum as well as a world-renowned centre for the study of Early German Romanticism.
Klaus also told us that a miniature of Sophie von Kuhn remained in the family for generations, recently in the possession of his brother who kept it hidden in a drawer. Klaus thought that the miniature belonged at Oberwiederstedt and explored with his brother the possibility that it could be sent to the museum so that others could enjoy it. After seven years his brother agreed and the miniature was sent back to Germany
.
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To Be or Not To Be — A New Anthroposophical Society Members Group in Thornhill
Open meeting planned for Tuesday March 19th, 2019
Dear friends, the group that has come together to look into forming a new members group of the Anthroposophical Society in the Thornhill area has now met three times since December.
At our last meeting, we agreed that for our next meeting we would invite all interested members of the Society and that we would decide, based on that meeting, whether to go ahead with forming a new members group, or stop meeting to talk about it.
Decision Point
So at this next meeting, to be held on Tuesday March 19th, 2019 at 7 pm in the Foundation Room at Hesperus East, we plan to decide whether there is enough interest to justify the formation of a new members group in this area now.
If this is something that you resonate with, please come out to the meeting to show your support and share your ideas. At this stage we do not have fixed ideas as to what form such a group would take. Ideas that have been shared include arranging occasions for members to meet and order their karma together. We don’t feel that we need to decide in advance what exact activities the new group would host.
However we have noted that there already are a number of Anthroposophical study groups in the area where people meet to read or study books, and we would not be trying to form another group to duplicate what is going on with those groups.
The task of the new group could be seen, in broad terms, as cultivating the life of anthroposophy, or “anthroposophical society” among members. It was noted at our last meeting that participation in the regular monthly meetings of the School for Spiritual Science has for some time been strong here, and that this would indicate that there are a lot of active members in this area who feel themselves connected to the Society.
If you are for any reason unable to attend this meeting but do want to express your support for forming a new Thornhill members group of Anthroposophical Society, please email me to say so, at
rchomko@gmail.com
before March 19th. Thank you.
If we need to change the location of the meeting we will post a notice at the Foundation Room saying where we’ve moved the meeting to. The Foundation Room is the upstairs living room in Hesperus East. Hope to see you there at 7 pm on March 19th.
Richard Chomko
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In this Newsletter:
1. A Tale of Two Farms, by Chris Boettcher, Board Chairman
2. News and Events
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Newsletter from Society for Biodynamic Farming and Gardening
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We are keen to form a relationship with you.
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Spiritually Striving Youth in North America
Thank You to Members Who Have Supported Us!
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General Information and Upcoming Events
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Branches & Groups
Calgary Branch
Update for January - March 2019
Contact: Christine at
*******
Duncan
Contact:
SOL Centre
February 15th, MYTHOLOGY ~ JRR Tolkien and Anthroposophy 7:30 p.m.
February 22, Understanding children’s drawings 7:30 p.m.
Everyone welcome.
Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23, 24
MONICA GOLD Weekend workshop Pre-registration will be required for the workshop.
*******
Huronia Branch
Contact Janine at
705-728-1443
*******
Montréal
Institute Rudolf Steiner Quebec
Montreal Branch (English)
*******
Nelson, BC
*******
Nova Scotia
*******
Thornhill Group
*******
Toronto Branch
*******
Vancouver
*******
Membership Update
New Members
Filip Karadzic, Toronto
Welcome
Editorial Notes
The eNews is published 10 times per year for members of the Anthroposophical Society In Canada.
Please send correspondence and articles in either Word doc or iWork pages without formatting except for paragraphs to
BACK ISSUES are available on our website:
You will need the password: ASC
Contact Info
Anthroposophical Society in Canada
# 130A - 1 Hesperus Rd.
Thornhill, ON
L4J 0G9
Administrator
416-892-3656
877-892-3656
Members website
please note you will need to use the password
ASC
to access the members only page
Council
President
Treasurer
Secretary
General Secretary
School For Spiritual Science
For list of Class Holders,
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Ontario, February - June 2-019
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Ontario, February
12, 19, 26 and March 5, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
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Thornhill, Hesperus - Foundation Room
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Enlivening Our Concepts with Experiential Exploration with Dr. K. McAlister
Feb. 12, 19, 26 and March 5, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Today's educational orientation and our cultural orientation emphasize the development of thinking and doing. Little guidance is given to developing the feeling life as a central and deepening aspect of human spiritual growth. Anthroposophy, as a path of cognition, identifies this as a central component to aid us in discovering and realizing our potentials as human beings. Some of the basic exercises will be explored as given in the Enlightenment section of Knowledge of the Higher Worlds by Rudolf Steiner. You are invited to join us in doing these exercises together and sharing our experiences. The intention is to discover how close and differentiated the preliminary experiences can be of the supersensible realities of the Kingdoms of Nature around us. We will meet weekly for four sessions at Hesperus Community. If you feel called and able to participate please register beforehand by emailing Jef at
info@anthroposophy.ca
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The eightfold path of the Buddha and
The way of the Christ
Seminar Room, Hesperus Village, 7:00pm, Thursday 21st February
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Using the central teaching of the Buddha, the eightfold path, as an example, Anand Mandaiker, tries to show the very intricate connection between Buddhism and Christianity. He also tries to show how these eight steps can be used as a path of schooling in todays world.
About 600 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the teachings of the eightfold path were given to mankind by the Buddha as a "middle path," a path "in-between." The Christ did not give us a similar teaching, but lived this eightfold path in a transformed way.
This talk will explore this teaching of the Buddha and its transformation in the life of Christ (Gospel of Luke). It will also look to seek its relevance for us today as a teaching and as a practice.
Anand Mandaiker grew up in India and has studied Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity for many years. He is an ordained priest of the Christian Community having worked in Switzerland and Germany for over 25 years and is currently visiting Toronto. He has given talks and held courses on various religious and spiritual topics in many countries of the world.:
Contact Regine at 905-763-1003
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British Columbia, Vancouver - March
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Economics Conference
1919 - 2019: A Second Chance for the World
Seeing beyond the falsehoods of modern history through the lens of associative economics
21 to 24 March 2019 / Vancouver BC, Canada
In Memory of D’Arcy Mackenzie
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USA, Harlemville, February 17 - 21
2019 Winter Course
February 17 to 21
Join us as we give our attention to the animals and ask: What are their unique ways of being in the world? What do they bring to our lives and what can we bring to theirs? And how can we develop capacities of observation and thinking that allow us to know the world more truly?
This course is for farmers, apprentices, educators, and anyone who has an interest in animals and developing new ways of thinking.
Specific topics will include:
Mornings (9am to 12:30pm with break)
- Exercises in flexible thinking through geometry
- Mineral, plant, and animal: different ways of being-in-the world
- Wild and domesticated animals
- Animalness and humanness in evolution
Afternoons (2pm to 5:30pm with break)
- Clay modeling
- Hands-on activities related to morning sessions
- Observing farm animals (at neighboring Hawthorne Valley Farm)
Evenings
- Tuesday, 7pm: presentations about Wolfgang Schad's book Understanding Mammals
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- Optional night sky observations if the sky is clear; otherwise free
The course begins on Sunday, February 17 at 9am, and ends on Thursday, February 21, at 12:30pm.
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Portugal, April 2019
Sophia Services presents ...
A Further Search of Knights Templar in Portugal
with Sarnia Guiton, Joao Fiandeiro Santos and Peter Moore, April 13 to 27, 2019
The tour A Further Search of Knights Templar in Portugal still has places available for April 2019.
The booking deadline is the end of January -- it is suggested that you not wait until then if you intend to join this tour.
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Switzerland & France, August
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Sophia Services presents ...
In Search of the Centre—in Depth
Dornach, Arlesheim & beyond...
August 25 to September 8, 2019
These pictures are so familiar to us and yet...
• Have you gone behind the scenes to explore the whole Goetheanum, seen the Representative of Humanity sculpture and Gerard Wagner’s original paintings from the Second Goetheanum?
• Have you visited the Glass House and the other extraordinary buildings designed by Rudolf Steiner, each for their specific purpose?
• Have you seen the houses designed by him and others following his inspiration?
• Have you seen the interior of a home designed by Steiner and the fascinating metamorphic fences around gardens?
• Have you visited the archives and seen some of the original art and written works of Steiner?
• Have you visited the Persephone Grotto at the Hermitage – and why would you?
• Have you visited the Klinik Arlesheim and the Sonnenhof, founded by Ita Wegman?
• Have you seen the displays of anthroposophical jewelry, clocks and furniture?
All this and much more is on offer for a week of in-depth exploring with Rima Meadow, an American eurythmist and speech artist, who has lived, studied and worked in Dornach-Arlesheim for 7 years.
Included will be art classes in clay and painting, story time with Wanda Chrzanowska, who has amazing tales about her family and Dornach - as well as other opportunities that may present themselves.
Rima will then take us to explore Colmar and see the Isenheim altarpiece by Grünewald, the glorious Alsace area, Mont St-Odile, Strasbourg cathedral, Malsch, Maulbronn Monastery and, finally, a day in Stuttgart before returning home.
Accommodation will be primarily in monastery or convent guesthouses; hotel in Riquewihr and near Stuttgart airport.
For further information please contact Sarnia Guiton:
604-740-0676
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Anthroposophy Worldwide - 2019
We will continue to provide a link for anthroposophy worldwide for the time being. Please refer to article below concerning direct delivery.
AWE 1/2 Pending delivery in February
If you would like to see the archive of past issues, go to:
Archiv
then enter password AWE-2018
Anthroposophy worldwide to your inbox
If you are a member of the Anthroposoph
ical Society in Canada (ASC), you are also a member of the General Anthroposophical Society (GAS) centred at the Gotheanum, Dornach, Switzerland. The GAS is currently pursuing a policy of direct email communication with members.
Anthroposophy Worldwide, which reached its 21st birthday this year, is available ten times a year by email. You can now receive it in pdf form directly from the Goetheanum. Please send them your email address – to ensure correct identification add your name and postal address – using the online forms, which are available in English, French, German and Spanish at:
anthroposophie.org/abo
. S
elect ENGLISH (EN)/FRENCH (FR) on the welcome page.
Fill out the form. If you have problems filling in or submitting the form, you can also send your data informally to
abo@dasgoetheanum.com
.
Many Thanks,
Editor
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