Calgary Branch
Update for December and January, 2019
Contact: Christine at 403-242-7175 or
email
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Huronia Branch
Contact Janine at
705-728-1443
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Institute Rudolf Steiner Quebec
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New Members
Transferred In
Ko Chen Hawkes (
Sointula, BC)
Welcome
Re-joined
Paul Decarie (Durham-Sud, QC)
Welcome
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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
the editor.
BACK ISSUES are available on our website:
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Contact Info
Anthroposophical Society in Canada
# 130A - 1 Hesperus Rd.
Thornhill, ON
L4J 0G9
Administrator
416-892-3656
Public Website
Members website
please note you will need to use the password ASC to access the
members only page
Council
Secretary
General Secreta
ry
School For Spiritual Science
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Correspondence of the Natural Science Section Society in America
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Being Human USA
Published by the Anthroposophical Society in America.
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Present Age - Switzerland (printed in English)
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Thornhill October 2018-June 2019
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Hesperus Fellowship Community
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From the World Society
Dear members and friends of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada:
Each autumn a set of intensive meetings takes place that reflects on the events of spring and summer and look forward to the coming year. One is the meeting of the North American Collegium of the School for Spiritual Science, and the other is what has been a meeting of the Council for the Anthroposophical Society in Canada with the Circle of class holders in Canada.
The Collegium met over four days In mid October at the Fellowship Community in Spring Valley, an hour north of New York City. The impulse to establish the Collegium in North America happened concurrently with the inauguration of Section work in North America. This complemented the evolving development of the Sections taking place at the Goethenum. The work of the various Sections, along with the multitude of institutions and initiatives arising out of the Sections, has flourished over these years. At the heart of all of this work is the intention to bring about a transformation of our contemporary culture. At the centre of this ever expanding activity stands the work of the Collegium. In our meetings this year, we continued work begun last year - to reflect on the evolution of the work of each Section in North America and how it can evolve in the coming years.
Included in the work of the Collegium is the concern for the life and health of the Anthroposophical Societies in the US and Canada, and in the future Mexico as well; by considering their respective Groups and Branches. Here, the development has been different from that of the initiatives and institutions. The growth of the membership within these two Societies, and the activity of the Groups, has not developed as the institutions have. The demographic makeup of those active within the two Societies has also shifted toward older members.
These trends have formed the domain of the work of the Collegium in recent years. What has gradually evolved out of that work is a growing sense that the living experience and immediacy of anthroposophy that we all share, calls for being strengthened and intensified. For those working out of the Sections and into the initiatives, it is this vibrant life of anthroposophy that informs all that takes place. It is this ever renewing stream that continuously brings meaning and effectiveness into all of our initiatives.
In a similar manner, it is when we have the experience of this immediacy of anthroposophy within our Groups and Branches, that we have the experience of coming close to what has drawn us all to this impulse to transform and renew our culture out of spiritual inspiration.
Each of us, in our own unique way, has been led to a meeting with anthroposophy. It is the common ground upon which we all stand - whether we become active in how anthroposophy can be applied in the world, or how we seek to bring anthroposophy alive in our soul life, it is this experience of a living stream that we step into that gives meaning to our lives, meaning that we each experience in unique and differentiated ways. Yet despite this multiplicity of experience, the longing to connect with this life stream of anthroposophy is what we have in common
So it is that within the remarkable structure of our General Anthroposophical Societies, within which rests the School for Spiritual Science with its Sections working into the institutions, is a unifying organ that Rudolf Steiner identified as the General Anthroposophical Section.
It is to this central organ that both the Collegium and the Circle of class holders turned this autumn; experiencing that this region, or field, that we all have in common now needs our special attention. By discerning what it is that has moved through our biographies that has brought us into connection with this anthroposophical movement, we collectively awaken the reality of this sphere that is common to us all. In so doing, we have the possibility of strengthening and focusing the living forces that unite us in our common striving, that the dignity and meaning of being human in our time can become an ever stronger beacon in our challenging times.
Bert Chase
General Secretary, Canada
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Message from Joan Sleigh - November
Anthroposophy Worldwide no 11 − 2018
Dear Members and Friends,
The conversion of communication to members via digital channels is in full swing. As before, "Anthroposophy Worldwide" is available free of charge via e-mail (PDF). In addition to English, German and Spanish are also available. A contribution towards expenses is requested for the purchase of the paper edition. If you know a member who does not yet receive "Anthroposophy Worldwide", you are welcome to inform them that they can receive "Anthroposophy Worldwide".
It is important to us as the Executive Council to make it clear that accusations made against the Executive Board of the Anthroposophical Society in Switzerland in connection with the ending terms of office of Paul Mackay and Bodo von Plato are not justified.
At the Goetheanum, important conferences of professional groups took place, including entrepreneurs at the World Goetheanum Forum, therapists and social practitioners at the International Forum for Social Development at their biennial annual conference, as well as natural scientists at "Evolving Science".
Ute Craemer from Brazil and Thomas Spittler from Peru report on their work on the Foundation Stone Meditation. Christiane Haid continues the series on the rhythms of foundation stone meditation with the sixth rhythm. It is also the central theme of this year's International Christmas Conference: "Meeting the Being of Anthroposophy" - The Transformative Power of the Foundation Stone in Humanity and Society" at the Goetheanum from 27th to 31st December 2018. Further information under https://www.goetheanum.org/en/conferences/christmas-conference-2018/.
With Warm autumn wishes and happy reading,
Joan Sleigh
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Section of What? - Sherry Wildfeuer
It may seem difficult to make sense of the various parts of the Anthroposophical Society at first, but the wisdom inherent in them becomes ever more apparent over time. This has been increasingly evident at meetings of the North American Collegium of the School for Spiritual Science. At our most recent meeting, which took place in Chestnut Ridge, NY in October, we worked together to assess how this inner integrity of the movement, Society and its School could be strengthened and made more visible.
In the months following the tragic burning of the Goetheanum, which had made visible the spiritual content of anthroposophy through the arts, Rudolf Steiner encouraged the founding of national anthroposophical societies. Then, at the end of the year, he re-founded the General Anthroposophical Society. He entrusted the Foundation Stone Meditation to the hearts of the members and created at the core of the Society a School for Spiritual Science, which was entrusted with the task of spiritual research. Membership in the Society was open to anyone who experienced the value of what had arisen from spiritual science at the Goetheanum and wanted to support its continuing existence. Membership in the School, after the initial group of students was admitted, was open to those who had been members of the Society for approximately 2 years and, as a fruit of their study of anthroposophy, found themselves in a position of representing anthroposophy through their lives and work or wishing to do so.
The core of the schooling is cultivated in a series of 19 Class Lessons with mantras as a common, rhythmic, life-long path of learning for all of its pupils. It enables them to face how thinking, feeling and willing have been distorted by the forces at work in our time, and to know how, gradually, with the support of higher beings, they can come to know their own true being. Whoever joins this School is joining a research community known as the General Anthroposophical Section. The research involves ever deepening participation in the transformation of consciousness and culture, with the ultimate purpose of serving the needs of the world. It alternates between solitary meditative work and sharing the Lessons together with other members of the School.
The School also consists of Sections devoted to vocations in the arts, agriculture, science and mathematics, education, social life, and healing, plus a Section for the spiritual striving of youth.
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Report from the Canadian Class Holders Conference - October 19 - 22
What happens when you get a gathering of Canadian Class Holders? This may seem a frivolous question, but perhaps it's one worth contemplating. The easy answer might be: a lot!
Seventeen Class Holders met over the extended weekend of the 19thto the 22ndOctober for the main purpose of considering the question: 'How do we carry the task of serving the General Anthroposophical Section?' This is in view of a new expectation issuing from the leadership of the School for Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum. Up till now the appointed individual was only tasked with presenting the Class Lessons in their designated area.
Our preparatory reading and study centered around two works: Phillip Thatcher's book 'Enabling Warmth' and the booklet by Penelope Baring and Rüdiger Janisch 'A Way of Serving'.
We had some discussion around the English nomenclature of the General Anthroposophical Section, which might be better rendered as the 'Section for the Universally Human'. This brings a helpful clue as to the soul direction gatherings within the purview of the General Anthroposphical Section might strive towards.
We made at least a start in creating an awareness of how to work and what this new task might entail.
Over the weekend itself, two events occurred in the spirit of the General Anthroposophical Section. On Friday night, local and visiting Class Members joined the circle of Class Holders to hear a free-holding of Lessons Twelve and Thirteen given with grace, insight and clarity by Dr. Werner Fabian. The downstairs room at Hesperus was crowded and the mood of uplifted devotion was palpable.
On Sunday morning, this enlarged circle (with some modification) gathered in the eurythmy room at the Toronto Waldorf School for a eurythmy and creative writing session led by Sylvie Richard and Brenda Hammond. We moved from the mood of devotion (blue), stepped into activity with red, and ended in the magic of magenta. Some wonderful words and even some humorous ones were shared by a few brave souls.
Thanks are due to the school for generously making the space available.
We began and ended our Class Holders gathering by creating two contemplative conversations. We did eurythmy, sang together, played a clapping and stamping game, and addressed issues and questions from individual Class Holders from different areas in our vast country as well as considering what was happening in connection with the School for Spiritual Science elsewhere.
That was the outward. Inwardly, the soul experiences of what occurred together with the beings of the spiritual world can of course only be more subtle and hidden,............................
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Invitation to Help Develop Ideas for a New Members Group in Thornhill
As a follow-up to the article in the last issue of this newsletter about the Thornhill Group, we would now like to invite any interested members to join in the process of exploring the question of what kind of new Anthroposophical Society members group we would like to found in the Thornhill area.
Just from within the Tuesday study group here at Hesperus there are already nine people who feel that such a new members group would be worth forming. We have already started to work together to explore what form that new group would take. But we also want to include any other members in the area who want to be part of this process.
The next meeting for this purpose will be on Tuesday January 15th at 7 pm in the upstairs living room (now called the Foundation Room) in the older (East) section of Hesperus, at 1 Hesperus Rd, Thornhill, Ontario.
How many more meetings?
It's not yet known how many more meetings we will want to have before taking the step of asking to be recognized as a members group by the Council of the Society.
We're taking it one step at a time. If you would like to join in this process you are welcome to do so. Of course members who do not wish to be part of this exploration process may still join later as members of the group, once the group is formed and meeting as a members group.
If you would like to join our exploratory group, please
click this link to add yourself to our email list to be reminded of meetings, and other updates. You can unsubscribe at any time.
But even if you don't want to join the list,
you can still come to the Jan. 15th meeting
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Why are we doing this?
While the immediate impetus for beginning this exploration has been some people's questions around the existing Thornhill Group (whose purpose is to coordinate outreach) I do also carry the feeling that, in spite of all the anthroposophical initiatives here in Thornhill, the central impulse of anthroposophy can seem at times to be wearing a little thin.
And I feel that whatever we can do to live anthroposophy more strongly, may have far-reaching effects.
Richard Chomko
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Associative Economics Worldwide
Beginning in the New Year, under the rubric 'Associative Economics Worldwide', a range of publications will become available for sale. These cover a wide range of topics, especially those of a financial and accounting kind, that have been produced over a number of years on a collegiate basis within the Economics Conference of the Goetheanum. The 'brand' is intended to bring Rudolf Steiner's work, updated for today, into today's mainstream policy discussions. Some are already in downloadable format at economics.goetheanum.org/publications. Including a number of formal post-graduate theses, the various texts belong to on-going work that seeks to increase coherence in this field of endeavour, with the underlying aim of widening this coherence in both German- and English-speaking parts of the Anthroposophical Movement; and so to ready ourselves for introducing Rudolf Steiner's ideas into, and thus influencing, current debates.
D'Arcy Mackenzie and Associative Economics Worldwide:
When D'Arcy Mackenzie, a member of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada, died in February 2018, he left behind some important work. From August 2005 to December 2007, D'Arcy wrote a column on accounting, looking at many aspects of modern economic life from the point of view of economics as informed by the work of Rudolf Steiner (associative economics) and linked to finance and accounting. A much-respected colleague of the Economics Conference of the Goetheanum, D'Arcy brought many insights always grounded in his practical work in finance, never flights of fancy or grand prescriptions. His column and other articles he wrote have now been reproduced in a simple book called Accountants' Corner (available from http://economics.goetheanum.org/publications/books-and-theses/). In D'Arcy's memory and in honor of his professional association, donations of $2445.00 were given to the Economics Conference Fund and are now held within the Anthroposophical Society in Canada under the stewardship of Douglas Wylie. The Economics Conference would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who donated in honor of D'Arcy and his work. The funds will be used to further the comprehension and practice of associative economics as initiated by Rudolf Steiner in 1922. Here is a link to the Economics Conference website for anyone who may be interested: http://economics.goetheanum.org/home/ .
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China, A Whitsun Experience.
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| The God of the Sun |
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For three weeks in October 2018 Shanghai and Guangzhou were my homes in China. I felt embraced throughout the entire time by a world of love, comfort, creativity, and every day anew there was a surprise. As an Art Therapist my aim was to give an introduction to Anthroposophy through the wisdom that can be discovered in children's drawings and paintings.
I began by talking very cautiously about the beginning of our planetary stages of the Earth: Ancient Saturn, ancient Sun and ancient Moon. I explained that Saturn can be imagined as the Father, the God of the Sun as his Son and the God of the Moon as the God of wisdom.
In the evening, the private guide in Guangzhou led us through the ancestral hall in a museum and showed us, as the very first example, a sculptured image of the God of the Sun, and then she led us to the God of the Moon! We could not believe it and our organizer was speechless. How did the guide know of my careful approach to the Trinity? It did not take very long before the participants of the three-day workshop realized that, no matter which culture we live in, it always leads us back to the Trinity.
The themes of discussion and lecturing seemed to evolve by themselves through questions and rapid discoveries of the participants. Children's paintings taught us the meaning of the house. Every participant made a drawing of the house. Where do the body, the etheric, the astral and the spirit live in the house? Where do we find thinking, feeling and willing, spirit self, life spirit and spirit man? How do they connect to imagination, inspiration and
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What are the Fruits of Waldorf Education?
You will not be disappointed - Editor
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Barrie, ON November 2018 - June 2019
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Advent Fair, December 1st
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Arscura School for Living Art
Biography in Mid-life
This course can lead to insights and new directions "in the midst of your life", wherever you are at in this current time. New inspiration and creativity can be born when "seeing and being seen" in your full potential. Study, art process and sharing in the group.
Short courses:
The following workshops and short courses this fall and winter may be taken as a one off, or as a series of a deepening exploration into Anthroposophical Biography Work and Biography Coaching.
Making a start! Creating a life chart and learning to read it.
Christian Community, 901 Rutherford Rd. Thornhill; Saturday
December 8 from 9:30 to 3:30 with Regine Kurek
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Eurythmy by the Sea - December 1st
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Edmonton November - December
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Society for Biodynamic Farming and Gardening in Ontario
Click to download the newsletter
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Thornhill, ON February - March 2019
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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 me at
dr.k.mca@rogers.com
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Goetheanum December 27 - 31
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International Christmas Conference at the Goetheanum
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Anthroposophy Worldwide - # 11 2018
If you would like to see the archive of past issues, go to:
then enter password AWE-2018
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Sincerely,
Jef Saunders
Anthroposophical Society |
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