Manny Blosser

What is Branch life and how is it distinct from a public study group and from the School of Spiritual Science? As members of the Anthroposophical Society we have made two decisions. We have found that the initiative of the e soteric  Executive Council in Dornach is justified and that we want to financially support that initiative. These are the conditions of membership in the Society. As members of the Society we have not made the decision to be a representative of anthroposophy that is required when membership in the School is sought. From member of humanity to member of the Society to member of the School we have three distinct social forms. 

 

As a member of humanity there are no expectations to study or not to study anthroposophy. Each is entirely free to follow their own inclinations. As a member of the School the first lesson of the First class gives this expectation,  ' What will engage us first and foremost in this School will naturally be the receiving of what can be given from the spirit. But the members of the School - they above all - will also be required to go with us along the arduous path that will be necessary in view of all the hindrances and undermining forces that are there. '  In between these two memberships is the membership in the Society where we find this esoteric commitment and initiative justified and we want to support it financially, but aren ' t yet prepared to join it. What can members of the Society do to meet together on the basis of their social commitment?

 

As a founding member of the Great Lakes Branch of the Anthroposophical Society in America I helped create and participated in a number of forms that sought to find meaning in meeting together as members of the Society distinct from meeting as members of humanity and as members of the School. Shortly after moving to Edmonton the question was brought to a group of members, do we want to be a Branch? So far we haven ' t arrived at a positive answer to that question. Instead we have arrived at having members only meetings approximately 6 times a year that have a unique form.

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Joan Sleigh

 

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I'm writing this because people have been asking for more transparency around what the Thornhill Group is, what it does, how it works, and how it came into being. Briefly, the Thornhill Group is a recognized group of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada, formed in 2014 for the purpose of coordinating outreach among anthroposophical initiatives in the Thornhill area.

Groups and Branches

Any group of seven or more members of the Society can ask to become a recognized group of the Society, by making a request in writing, and having their request granted by the council of the Society in Canada, who then, as a courtesy, informs the executive council of the Anthroposophical Society (in Dornach). There can be any number of such groups in any given geographic area. 

(Editors note: In the current Handbook from the Goetheanum concerning membership matters there is no reference to the need for seven members or more. No number is printed. Neither is there a reference to branches, only groups.)

Technically, the term "branch" has no special formal meaning in the Society context. The General Anthroposophical Society recognizes only "groups". If some group wants to call itself a "branch", that's their free choice, but from the point of view of the Society, there are really only "groups".

Do we need another "Group" or "Branch" in Thornhill?

Due to the specific mandate that the existing Thornhill Group has set for itself, there could be a need for another group - perhaps one more focused on cultivating anthroposophical life among members. In this article we offer a survey of the history and activity of the Thornhill Group and entertain in more depth the possible need for another group in more depth.

Anthroposophical Initiatives in Thornhill

Thornhill, a northern suburb of Toronto, is home to perhaps the widest range of anthroposophical initiatives to be found anywhere in Canada - at least in a "bricks and mortar" sense. There's the Toronto Waldorf School, Hesperus Village (an elder community), the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto (Waldorf teacher development), Arscura (school for living art), the church of the Christian Community, the Village Market (year-round Saturday-morning organic farmers market), the Paper Pipit (book and craft supply store), the Pegasus Medical Clinic, LifeWays Ontario, and the offices and library of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada, to name but a few. 

Thornhill and Toronto

Since the departure of Hamo and Brenda Hammond, some dozen or so years ago, there had been no recognized active local group (or branch) of the Anthroposophical Society in the Thornhill area, although, of course, there are a number of informal study groups, including some at Hesperus. 

And there is of course also the Toronto Branch, a recognized group, started in 2012,  which holds monthly meetings, hosts public events, and publishes a newsletter. Although that group is based in Toronto, members from Thornhill do sometimes attend their events, even though it's often a hour drive to get to Toronto Branch meetings from Thornhill. 

Genesis and History

From its start the Thornhill Group was conceived as a different kind of anthroposophical group - focused not so much on events for members, as on coordination of outreach into the wider community beyond the people who were already members, or who already were  read on

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.

Sophia Services is offering an exciting, second opportunity to visit Portugal, a country full of evidence of the activities of Templar Knights, hundreds of years ago. Portuguese history is rich, incorporating the explorers, Henry the Navigator, Vasco da Gama and Magellan as well as the Templars who led driving the Spanish and the Moors out of the country. The beautiful countryside is often painted on their famous tiles displayed on the exterior of buildings.

The first tour was so successful some wanted to return, so the itinerary has some changes.

   

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