Dear Members and Friends,
Up until July, during the Covid-19 restrictions, the Goetheanum Leadership had several video conferences with the representatives of the Anthroposophical Society around the world. It was important to keep in contact while physical meetings were impossible and to share information about the spiritual situation in the various countries.
Human orientation
In addition to the officially imposed social distancing, questions of social and ethnic discrimination have been a burning topic for many people, particularly in the Anglo-American world. Public statements were asked for and the Anthroposophical Societies in these countries felt called upon to express their views – especially as Rudolf Steiner has occasionally been attacked in this context. Although the explanations vary depending on the regional situations, the Executive Council at the Goetheanum decided to publish its own statement on the Anthroposophical Society’s human and cosmopolitan orientation on the internet.
In July, the drama of modern humanity between its spiritual origins and its responsibility for the earth was brought to the Goetheanum Stage. Because of Coronavirus restrictions the performance had been uncertain to the last moment. The condensed new Faust production, headed by Andrea Pfaehler and Eduardo Torres, was an outstanding cultural achievement by an ensemble of more than 80 actors, eurythmists and stage technicians (stage director: Stefan Hasler). Armed with a specific safety plan, it was possible to accommodate around 400 visitors for each of the three performances, who expressed their gratitude to the ensemble with standing ovations, some of them touched to tears by this festive artistic event that brought strengthening forces to the soul at such a difficult time.
Goetheanum offerings in demand
The weekly journal Das Goetheanum, the Goetheanum’s media releases and online presence have also been in high demand in the past months. Countless new subscribers and online visitors as well as the book published by the Goetheanum Leadership on perspectives in the time of Corona (now also available in English) are evidence of the Goetheanum’s importance as a cultural factor.
Warm greetings,
Justus Wittich, Goetheanum
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The Ages of Michael (Mi-Ka-El)
Alexander
[This article is drawn from the work of Rudolf Steiner and Marcel Druon]
Rudolf Steiner spoke on numerous occasions that the dark age of Kali-Yuga had ended, usually he associated this with the year 1899. At this time a new age of the Archangel Michael began. For the seven archangels take turns in the office of time spirit, each holding sway for approximately 350 years. So we are now nearly midway through the Age of Michael. Michael is the archangel who is like God, whose face is like the Sun. RS says we must not “swallow the last syllable as English-speaking people are inclined to do”.
In 1925, when Rudolf Steiner was ill, he once mentioned to Ita Wegman, that he could see the anti-Michael demons gloating, gloating that they had won, that there would be no age of Michael. The anti-Michael demons are the spirits of darkness, those who ruled over Atlantis in its latter years, in collusion with the Turanian kings. They caused the destruction of Atlantis. They are here again, in force.
So let us look at the last age of Michael, which was centred around 300BC. The key events of that time were associated with ancient Greece, the leading culture then, and with Alexander the Great. Rudolf Steiner tells us that the same individuality that lived in Alexander also lived in Ita Wegman. RS says that Alexander was born on the same day that the temple of Ephesus was burned down by barbarians. He was born in the midst of a furious lightning storm.
According to the Michael Prophecy, RS said that he would reincarnate by the end of the 20th century. Perhaps he is here now, and Alexander, too? The notes following are mostly drawn from Marcel Druon’s book about Alexander. Perhaps some of it is more anecdotal than factual?
The ancient world at that time was dominated by the despotic Persian empire. They had conquered nearly all, they had shut down the Egyptian temples of the gods. Anatolia (nowadays Turkey) was under Persian occupation. Most countries paid tribute to the Persian emperor.
King Philip of Macedon, Alexander’s father, was making plans to take on the empire. In 336BC he was assassinated. Some of the Greek states, like Athens, were opposed to Philip’s and Alexander’s plans. Persia even had its supporters and agents amongst them.
There is a wonderful story of a young Alexander, about 12 years old, when some horse dealers came north to Macedonia, to offer some fine horses to Philip. The wildest horse was Bucephalus, no one could get close enough to ride him. Alexander said to his father “They're doing it wrong! If I can ride that horse, will you buy him for me?” Philip agreed. Alexander took the horse by the bridle, speaking soothingly to it, he turned it away from the sun. Suddenly he jumped on its back. Bucephalus took off like a shot, racing away. Philip was sore afraid that Alexander would be thrown and killed. After a long, long, anxious wait, horse and Alexander returned, with Alexander on top. He had let it run until it was exhausted, then turned it around and came back home. And so Bucephalus became Alexander’s horse throughout all his campaigns.
After Philip’s death, Alexander became king. He was 20 years old. Soon he gathered together an army of 30,000 Macedonians, and marched to the Bosphorus, and crossed into Persian territory. In the villages they passed through, the locals gave them a look that suggested they must be crazy coming here. Learning of the invasion, the Persians amassed an army greatly outnumbering Alexander and met him at a river crossing. Alexander’s forces annihilated the Persian army. Alexander continued his march south. A vastly bigger Persian army met him at another river crossing, outnumbering Alexander’s army by many times. Alexander chose the time and place of the attack, his horsemen charging down unexpectedly from the mountains, with the rising morning sun behind him. The vastly superior Persian force was routed, their king fled. Escaping soldiers were chased down and exterminated. The emperor had brought his wife and mother and daughters to the battle, expecting victory. Alexander treated the captured women with respect and honoured them. He continued his march. At Tyre, they came to an impregnable fortified city. After futile frontal attacks, Alexander amassed an armada of ships. Putting his men on the ships, they attacked the fortress from the sea, overwhelming and conquering it. Alexander continued on to Egypt, where he liberated it from Persian occupation, and restored the temples of the gods. He founded the city of Alexandria. The surveyors were laying out the plans for the main streets and important buildings. They could find no lime, so flour was used. A flock of birds came down, pecked up the flour, and flew away. Alexander turned to his seer (who always travelled with him), and said, “What does this mean?”. The seer’s reply was “the teachings of Alexandria will be carried to the four corners of the world”.
When Alexander arrived at Jerusalem, the people were greatly afraid that they would all be slaughtered. The high priest told them to prepare flowers, to open the gates to Alexander’s army, and strew petals on their path. The high priest dressed in his white gown, and carried a golden dagger. When Alexander’s army entered, and Alexander saw the high priest, he was astonished, and bowed down to him. For this was the man in the vision he had seen in a dream before leaving Macedonia. In the vision he had been told that the God of this priest would grant him victory over Persia !
Then Alexander turned his attention to the East. During his campaigns of ten years he conquered Persia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and northern India. He established Greek settlements along his routes, and established schools. Greek poets, musicians, theatre troupes travelled to the new cities established by Alexander. There was a “cultural revolution”. Kandahar in Afghanistan was originally also called Alexandria. RS tells us that when the Greek philosophers were later exiled in 529AD they went eastward, to Persia, to the civilization created by Alexander.
So the message of the Age of Michael appears to be the violent destruction of a world order that has become oppressive, and the establishment of new schools and new teachings, for all peoples. Shortly after the age of Michael, Christ incarnated in Hellenized Judea. The new testament was written in Greek. This was all prepared for by the age of Michael. The great Greek initiate Apollonius of Tyana (1st century AD) travelled throughout the ancient world, doing miracles, and spreading spiritual teachings. It is said that in the south of France, near the Mediterranean coast, he planted talismans in the soil, to spread a beneficent influence to prepare for a future spirituality. There is said to be one near Fréjus.
So what about the current age of Michael? Will the anti-Michael demons be victorious and create instead an everlasting age of Ahriman? The Age of Michael has already lasted 120 years, it is nearly half over, and Ahriman has been gaining more and more power. Will Michael intervene?
Sources: RS: Karmic Relations, The Fall of the Spirits of Darkness; MD: Alexandre le Grand (translated as Alexander the God).
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Ontario member and artist Peter Doef was recently interviewed on Ottawa ctvnews. Peter has been making art for nine decades!
Click below to view the interview and patiently ignore the necessary tv advertising.
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In Memory of Ralph Danyluk |
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Venus in August
The morning star now
she stands in Gemini
the blue about her
darkening day by day
as this dawning
brightens beyond
Overhead Mars rests
at anchor in Pisces
Between them a waning
moon narrows, widens
as Venus opens her gate to
the ones crossing over:
Let love free your thinking
from its thought up knots
those little schemes
that grand plan
the idea of you that left
no room for you
Let love release you
your thinking
sunward
In memory of Ralph Danyluk
(Philip Thatcher
August 11, 2020)
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Vénus au mois d’août
L’étoile du matin maintenant
elle se tient dans les Gémeaux
le bleu qui l’enveloppe
s’obscurcit jour après jour
alors qu’au loin cette aurore
répand sa lumière
Au-dessus, Mars, au repos
à l’ancre dans les Poissons.
Entre les deux, une lune
descendante se rétrécit, s’élargit
alors que Vénus ouvre sa porte
à ceux qui traversent de l’autre côté :
Que l’amour libère ta pensée
des nœuds qu’elle s’est créés :
ces petites volontés
ce grand projet
cette idée de toi-même qui
n’a laissé aucune place à toi-
même
Que l’amour libère pour toi
ta pensée
vers le soleil
À la mémoire de Ralph Danyluk
(Philip Thatcher
11 août 2020)
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Eulogy
Ralph Danyluk *June 23, 1950 † August 8, 2020
Christ knows us. To a soul that sees our Spiritual Science in the true light, to a heart that feels it in its true significance, I can impart no more esoteric saying: The Christ is seeing us. R.S.
Reflecting on these words of Rudolf Steiner, as Ralph did, I am struck by the thought that, “Christ knows US” and that, “Christ is seeing US”, not the singular, ME.
So much of the story of Ralph’s life is also the story of the communities that he was a part of. At least this is the lens with which we see Ralph’s teaching, relationships and study. The life that he had here in the Christian Community, in the Society, his life teaching at the West Coast Institute as well as his life as a student of Anthroposophy, learning and warmly guiding friends to learning, in conversations and in study groups. There is little that Ralph did that he did for himself. He did it with and for US.
It can seem in many ways that his life began when it was being shared in community. His early life as a child in Winnipeg and as young adult in the university there was described as a “nonevent” There was little to share from the time before he arrived in Vancouver in the 1970’s. He did not maintain close family ties. He needed the space between himself and his family to be able to become himself. The main relationship that he retained from childhood and fostered throughout his whole life were books and the thoughts and ideas that they contained. As a child, as soon as he learned to read, he began to be nourished. He read the bible through cover to cover two times and whatever else his good friend the librarian could find for him.
Ralph was able to see when destiny presented itself to him. Time and again he had the courage to act at the right moment. A week after coming to Vancouver, to pursue a master’s degree in Physics at Simon Fraser University, he found the group of young people that were gathering at the Christian Community with the Heggs to study and paint and be a part of the sacraments and the life of the congregation. Ralph became a part of this - finding in himself enthusiasm for the plays and study groups. Verner Hegg would ask him to play Adam in the Paradise Play because everything was so fresh for Ralph, a child-like naivety that was present, but also a deep sincerity and wisdom.
Ralph established himself as a member of these communities and then stepped away for 20 years to work as a digital software programmer and to be lovingly and devotedly married to Eleanor.
Soon after Eleanor’s death in 2004 Ralph found himself again an active member of the communities he was a part of, here and Montreal, studying and teaching Spiritual Science. He went to the Dornach to teach and to try to advise the leadership on the technology in the Goetheanum.
He loved Switzerland and studying and teaching at the Goetheanum. He also loved Constance. The timing was right in 2013 to return to Vancouver. He asked Constance to marry him, which they did December 21st, 2013. They lived a life of loving and caring for each other until his death and after.
Christ KNOWS us, Christ SEES us.
Having lived his life with these thoughts, with us, Ralph can now re-enter another community of learners, of seekers. Those across the threshold which Ralph extended his thoughts to so often and so clearly - while here on earth. There Ralph, still as a member of communities, continues to be known and to be seen by Christ.
Yes, so be it.
From: The Christian Community Burial Ritual
Rev. Ann Burfeind
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Looking Back On An Unusual Year and a Quarter.
And where do we go now? August 2020
- by Zeb Landon
Quite a few BD farm and winery tours took place in recent years, open to members and the public. However, not only because of Covid but for other reasons, few offers to host such events surfaced in the last while. Opportunities to share knowledge and experiences related to biodynamics, and small gatherings should remain quite possible despite Covid challenges. Hopefully, members will stay in touch with each other whether by physically meeting or in other ways.
One new aspect is that those fortunate to have adequate internet service can take advantage of ‘Zoom’ for online conferencing, overcoming distances separating us. Unlike with teleconferencing, by selecting screens, participants can be both seen and heard. It’s great to put a face, a voice, and a name together, and connect with other participants whom it is less likely one could meet otherwise. Several Zoom study groups have popped up in the Anthroposophical Society and in The Christian Community, pulling in people of shared interests, and overcoming feelings of isolation. Demeter International recently held a Zoom meeting, July 20-24, with 200 participants, which represented 46 countries --up 9 from last year’s in-person meeting. Originally, the “physical” conference location was planned for Brazil.
With the next BD Society AGM forcibly postponed due to Covid, I offer here a bit of retrospect of BD Society activities since the last AGM in April 2019. Click below to read on.
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General Information and Upcoming Events |
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Branches & Groups
Calgary Branch
Contact: Christine at
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Cantons de l'Est
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Confluence of Three Rivers (Ottawa)
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Duncan
Contact:
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Edmonton
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Huronia Branch (Barrie)
Contact Janine at
705-728-1443
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London
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Montréal (Français)
Institute Rudolf Steiner Quebec
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Montreal Branch (English)
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Nelson, BC
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Nova Scotia
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Polaris Branch (Thornhill)
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Saugeen Cedar Branch
(Durham)
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Sherbrooke (Français)
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Sunshine Coast (BC)
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Thornhill Group
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Toronto Branch
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Vancouver
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Val David (Français)
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Victoria
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Membership Update
New Members
Mila Cheburashkin (Thornhill)
Jennifer Riddick (Ottawa)
Farah Naeem (Edmonton)
Welcome!
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Transferred In
Abril Baca-Marinez (Mexico)
Eduardo Huarte-Rodriguez (Mexico)
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Deceased
Hella Kurth (Cambridge, ON)
*****
Ralph Danyluk, (Vancouver, BC)
Please see obituary in right hand column
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Gunther Schneider, (Denman Island, BC)
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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 before the 15th of the month before publication
BACK ISSUES are available on our website:
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Contact Info
Anthroposophical Society in Canada
# 130A - 1 Hesperus Rd.
Thornhill, ON
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Membership Administrator
Christine Tansley
416-892-3656
877-892-3656
Communication Administrator
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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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Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy Starting Sept. 26 in Thornhill and Halton
In-person Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy programs run by the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto are starting up soon at the RSCT Thornhill campus and at the Halton Waldorf School.
Free Introductory Talks Sept. 17th and 21st
Free introductory evenings for the Foundation Studies Encounter program will be held this Thursday Sept. 17th at 7:30 pm at the RSCT Thornhill, and again next Monday Sept. 21st at 7:30 at the Halton Waldorf School.
Halton and Thornhill
The Foundation Studies encounter program consists of 30 Saturdays with classes from 9 am to 1 pm, starting Sept. 26th, and continuing through May 29th, with Christmas and March breaks. This year the course is being offered at both the RSCT Thornhill campus and at the Halton Waldorf School. Tuition fee is $1,800. Full program details below
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Foundation Studies Distance
For people who don’t live within driving range of either Halton or Thornhill, the RSCT also offers a Foundation Studies distance program, which can be started at any time. Students work with a mentor, and can complete the program at their own pace. Details on the Distance program below:
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Prerequisite for Waldorf Teacher Programs
While some people take Foundation Studies as a general introduction to, and exploration of, Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophy or spiritual science, it is also a prerequisite for taking part in the RSCT’s AWSNA-certified Waldorf teacher programs for both elementary-school teachers and early childhood teachers.
Covid-19 Protocols in Place
The RSCT is re-opening this month for in-person classes with a comprehensive Covid-19 restart plan which complies with all the current public health directives regarding tracking, face coverings, distancing and hygiene, to minimize risk to students and faculty. You can read the full 10-page restart plan at:
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Thornhill Anthroposophical Campus
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WALDECK WEST, NOVA SCOTIA |
Dear Friends,
We’re pleased to let you know about The Nature Institute’s involvement in two new education initiatives, and also want to point you to a new article on Goethean science.
The education programs, created by like-minded colleagues in experience-based education, are designed for young adults:
-- Free Columbia, a non-profit in Columbia County, will launch its M.C. Richards Program at the end of August. A nine-month course in transdisciplinary inquiry for ages 18 to 35, activities will include study of texts, experiential learning in a variety of fields, and studio work in the visual, practical and performing arts. Contributions by our staff include three-week courses on “Discovering Meaning in Nature: Animals, Humans, and Evolution” and “Learning from Plants,” taught by Craig, and “Visual Experience and the World of Light, Darkness, and Color ” and “Transformation, Polarity, and Expanding the Boundaries of Thought through Projective Geometry,” taught by Henrike.
-- From August thru December, the Thoreau College Semester Program in Wisconsin will welcome up to twelve young people, ages 18 to 25, for an immersive experience in thoughtful study, practical labor, wilderness expeditions, community self-governance, inner development, and artistic practice. Craig will give a week-long course, “Developing a Living Relation to Life,” and Henrike’s week-long course focuses on “Illuminating Visual Experience.”
We also want to draw your attention to a two-part article by Alicia Landman-Reiner in the peer-reviewed journal, Explore. A friend of the institute and physician, Alicia wrote on Goethean methodology, and provides many examples of the approach and its value in the life sciences:
"Complementing Reductionism: Goethean Science"
As always, we thank you for your continued interest in the institute and our work. The staff of The Nature Institute
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Anthroposophy Worldwide - 2020
If you would like to see the archive of past issues, go to: Archive
then, if required, enter password AWE-2018
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