From the World Society
On Sustaining Our Cultural Organism
Dear Members and Friends of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada,
We are a cultural organism.
We can marvel at the challenge that Rudolf Steiner gives to us during the Christmas Conference, for it is here that he creates an imagination of how to carry and sustain anthroposophical life in a way that had not been previously possible. He did not suggest the familiar forms of institutions or organizations, but moulded and shaped a vessel that would be a living, growing, ever evolving organism.
This new vessel for a being had its challenges from the outset for its members, unfamiliar with such an entity, expected it to conform to predictable structures, familiar forms. This challenge remains for wherever anthroposophy seeks to reveal herself, the world demands that we establish familiar ways of working to give it legitimacy. Our challenge is that these inherited organizational frameworks confuse the task of sustaining a remarkably elaborate living organism.
We can observe the advance of winter and be struck by the complex interrelationships of the organic world within which we live. The universe of plants and animals responds with unfailing sensitivity to the waning light, to the receding warmth. Forests have dropped their leaves and animals have retreated to their shelters. All of nature responds as a unified organism. Each tree and animal, each bird and insect unfailingly takes its place within the almost inconceivable unity that we call nature. All are vital cells within the vast living system that is Natura herself. No construct, no abstract formulation, dictates their unswerving constancy to their task within the whole. Rudolf Steiner asks us to be conscious of a similar reality. He calls us to so connect ourselves with the being of anthroposophy that we begin to recognize that we long to link ourselves with life processes that sustains and strengthen her ability to become ever more present.
This runs contrary to familiar institutional structures. What we have learned is difficult to transform. The habits we have developed for how we cultivate our relationships have crystallized into institutions that bind life. We become uneasy when we cannot fix, cannot predict how life processes will manifest themselves. Rudolf Steiner asks us to be ever attentive to whether we serve such institutional forms, or life.
To see that wherever we strive out of anthroposophy is part of a universal, a cosmic reality, is extremely challenging for us. We want to see the tree rather than the forest, the bear gorging itself on berries rather than the animal kingdom preparing for winter. Yet we are challenged to see that the life within a Waldorf school in Ontario is inseparable from one in South Africa or Brazil; that the well-being of the biodynamic farmer in India has its affect on his counterpart in British Columbia. Yet more challenging is to experience that the health and vitality of what is built up in a members’ group in Halifax nourishes all Waldorf schools, strengthens all biodynamic initiatives – like oxygen circulating in our blood, like light and warmth that calls the forest awake in spring.
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"Building Pathways to the Foundation Stone Meditation:
An Appeal for Gift Money"
John Glanzer, Dorothy LeBaron, and Robert McKay
John, Dorothy, and Robert are part of the Gift Money Mandate Group of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada. Reporting to the Society Council, the Mandate group will raise funds to support anthroposophical projects. We will also be available to members who are interested in making a bequest or other donation through their will so we can ensure funds donated in this way carry the donor’s intentions clearly into practical work.
We are writing to ask for your support to help publish a book that will bring forward new perspectives on how to work with the Foundation Stone Meditation. This great meditation lives in the very heart of the anthroposophical movement. Through this important new volume, a wider range of people may find their way to working with it actively in their daily lives.
The project is being led by Arie van Ameringen, the former General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada, and will include chapters on different approaches from multiple contributors including:
· Paul Mackay's chapter on working with the rhythms of the Foundation Stone
· Michaela Glockler's chapter on the Foundation Stone and healing
· Joan Sleigh's chapter on the social significance of the Foundation Stone
· Jean Michel Florin’s chapter about the elemental beings and biodynamic agriculture
in relation to the Foundation Stone
· Helmut Goldman's chapter on the Philosophy of Freedom and the Foundation Stone
· Claus Peter Röh's chapter on the Foundation Stone and education
The book will also include chapters by Bert Chase, the Canadian Society's current General Secretary, and several other leading anthroposophists. It will be published in English, French and German.
In order to cover the costs of translation, design, printing, and promotions, the Society is seeking to raise $5,500 from both Society members and others who recognize the importance of the Foundation Stone Meditation.
Any contribution you could make would be gratefully received. Your contribution is fully tax deductible.
You can donate directly through Canada Helps (see below) or send in a cheque
to the Society noting the reason for the donation.
We are currently looking for more Mandate Group members. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact John Glanzer (john.glanzer@gmail.com) to discuss the opportunity.
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FROM THE GOETHEANUM
Dear readers,
Our concern about the earth’s health moves us and inspires us to worldwide activities. The climate question is linked to our thinking and to our actions. The one-sided pursuit of personal interests and egocentric needs damages the climate on earth.
It is similar with the climate between us human beings: our natural needs can easily lead to isolation and separation, while spiritual considerations unite and integrate. Rudolf Steiner therefore speaks of the true human ‘I’ as the “unifying ‘I’”.
The theme of the Christmas Conference in 2019 at the Goetheanum relates to these questions: How do we build communities? How do we keep in contact? And how can brotherliness arise as a ground on which we keep in contact? And how can brotherliness arise as a ground on which anthroposophy can grow? These questions touch on the “We” and point to the fourth verse of the Foundation Stone Meditation.
Remembering our spiritual foundations
Human community-building has a more or less conscious past from which essential forces and impulses can arise for our work. It makes sense, therefore, to remember these spiritual goals or, in other words, to “practise Spirit Recalling.” Communities and collaboration are effective in the present and they need us to reflect on their spiritual foundations. However, a community is also future-oriented: together we look ahead to the ideals and objectives it stands for. Goals one works towards are always future-oriented since otherwise they would already have been achieved and maybe even belong to the past. In the spiritual goals and the working of communities lives a “becoming” and a plea: “that good may become”. This is about following the good star of which Rudolf Steiner spoke at the Christmas Conference of 1923/1924. The spiritual substance of the community points beyond individuals and their angel to the communal spiritual activities of the archangels and the impulses of the spirits of time. The fourth verse of the Foundation Stone Mediation speaks of the underlying Sun forces that will unfold when two or three are gathered “in his name”.
Living and working together
We warmly invite you to this year’s Christmas Conference and to work with us on the mysteries of community. Questions of working together are more acute than ever. As the anthroposophical movement and Society we need to practise community-building in order to develop cultural impulses that can bring health to the earth and enhance human coexistence and cooperation.
We are looking forward to working together on this in the spirit of Christmas!
Warm greetings,
Matthias Girke, Goetheanum
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Adventures in Colour and Story
As I look outside and take joy in the changing of the colours, which are especially glorious this Autumn, I remember the days of summer filled with the experience of colour and the workshop I participate in lead by Artist and Teacher Donald Hall.
The workshop in Nova Scotia was an experience of warmth and community and will be nourishment for my Winter days.
The first of two workshops over 4 days was called ‘ Adventures in Colour and story’ and was held at the wonderful setting of Lightfoot & Wolfville Winery, in the heart of the Annapolis Valley.
The setting was very relaxing and the room felt like an oasis with wonderful light and a beautiful view of the Bay of Fundy. As we painted and ate delicious food from local and organic sources, we observed beautiful changes in the colour of the sky, water and landscape throughout the day. Donald led us through different exercises which included experiencing Goethe’s colour Theory.
Duncan Keppie treated us to a range of music on the accordion and gave a guided fossil walk at Blue Rock Beach on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Unfortunately, I had to miss the walk, after I had looked forward to it for month.
Some of us struggled at times with the art exercises, but the mood was so supportive that the end result was amazing. It seemed everyone had learned something and maybe even overcome something through a new experience. Only time will tell but I can say over the weekend all our senses where stimulated in a wonderful way.
I would like to thank Maggie and Duncan Keppie who with their warmth and hospitality freely given, added to the wonderful experience we had in the Annapolis valley.
After our days in Wolfville, some of us continued on and joined a new group of painters at the Southshore Waldorf School in Blockhouse
In Blockhouse we continued with Goethe’s Colour Theory, and Donald added the Grimm’s Fairy Tale of Snow white and Rose Red: A soul journey into the experience of the archetypes of the Bear & Dwarf as characters symbolizing renewal & growth.
We shared meals together, had good conversations and were treated to a surprise gift of exquisite Violin playing by Margot Aldrich. Having beautiful weather added to it all.
On Sunday morning Judy King read the Fairy Tale echoing the beautiful tone of the whole weekend.
I have taken several workshops with Donald Hall, and every one amazes me. I am impressed by how mixing and applying colours in a certain way, and sometimes without knowing where it leads, has surprising moments and some astonishing results. It makes me appreciate our unique, individual and colourful souls.
It is truly a process of discovery and it is here where the learning, liberation and transformation takes place.
It was a wonderful exercise in getting to know one self, working on one self with the aid of the colour in social encounters.
Thank you, Micah Edelstein for making this happen and hopefully it can happen again.
Gabriele Freydank-Edelstein
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Message from Marianne Schubert, Visual Art Section, Goetheanum.
Dear friends of the arts!
As you may have heard already, my time as the leader of the section for visual arts is drawing to a close.
I would therefore like to cordially invite you to the last major event that I am carrying in this function.
180 WORKS BY 80 ARTISTS
FROM THE THREE-COUNTRY TRIANGLE BASEL
From 28 November to 1 December there will be a large sales exhibition in the carpentry workshop of the Goetheanum.
The work of Frederieke Nelissen (Holland) and Zoltán Döbrötei (Hungary) will also be on show as well as the exhibition of contemporary paintings by Georgian artists at the 1st floor of the Goetheanum.
(The artwork of all four exhibitions can be purchased.)
**********
From the 28 November to 1 December you are warmly invited to this year's November conference entitled
On Sunday, 1.12. during the afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. we would like to offer an opportunity for exchange. Marianne Schubert will give a review of her work and a preview by Christiane Haid to the work of the Visual Art Section starting in January 2020 will conclude the weekend of art.
Looking forward to seeing you soon with warm greetings
Marianne Schubert
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A Quarterly Newsletter from Camphill Foundation Canada
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PERSPECTIVES
The first issue of the Society's new publication,
Perspectives
, has been distributed to all members of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada
The editorial team is already planning for issue two which will come out in May 2020. The theme will be:
Good and Evil, Light and Darkness
.
We are calling for articles of 1500 words or less and, in order to be considered for selection, they must be received no later than Dec. 31, 2019. Files can be sent in English or French (we will take care of the translation). We would also like to receive good quality photos of artwork based on the theme.
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General Information and Upcoming Events
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Branches & Groups
Calgary Branch
Contact: Christine at
*******
Duncan
Contact:
*******
Huronia Branch
Contact Janine at
705-728-1443
*******
Montréal
Institute Rudolf Steiner Quebec
Montreal Branch (English)
*******
Nelson, BC
*******
Nova Scotia
*******
Saugeen Cedar Branch
*******
Thornhill Branch
now renamed
Polaris Branch
********
Thornhill Group
*******
Toronto Branch
*******
Vancouver
*******
Membership Update
Deceased
Sybille Hahn, Thornhill,
22nd October, 2019
******
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, THORNHILL - NOVEMBER 30TH
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ONTARIO - MARCH 5TH, 2020 : ADVANCE NOTICE
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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 from the Goetheanum.
If you would like to see the archive of past issues, go to:
Archiv
e
then enter password AWE-2018
Anthroposophy worldwide to your inbox
If you are a member of the Anthroposophical 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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