Due to editorial decisions the June issue of eNews has slipped into a June /July publication date. The next publication, as usual, will be in September. From September on the publication date will change to the middle of the month rather than the end. This means material for September needs to be with the editor by the middle of the previous month. In this case by August 15th. We look forward to receiving your articles, results of research, items of interest and information concerning events.
Just to remind you that the Society publishes the eNews 10 times each year. From January to June and September to December. For members without email or with difficulty reading from screen a quarterly summary (Glimpses) is mailed through Canada post.
Wishing you a wonderful and fruitful summer,
Sincerely,
Jef
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General Secretary's Letter
From the World Society
Toward 2023
Dear Members and Friends of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada,
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What is biography? We all journey through our waking hours immersed in the flow of our lives. It is only on occasion that life confronts us and we are called to attend to the organizing patterns of this stream of life. We are called to wake. It is then that we have the possibility of seeing through life’s fabric into the principles that guide life’s narrative. Like chapter headings in the book of our lives, these points of consciousness provide us with an orientation to the ‘one’ living this life; the one we call ‘myself’. Unlike our hands or feet that quietly support life, this ‘myself’ has a complex relationship to this body given to it, to dwell in, to unfold itself within.
From the beginning of the 20th century the question of this ‘self’ has become a key for understanding what it is to be human in our time. It gave birth to the whole field of psycho-therapeutic inquiry. This great mystery of the self also stands at the heart of anthroposophy and has been greatly elaborated upon through the wide field of biography work developed out of it. This sphere of research has been central to cultivating an understanding of this self that lives through the narrative of our daily lives.
Also important is the realization that this great gift of earthly life is only one aspect of the fullness of who we are. This ‘totality’ dwells beyond space and time, lending an aspect of itself to incarnation. This ‘greater self’ also has its journey, its biography. It has its existence, one intimately intertwined with the life of ‘myself’. This aspect of our being that does not come into incarnation also has the community to which it belongs. A community that awakens in it impulses for its own evolution, impulses that become part of what slumbers within us as we unfold the narrative of life in incarnation, in space and in time.
For each one of us this journey through life is wondrously unique. Though we may live closely with another, all that unfolds in these interconnected journeys is distinct. This great mystery, though we share our intimate lives with another, these parallel journeys are distinct and separate and often cause pain. Pain that can lead us to want to understand, a longing to know my self. Despite the singularity of our individual lives, all of us considering these words share a pivotal biographical event, standing before anthroposophy’s doorway. For each of us, this event fundamentally altered the configuration of our biographical journeys. The fabric of life leading to this meeting was transformed when we chose to step through that portal. What led us here?
This entity we call anthroposophy, in all of its manifold aspects, has its own existence, a life made present in our world. Its fullness, its full reality, dwells beyond space and time – as does ours. The being of anthroposophy also lends but an aspect of itself to become outwardly present. The Christmas Conference of 1923/24 is that birth point when a profound reality crosses over and enters into the vessel that Rudolf Steiner had prepared for it. As our lives are filled with rhythmic processes that link the self on this side of the threshold with the self on the other side of threshold, so too does this being of anthroposophy have its life rhythms. All of anthroposophy has to do with the highest possibility for humanity whose archetype is inseparable from its impulse. So, of the many rhythms that permeate the life of this vessel for anthroposophy, the most significant is that of this Archetype of Humanity, 33 ⅓ years. From this birth point with the Christmas Conference this great rhythm is fundamental to anthroposophy’s biography, a pulse-beat that has come to a conclusion and new beginning twice in the past century; the pulse-beat that will come to a third resolution at Christmas 2023/24. The great question that stands before us is — what will the new beginning be? ..........
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The Foundation Stone Meditation: From Personal Healing to Effective Collaboration
By Robert McKay
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[Adapted from my brief talk given on Friday, May 15, 2020 at the Anthroposophical Society in Canada Annual General Meeting and Conference.]
Like many of you, I am on a voyage of discovery with the Foundation Stone Meditation and I don’t know where this voyage is taking me. I am certainly not qualified to explain this meditation in all its magnificence. I can offer to you some photos I have taken along the way so far. I have been asked to speak for only 15 minutes so I will not be able to go into this too deeply. Hopefully these snapshots will spark a useful discussion.
I want to start with the question: “What is a mantric meditation?” I think it is important to note that a mantric verse is not poem. It is not created in the way a person composes a poem. The creation of a true mantric verse begins in an encounter between an initiate and a spiritual being or beings. It has its origins in fiery experience on the other side of the threshold. The initiate must then bring the essence of this spiritual experience back into object consciousness and then render it into words.
What then does the meditant have when receiving such a creation from the initiate? You can think of it in various ways. It is helpful to think of it as a musical score that the meditant needs to learn how to play, within herself. Like with any piece of music, this requires practice. With a meditation like the Foundation Stone, you need to memorize it and then work to bring it alive in yourself over and over again. All this takes effort. But eventually, you get past the mechanics to the point where you can shift your focus to the music you are creating. It can also help to think of it as a bridge back to the very source in the spiritual world where the meditation came from.
As you play the piece in your soul, you gradually create an offering to the spiritual world that forms a bridge or portal. When this offering is rich enough, when one has put sufficient work into it, you will begin to feel the power of a spiritual being flowing back to you across this bridge. At this point the meditation becomes alive for you and your journey with it truly begins. The more energy and consistency you can bring to this, the more interesting the voyage.
The analogy can be extended (based on a thought from Grant Davis): through the meditation you meet the composer of the very melody you are learning to play. As this spiritual being, in whose power the mantric verse has its source, takes up the conductor’s baton, you begin to follow in your playing, and from then on you never really know where you are going, or what will happen next.
So finally, you can think of a mantric verse as a key that opens an occult door, enabling you to receive blessings from the spiritual world. Such a key is a magical object that gains its power through your efforts to work with it in reverence. This is a good place to begin in thinking about the Foundation Stone Meditation. It is right and good to approach this magical key – this great gift to Society members – in a mood of reverence.
Let’s begin with some simple observations of the structure of the great mantra. It has four sections, or panels as they are sometimes called. The first three have to do with the great soul forces – willing, feeling and thinking. The fourth points to the turning point of time: to the pivot from the Great Fall to the beginning of humanity’s ascent back home, back into the spiritual world. .................
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A Group in Vancouver Prepares for the Virtual 2020 AGM/Conference
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Around mid-March when our entire country was beginning to shelter-in-place, Esther Chase and I started a daily videoconference check-in at 8:30 am every morning. Our plan was to work with the Foundation Stone Meditation to prepare for the virtual upcoming Conference/AGM in May. We soon decided that we wanted to work with each of the 7 daily rhythms that Steiner gave at the Christmas Foundation meetings from Wednesday, Dec. 26, 1923 to Tuesday, January 1, 1924. Along the way, we were joined by others — Abegael Fisher-Lang, Monica Boyd and Hannah Hidson.
We started promptly at 8:30 with the reading of the rhythm of that day followed by thoughts shared from the works of F. W. Zeylmans van Emmichoven, Sergei Prokofieff and Paul Mackay, all of who have written extensively about this meditation. We then shared personal thoughts about what it means to
spirit recollect
,
spirit sense
and
spirit behold
. These are the practices we humans can engage with during the day, with the hierarchies in our sleep life responding to our efforts. Our conversations were lively and engaging and led in many directions. We ended at 9 am each morning.
We had no idea how long our group would last; we were cognizant that using the “cool” Ahrimanic medium of Zoom technology might fatigue us and that we might decide not to continue. We discovered that while we couldn’t share our thoughts in space, we could be together in
time
and, because of this, we could generate warmth between us. We like to think our working together has provided a counter-force to Ahriman.
Now it is mid-May, and the AGM is approaching and we are thinking about how to continue as a group as our primary reason for meeting is coming to a natural close. Each morning, for nine weeks, we worked with the rhythm indicated for that day. One idea is to continue with Zoom calls with each other with someone opening our meeting with thoughts from personal reading or from attending any on-line anthroposophical conferences or webinars.
Some of us will work artistically with the Foundation Stone or other meditation during the week; we have designated Fridays (Venus Day) as the appropriate day for the sharing of our creative work together.
Susan Koppersmith
Some members of our group wanted to add some further thoughts:
I feel that an enlivening part of our time together was also the daily working with the Soul Calendar verse — starting as we did at Easter and living into the different translations. We ended each session with doing the Hallelujahah together in Eurythmy.
Esther Chase
We read the Calendar of the Soul each morning, enlivening the various translations by reading them in tandem. Sometimes resources were shared from relevant books and webinars we found individually.
Abegael Fisher-Lang
In various ways we have explored what it means to each of us to face the darkness of the mind at our time, looking at how to free ourselves from the inner barriers that stand in our way of active loving, of being community members in the Beloved Community of Christ. This verse below has been appreciated by our hearts at this time of challenge.
Hannah Hidson
Knighthood of our Present Age
“There is a knighthood of the present age whose members do not ride through darkness of physical forests as of old, but through the forests of darkened minds.
They are armed with spiritual armour and an inner sun makes them radiant. Out of them shines healing. Healing that flows from a knowing of the image of Man as a Spiritual Being. They must create an inner order, inner justice, and conviction in the darkness of our time.”
Karl Koenig
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Interview with Mark McGivern
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Mark, thanks for facilitating our recent Society’s first virtual AGM/Conference. You have had much experience working with online groups. Could you say something more about this?
You’re welcome. I think the AGM was a great event for the society. As a national organization in a very wide geographical and regional country like Canada it was wonderful to have people in the same ‘room’ together interacting and sharing and sensing the human presence of the other. The use of the Internet is a question of concern for many anthroposophists, and that includes me. It requires that we be very awake to its influences. I especially think this is good for people in smaller communities where there is little anthroposophical activity. People in larger urban centres have it good in a way and can look forward to attending regular events. People in smaller communities don’t have that advantage. Internet gatherings can also meet the needs of people who cannot afford to travel or don’t have the physical capacity. When voting on resolutions at AGM’s I believe we need to have a more democratic representation of the whole society present. Online gatherings can facilitate that and give space for a more diverse array of voices and concerns. I think concerns like cost, health and environmental footprint can help us guide us to a comfortable balance between online gatherings and in-person events.
2.
Is there anything else you are interested in offering anthroposophical communities in Canada?
I recently launched a freelance editorial service (markmcgivernediting.com) and my goal is to offer this service to the anthroposophical community. I currently edit the mid and final reports of the Waldorf Academy in Toronto. I want to offer that service to more schools, as well as editing services for other publications from schools and groups in Canada.
I also recently started an educational service with Barbarah Nicoll called Ubuntu Learning. Our goal is to learn together through three modalities: connection, conversation and collaboration. We will offer online courses, study groups and conversations with the intention of working with content through sharing how the content is affecting us.
3.
Mark, could you say a little more about your background?
I have been an anthroposophist for about 35 years and was a Waldorf class teacher for 6 years. I trained at the Rudolf Steiner Center in Toronto in 2001/2. I am a writer and musician as well.
Thanks for your time, Mark!
Susan Koppersmith
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The Foundation Stone Meditation in 15 Quotidian Glimpses
Abegael Fisher-Lang May 15, 2020
Every morning for 9 weeks, a group of five women – Susan Koppersmith, Esther Chase, Hannah Hidson, Monica Boyd and myself — studied the second panel of the Foundation Stone Meditation in preparation for the May AGM. We read the insights of major writers, supported each other in our inner practices, and shared artistic work in writing, painting and eurythmy.
I was daunted by writing about the Foundation Stone Meditation. What could I possibly offer in the light of the canon of great lectures and books? One day, after talking about working in my garden, I said
I want to understand the Foundation Stone Meditation as a magnificent , unfolding, cosmic garden.
Then, while buying seeds, I had a little fantasy about seeing a note about the FSM on seed packets. I thought, what if everybody who works with their hands in the earth awakens one day and recognizes the gifts of anthroposophy?
I allowed my imagination free rein, and enjoyed creating these little poetic images.
Metaphors don’t appeal to every ear, and some might consider these daily glimpses to be irrelevant, comic or even disrespectful.
My intention was to bring a little warmth, lightness and perhaps even beauty. Now I extend an invitation to you. Where will metaphoricity lead us in deepening our understanding of The Foundation Stone Meditation?
1. At the garden shop, you are pleased to read the words
The Foundation Stone Meditation
embossed in tiny golden letters on each packet of sunflower seeds.
2. Human Souls Creating is the essential mood — narrative is what’s left over.
3. Practise Spirit Sensing is placing the 12 tall poles in the garden for the scarlet runner beans to climb to the sun.
4. Carry the small, round (Foundation) stone in your pocket and practice skipping it over the calm surface of the lake.
5. The Foundation Stone Meditation may sometimes be found in the Periodic Table of elements, slipped between Cobalt (Co) and Copper (Cu), next to Silver (Ag) or Gold (Au).
6. Practise Spirit Recalling to the rustling of wings brushing the ceiling of your inner space.
7. Once the great hall is full, rainbow silk curtains open to reveal the lead player, the Foundation Stone Meditation, alone on stage, playing cello.
8. Spirit Beholding leaves nothing to chance, follows you silently, passes your pen and your book opened to a new blank page. You are prepared.
9. Walt Whitman knew Spirit Sensing when he began his Song of Myself:
I sing myself and celebrate myself, and what I assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
10. Two engraved invitations have arrived from the Office of the Foundation Stone Meditation. The first is for a series of lectures, the other is to a sacred circle dance and potluck.
11. At 5:30 am, doing eurythmy in the front garden: Uniting with the I of the World. A neighbour walking her dog stops and watches as you crest the largest L in Alleluia; each one startled but pleased at the other’s sudden appearance, calling out
Good Morning, Good Morning
.
12. Many fragrant ingredients from the East are required for the Foundation Stone Meditation Layer Cake, but the batter must be mixed in the West. A full week of rhythmic activity is required. The cake is delicious, and everyone has their fill, and, curiously, there is always plenty left over for newcomers.
13. The Sufi poet Rumi wrote that a story is like the hot water you heat for your bath, but the Foundation Stone Meditation is like having that long-awaited bath, and then running out into the falling snow.
14. The small esoteric, best-kept-secret, bookstore called The Foundation Stone Meditation closed shop at the turning point of time. Human beings arrived from the east, west, north and south to carry its rare collection to the waiting world.
15. The Foundation Stone Meditation is the spirit-whisperer, reminding you of the beauty of coming into, and departing from, your life on earth.
Abegael Fisher-Lang is a retired class teacher at the Vancouver Waldorf School, a professional storyteller and a celebrant with Life Threads Ceremonies. She has taught speech and storytelling with the West Coast Institute and participated in the recent Mystery Dramas in Vancouver. She lives with her son Aiden, a companion at the Cascadia Centre for Social Working, and finds great joy in her garden every day.
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PENTECOST May 31
st
, 2020
Today I boast no tongue of flame,
can only hold hope
deep in my heart
as the import of the world’s travail
threatens to destroy so much.
So much.
But listen! I hear an unseen voice,
a whisper in the air….
“Never despair!
Keep on with your spiritual work.
Try and try again.
Be as thoughtful, as kind as you can
to your fellow human beings
even, perhaps, stretch out a hand?
-metaphorically of course.
And while we’re at it,
why not
seize the opportunity
to break a bad habit,
to do better about
resisting the lure
of the virtual world?
You know it saps
our nourishment.
Also, don’t neglect, or forget
our Mother Earth,
who pauses in her breathing
as the Solstice draws near,
waiting to discover
how you’ll shape the world,
how you’ll treat her
and her creatures
once this travail is past.”
Brenda Hammond
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Donation appeal from the West Coast Institute and Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto
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Greetings Friends,
As we navigate this unique time together and recognize the far reaching effects of being separated as human beings, we at Canada’s major Waldorf teacher training institutions are meeting a situation that is asking us to think outside the box for new ways to carry our programmes this summer.
Gathering in person and travel will not be possible in Canada by July; our summer sessions will be carried in a different form. Recognizing the necessity to satisfy the thirst of our students for this education, our Programme Directors have been working with faculty and students to find a way of offering some of the anticipated classes in an on-line format; a format which will be the right balance to remain engaged, not overwhelm the senses and yet maintain the students’ interest deepening their understanding of our pedagogy and Anthroposophy.
Many of our students are struggling financially due to the shutdown of education and childcare settings because of Covid19. It is for this reason that we write to you at this time: to request contributions to our bursary programmes. Donations may also be made by cheque, tax receipts will be issued.
Here are the links to our respective Canada Helps Donation pages:
We have recognized this as a unique opportunity for The West Coast Institute and The Rudolf Steiner Centre to collaborate in a new way and an opportunity to inform Society members of what is going on in our Anthroposophical teacher trainings in Canada.
The West Coast Institute was founded twenty-five years ago by Dorothy Olsen and Marjorie Thatcher, both are now retired from their work with us but remain honourary board members. On our website one can find all the details of our history, our programmes and our ongoing deepening courses:
www.westcoastinstitute.org
West Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy
1014 LaBelle Road, Castlegar, B.C. V1N 4R3 Canada
Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto, founded in 1981, is a national charity supporting cultural renewal by providing vocational programs, cultural outreach programs, and social services out of the transformative resources of anthroposophy.
www.rsct.ca
Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto, 9100 Bathurst St., #4, Thornhill, Ontario, L4J 8C7, Canada.
Our goal is to raise at least $10,000 for each institution’s Bursary Fund; we thank you in advance for helping to lighten the load for our students and our institutes at this time.
Warmly and with deep gratitude,
Kim Hunter, Barbarah Nicoll, Robert McKay and James Brian
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Eulogy for Paul John Hodgkins
by Rev. Jonah Evans
Once, when Paul was asked to tell his autobiography, he answered: “Well…I was born at a very early age but I can’t remember a thing about it…”
Paul John Hodgkins was born on January 31, 1947, in Wolverhampton near Birmingham, England, into a working class family. He had two brothers. He described himself as being a dreamy child. Although he didn’t like school very much, he completed his education at a quality Catholic boys’ school.
His first job was for the British government in London. This didn’t last long, however, because at age 19 Paul was inspired to move to Canada together with a good friend. His Canadian life started in Red Lake ON with a job working in a gold mine. He made a lot of money. He spent a lot of money. But to Paul, neither money nor career were very interesting.
Paul was not renowned for his technological capacities. In fact if anyone of you ever tried to e-mail Paul, you might be tempted to call him technologically handicapped. However, this didn’t stop him from getting a job at IBM in Toronto in those early years. And even though he considered this a place on the cutting edge of technological development, one day Paul just quit. He didn’t have a plan, but knew that that job was destroying his soul. After that he had a string of jobs, including work at Canadian Tire, in health food stores and teaching Tai Chi.
It was during this time in Toronto that Paul met Simone Liche. They quickly became a pair and, since she was from Quebec, they moved to Montreal. That is where his first son, Philip, was born. After a brief time back in Toronto, where Paul found Rudolf Steiner’s work in a book store, the small family moved to Ottawa. There Paul did some Waldorf teacher training and then took a class all the way through 8th grade. During this time, Simone and Paul decided it was best to part ways.
After his separation from Simone, a connection started growing between Paul and Susan Richard. Eventually their families joined. Thus Paul became a father of three, with the addition of Will and Evelyn. Shortly after this Susan became pregnant with Charlotte. Paul then finished graduating his grade 8 class and they decided to move back to Toronto so that Philip could continue attending the Waldorf High School there.
The move back was both challenging and filled with blessing. Challenging because Paul was unable to get a teaching position at the Toronto Waldorf School. Blessing because at this time their youngest child, Beatrice, was born.
Still inspired to be a Waldorf teacher, Paul took up a position at the Halton school. However, after only a few years, the commute became too strenuous.
Arlene Thorn, who at that time was involved in the Rudolf Steiner Centre, not only encouraged Paul more and more to take up teaching anthroposophy to adults, she was also able to find a way to help Paul and Susan financially, so that their children could finish their Waldorf education. But Arlene was not the only one sent to help Paul find his destiny. In Paul’s own words he said…
“I got a call from Timothy Cox, who was working for the Steiner Centre at the time, asking if I would give a course on the Philosophy of Freedom. I don’t know how he knew our group was studying that book. Just the day before he called, I had decided on the one hand I was not free, and on the other hand I was filled to overflowing with useless knowledge. I had put aside all my other belief systems – Plato, science, Catholicism, Buddhism – I had replaced all these with a huge anthroposophical belief system, but I was still not really free in my thinking. In a sense I had my leg over the balcony. When Timothy asked if you would provide three mornings on the Philosophy of Freedom, I immediately said yes!” I don’t know what I was thinking! I put the phone down and thought: “What have I done?” So then I had to study the book intensely. Through this work, I had an awakening. I became aware of myself as a spiritual being. To cut a long story short, I gave the course and became famous overnight. Who would be so stupid to give a course on the Philosophy of Freedom? It was the book no one understood. So that was it.”
Then I began teaching adults more and more. Wendy Brown, who had just started ...........
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JOB OFFER:
Looking for an experienced Waldorf class teacher for Les Perséides, special class in Val-David, Quebec, opening in September 2020
Dear colleagues of the Waldorf Movement
L’École Imagine, Waldorf school, in collaboration with ISAEL Remedial Teacher Training, opens in September 2020 the special class Les Perséides, a class for children aged 7 to 11 years old with learning or social difficulties.
This achievement is the result of the hard work of a dynamic team of parents/teachers/friends who have recognized a real need for their children. We also hope that in the future, this experience can serve as an inspiration for other initatives in our education movement.
If you have any of your contacts, French speaking colleague-teachers or teacher training graduates, who might be interested in this job offer, please forward it to them.
Sincere thanks and greetings,
Jocelyne Arseneau for the team of the special class Les Perséides.
Jocelyne Arseneau
819 320-0111
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Society for Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening in Ontario
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As the changing of the season, and the folly that is the dance between humanity and nature takes a turn, that hopefully serves to remind you why you came to biodynamics in the first place, I on behalf of the board would like to wish you, your families and your farms and gardens well. With the constant chatter of how things have changed, are uncertain and will never be the same again, we as farmers and gardeners know that there are greater rhythms at play that transcend the temporary inconveniences and even hardships that many of us are being asked to shoulder.
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General Information and Upcoming Events
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Branches & Groups
Calgary Branch
Contact: Christine at
*******
Cantons de l'Est
*******
Confluence of Three Rivers (Ottawa)
*******
Duncan
Contact:
*******
Edmonton
*******
Huronia Branch (Barrie)
Contact Janine at
705-728-1443
*******
London
*******
Montréal (Français)
Institute Rudolf Steiner Quebec
*******
Montreal Branch (English)
*******
Nelson, BC
*******
Nova Scotia
*******
Polaris Branch (Thornhill)
*******
Saugeen Cedar Branch
(Durham)
*******
Sherbrooke (Français)
*******
Sunshine Coast (BC)
********
Thornhill Group
*******
Toronto Branch
*******
Vancouver
*******
Val David (Français)
*******
Victoria
******
Membership Update
New M
embe
rs
Esan Azore (Winnipeg)
Welcome!
******
Transferred Out
******
Deceased
Paul Hodgkins (June 22nd, 2020)
Please see obituary
******
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
Membership Administrator
Christine Tansley
416-892-3656
877-892-3656
Communication Administrator
Jef Saunders
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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Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto
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Applications are still being accepted. Contact Jan Ney Patterson to begin your journey:
jpatterson@rsct.ca
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BANCROFT, ONTARIO - July 30 - August1
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The geology of Bancroft region will be the general theme of this conference, including hands-on geological field activities, lectures and discussions about Goethean observation, spiritual-scientific insights into the earth’s geology and related topics observation exercises, plus a visit to the RockHound Gemboree.
An artistic activity will enhance the experience.For information and to register for the conference, please contact: Dr Sandy Musclow in Bancroft, ON at
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Applicati
ons are still being accepted. Contact Jan Ney Patterson to begin your journey:
jpatterson@rsct.ca
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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:
Archiv
e
then, if required, enter password AWE-2018
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