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Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News<br />
for Members & Friends<br />
research issue 2010<br />
a quarterly publication of the anthroposophical society <strong>in</strong> america<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the rudolf ste<strong>in</strong>er library newsletter
From the Editor<br />
Research not Revelation<br />
The present issue has taken some time to reach you, but we<br />
expect it to be an annual feature, s<strong>in</strong>ce the subject is so important.<br />
Research! A word that is so strongly associated with natural<br />
science for the last several centuries, and secondly with the new<br />
fields, the humanities, the human sciences, which blossomed as<br />
discipl<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> the 19th century.<br />
Research is also at the heart of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s anthroposophy.<br />
But anthroposophy does not see limits where natural<br />
science has placed them. It takes those limits as demands for enhanc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
human capacities. Our sophisticated mechanical <strong>in</strong>struments<br />
provide wonderful data, but first and last anthroposophy<br />
looks to discipl<strong>in</strong>ed human observation, imag<strong>in</strong>ation, <strong>in</strong>spiration,<br />
<strong>in</strong>tuition. So it charts new paths <strong>in</strong> research <strong>in</strong> many directions,<br />
mak<strong>in</strong>g much of very limited resources.<br />
And despite the impression that anthroposophy all comes<br />
from Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er himself, we f<strong>in</strong>d both outstand<strong>in</strong>g predecessors<br />
to whom he po<strong>in</strong>ted, as well as a remarkable number of<br />
capable <strong>in</strong>dividuals and groups carry<strong>in</strong>g on where Ste<strong>in</strong>er left off.<br />
As detailed on subsequent pages, research generally beg<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong><br />
self-exam<strong>in</strong>ation and meditation. It then evolves either <strong>in</strong> conversational<br />
sett<strong>in</strong>gs like study groups and branches of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong>, or <strong>in</strong> the very conscious activity of <strong>in</strong>itiatives<br />
like Waldorf schools, biodynamic farms, Camphill villages,<br />
medical and therapeutic practices, social f<strong>in</strong>ance organizations,<br />
and countless artistic and community undertak<strong>in</strong>gs. And ideally<br />
it f<strong>in</strong>ds its way then <strong>in</strong>to the work of sections of the School of<br />
Spiritual Science, an <strong>in</strong>stitution Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er created <strong>in</strong> 1924 for<br />
this purpose. For over two decades the school has had a unify<strong>in</strong>g<br />
collegium <strong>in</strong> North <strong>America</strong>, and the good effects of this collaboration<br />
are be<strong>in</strong>g felt even with shoestr<strong>in</strong>g budgets.<br />
Only a few segments of the range of anthroposophical research<br />
are represented <strong>in</strong> this one issue, but we hope it will<br />
allow you to beg<strong>in</strong> to imag<strong>in</strong>e the true scope of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
<strong>in</strong>tentions for anthroposophy: that it should seed the culture of<br />
our times with an abundance of liv<strong>in</strong>g and heal<strong>in</strong>g impulses and<br />
thereby renew the consciousness of our humanity.<br />
Expand<strong>in</strong>g Communications<br />
As we cannot do justice to the scope of anthroposophy’s<br />
research work <strong>in</strong> this one issue, so a quarterly pr<strong>in</strong>ted magaz<strong>in</strong>e<br />
cannot conta<strong>in</strong> everyth<strong>in</strong>g that friends and members want to<br />
share. Nor is it satisfy<strong>in</strong>g to offer a largely one-way communication<br />
at a moment when the means for lively <strong>in</strong>terchange get easier<br />
and easier. So we are beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g a policy of publish<strong>in</strong>g much<br />
more on the society’s website, anthroposophy.org, and l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g to it<br />
by way of the twice-monthly E-News communication. The many<br />
<strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g and timely reports will be published more quickly.<br />
Comments can be shared. New and old items can be l<strong>in</strong>ked topically.<br />
The website will become a broader and deeper dest<strong>in</strong>ation.<br />
And our choice of what to <strong>in</strong>clude here or leave out will be made<br />
less agoniz<strong>in</strong>g! So please sign up for E-News at anthroposophy.org to<br />
keep <strong>in</strong> touch with further developments.<br />
— John Beck, Editor, Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News for Members & Friends<br />
Email: editor@anthroposophy.org<br />
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2 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
p.6<br />
p.9<br />
p.23<br />
p.48<br />
Contents<br />
From the Editor 2<br />
Letters to the Editor 4<br />
What’s Happen<strong>in</strong>g at the Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library 5<br />
Where on Earth Is Heaven? (RSL book review) 6<br />
Ernst Katz, teacher of anthroposophy 7<br />
Triskeles: Build<strong>in</strong>g the Positive Future 9<br />
LA Karma Workshop: Tycho Brahe, Herzeleide, Emperor Julian 12<br />
Feature Articles<br />
Research–a special section 13<br />
Spiritual Research <strong>in</strong> the Branch 14<br />
The Section for the Social Sciences <strong>in</strong> North <strong>America</strong> 15<br />
A Resurgence of Research at Threefold 16<br />
The Henry Barnes Fund for <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Research 17<br />
What Shall We Do About Ahriman? 18<br />
The Seven Levels of Illness & Heal<strong>in</strong>g - a modern fable 21<br />
Metamorphosis: Evolution <strong>in</strong> Action (book review) 23<br />
Conference of the Natural Science Section <strong>in</strong> Chicago 24<br />
The Nature Institute: Center of Excellence <strong>in</strong> Holistic Research 25<br />
The Postmodern Revolution and <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Art 27<br />
Challenges Fac<strong>in</strong>g Waldorf Education 40<br />
News for Members<br />
Freedom and Initiative: remarks by Tor<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>ser 42<br />
“A New Impulse” Conference 45<br />
Joan Treadaway (council member profile) 46<br />
Michael Support Circle Report 46<br />
Florida Groups Gather At The Spr<strong>in</strong>g Equ<strong>in</strong>ox 46<br />
Stars, Stones & Mutuality: CRC Gather<strong>in</strong>g 47<br />
The Aust<strong>in</strong> Centenary Celebration 48<br />
The Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric 51<br />
Where on Earth is Heaven? (second book review) 59<br />
Thresholds<br />
Ronna McEldowney 60<br />
Lorna Odegard 61<br />
Members Who Have Died 61<br />
New Members of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> 62<br />
p.7<br />
p.12<br />
p.27<br />
p.60<br />
Have an article, news, letter? Want to propose one?<br />
Email editor@anthroposophy.org or write to the address below.<br />
Was this issue passed along?<br />
View or download previous issues at anthroposophy.org where you<br />
can also become a member. Or to receive the next pr<strong>in</strong>ted copy,<br />
contact the society and ask to be added to the friends list.<br />
Would you like to advertise? Call Cynthia Chelius at<br />
734-662-9355 — or email editor@anthroposophy.org<br />
Would you like to support this publication and at the same<br />
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Call soon to reserve space <strong>in</strong> the next issue. And if you have<br />
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can usually work with what you have already created.<br />
Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News for Members and Friends is a publication of the<br />
The <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong>, 1923 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
3
Letters to the Editor<br />
On Elemental Be<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
Regard<strong>in</strong>g the letter by Jenny<br />
Hohmann about nature spirits,<br />
I would like to recommend Peter<br />
and Anneli’s Journey to the Moon<br />
published by Ste<strong>in</strong>erBooks<br />
two years ago. In the catalog’s<br />
description major happen<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
<strong>in</strong> the book were ignored: the<br />
encounter of the children with<br />
the Spirits of Nature. (The translated<br />
verses are a bit clumsy—I<br />
am no poet!) The illustrations by<br />
the famous German pa<strong>in</strong>ter Hans<br />
Baluschek are <strong>in</strong> themselves<br />
worth look<strong>in</strong>g at.<br />
Marianne H. Luedek<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Note: Ms. Luedek<strong>in</strong>g translated<br />
the book <strong>in</strong> question. The orig<strong>in</strong>al<br />
German cover is below:<br />
On Empathy<br />
Because of your <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong><br />
my article on empathy [<strong>in</strong> the<br />
Sophia Sun newsletter], I thought<br />
you would like to see the article<br />
below. It’s really amaz<strong>in</strong>g to see<br />
positive proof of the evolv<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
human consciousness.<br />
Kathleen Wright<br />
Arianna Huff<strong>in</strong>gton’s article<br />
from the Huff<strong>in</strong>gton Post, Feb. 3,<br />
2010 was attached. It beg<strong>in</strong>s:<br />
“For this month’s HuffPost<br />
Book Club, I have chosen Jeremy<br />
Rifk<strong>in</strong>’s The Empathic Civilization,<br />
which boldly sets out to<br />
present noth<strong>in</strong>g less than—as<br />
Rifk<strong>in</strong> puts it—‘a new render<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of human history.’ This alternative<br />
history focuses not on the<br />
conflicts and power struggles<br />
that have marked human<br />
progress, but on ‘the empathic<br />
evolution of the human race and<br />
the profound ways it has shaped<br />
our development.’ Empathy,<br />
Rifk<strong>in</strong> expla<strong>in</strong>s, is not a qua<strong>in</strong>t<br />
behavior trotted out dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>termittent visits to a food bank<br />
or dur<strong>in</strong>g the Haiti telethon.<br />
Instead, it lies at the very core<br />
of human existence. Indeed, <strong>in</strong><br />
this time of economic hardship,<br />
political <strong>in</strong>stability, and rapid<br />
technological change, empathy<br />
is the one quality we most need<br />
if we’re go<strong>in</strong>g to survive and<br />
flourish <strong>in</strong> the 21st century.”<br />
Notes/Notices<br />
LA Library catalog onl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
From Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library<br />
& Bookshop <strong>in</strong> Pasadena: “The<br />
catalog of our library can now be<br />
consulted on the website of the<br />
Los Angeles Branch of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong> – anthroposophyla.org.<br />
(On the home page<br />
click on Library & Bookshop,<br />
and on the follow<strong>in</strong>g page click<br />
on Library Catalog.) You can<br />
search the catalog by book title,<br />
author, translator and subject.<br />
You can search for a specific<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er lecture by date and/or<br />
place and run reports of all the<br />
books <strong>in</strong> our collection by Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er sorted by title or GA<br />
number. Books by other authors<br />
can be sorted by title, author or<br />
subject section. Reports <strong>in</strong>clude<br />
full particulars of a book, such<br />
as publisher, publish<strong>in</strong>g year<br />
and GA number. At this time our<br />
library has 860 different Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
titles, over 3800 Ste<strong>in</strong>er lectures<br />
and about 2000 titles by other<br />
authors. Please direct <strong>in</strong>quiries<br />
to Philip Mees phmees@sbcglobal.<br />
net.”<br />
Emerson College<br />
Joann Ianniello wrote to be<br />
sure that we were aware of<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g life and activity at<br />
Emerson College <strong>in</strong> the UK, <strong>in</strong><br />
the new context of “Emerson<br />
Village.” No doubt a great many<br />
people share her gratitude for<br />
time spent with remarkable<br />
people at Forest Row, East Sussex.<br />
Three program areas are<br />
active at this time: visual arts,<br />
foundation through the visual<br />
arts, sculpture tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g; biodynamic<br />
agriculture courses; and<br />
storytell<strong>in</strong>g courses. Emerson is<br />
on the web at emerson.org.uk.<br />
Correction/Update<br />
Summerfield Architect<br />
In the article “Musical Instrument<br />
Build<strong>in</strong>g and Improvisation”<br />
mention was made of<br />
“architect and parent Steve”—<br />
which should have specified<br />
“Steve Sheldon, who designed<br />
the build<strong>in</strong>gs at the Summerfield<br />
Waldorf School where the workshop<br />
had taken place.<br />
Wiechert <strong>in</strong> Bay Area<br />
The article “Renewal” mentioned<br />
as upcom<strong>in</strong>g an appearance<br />
by Christof Wiechert at the<br />
“New Impulse Conference” of<br />
the Bay Area Center for Waldorf<br />
Teacher Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> California<br />
that was already past (see p. 45).<br />
Christof will appear at BACWTT<br />
aga<strong>in</strong> for a conference “F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Balance,” February 24-26, 2011,<br />
<strong>in</strong> the San Francisco Bay area;<br />
bacwtt.org has details. Also, the<br />
picture of Christof used (below)<br />
should have been credited to<br />
BACWTT.<br />
Christof Wiechert will also<br />
return to the Renewal 2011 program<br />
<strong>in</strong> Wilton, NH, “Celebrat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s 150th Anniversary.”<br />
One week courses run<br />
from June 26th-July 1st and July<br />
3rd-July 8th. Other presenters <strong>in</strong>clude<br />
Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Sease, Van James,<br />
Christof Wiechert, Aonghus<br />
Gordon and craftspeople, and Dr.<br />
Tobias Tuechelmann. Email <strong>in</strong>fo@<br />
centerforanthroposophy.org or call<br />
603 654 2566.<br />
Jo<strong>in</strong> us as we trace the threads of spiritual history<br />
<strong>in</strong> the landscape and soul-scape of Scotland.<br />
Story, song, eurythmy & <strong>in</strong>formal talks will guide us <strong>in</strong>to<br />
the unique cultural climate of this beautiful and <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>itely varied country.<br />
We will visit the Neolithic stone circles of the Outer Hebrides and Orkney,<br />
the glens and mounta<strong>in</strong>s of the Highlands, the sacred island of Iona,<br />
the social <strong>in</strong>itiative of Robert Owen at New Lanark, the spiritual<br />
community of F<strong>in</strong>dhorn, historic and beautiful Ed<strong>in</strong>burgh, and much more.<br />
Tour leaders are native Scots:<br />
Gillian Schoemaker, eurythmist, Camphill Special Schools,<br />
Pennsylvania, and Sean Gordon, Celtic scholar, storyteller and<br />
Waldorf teacher, Aberdeen, Scotland<br />
SCOTTISH ODYSSEY<br />
July 16th – August 5th, 2011<br />
Interested? For details of it<strong>in</strong>erary and cost,<br />
please contact Gillian: 610 469 0864<br />
gillian_schoemaker@yahoo.com<br />
4 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
What’s Happen<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
the Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library<br />
Judith Soleil, Library Director<br />
Fly<strong>in</strong>g barcodes! Yes, the automation<br />
project proceeds apace. The library’s<br />
onl<strong>in</strong>e public access catalog at http://<br />
rsl.scoolaid.net now conta<strong>in</strong>s searchable<br />
records for nearly 14,000 items, about half<br />
the collection. When visit<strong>in</strong>g the catalog<br />
onl<strong>in</strong>e, be sure to check out the “News”<br />
section. We are post<strong>in</strong>g book annotations<br />
on the page now as well as events we host<br />
at the library. Also check the “New Items”<br />
page, which lists monthly acquisitions.<br />
Call for volunteer translators! The<br />
library subscribes to a number of Germanlanguage<br />
anthroposophical journals with<br />
<strong>in</strong>trigu<strong>in</strong>g contents: Das Goetheanum,<br />
Info3, Flensburger Heft, Der Europäer, Die<br />
Drei, Die Christengeme<strong>in</strong>schaft. We would<br />
love to share some of the articles from<br />
these journals with English speakers.<br />
Please let us know if you would like to collaborate<br />
with us on such a project; we will<br />
provide editorial assistance.<br />
We are look<strong>in</strong>g for back issues of the<br />
I believe that miso belongs to the highest class of medic<strong>in</strong>es,<br />
those which help prevent disease and strengthen<br />
the body through cont<strong>in</strong>ued usage. . . Some people speak of<br />
miso as a condiment, but miso br<strong>in</strong>gs out the flavor and<br />
nutritional value <strong>in</strong> all foods and helps the body to digest<br />
and assimilate whatever we eat. . .<br />
—Dr. Sh<strong>in</strong>ichiro Akizuki,<br />
Director, St Francis Hospital, Nagasaki<br />
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Sheet for Members of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> Great Brita<strong>in</strong>, and<br />
copies of the Rundbrief published by the<br />
Pedagogical Section. Contact us regard<strong>in</strong>g<br />
specific dates needed.<br />
Why books? Are books just a tired, <strong>in</strong>efficient,<br />
outdated medium (ouch!)? Digital<br />
resources are important, particularly<br />
<strong>in</strong> the sciences, where researchers rely<br />
on up-to-the-m<strong>in</strong>ute onl<strong>in</strong>e journals and<br />
databases. Still, Robert Darnton, director<br />
of Harvard’s university library, predicts<br />
longevity for the book: http://harvardmagaz<strong>in</strong>e.com/2010/05/gutenberg-2-0<br />
Book Reviews<br />
by Frederick Dennehy<br />
In this issue we offer Keith Francis’s<br />
review of Metamorphosis: Evolution <strong>in</strong><br />
Action, by Andreas Suchantke, one of the<br />
most important books on Goethean science<br />
to appear <strong>in</strong> years. Readers of this<br />
book (and, because it is so <strong>in</strong>cisive and detailed,<br />
this review) are likely to come to a<br />
fresh understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of metamorphosis as<br />
not only a concept,<br />
but as an imag<strong>in</strong>ative<br />
activity. Suchantke<br />
emphasizes the need<br />
to “escape from the<br />
idea of a fixed spatial<br />
form” and cultivate<br />
an <strong>in</strong>tuition of “the<br />
<strong>in</strong>ner l<strong>in</strong>e, or, rather,<br />
the time-gestalt of<br />
the whole of evolution.”<br />
In a larger<br />
context, readers<br />
will be challenged<br />
to wean themselves<br />
from the mechanistic<br />
habit of focus<strong>in</strong>g<br />
exclusively on what<br />
Aristotle termed<br />
“efficient cause” and<br />
to develop a sense<br />
for the neglected<br />
“formal cause” or<br />
“archetype.” Such a<br />
genu<strong>in</strong>ely scientific<br />
approach yields a<br />
comprehension of<br />
liv<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs and of<br />
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the process of change—metamorphosis—<br />
sharply dist<strong>in</strong>guishable from a grasp of the<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ished world that physicists <strong>in</strong>vestigate.<br />
Also <strong>in</strong> this issue is my review of Where<br />
On Earth Is Heaven? by Jonathan Stedall,<br />
a warm, honest, and amateur—<strong>in</strong> the best<br />
sense—<strong>in</strong>quiry <strong>in</strong>to the mean<strong>in</strong>g of immortality.<br />
Readers will be <strong>in</strong>trigued (and<br />
<strong>in</strong>structed) by Mr. Stedall’s understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of anthroposophy from the periphery of<br />
the movement, and an account of Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er not from the vantage po<strong>in</strong>t of a disciple,<br />
but from that of a sympathetic friend.<br />
Book reviews are on p.6 and p.23.<br />
Library Annotations<br />
Brief descriptions of new books available from<br />
the library; annotations this time by Judith Soleil.<br />
Anthroposophy—Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
Astronomy and Astrology: F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
Relationship to the Cosmos, compiled and<br />
edited by Margaret Jonas, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
Press, 2009, 250 pgs. Includes notes and a<br />
bibliography.<br />
“Although Ste<strong>in</strong>er rejects the simplistic<br />
notion of the planets determ<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g our lives<br />
and behavior, he makes a clear connection<br />
between the heavenly bodies and human be<strong>in</strong>gs….<br />
This…anthology features excerpts of<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s work on the spiritual <strong>in</strong>dividualities<br />
of the planets, the determ<strong>in</strong>ation of human<br />
characteristics by the constellation at birth,<br />
the cultural epochs and the passage of the<br />
equ<strong>in</strong>ox, solar and lunar eclipses…and much<br />
more.” An excellent <strong>in</strong>troduction by Margaret<br />
Annotations cont<strong>in</strong>ue on p. 62<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library’s borrow<strong>in</strong>g service<br />
is free for <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>America</strong> members; non-members pay<br />
an annual fee. Borrowers pay round-trip<br />
postage. Requests can be made by mail<br />
(65 Fern Hill Road Ghent, N.Y. 12075),<br />
phone (518-672-7690), fax (518-672-5827),<br />
or e-mail: rste<strong>in</strong>erlibrary@taconic.net<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
5
Book Review / the Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library Newsletter<br />
Where on Earth Is Heaven?<br />
By Jonathan Stedall; Hawthorn Press, 2009, 566 pgs<br />
Review by Frederick J. Dennehy<br />
Editor’s Note: by separate routes we<br />
received two reviews of this unusual book.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce they are relatively short and different<br />
<strong>in</strong> character, we are publish<strong>in</strong>g both. The<br />
second review, by Signe Schaefer, follows the<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>uation of this review, on page 59.<br />
Books describ<strong>in</strong>g an author’s spiritual journey generally tend<br />
toward an end<strong>in</strong>g. Readers f<strong>in</strong>d themselves travel<strong>in</strong>g along with<br />
the author and sense <strong>in</strong> the f<strong>in</strong>al pages that a “dest<strong>in</strong>ation” of<br />
some sort will be reached.<br />
Where on Earth Is Heaven? is not structured <strong>in</strong> that way. As<br />
Richard Tarnas aptly notes <strong>in</strong> his foreword, Jonathan Stedall’s<br />
book is more like a fireside chat. His account has the freshness<br />
and honesty of a friend’s impressionistic rem<strong>in</strong>iscences, as well<br />
as the meander<strong>in</strong>g and somewhat repetitious features of <strong>in</strong>formal<br />
conversation.<br />
Mr. Stedall’s orig<strong>in</strong>al <strong>in</strong>tention was to write very little about<br />
himself, and to focus on the people whom he had come to know<br />
and the ideas he had encountered that had <strong>in</strong>fluenced him spiritually.<br />
Readers<br />
of the first draft<br />
suggested that<br />
the book needed<br />
to be more autobiographical;<br />
consequently,<br />
Mr. Stedall, with some reluctance, extended his account to<br />
<strong>in</strong>clude moments from his “own bumpy journey—the downs as<br />
well as the ups.”<br />
“Where on Earth is heaven?” was a question orig<strong>in</strong>ally asked<br />
many years ago by the author’s then seven-year-old son. This<br />
book is Mr. Stedall’s effort, after a gap of twenty years and his<br />
encounter with serious illness, to answer it. Each of the thirtysix<br />
chapters is connected—directly or <strong>in</strong>directly—to the possibility<br />
and mean<strong>in</strong>g of immortality. The chapters loosely follow<br />
Mr. Stedall’s career as a BBC documentary film producer. His<br />
employer (hard to imag<strong>in</strong>e<br />
this now!) allowed him to<br />
travel—geographically<br />
and spiritually—almost<br />
wherever his most burn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
questions dictated.<br />
Mr. Stedall is not a scholar<br />
but a producer of films.<br />
He is not a man of personal<br />
visionary experience but a person of natural devotion and<br />
highly focused attention. In the words of Nicolas Malebranche,<br />
“attention is the natural prayer we make to <strong>in</strong>ner truth <strong>in</strong> order<br />
that it may be revealed <strong>in</strong> us.”<br />
This book takes its place on one side of a cultural divide<br />
whose fault l<strong>in</strong>es have been visible for a long time and have<br />
been widen<strong>in</strong>g at an ever-<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g speed. The topography<br />
of that divide has also altered appreciably s<strong>in</strong>ce it was del<strong>in</strong>eated<br />
by C.P. Snow <strong>in</strong> The Two Cultures <strong>in</strong> 1961. The split is not<br />
so much between the scientific method and the humanities<br />
(Geisteswissenschaft), and it would be crude to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> that it<br />
is simply between science and religion.<br />
Rather, the division is between<br />
those persons who sense and seek<br />
an <strong>in</strong>tr<strong>in</strong>sic mean<strong>in</strong>g and purpose <strong>in</strong><br />
the world, and two other groups: (1)<br />
those who see any notions of mean<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and purpose as the ephemeral<br />
projections of needy humans, determ<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
by a comb<strong>in</strong>ation of biochemistry<br />
and “cont<strong>in</strong>gency”; and (2)<br />
those who believe <strong>in</strong> the existence<br />
of objective purpose and mean<strong>in</strong>g<br />
but th<strong>in</strong>k that these are dest<strong>in</strong>ed to<br />
be realized elsewhere, <strong>in</strong> a “heaven”<br />
somewhere beyond Earth. That “somewhere” is often conceived<br />
to be on a “th<strong>in</strong>ner” or disembodied plane that is subject nonetheless<br />
to “ord<strong>in</strong>ary consciousness”—the same consciousness<br />
that regulates our experiences at ten <strong>in</strong> the morn<strong>in</strong>g on a not<br />
very excit<strong>in</strong>g workday.<br />
Mr. Stedall takes his stand unmistakably on the first side of<br />
this divide, but not as a combatant, a philosopher, or a systematizer.<br />
Instead, he reports to us as an observer of long stand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
who has seen and <strong>in</strong>quired <strong>in</strong>to a vast range of human experience.<br />
A significant part of that experience is closely related to<br />
anthroposophy.<br />
Mr. Stedall returns aga<strong>in</strong> and aga<strong>in</strong> to Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er, as a<br />
philosopher, an esotericist, and the source for the creation of<br />
Camphill therapeutic <strong>in</strong>itiatives and Waldorf education. Very<br />
little <strong>in</strong> these pages could be deemed to be “orig<strong>in</strong>al” regard<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er, and a fair portion of the commentary is overtly mediated<br />
through secondary sources. Mr. Stedall was enormously<br />
impressed with the Camphill movement, which he encountered<br />
through his work document<strong>in</strong>g the Camphill community,<br />
Botton Village, and the school at Camphill Aberdeen. He was<br />
strongly <strong>in</strong>fluenced by his n<strong>in</strong>e-month stay at Emerson College<br />
<strong>in</strong> England, particularly by the scientific method of founder and<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Francis Edmunds. Dur<strong>in</strong>g that same stay he boycotted<br />
all eurythmy classes. While he enrolled both his children <strong>in</strong><br />
a Waldorf school, he found the experience there <strong>in</strong>sufficiently<br />
flexible to accommodate the particular <strong>in</strong>terests ev<strong>in</strong>ced by his<br />
children when they did not conform to the time frame expected<br />
by the teachers concerned.<br />
But this is not a book for students of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er or for<br />
participants <strong>in</strong> the daughter movements of anthroposophy<br />
who want to go deeper. Nor is it a book <strong>in</strong> which you will f<strong>in</strong>d<br />
the struggles and hurdles encountered by a man who at long<br />
last “f<strong>in</strong>ds” anthroposophy. What you will f<strong>in</strong>d is an <strong>in</strong>telligent,<br />
<strong>in</strong>tensely curious, and candid th<strong>in</strong>ker who experiences and<br />
digests the <strong>in</strong>sights of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er along with those of Carl<br />
Jung, Pierre Teilhard de Chard<strong>in</strong>, and many others, albeit with<br />
a partiality toward Ste<strong>in</strong>er. You will f<strong>in</strong>d a man fasc<strong>in</strong>ated by<br />
the human side of great th<strong>in</strong>kers and doers. And so he places<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er <strong>in</strong> both surpris<strong>in</strong>g and unsurpris<strong>in</strong>g company, along<br />
with Tolstoy, Gandhi, Sir Bernard Lovell, Malcolm Muggeridge,<br />
the poet John Betjeman, Laurens van der Post, and many<br />
Review cont<strong>in</strong>ues on page 59<br />
6 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Ernst Katz, teacher of anthroposophy<br />
Donald Melcer<br />
On September 3, 2009 one of the great teachers of anthroposophy<br />
crossed the threshold. Ernst Katz was 96 years old.<br />
He jo<strong>in</strong>ed the society when he was 16, and was fully dedicated<br />
to anthroposophy as a way of life and for understand<strong>in</strong>g man’s<br />
purpose on Earth for all those 80 years.<br />
I first became acqua<strong>in</strong>ted with Ernst <strong>in</strong> 1962 when a series of<br />
his articles about the book The Philosophy of Spiritual Activity<br />
was published <strong>in</strong> the new journal (now defunct) Free Deeds.<br />
I had been read<strong>in</strong>g various works of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er for about<br />
three years. Like many people, I had struggled to understand<br />
that particular book, as well as most of Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s other “basic<br />
books.” Ernst’s articles were examples of extraord<strong>in</strong>arily clear<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g. I felt as though I had at last found a competent guide to<br />
the lofty ideas presented <strong>in</strong> The Philosophy of Spiritual Activity.<br />
Every time the postman delivered a new issue of Free Deeds I<br />
felt a rush of anticipation for Ernst’s next article.<br />
About five years later at a summer anthroposophical conference<br />
I met a young professor of German from the University<br />
of Michigan. Alan Cottrell told me about the Ann Arbor study<br />
group <strong>in</strong> anthroposophy led by physics professor Ernst Katz,<br />
and the wise guidance he provided. As a person who had studied<br />
anthroposophy mostly alone and had many unanswered<br />
questions, I was envious of those fortunate people who had<br />
such a teacher. Dest<strong>in</strong>y responded k<strong>in</strong>dly to my envy, for with<strong>in</strong><br />
a year I was offered a position at Michigan State University, just<br />
a fifty m<strong>in</strong>ute drive from Ann Arbor. I quickly broke my vow never<br />
live <strong>in</strong> a place where it snowed all w<strong>in</strong>ter, and we left sunny<br />
Aust<strong>in</strong>, Texas for snowy East Lans<strong>in</strong>g, Michigan.<br />
The Ann Arbor study group held its meet<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong><br />
the homes of several members. The presentation<br />
protocol was simple. A designated person would<br />
present a short recap of a preselected Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
lecture which was followed by a general discussion.<br />
Attendance was typically 25 to 30 eager<br />
anthroposophists, and discussion was lively. I<br />
found Ernst’s behavior <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g. There was no<br />
doubt that he was the leader but he showed no<br />
<strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>ation to display his superior anthroposophical<br />
knowledge. Often he made little or no comment<br />
about a question or topic. More typically the<br />
discussion would cont<strong>in</strong>ue until a question arose<br />
that no one could expla<strong>in</strong> adequately. The room<br />
would grow quiet as all eyes turned toward Ernst.<br />
He would then say rather quietly, “Yes, well...” and<br />
then give his thoughts on the question. We learned<br />
to have our notebooks and pencils ready at those<br />
moments.<br />
Physics students at the university also recognized<br />
his extraord<strong>in</strong>ary teach<strong>in</strong>g skills and personal<br />
character. Once a group of students called<br />
on him dur<strong>in</strong>g office hours and said someth<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
this effect: “You know, Dr. Katz, we students gossip<br />
about our teachers, and we have noticed someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
different about you. Your courses are more<br />
alive and you seem genu<strong>in</strong>ely <strong>in</strong>terested that we<br />
understand what you present <strong>in</strong> lectures. Can you tell us what<br />
it is that makes you different?” The students were quite correct<br />
<strong>in</strong> their perception, for Ernst believed that every human connection<br />
was an event of dest<strong>in</strong>y, and he treated each one with<br />
respect and reverence.<br />
Some years later, Ernst phoned the regular members of the<br />
study group and suggested that we buy an old abandoned fraternity<br />
house. The purpose was to create a dwell<strong>in</strong>g for university<br />
students <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> spiritual development so they could<br />
have a common place to live and study. We responded, and the<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Institute of the Great Lakes Area was formed as a<br />
non-profit corporation. The structure of the build<strong>in</strong>g was sound,<br />
but the <strong>in</strong>terior had to be completely renovated. Much of the<br />
restoration work was done by local members who donated their<br />
weekends for at least a year. A central build<strong>in</strong>g was created<br />
where anthroposophical activities of all sorts could take place.<br />
Ernst and his wife Kather<strong>in</strong>e soon sold their large home on the<br />
Huron river and bought a small house adjacent to the build<strong>in</strong>g<br />
now named Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er House. For many years they were<br />
overseers of the build<strong>in</strong>g and friends of the students and artists<br />
who lived there. After it’s mission had been served, the build<strong>in</strong>g<br />
was donated to the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong> and is<br />
now the society’s headquarters.<br />
The University of Michigan allowed professors to teach what<br />
was called “Free Offer<strong>in</strong>gs,” full credit courses <strong>in</strong> their special<br />
<strong>in</strong>terests. Course content was carefully screened by a special<br />
committee. Ernst applied to teach anthroposophical courses,<br />
and after <strong>in</strong>tense scrut<strong>in</strong>y, was allowed to do so. As a result, he<br />
was one of the few university professors at that time—perhaps<br />
the only one <strong>in</strong> North<br />
<strong>America</strong>—who taught<br />
courses <strong>in</strong> both natural<br />
science and “spiritual”<br />
science.<br />
One of the great<br />
bless<strong>in</strong>gs of a university<br />
teach<strong>in</strong>g career is that<br />
opportunities for work<br />
are always greater than<br />
the time available to do<br />
them all. Boredom is<br />
never a problem. I saw<br />
that Ernst accomplished<br />
an amaz<strong>in</strong>g amount of<br />
work, yet never seemed<br />
rushed or anxious. How<br />
did he do it? I simply<br />
could not accomplish<br />
everyth<strong>in</strong>g I wanted to,<br />
and decided to make a<br />
special trip to Ann Arbor<br />
to ask Ernst’s advice for<br />
improvement. Of course<br />
I hoped that he would<br />
give me a few clues as to<br />
how one accomplishes<br />
more work <strong>in</strong> less time.<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
7
centerpo<strong>in</strong>t<br />
ANTHROPOSOPHY NYC<br />
email: anthroposophynyc@yahoo.com<br />
Lectures, workshops, art exhibits, festivals, study groups.<br />
RUDOLF STEINER BOOKSTORE<br />
features works of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er and many others on spiritual<br />
research, Waldorf education, personal growth, Goethean science,<br />
Biodynamic agriculture, holistic therapies, the arts, and more<br />
Fall/W<strong>in</strong>ter Highlights<br />
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS: ANTHROPOSOPHY IN AMERICA & NYC<br />
Nov 20, Sat, 7:30pm – Mel Shrawder<br />
Pax Vobiscum, a full length play<br />
Nov 21, Sun – Vivian Gladwell<br />
The Courage to Be, An Introduction to Clown<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Conference & Workshop , 1-5:30pm; Performance, 7pm<br />
Nov 22, Mon, 7pm – L<strong>in</strong>da Larson (eurythmy workshop)<br />
Colors of the Ra<strong>in</strong>bow (Dec 13: In the Advent Mood)<br />
Dec 5, Sun, 5pm – Advent Garden Festival Celebration<br />
Dec 8, Wed, 7pm – David Anderson (10-part series)<br />
Essential Ste<strong>in</strong>er: Ste<strong>in</strong>er & Psychology<br />
(Jan 19: Projective Geometry; Feb 16: Chemistry)<br />
Dec 9, Thu, 7:30pm – Dorothy Emmerson<br />
Act<strong>in</strong>g for Non-Actors (Michael Chekhov Techniques)<br />
Dec 18, Sat, 2-5pm – Art Exhibit Open<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Jorge Sanz Cardona: Soulscapes<br />
Dec 26–Jan 6: The Holy Nights & Epiphany<br />
Phoebe Alexander, Walter Alexander, Cynthia Lang,<br />
Barbar Simpson, Keith Francis, Kev<strong>in</strong> Dann, George<br />
Centanni, Lenard Petit, L<strong>in</strong>da Larson, Erk Ludwig,<br />
Fred Dennehy; Jan 6 - Epiphany D<strong>in</strong>ner & Concert<br />
FUTURE SPECIAL EVENTS<br />
Feb 14, Mon, 7pm – Tor<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>ser<br />
Freedom & Initiative:<br />
Anthroposophy <strong>in</strong> the 21st Century<br />
Feb 26, Sat, 7pm – Eugene Schwartz<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er & the 21st Century<br />
Mar 11-12, Fri/Sat – Ste<strong>in</strong>er Books<br />
Spiritual Research Sem<strong>in</strong>ar 2011<br />
ANTHROPOSOPHY NYC<br />
the New York Branch of the<br />
<strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong><br />
138 West 15th Street, NY, NY 10011<br />
(212) 242-8945<br />
www.asnyc.org<br />
Instead, he told me how one of his colleagues, a famous scientist<br />
who received many requests for more <strong>in</strong>formation about articles<br />
he published, responded to all these <strong>in</strong>quiries—more than<br />
he could possibly answer. Ernst said, “He ignores the first and<br />
second request by any <strong>in</strong>dividual and only answers if there is a<br />
third. He figures that if a person asks the third time, he or she<br />
is really <strong>in</strong>terested and will make good use of his reply.” That<br />
was Ernst’s quiet answer to my question. As I drove home to<br />
East Lans<strong>in</strong>g I felt that he had not answered my question at all. I<br />
had expected a detailed answer describ<strong>in</strong>g how one goes about<br />
improv<strong>in</strong>g his output. After a time, the answer dawned upon me.<br />
Ernst had said <strong>in</strong> effect, “Here is how one man does it. You will<br />
have to develop the capacity and skills to accomplish what you<br />
want <strong>in</strong> your life—there is no simple formula.” Thanks, Ernst.<br />
All of Ernst’s teach<strong>in</strong>gs, whether given to an <strong>in</strong>dividual, or<br />
published as essays for all to read, have this quality—they<br />
did not provide a ready answer to a particular problem, but<br />
required the person to th<strong>in</strong>k through the details and f<strong>in</strong>d his<br />
or her own solution. Ernst knew that we learn most profoundly<br />
through our own active th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g, and he was a master at<br />
stimulat<strong>in</strong>g such th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g. No wonder that his physics students<br />
perceived someth<strong>in</strong>g different about him.<br />
All his published anthroposophical essays will soon be available<br />
<strong>in</strong> a book titled Core Anthroposophy: The Teach<strong>in</strong>g Essays<br />
of Ernst Katz to be published by Ste<strong>in</strong>erBooks. Jannebeth Röell,<br />
James Lee, and I edited the book and found the work absolutely<br />
<strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g. Ernst’s composition is exquisite. One of the last questions<br />
I asked him before his death was, “How do you write these<br />
excellent essays?” This was not just a question of curiosity—I<br />
wanted to improve my own writ<strong>in</strong>g. I was hop<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong> for an<br />
answer <strong>in</strong> the form of step-by-step <strong>in</strong>struction.<br />
His response was to mail me a copy of a letter by Sergei<br />
Prokofieff prais<strong>in</strong>g Ernst for one of his essays. Prokofieff is one<br />
of the current generation’s most respected anthroposophical<br />
writers. Ernst’s letter thanked me for my compliments about his<br />
writ<strong>in</strong>g and enclosed a copy of the Prokofieff letter. That was all.<br />
What was he suggest<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
Ernst was too modest to be call<strong>in</strong>g attention to himself, so I<br />
knew the Prokofieff letter was not for that purpose. His response<br />
said <strong>in</strong> effect, “You discovered someth<strong>in</strong>g about my writ<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
a writer we both highly respect also discovered.” I took that to<br />
be a very nice personal compliment, but the real lesson was, “If<br />
you will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to study the essays carefully you will discover<br />
the method of my writ<strong>in</strong>g.” Then, of course, what I learn will<br />
come as my own effort <strong>in</strong> imag<strong>in</strong>ative cognition, not by follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a set of <strong>in</strong>structions that would likely produce a dull imitation.<br />
At that moment I felt deep thanks—thanks from the heart—for<br />
Ernst’s answer to my question.<br />
Ernst <strong>in</strong>tended all of his writ<strong>in</strong>gs to be for both the present<br />
and com<strong>in</strong>g generations. He would be pleased if you were to<br />
select him as one of your spiritual teachers. You won’t be disappo<strong>in</strong>ted<br />
if you do.<br />
Donald Melcer, PhD, is professor emeritus at Michigan State University,<br />
a cl<strong>in</strong>ical psychologist, and a marriage and family therapist. He<br />
coord<strong>in</strong>ates the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Foundation studies at the Aust<strong>in</strong>,<br />
Texas, Waldorf School.<br />
8 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Build<strong>in</strong>g the Positive Future<br />
A conversation with Clemens Pietzner on Triskeles<br />
In 2002, Clemens Pietzner and a group of colleagues and board<br />
members created the Triskeles Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization<br />
dedicated to youth, philanthropic services and community<br />
build<strong>in</strong>g. From<br />
1984 to 2002,<br />
Clemens was executive<br />
director<br />
of the Camphill<br />
Foundation, a<br />
public foundation<br />
focused on<br />
serv<strong>in</strong>g communities<br />
car<strong>in</strong>g for and support<strong>in</strong>g children, youth, and adults with<br />
developmental disabilities.<br />
Work<strong>in</strong>g out of World Themes<br />
» Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News — How did the Triskeles thought<br />
and approach develop?<br />
Clemens Pietzner — Part of this was<br />
biographical, and some of it has to do<br />
with how I’ve had the privilege of be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>serted <strong>in</strong>to the world. Prior to Triskeles,<br />
I had 20 years of active engagement <strong>in</strong><br />
various ways with Camphill. And prior to<br />
that, government work <strong>in</strong> three different<br />
state governments. I have always had an<br />
<strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> social action, social justice.<br />
Some key themes have been part of<br />
the formation of Triskeles. Those are not<br />
personal themes; they belong to all of us;<br />
they are world themes.<br />
The first theme is: how do we build a<br />
positive future? That has always been a<br />
big question for all of us, with the emphasis<br />
on “positive.”<br />
A second theme relates to the question<br />
of community and <strong>in</strong>dividual. How can I<br />
be my best <strong>in</strong>dependent self, stand<strong>in</strong>g free<br />
and fully conscious, and how can I—at the<br />
same time—be most connected and most<br />
engaged <strong>in</strong> my community—be that with<br />
my family, or my social organism? Connectedness<br />
and engagement are central<br />
to the second theme.<br />
The third theme is: stewardship and<br />
ownership. What can I truly own <strong>in</strong> this<br />
world? And what is it my practical and<br />
moral obligation to be a steward of? I<br />
don’t mean that only <strong>in</strong> terms of natural<br />
resources. But what k<strong>in</strong>ds of forces do I<br />
need to steward, what k<strong>in</strong>ds of relationships,<br />
and even how do I steward my own<br />
world and the social contract that I make<br />
with others?<br />
And f<strong>in</strong>ally, the fourth theme is that of: money and <strong>in</strong>tention.<br />
Money is neutral, and it’s given value and movement through a<br />
series of our actions and oftentimes, arbitrary agreements that<br />
we generate collectively. A whole universe of activity emerges<br />
from that! In fact, money ga<strong>in</strong>s a certa<strong>in</strong> k<strong>in</strong>d of value, by what<br />
it does. And it “does stuff” because we ask it to. So we give it<br />
<strong>in</strong>tention when we buy someth<strong>in</strong>g or when we give a gift. It<br />
bears someth<strong>in</strong>g of our consciousness, and it ga<strong>in</strong>s movement<br />
through that. I’ve always been really<br />
<strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> what money bears, what<br />
is <strong>in</strong>herent <strong>in</strong> the transactions of<br />
money and the forces connected to<br />
money.<br />
These four themes were central to<br />
the formation of Triskeles. We chose<br />
to build our programs with those four<br />
themes <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d, because they are all<br />
<strong>in</strong>tertw<strong>in</strong>ed. By work<strong>in</strong>g with young<br />
people, we are directly address<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
positive future. And, we chose to work<br />
with money and <strong>in</strong>tentionality around<br />
the issues of <strong>in</strong>vestment and gifts.<br />
That was true also of the themes of<br />
ownership and stewardship <strong>in</strong> community.<br />
So, these ideas cont<strong>in</strong>ue to be very<br />
much at the core of what Triskeles<br />
currently does even as our programs<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ue to evolve, emerge, and grow.<br />
Thought <strong>in</strong>to Actions<br />
and Back <strong>in</strong>to Thought<br />
» EN — You’ve done some<br />
shap<strong>in</strong>g of the organization, separat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
out the orig<strong>in</strong>al foundation/philanthropic<br />
work, and you’ve certa<strong>in</strong>ly had a lot<br />
of success <strong>in</strong> the youth work. Where<br />
would you say it is go<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
CP — All I can really speak to with<br />
accuracy is maybe the next three to<br />
five years. First of all, we are generat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a lot of energy and excitement and<br />
programmatic effectiveness around<br />
youth employment, health, nutrition,<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
9
all the issues around obesity, leadership tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, social entrepreneurship,<br />
and philanthropy. Our “Food for Thought”<br />
program is becom<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> some respects our flagship<br />
program, and it touches on all of those areas.<br />
So, we’ll cont<strong>in</strong>ue to focus on and build<br />
that program.<br />
Secondly, because we work<br />
with young people, we are<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g a great deal of<br />
<strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> the area of<br />
social entrepreneurship.<br />
Young people want to<br />
know about bus<strong>in</strong>ess,<br />
about money, about<br />
green projects and<br />
operations, susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />
organizations, and globalism<br />
<strong>in</strong> the best sense<br />
of the word. How do<br />
young people take those<br />
large ideas and apply<br />
them <strong>in</strong> their practical<br />
lives? We will cont<strong>in</strong>ue<br />
to focus on the areas of social entrepreneurship for young<br />
people and youth philanthropy. I also th<strong>in</strong>k this is a huge<br />
area of opportunity for the Waldorf schools. Youth<br />
today are really <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> those topics and<br />
get <strong>in</strong>spired when they see people who<br />
“walk the talk” and are do<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
that are connected to their ideals.<br />
The third direction we are work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
towards has to do with alignment. More<br />
and more people understand the positive<br />
aspects of susta<strong>in</strong>able and socially<br />
responsible <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g and are see<strong>in</strong>g<br />
more deeply that it’s productive to th<strong>in</strong>k<br />
about <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g aligned with one’s<br />
values and aligned with one’s charitable<br />
<strong>in</strong>tent. There have been significant leaders<br />
<strong>in</strong> this field who have demonstrated<br />
that there is, can, and should be effective<br />
alignment between those th<strong>in</strong>gs. That’s where<br />
returns, not just f<strong>in</strong>ancial returns, but returns<br />
of impact and social importance, def<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> a variety of ways,<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ue to be more and more important. This is what we strive<br />
for <strong>in</strong> our donor advised fund<strong>in</strong>g and related work <strong>in</strong> philanthropy.<br />
To be part of and help<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiate conversations on different<br />
levels around this issue of alignment, whether that be with<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ancial planners or people who come at this from a very spiritual<br />
perspective and want to see how that streams <strong>in</strong>to practical<br />
life, will be a factor <strong>in</strong> our growth.<br />
We want to cont<strong>in</strong>ue and expand the approaches that we<br />
have to our donor advised fund work and our philanthropic<br />
work. We def<strong>in</strong>itely see our “Food for Thought” and our related<br />
programs grow<strong>in</strong>g. And we’re look<strong>in</strong>g to further develop our<br />
green Susta<strong>in</strong>able Directions Internship Program <strong>in</strong> New York<br />
City. We will be<br />
add<strong>in</strong>g board<br />
members and<br />
<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>frastructure.<br />
We’re<br />
<strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong><br />
youth entrepreneurship,<br />
social<br />
entrepreneurship,<br />
and philanthropy<br />
also with<br />
youth.<br />
These are<br />
directions for<br />
further expansion.<br />
Of course, a<br />
particular challenge is<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g resources. Can we<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d the resources to meet the<br />
demands and <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>in</strong> our<br />
activity areas?<br />
Engag<strong>in</strong>g the Work of Triskeles<br />
» EN — Then how can people step forward and help, work<br />
with you, and also benefit from your experience?<br />
CP — We are very <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g with people who,<br />
through philanthropy, wish to take advantage of our<br />
donor advised fund services. We are always look<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for new, positive relationships that might manifest as<br />
board membership or advisors, or as volunteers<br />
on the local level. We are look<strong>in</strong>g for program support.<br />
Without question, all this will help us grow.<br />
Unfortunately, we are not always able to meet<br />
a very, very significant demand for our youth<br />
programs because we just don’t have the<br />
bandwidth at times to do that. And then if<br />
people wish to benefit from our experience,<br />
we also do advisory work for and<br />
with small projects and not-for-profits.<br />
We are not a grant-mak<strong>in</strong>g organization<br />
<strong>in</strong> the traditional sense. It’s important<br />
that people understand that.<br />
We do have resources, but the funds<br />
that we have <strong>in</strong> the Triskeles Foundation<br />
are stewarded by us; we don’t<br />
have discretionary gift money. The<br />
10 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
A Work<strong>in</strong>g-with-the-Whole Process<br />
gifts we make are supportive of our donors’ <strong>in</strong>tents. As a result,<br />
we have to disappo<strong>in</strong>t people a lot, but that’s just how it works.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>ally, we can serve smaller not-for-profits who are <strong>in</strong>terested<br />
<strong>in</strong> a susta<strong>in</strong>able <strong>in</strong>vestment approach by work<strong>in</strong>g with<br />
their endowments or reserve funds. Sometimes endowments<br />
or reserve funds <strong>in</strong> organizations aren’t big enough<br />
to get the attention of money managers. We’re<br />
able to do that on their behalf. We can manage<br />
these funds <strong>in</strong> a socially-responsible,<br />
mission-related way, and the resources<br />
do not have to be huge. Those are a<br />
variety of ways that people could get<br />
engaged—and if you gave me another<br />
ten m<strong>in</strong>utes I could th<strong>in</strong>k of a<br />
hundred more!<br />
» EN — It seems an unusual comb<strong>in</strong>ation, altogether, from understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
philanthropy through actual money management to all<br />
the human relationships. And these very specific needs of young<br />
people and their families, both the under-served and then young<br />
people look<strong>in</strong>g to experience entrepreneurship. Is Triskeles<br />
fairly unique <strong>in</strong> this comb<strong>in</strong>ation?<br />
CP — I don’t know of any youth organization that actually<br />
provides programs that could potentially support a youngster<br />
from k<strong>in</strong>dergarten through 12th grade. More specifically, I don’t<br />
know of other organizations that are focus<strong>in</strong>g on the youth work<br />
around food and youth entrepreneurship and then also tak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
it all the way <strong>in</strong>to philanthropy; not only for youth but beyond<br />
that. I don’t know of another organization that unifies all these<br />
pieces. In our “Food for Thought” program, for example, we’re<br />
mak<strong>in</strong>g products like pesto or salsa with the youth. And we’re<br />
creat<strong>in</strong>g small bus<strong>in</strong>ess plans with them. Many of these youngsters<br />
are underserved kids, but Waldorf youth are important<br />
participants <strong>in</strong> these activities as well. We are creat<strong>in</strong>g small<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess plans around the food products that they have actually<br />
made. Then, we’re tak<strong>in</strong>g the products and youngsters to<br />
local farmers’ markets and shops <strong>in</strong> their neighborhoods where<br />
they are sell<strong>in</strong>g their products. From the money that we make<br />
with the youth, we put the money <strong>in</strong>to a small youth donor<br />
advised fund. And then we guide the youth through a philanthropy<br />
process <strong>in</strong> which the young people are actually th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
“What are the entities <strong>in</strong> our community that we use?”<br />
“How can we support them?”<br />
We lead the youngsters through a process <strong>in</strong> which they<br />
make choices<br />
about what<br />
local charities<br />
they want to<br />
support with<br />
the money<br />
that they’ve<br />
earned. Some<br />
of our board<br />
members<br />
have matched the youths’ gifts and sales. That is a long process.<br />
Aga<strong>in</strong>, I don’t know of any other group that is tak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the process that far. There are many great youth<br />
groups around food, and there are great youth<br />
employment groups, but we seek to<br />
comb<strong>in</strong>e all of these pieces.<br />
» EN — It’s real social-artistic work. I’d<br />
ask more but you’ve given a lot of time<br />
this morn<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
CP —Triskeles has come a long way<br />
<strong>in</strong> these seven years, and it has been a<br />
great journey, hard sometimes, but joyful<br />
and very reward<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Photos by Emilie McI. Barber.<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
11
LA Karma Exercises Workshop<br />
Tycho Brahe, Herzeleide, Emperor Julian<br />
with L<strong>in</strong>da Connell, Jannebeth Röell,<br />
MariJo Rogers, Lynn Stull and Joyce Muraoka<br />
June 25– 26, 2010 <strong>in</strong> Pasadena, CA<br />
This excellent workshop should be subtitled, “An Evolv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Method for Study<strong>in</strong>g Karma.” L<strong>in</strong>da Connell, Jannebeth Röell,<br />
and MariJo Rogers (center, right, and left <strong>in</strong> the picture at right)<br />
shared with us the results of many months of their private<br />
endeavors to br<strong>in</strong>g karma<br />
study to life through look<strong>in</strong>g<br />
at the lives of Tycho Brahe<br />
(1546-1601, left), Herzeleide<br />
(9th century, pictured below<br />
watch<strong>in</strong>g a tournament) and<br />
Emperor Julian (Julian the<br />
Apostate, 331-363, two sculptures<br />
at lower right). They began<br />
with these three people<br />
because Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er gives<br />
a fairly lengthy description<br />
of their connection <strong>in</strong> Karmic<br />
Relationships, vol. 4 (lectures<br />
of 9/14 and 9/16/1924),<br />
describ<strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />
earthly life of this <strong>in</strong>dividuality<br />
<strong>in</strong> each <strong>in</strong>carnation as<br />
well as life between death and rebirth.<br />
The workshop focused on the first karma exercise, the<br />
Saturn, Sun, and Moon exercise (Karmic Relationships, vol. 2,<br />
5/4/1924), where you<br />
br<strong>in</strong>g before your<br />
m<strong>in</strong>d certa<strong>in</strong> features<br />
and characteristics<br />
of a person and then<br />
“th<strong>in</strong>k them away”<br />
<strong>in</strong> order to arrive at<br />
deeper levels <strong>in</strong> the<br />
person’s life, and, ultimately,<br />
a picture of<br />
the person’s karma.<br />
Jannebeth, MariJo<br />
and L<strong>in</strong>da had each<br />
done extensive<br />
research <strong>in</strong>to the life<br />
of one of the three:<br />
Jannebeth studied<br />
Emperor Julian,<br />
MariJo pondered<br />
Herzeleide, and L<strong>in</strong>da researched the life of Tycho Brahe. After<br />
a brief <strong>in</strong>troduction to the first karma exercise, each presented<br />
an extensive biography of the person she had studied. The basic<br />
method was to look <strong>in</strong>itially at physical characteristics and<br />
constitution, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g significant illnesses (moon level). Next,<br />
we heard about upbr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g, family life, education, travels, work,<br />
significant people met, geographic sett<strong>in</strong>gs, and relationships;<br />
<strong>in</strong> other words, all that the person saw and heard and accomplished<br />
or attempted <strong>in</strong> life (sun level). F<strong>in</strong>ally, a deeper look<br />
at what seemed to live as the tendency of the person’s life, the<br />
direction of the person’s thought (saturn level).<br />
In the f<strong>in</strong>al session of the workshop, Jannebeth drew a grid on<br />
the blackboard: across the top¸ Julian, Herzeleide, and Tycho;<br />
along the left side, from top to bottom, “spiritual world”, saturn,<br />
sun, moon, mak<strong>in</strong>g a grid of 12 squares. It was our turn to br<strong>in</strong>g<br />
someth<strong>in</strong>g to the workshop. What had we noticed, what stood<br />
out for us, what parallels might exist, what had surprised us,<br />
made us say “Aha!”? This collaborative work was challeng<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and very excit<strong>in</strong>g. Among the observations: each person was<br />
born <strong>in</strong>to a noble family; there were very strong themes of the<br />
sun <strong>in</strong> each life; there was a powerful connection between this<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividuality and Mani <strong>in</strong> at least the lives of Julian and Herzeleide;<br />
and each of the people at some po<strong>in</strong>t were with<strong>in</strong> the<br />
same geographic areas <strong>in</strong> Europe. This was a beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g, a first<br />
tentative penetration <strong>in</strong>to the themes of this fasc<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
important personality.<br />
We were supported <strong>in</strong> this endeavor by the nourish<strong>in</strong>g<br />
eurythmy brought by Lynn Stull. With Joyce Muraoka speak<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
they presented “The Stars Once Spoke to Man,” a verse presented<br />
by Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er to Marie Ste<strong>in</strong>er, three times throughout<br />
the workshop, which helped us deepen our appreciation of the<br />
theme. We also had a eurythmy session with<br />
Lynn, with a wonderful collaborative effort to<br />
choreograph and perform one section of the<br />
verse.<br />
This workshop takes up the important<br />
question of how we can study karma. Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er gave us his karma<br />
research as a precious legacy<br />
and an <strong>in</strong>centive to take up<br />
this essential work. Us<strong>in</strong>g his work as a scaffold<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
L<strong>in</strong>da, MariJo, and Jannebeth have begun<br />
to construct a practical method for tak<strong>in</strong>g up<br />
this task. If any other branch is <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong><br />
hav<strong>in</strong>g this workshop, please email any of the<br />
presenters:<br />
L<strong>in</strong>da Connell (l<strong>in</strong>connell@sbcglobal.net);<br />
Jannebeth Röell (jannebeth@m<strong>in</strong>dspr<strong>in</strong>g.com);<br />
MariJo Rogers (marijo.rogers@hp.com).<br />
Marcia Murray<br />
Pasadena, CA<br />
12 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Research<br />
Anthroposophy as developed by Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er a century ago is dist<strong>in</strong>guished by truly holistic<br />
breadth and by commitment to a path of objective, scientific research. It does not accept the<br />
so-called “limits to knowledge” which still mark off the boundaries of modern natural science—<br />
specifically the limits to our understand<strong>in</strong>g of “matter” and “consciousness.” These are not real,<br />
unsurpassable limits, Ste<strong>in</strong>er <strong>in</strong>sisted, but stage-markers <strong>in</strong> human development which are call<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for new techniques based <strong>in</strong> the cultivation of the potentials of human consciousness.<br />
a special section<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s own life path is filled with new approaches<br />
and new beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the search for real knowledge and<br />
experience. Gifted <strong>in</strong> childhood with what Hollywood has<br />
popularized as the ability to “see dead people,” Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
turned away from this spontaneous gift and sought to f<strong>in</strong>d a<br />
path to the same and further experiences by methods appropriate<br />
to the Western scientific tradition. An early discovery<br />
was that the true contemplation of geometric forms <strong>in</strong>volves<br />
a “sense-free th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g.” L<strong>in</strong>es without width and planes<br />
without depth, the stuff of geometry, are no more perceptible<br />
to the physical senses, and no more materially real, than human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>gs who have left their bodies at death; but they can<br />
be known <strong>in</strong> contemplation. Ste<strong>in</strong>er cont<strong>in</strong>ued with <strong>in</strong>tensive<br />
studies <strong>in</strong> Vienna which for its time would equate to a course<br />
at MIT or Cal Tech today. He learned to review the most uncongenial<br />
and dogmatic lectures over and over aga<strong>in</strong>—backwards.<br />
In that way he discovered how their hidden logical<br />
failures could unlock more liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>sights.<br />
In the years before 1900 Ste<strong>in</strong>er explored many paths:<br />
psychological phenomenology (which became essential to<br />
20th century philosophy); the dynamic morphological and<br />
evolutionary science of Goethe (still slowly be<strong>in</strong>g recognized<br />
as fundamental to true ecological and life sciences); the<br />
esoteric wisdom of a “simple” folk herbalist; and the popular<br />
occult spiritualistic streams like Freemasonry and Theosophy.<br />
He engaged the most serious scientific research of a<br />
triumphant time which had unlocked the vast force fields of<br />
electromagnetism, unrolled the time dimension of life <strong>in</strong> biological<br />
evolution, and opened the doors of the unconscious<br />
m<strong>in</strong>d. He also immersed himself <strong>in</strong> the arts and humanities,<br />
and <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>tense social questions aris<strong>in</strong>g at the end of<br />
aristocracy. Most importantly, however, he was develop<strong>in</strong>g<br />
capacities for <strong>in</strong>trospection, meditation, and contemplation,<br />
until he arrived at the little understood po<strong>in</strong>t of “<strong>in</strong>itiation.”<br />
As he described it just short of a century ago, “We must<br />
gradually accustom ourselves to the necessity of submitt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
our ideas, concepts and modes of thought to a certa<strong>in</strong><br />
change before we are able to form correct ideas of the higher<br />
worlds beyond the senses.... Anyone really pursu<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
practical path <strong>in</strong>to the worlds opened by <strong>in</strong>itiation, anyone<br />
hav<strong>in</strong>g actual experience of life beyond the sense world,<br />
knows well that one must not only transform many th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong><br />
oneself...but also lay aside many habits, representations, and<br />
concepts before one can enter the higher worlds.” (Lecture<br />
of August 27, 1912)<br />
So the path of anthroposophical research is at the same<br />
time a process of personal growth and transformation. And<br />
everyone who undertakes this challenge is immediately<br />
faced with the rather overwhelm<strong>in</strong>g abilities and accomplishments<br />
of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er himself. How could he know so<br />
much, critics ask, and why has he had no equals? The first<br />
question can be met by po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g to persons of unique gifts <strong>in</strong><br />
many fields. For the second, the answer lies <strong>in</strong> human evolution<br />
itself, the evolution of consciousness which is both an<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividual matter and an aspect of the life of humanity. There<br />
are many researchers follow<strong>in</strong>g Ste<strong>in</strong>er, but anthroposophy<br />
recognized that we are all becom<strong>in</strong>g, never f<strong>in</strong>ished. And so<br />
the very most essential requirement for this path of research<br />
may simply be humility. In T.S. Eliot’s phrase, “Humility is<br />
endless.” Submitt<strong>in</strong>g ourselves to humility’s power, we become<br />
capable of attempt<strong>in</strong>g whatever needs do<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The follow<strong>in</strong>g pages, then, offer some aspects of the present<br />
work of research among anthroposophists today. What<br />
we do not capture at all <strong>in</strong> this first look is the work<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />
three emerg<strong>in</strong>g higher senses for which Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er used<br />
the names Imag<strong>in</strong>ation, Inspiration, Intuition. He meant them<br />
<strong>in</strong> a specially discipl<strong>in</strong>ed and <strong>in</strong>tensified form, but imag<strong>in</strong>ations<br />
and <strong>in</strong>spirations and <strong>in</strong>tuitions such as we all have<br />
give us a clue: private, <strong>in</strong>timate moments of wonder, fresh<br />
perception, <strong>in</strong>sight, realization. Experiences of that sort are<br />
contemplated and then perhaps taken <strong>in</strong>to the conversations<br />
of study groups and branches, <strong>in</strong>to the teachers’ circles of<br />
schools and the life of all k<strong>in</strong>ds of <strong>in</strong>itiatives. With special<br />
<strong>in</strong>tention they are also shared <strong>in</strong> the work of the sections<br />
of the School for Spiritual Science, established by Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er <strong>in</strong> the last months of his life.<br />
And so what is won <strong>in</strong>dividually and humbly is shared,<br />
heard, pondered; and it becomes, <strong>in</strong> Michael Howard’s<br />
phrase <strong>in</strong> an article we will publish <strong>in</strong> the next issue, vital<br />
threads <strong>in</strong> a liv<strong>in</strong>g fabric.<br />
— The Editor<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
13
Research–a special section<br />
by Dennis Dietzel, Roseville, MN<br />
As it did for Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er, the research<br />
process may beg<strong>in</strong> with our own experiences<br />
and <strong>in</strong>sights. These will commonly be shared<br />
first <strong>in</strong> a branch or study group.<br />
Liv<strong>in</strong>g with and Shar<strong>in</strong>g Questions <strong>in</strong> the Tw<strong>in</strong> Cities:<br />
Spiritual Research <strong>in</strong> the Branch<br />
Branch activity <strong>in</strong> the Tw<strong>in</strong> Cities has waxed and waned over<br />
time, but <strong>in</strong> the last five years we have consistently met on the<br />
third Wednesday of each month with ten to fourteen people.<br />
Our current activity is largely due to the hard work of a few<br />
people, particularly Becky Streeter, who has been our Branch<br />
contact <strong>in</strong> recent years.<br />
About five years ago we started follow <strong>in</strong>g a three-part meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
format, <strong>in</strong>spired by Rene Querido:<br />
1. some content related to anthroposophy / spiritual research,<br />
2. branch bus<strong>in</strong>ess and reports from local <strong>in</strong>itiatives,<br />
3. current events <strong>in</strong> the light of anthroposo phy.<br />
As we have worked with this form, we have gradually moved to<br />
a two-part meet<strong>in</strong>g preceded by a social time where we share a<br />
potluck meal.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the first part of the meet<strong>in</strong>g, we strive to build an<br />
awareness of local anthro posophical <strong>in</strong>itiatives and attempt (<strong>in</strong><br />
words <strong>in</strong>spired by Robert Karp) to build a vessel that weaves together<br />
the spiritual <strong>in</strong>tentions of the different <strong>in</strong>itiatives. We are<br />
blessed with many anthroposophical <strong>in</strong>itiatives—three Waldorf<br />
schools, two life-shar<strong>in</strong>g/CSA farms, Camphill Village M<strong>in</strong>nesota,<br />
some medical related work,—and through our shared experience<br />
we hear about the various <strong>in</strong>itiatives and their activities.<br />
We then hold them <strong>in</strong> silence for a few m<strong>in</strong>utes, send<strong>in</strong>g our best<br />
thoughts for their efforts. This part of the meet<strong>in</strong>g is our vesselbuild<strong>in</strong>g<br />
work and takes 30-45 m<strong>in</strong>utes.<br />
The second part of the meet<strong>in</strong>g is devoted to shar<strong>in</strong>g the spiritual<br />
research of members. We approach this <strong>in</strong> a very humble<br />
way, encourag<strong>in</strong>g the person to share their research at whatever<br />
level they are. We keep the def<strong>in</strong>ition of “spiritual research”<br />
broad enough so that people do not feel <strong>in</strong>timidated or that they<br />
have to match up to Dr. Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s standards. The format is up to<br />
the presenter, but generally he or she speaks for 20-30 m<strong>in</strong> utes<br />
followed by conversation and questions (up to an hour). “M<strong>in</strong>nesota<br />
Nice” prevails here, so we tend to not be overly critical of<br />
each other, striv<strong>in</strong>g to listen and respect each others’ op<strong>in</strong>ions.<br />
Follow<strong>in</strong>g are some exam ples of recent presentations:<br />
Albert L<strong>in</strong>derman is <strong>in</strong>volved profes sionally as an organizational<br />
development consultant. He has studied the work of Otto<br />
Scharmer (www.presenc<strong>in</strong>g.com) and taken a workshop on Theory<br />
U, Otto’s approach to group decision mak<strong>in</strong>g. Albert described<br />
Theory U, which takes a group through a transformative process<br />
of open m<strong>in</strong>d/heart/ will to presenc<strong>in</strong>g, allow<strong>in</strong>g solutions to<br />
come from the future. Although Otto is present<strong>in</strong>g his work <strong>in</strong><br />
the ma<strong>in</strong>-stream as a lecturer at MIT, it happens that he grew<br />
up on a bio dynamic farm <strong>in</strong> Germany. He does not speak about<br />
anthroposophy <strong>in</strong> his written work, but his work reveals many<br />
<strong>in</strong>spirations from this fount.<br />
John Fuller recently attended the Economics of Peace conference<br />
<strong>in</strong> California. John shared this work with us and related it<br />
to anthroposophical pr<strong>in</strong>cipals of threefold <strong>in</strong>g. After present<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a sober picture of our current economic situation, John shared<br />
from the many <strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g presentations of people he heard at the<br />
conference (www.economicsof peace.net).<br />
Our next meet<strong>in</strong>g will focus on the work of Shona Terrill, who<br />
is work<strong>in</strong>g on her masters degree at Antioch College. She will<br />
lead a session on the topic of her dis sertation, which is “Moral<br />
Education.” Shona describes her work thus:<br />
I explore observations of past societal crises and reveal how<br />
these relate to education through the prism of five moral pillars:<br />
sympathy, benevolence, reason, equity, and self determ<strong>in</strong>ation.<br />
I also use these pillars to exam<strong>in</strong>e modern day social<br />
and educational theory. By study<strong>in</strong>g three local schools of<br />
differ<strong>in</strong>g educational streams, I explore how contemporary<br />
society puts moral education <strong>in</strong>to practice.<br />
We have found this shar<strong>in</strong>g of research to be fruit ful for the<br />
group and a way for the researcher to deepen his/her own<br />
work. It does take extra effort to put ones’ ideas <strong>in</strong> front of other<br />
people, but the pay back is the <strong>in</strong>sight ga<strong>in</strong>ed from the <strong>in</strong>put of<br />
others.<br />
Repr<strong>in</strong>ted from the W<strong>in</strong>ter-Spr<strong>in</strong>g 2009-10 edition of The Correspondence,<br />
the newsletter of the Central Region. Dennis Dietzel<br />
serves on the Central Regional Council and jo<strong>in</strong>ed the General Council<br />
of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong> represent<strong>in</strong>g his region.<br />
“Sections” of the School for Spiritual<br />
Science founded by Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er serve<br />
medic<strong>in</strong>e, pedagogy, agriculture, the<br />
social sciences, visual arts, perform<strong>in</strong>g<br />
arts, literary arts and humanities, natural<br />
science, mathematics and astronomy, and<br />
the spiritual striv<strong>in</strong>g of youth.<br />
14 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
In any Section of the School of<br />
Spiritual Science, not all members<br />
work on a s<strong>in</strong>gle theme; rather, each<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividual generally works on the issue<br />
or issues that present themselves<br />
<strong>in</strong> life. This can allow us to research<br />
and be active <strong>in</strong> areas that we love.<br />
The Section for the Social Sciences, by its very<br />
nature, <strong>in</strong>cludes a particularly wide range of <strong>in</strong>terests:<br />
members work <strong>in</strong> and represent research<br />
and activities touch<strong>in</strong>g on every realm of social<br />
life. As described on the Goetheanum website:<br />
The Section for Social Sciences is concerned with human<br />
relationships <strong>in</strong> the three spheres of social life: economic,<br />
legal and cultural/spiritual. Depend<strong>in</strong>g on the sphere different<br />
fundamental questions arise:<br />
How are the basic needs of the world’s population to be met?<br />
What responsibility does a citizen bear for the common good?<br />
What does a human be<strong>in</strong>g need from the world <strong>in</strong> order to<br />
reach his or her potential?<br />
With such questions <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d the Section conducts research,<br />
pursu<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>sight and creative forms <strong>in</strong> a range of areas <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
family culture, biography work, conflict resolution/peace<br />
studies, addiction, economic questions and the science,<br />
practice and politics of law.<br />
The Section for the Social Sciences <strong>in</strong> North <strong>America</strong> was<br />
founded <strong>in</strong> June 1987; over time, eight po<strong>in</strong>ts emerged, eight areas<br />
which, we believe, cont<strong>in</strong>ue to <strong>in</strong>dicate the Section’s scope:<br />
1. to foster and encourage <strong>in</strong>dividual and collaborative<br />
research at local, regional and national levels with a focus<br />
on social lawfulness and the threefold nature of social life.<br />
2. to work toward a deeper understand<strong>in</strong>g of the spiritual<br />
be<strong>in</strong>gs connected to social life.<br />
3. to recognize that the sacrament of human encounter is an<br />
essential task for this section.<br />
4. to do what we can—humanly, socially, and spiritually—to<br />
encourage and support the <strong>in</strong>itiative and research capacities<br />
of members of this section, and to cultivate collaboration<br />
with other sections of the School for Spiritual Science.<br />
5. to provide local support <strong>in</strong> the branches of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong>.<br />
6. to foster consciousness of world events <strong>in</strong> a spiritual<br />
context.<br />
7. to encourage associations of <strong>in</strong>dividuals and groups shar<strong>in</strong>g<br />
common <strong>in</strong>terests.<br />
8. to create forums of meet<strong>in</strong>g to help heal social ills and<br />
relationships.<br />
A mighty set of tasks! One can see how work <strong>in</strong> the Section<br />
for the Social Sciences cannot but <strong>in</strong>terweave with that of other<br />
sections. And one can wonder: How does this set of guideposts<br />
play out <strong>in</strong> a practical way? How does life with<strong>in</strong> the Section for<br />
the Social Sciences manifest?<br />
The Section for the Social Sciences<br />
<strong>in</strong> North <strong>America</strong><br />
The Life of a Research Section<br />
The section itself consists of about 140 members. With<strong>in</strong> the<br />
section, a Travel<strong>in</strong>g Collegium meets with geographically scattered<br />
groups—generally twice a year—and sponsors a twiceyearly<br />
newsletter, provid<strong>in</strong>g members a forum of colleagues.<br />
The North <strong>America</strong>n section ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s a close connection<br />
with that at the Goetheanum and was happily able to send two<br />
Collegium members to a Section for Social Sciences meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
Dornach <strong>in</strong> November 2009. That year also saw cosponsorship<br />
of a public conference <strong>in</strong> Spr<strong>in</strong>g Valley and a “Round Table on<br />
Economics” at the Annual General Meet<strong>in</strong>g of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong>. At both the latter events younger friends were<br />
visible and active.<br />
The heart of the section lies <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>itiative of members. In<br />
some areas—the Northern California and Berkshire-Taconic<br />
groups come to m<strong>in</strong>d—Section members meet regularly to<br />
study and share work-<strong>in</strong>-progress. Members who work with<br />
youth groups, offer workshops on social threefold<strong>in</strong>g, work <strong>in</strong><br />
social f<strong>in</strong>ance, provide mediation, or otherwise offer special<br />
services, br<strong>in</strong>g their section perspective to that work.<br />
Mention of a few recent articles <strong>in</strong> the section newsletter may<br />
give some flavor of the nature and variety of endeavor: Alexander<br />
Cameron described a “collaborative research <strong>in</strong> study,” an<br />
epistemological study with a (non-anthroposophical) colleague;<br />
Denis Schneider wrote of “develop<strong>in</strong>g community through art”<br />
<strong>in</strong> the form of writ<strong>in</strong>g workshops; Meg Gorman asked “What<br />
Shall We Do About Ahriman,” an article also published <strong>in</strong> Das<br />
Goetheanum; Chris Schaefer offered practical advice on th<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
we can do relat<strong>in</strong>g to our very own f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>stitutions;<br />
Richard Rettig has brought a three-fold perspective to such<br />
contemporary issues as same-sex marriage and the liberal-conservative<br />
divide <strong>in</strong> politics; Stephen Usher delved <strong>in</strong>to presentday<br />
world events <strong>in</strong> “The Present Crisis: The Surface Explanation<br />
and the Deep One;” Luigi Morelli described weav<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
seven life processes <strong>in</strong>to nonviolent communication and social<br />
technology modalities; Addie Bianchi described peace activities<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Israel-Palest<strong>in</strong>ian area; Carl Flygt expanded his work on<br />
“Goethean conversation;” and so on …<br />
A f<strong>in</strong>al quote from the Section at the Goetheanum may characterize<br />
a key aspect of the Section for the Social Sciences:<br />
Of primary importance is the conversation between the various<br />
members of the section who are do<strong>in</strong>g scientific research.<br />
Today one can no longer undertake any research on the social<br />
level <strong>in</strong> some ivory tower—exploratory conversations and<br />
exchange with others is essential.<br />
For further <strong>in</strong>formation, please contact<br />
Shawn Sullivan, (California) 916-965-6553, shawnjs1@pacbell.net<br />
or another Collegium member:<br />
Meg Gorman (New Mexico), 206-325-5520, pelicanmeg@earthl<strong>in</strong>k.net<br />
Kristen Puckett (Colorado), 970-689-3902, kristen.puckett@gmail.com<br />
Bette Shertzer (New York), 212-877-1094, bshertzer@aol.com<br />
Claus Sproll (Pennsylvania), 610-469-6292, claus@sproll.net<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
15
Research–a special section<br />
A Resurgence of Research at Threefold:<br />
Frank Chester, the 2010 Threefold Visit<strong>in</strong>g Researcher<br />
Bill Day<br />
Thirty years ago, Henry Barnes called on every anthroposophical<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitution to set aside resources to support research.<br />
Of “the urgent need for research aris<strong>in</strong>g from anthroposophy,”<br />
Henry wrote: “We must f<strong>in</strong>d the way to work for future values<br />
(the purpose of all genu<strong>in</strong>e research), while meet<strong>in</strong>g the needs<br />
of today, tomorrow and the next day.” Henry was <strong>in</strong>spired by Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s call at the 1924 Christmas Foundation Conference<br />
for the establishment of research <strong>in</strong>stitutes that could support<br />
and carry forward spiritual scientific research. Through the<br />
work of these <strong>in</strong>stitutes, Ste<strong>in</strong>er said, the <strong>in</strong>sights of spiritual<br />
science will penetrate the general culture.<br />
Today, anthroposophy has proven<br />
its ability to foster (for example)<br />
beautiful schools and productive<br />
farms that freely acknowledge Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s spiritual research as the basis<br />
of their work. But even the most<br />
prosperous and stable anthroposophical<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutions still devote most<br />
of their resources to simply keep<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the wheels turn<strong>in</strong>g, pay<strong>in</strong>g the bills,<br />
and stay<strong>in</strong>g alive for the next school<br />
year or plant<strong>in</strong>g season. Our people<br />
are busy just do<strong>in</strong>g their jobs, we say,<br />
and there’s hardly enough money<br />
even to meet our immediate needs.<br />
At the same time, who can deny<br />
that the need to discover our “future<br />
values” feels more urgent than ever?<br />
With that <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d, Threefold Educational<br />
Center has created a Visit<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Researcher program to br<strong>in</strong>g together<br />
<strong>in</strong>novative researchers, motivated<br />
students, and Threefold community<br />
residents and guests.<br />
The <strong>in</strong>augural Threefold Visit<strong>in</strong>g Researcher is artist, sculptor<br />
and geometrician Frank Chester. This fall, Frank brought<br />
his studio to the Threefold community, where a select group of<br />
research fellows have jo<strong>in</strong>ed him <strong>in</strong> conduct<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>vestigations<br />
<strong>in</strong>to the properties of new geometric forms.<br />
Fellows entered the program on one of two tracks. Those <strong>in</strong><br />
the Apprenticeship Track are work<strong>in</strong>g on projects assigned by<br />
Frank Chester, while Fellows <strong>in</strong> the Research Track brought an<br />
exist<strong>in</strong>g project or question to the Fellowship, with the aim of<br />
apply<strong>in</strong>g research methodologies they are learn<strong>in</strong>g from Frank<br />
Chester. Fellows <strong>in</strong> both tracks received <strong>in</strong>tensive, hands-on<br />
<strong>in</strong>struction <strong>in</strong> Frank’s methodology. They will then have the opportunity<br />
to apply those methods to previously un<strong>in</strong>vestigated<br />
forms, with completely unpredictable results. Through their<br />
guided experience of one researcher’s methods, fellows will<br />
develop unrealized capacities and unexpected <strong>in</strong>sights.<br />
The 2010 residency has been structured <strong>in</strong> three parts:<br />
September 19-25: Frank and his research fellows work<br />
together at Threefold. This <strong>in</strong>tensive week-long gather<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>cluded morn<strong>in</strong>g lectures, work with projective geometry and<br />
orthographic studies, geometric net development, two- and<br />
three-dimensional draw<strong>in</strong>g, perspective, form studies, basic<br />
construction techniques, and group discussions. Frank provided<br />
<strong>in</strong>struction on his research methodology, assigned research<br />
projects to fellows <strong>in</strong> the Apprenticeship track, and guided<br />
fellows <strong>in</strong> the Research track as they apply the methodology to<br />
their own research question.<br />
September 26-October 23: Fellows work <strong>in</strong>dependently, on<br />
their own projects or on the forms and elements assigned by<br />
Frank. This <strong>in</strong>dependent research can be<br />
completed anywhere – fellows can return<br />
home or stay on at Threefold, where studio<br />
facilities are available. Each fellow will<br />
have at least one personal phone consultation<br />
with Frank dur<strong>in</strong>g this time to check<br />
on progress and ask questions.<br />
October 24-30: Frank and fellows<br />
reconvene at Threefold. This second<br />
group session will <strong>in</strong>clude presentations<br />
of <strong>in</strong>dependent work and a group compilation<br />
and report<strong>in</strong>g of research f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />
An exhibition <strong>in</strong> Threefold Auditorium will<br />
feature the work of the research fellows,<br />
and time will also be devoted to explor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
how the research methodology might be<br />
applied to each fellow’s own life questions<br />
and themes.<br />
In early November, after the Visit<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Researcher program is completed, the<br />
Threefold community will host a research<br />
symposium co-sponsored by Threefold<br />
Educational Center and the Collegium of<br />
the School of Spiritual Science. This event will <strong>in</strong>clude contributions<br />
from researchers of long stand<strong>in</strong>g, and be a fitt<strong>in</strong>g cap to a<br />
season mark<strong>in</strong>g a resurgence of research at Threefold.<br />
In shap<strong>in</strong>g the Visit<strong>in</strong>g Researcher program, we at Threefold<br />
have worked hard to ensure that it is adequately funded and appropriately<br />
structured so that it can achieve the Christmas Conference<br />
ideal of <strong>in</strong>stitutionaliz<strong>in</strong>g spiritual-scientific research.<br />
As we work, cont<strong>in</strong>uous dialog with the Collegium of the School<br />
of Spiritual Science is <strong>in</strong>tended to ensure that Threefold’s work<br />
harmonizes with the Collegium’s efforts <strong>in</strong> the same direction.<br />
We are striv<strong>in</strong>g to temper our enthusiasm and sense of urgency<br />
with a commitment to ensur<strong>in</strong>g that the 2010 Residency is the<br />
first of many for the years to come.<br />
Bill Day is Development Coord<strong>in</strong>ator at Threefold Educational<br />
Center. For more <strong>in</strong>formation, contact Rafael (Ray) Manaças, Executive<br />
Director of Threefold Educational Center, at 845-352-5020 x12 or<br />
rafael@threefold.org. Learn more about Threefold Educational Center<br />
at www.threefold.org.<br />
16 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Though underfunded by any measure, the sections at the<br />
Goetheanum, <strong>in</strong> Dornach, Switzerland, begun by Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er,<br />
provide an <strong>in</strong>ternational focus for research.<br />
The on-go<strong>in</strong>g need for <strong>in</strong>stitutional support and fund<strong>in</strong>g for<br />
research <strong>in</strong> North <strong>America</strong> is a large one. In the USA, the Threefold<br />
Educational Center, orig<strong>in</strong>ally the “Threefold Farm,” was already a<br />
center <strong>in</strong> the 1930s. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer (right, with colleague Sally<br />
Burns) had a laboratory there. The North <strong>America</strong>n Collegium<br />
of the School for Spiritual Science was glad to announce, earlier<br />
this year, a new fund named for Henry Barnes, a leader of<br />
anthroposophical work for many decades.<br />
The Henry Barnes Fund for <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Research<br />
The North <strong>America</strong>n Collegium of the School for Spiritual Science<br />
is pleased to announce the Henry Barnes Fund for <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
Research. This has been made possible through a<br />
generous gift to the Collegium for the purpose of further<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
support<strong>in</strong>g research <strong>in</strong> the realm of the spirit.<br />
To foster a culture of research with<strong>in</strong> the School for Spiritual<br />
Science and the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong>, the Collegium will<br />
award grants to <strong>in</strong>dividuals who are nom<strong>in</strong>ated by their peers<br />
with<strong>in</strong> the Sections of the School based on their work with<br />
research and its methods. The completed research will be<br />
presented through publications, exhibitions, performances and<br />
other forms of shar<strong>in</strong>g with groups who express <strong>in</strong>terest.<br />
In addition, the Fund will support events such as symposia,<br />
lectures, conferences and workshops that focus not only on<br />
the content of research but also on the paths of <strong>in</strong>ner activity<br />
lead<strong>in</strong>g to enhancement of our human capacities as described<br />
by Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er.<br />
In order to recognize and support anthroposophical research<br />
activity beyond the scope of the orig<strong>in</strong>al gift, we plan to cultivate<br />
an ongo<strong>in</strong>g gift stream to susta<strong>in</strong> the Fund.<br />
For the first year, beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g July 2010, a total of $25,000 will<br />
be available for distribution as grants of vary<strong>in</strong>g amounts.<br />
Criteria for Award<strong>in</strong>g Grants:<br />
a) As a rule, nom<strong>in</strong>ated researchers will be active members of<br />
one or more Sections of the School for Spiritual Science <strong>in</strong> North<br />
<strong>America</strong> (the United States and Canada).<br />
b) Researchers are to be nom<strong>in</strong>ated by their peers, typically<br />
by their Section Council.<br />
c) Grants will be awarded on the basis of<br />
previous research activity grounded <strong>in</strong> anthroposophy.<br />
However, a perceived potential<br />
to advance some aspect of anthroposophical<br />
research will be a decid<strong>in</strong>g factor.<br />
d) Both the need for the research<br />
topic itself and the need for f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
support for the research will be<br />
considered.<br />
e) The Collegium assumes there<br />
is a spectrum of k<strong>in</strong>ds and levels of<br />
research <strong>in</strong> the realm of the spirit.<br />
Grants will be directed primarily<br />
towards research that exercises<br />
organs of perception and cognition<br />
beyond conventional sensory and <strong>in</strong>tellectual faculties.<br />
Therefore grants will not be awarded for conventional academic<br />
forms of research on spiritual matters, but rather to support<br />
what is also known as Goethean scientific or Goethean artistic<br />
research, as well as imag<strong>in</strong>ative, <strong>in</strong>spirational and <strong>in</strong>tuitive<br />
forms of spiritual scientific research.<br />
The Nom<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g Process<br />
The Councils of the Sections of the School for Spiritual Science<br />
are <strong>in</strong>vited to nom<strong>in</strong>ate one or two <strong>in</strong>dividuals active <strong>in</strong><br />
their Section <strong>in</strong> recognition of their anthroposophical research<br />
and its further potential.<br />
In nom<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>dividual, the Section Council—or an <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
requested to act on behalf of the Section Council—will<br />
submit a two to five page statement that expresses why they<br />
believe the <strong>in</strong>dividual should be awarded a grant relative to the<br />
criteria outl<strong>in</strong>ed above. This will <strong>in</strong>clude some history of the<br />
nom<strong>in</strong>ee’s previous research activity and an outl<strong>in</strong>e of <strong>in</strong>tentions<br />
for future research.<br />
Part of the acceptance process will <strong>in</strong>clude a written agreement<br />
concern<strong>in</strong>g the follow<strong>in</strong>g: 1) Researchers will document<br />
their research activity <strong>in</strong> an appropriate manner, such as an article,<br />
performance or exhibition. This will <strong>in</strong>clude a discussion<br />
of their method and ways of develop<strong>in</strong>g the faculties of perception<br />
and cognition necessary to the research. 2) Researchers<br />
will agree to present their research <strong>in</strong> 1- 3 events arranged <strong>in</strong><br />
collaboration with the Collegium. Honoraria for such events<br />
would be <strong>in</strong> addition to the orig<strong>in</strong>al awards.<br />
The Henry Barnes Research Fund Committee will also consider<br />
applications for f<strong>in</strong>ancial support of events such as lectures,<br />
workshops or conferences that advance the understand<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
practice of anthroposophical research. To qualify, such events<br />
are to be sponsored by a Section of the School, or by two or<br />
more members of the School who consider themselves active <strong>in</strong><br />
the General <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Section.<br />
The Award Grant<strong>in</strong>g Committee currently consists of two<br />
members of the Collegium, Sherry Wildfeuer and Helen Lub<strong>in</strong>.<br />
Please address questions or nom<strong>in</strong>ations to:<br />
Sherry Wildfeuer or Helen Lub<strong>in</strong><br />
PO Box 1045 PO Box 1384<br />
Kimberton, PA 19442 Fair Oaks, CA 95628<br />
sherrywlf@verizon.net<br />
helenlub<strong>in</strong>@gmail.com<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
17
Research–a special section<br />
Modern social sciences rarely address whether ultimate reality is founded <strong>in</strong> “th<strong>in</strong>gs” or <strong>in</strong> “be<strong>in</strong>gs.”<br />
Religions, spirituality, and one w<strong>in</strong>g of today’s ecological th<strong>in</strong>kers take for granted that humans, animals,<br />
and plants are not the only “be<strong>in</strong>gs” <strong>in</strong> the cosmos. Hard sciences and rationalists disagree, and seem<br />
uncomfortable sometimes even with the be<strong>in</strong>gness of humans. So anthroposophy is challeng<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
its aim to be both genu<strong>in</strong>ely scientific and at the same time fundamentally concerned with be<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
not perceptible to physical senses. Three “pr<strong>in</strong>ciples” who are experienced as “pr<strong>in</strong>cipals” are known<br />
by historically familiar names of Lucifer, Christ, and Ahriman. The first two entered fully <strong>in</strong>to a human<br />
life experience <strong>in</strong> the past; the third is prepar<strong>in</strong>g for such an <strong>in</strong>carnation <strong>in</strong> our times, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
reported. Lucifer provided access to freedom, supports idealism, and tempts us to abandon the earth.<br />
Christ provides the power to become a real <strong>in</strong>dividual, balanc<strong>in</strong>g other powers and serv<strong>in</strong>g the needs<br />
of the earth. Ahriman br<strong>in</strong>gs abstract<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>telligence and technical power, and is presently seek<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
dom<strong>in</strong>ate human be<strong>in</strong>gs with an ideal of mechanization. What do we do about that?<br />
Meg Gorman<br />
Meg Gorman presented this work to fellow members of the Section for the Social Sciences <strong>in</strong> Spr<strong>in</strong>g Valley <strong>in</strong> August 2009 and subsequently<br />
brought it to the Goetheanum. It was translated and published <strong>in</strong> the News from the Goetheanum.<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er tells us “...there is only one book of wisdom.” The challenge of our<br />
>What<br />
time is to determ<strong>in</strong>e whether or not this wisdom is <strong>in</strong> the hands of Ahriman or the<br />
Christ. Dr. Ste<strong>in</strong>er then says, “It cannot come <strong>in</strong>to the hands of Christ unless people<br />
fight for it.” 1<br />
How shall we do this? How can the goals of human evolution be realized <strong>in</strong> the<br />
middle of the Ahrimanic forces pour<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to our times. What can we, mere <strong>in</strong>dividuals,<br />
do to impede Ahri man and better serve Michael and the Christ? Dr.<br />
>Shall<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er tells us that there is much we can do. “People must learn from spiri tual<br />
science to f<strong>in</strong>d the key to life and so to be able to recog nize and learn to control<br />
the currents lead<strong>in</strong>g towards the <strong>in</strong> carnation of Ahriman.” 2<br />
Ahriman and Lucifer are alive and well <strong>in</strong> each of us, <strong>in</strong> the anthroposophical<br />
movement, and <strong>in</strong> the world. The more we do our work well, the more we may f<strong>in</strong>d ourselves attacked<br />
by negative forces. When Jesus of Nazareth received the Christ <strong>in</strong>to his be<strong>in</strong>g at the baptism of<br />
>We<br />
John, he is first recognized by Lucifer and Ahriman <strong>in</strong> the temptations <strong>in</strong> the desert. Where the Christ<br />
is active, these forces will show up to undo our work. Thus, we are all fair game. The task is to stay<br />
awake and identify these <strong>in</strong>fluences, especially <strong>in</strong> ourselves. As my col league, Denis Klocek says, once<br />
we can see these forces work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> us, we need to tell them, “Thank you for shar<strong>in</strong>g, please sit down.”<br />
>Do<br />
The bad news, <strong>in</strong> one sense, is that Ahriman is com<strong>in</strong>g, and there is noth<strong>in</strong>g we can do about it. In<br />
addition, collective hu manity is help<strong>in</strong>g his <strong>in</strong>carnation and that of his henchmen. This is not new <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
for anthroposophists. On the other hand, there is good news: through human activity, it is<br />
possible to help Ahriman serve humanity. We do not have to endure him only; we can work to make<br />
Ahriman a helper of human be <strong>in</strong>gs. Aside from the obvious reality of materialism <strong>in</strong> our time, Ru dolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er gives us many other h<strong>in</strong>ts on how we are prepar<strong>in</strong>g for Ahriman‘s activities.<br />
It is important to be conscious of these <strong>in</strong> ourselves and <strong>in</strong> our work.<br />
>About<br />
First comes the BAD NEWS. At the risk of be<strong>in</strong>g superficial and overly organized,<br />
I list below some of the ways <strong>in</strong> which we make Ahriman‘s job easy.<br />
When deeply considered, each of these can also become a tool for discernment<br />
<strong>in</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g the “exam<strong>in</strong>ed life.” The follow<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong> no<br />
>Ahriman<br />
particular order, are help <strong>in</strong>g Ahriman‘s <strong>in</strong>carnation:<br />
Disregard<strong>in</strong>g weightiest truths. Ignor<strong>in</strong>g or discount<strong>in</strong>g our<br />
spiritual selves and our dest<strong>in</strong>ies <strong>in</strong> the world and <strong>in</strong> human<br />
evolution create the greatest bridge for Ahriman.<br />
Deny<strong>in</strong>g or ignor<strong>in</strong>g the spiritual nature of the human be<strong>in</strong>g. The idea that we are only our<br />
:( ?<br />
biology permeates much of the world today. As higher animals, some say we bear no spi ritual<br />
responsibility for one another. Ahriman delights <strong>in</strong> this.<br />
See<strong>in</strong>g the world as a “great mechanism” only and ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g this scientific superstition.<br />
1 The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman 65-66<br />
2 The Incarnation of Ahriman 69<br />
18 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
This makes science <strong>in</strong>to a new religion and creates “scientific superstition<br />
as a prevail <strong>in</strong>g dogma.” When we th<strong>in</strong>k mechanistically,<br />
we create dis harmony <strong>in</strong> our wak<strong>in</strong>g and sleep<strong>in</strong>g. We see this<br />
today <strong>in</strong> the enormous rise <strong>in</strong> sleep disorders, especially among<br />
our tee nagers. 3 Gett<strong>in</strong>g caught up <strong>in</strong> fears like anthrax, sw<strong>in</strong>e flu,<br />
and global warm<strong>in</strong>g without understand<strong>in</strong>g the science beh<strong>in</strong>d<br />
them is a great help to Ahriman. Believ<strong>in</strong>g that science will save<br />
us from ourselves is equally helpful to him.<br />
See<strong>in</strong>g the world as a duality of good versus evil. The <strong>America</strong>n<br />
statements concern<strong>in</strong>g “the axis of evil” are an excel lent<br />
example of this. Some devil is always to blame whether or<br />
not it is Osama B<strong>in</strong> Laden or George Bush. Adam said, “Eve<br />
made me do it”; Eve said, “The devil made me do it.” It‘s al ways<br />
someone else‘s fault. We play a dangerous game of sham<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and blam<strong>in</strong>g others, of th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> blacks and whites, of see<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the world as a duality of good and evil. To th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>in</strong> this way is<br />
a failure to see the complexity of our times and to take responsibility<br />
for them. It is a failure to seek the role of Christ as a<br />
balance between Lucifer and Ahriman.<br />
Organiz<strong>in</strong>g our lives too much. Efficiency is not a bad th<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
itself, but it needs to leave enough room for real human meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and conversation.<br />
Liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the superficial <strong>in</strong>tellect. We often do not dig be neath<br />
the surface of th<strong>in</strong>gs. We Google life, and th<strong>in</strong>k we have it. We<br />
put the world and its people <strong>in</strong>to convenient boxes that rest on<br />
the surface of realities. We anthroposophists can be especially<br />
guilty <strong>in</strong> this area when we say th<strong>in</strong>gs like: “He‘s just so<br />
phlegmatic. No one can work with someone who is so choleric.<br />
Plastic should never touch the lips of small children.”<br />
Prov<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong>stead of experienc<strong>in</strong>g them. We are especially<br />
good at us<strong>in</strong>g statistics to this end. They often put<br />
truth beyond reach because figures can be divorced from the<br />
qualitative aspects of life.<br />
Sow<strong>in</strong>g conflicts between groups and gett<strong>in</strong>g them to at tack<br />
each other. Whether <strong>in</strong> family, race, tribe, faculty meet <strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong><br />
a Waldorf school, or anthroposophical groups, we are all very<br />
busy <strong>in</strong> this area. This does not mean that conflict is bad, but<br />
that it’s here to challenge to new perspectives, not polarize us.<br />
Liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> dogmatic one-sidedness and endors<strong>in</strong>g national<br />
chauv<strong>in</strong>ism. Any firmly held ideology can create discord. The<br />
form<strong>in</strong>g of political parties creates ideology at the expense of<br />
human be<strong>in</strong>gs. We often th<strong>in</strong>k it is more important to be right<br />
than to f<strong>in</strong>d a way to work through issues to someth<strong>in</strong>g larger<br />
than ourselves. “National Chauv<strong>in</strong>ism, perverted patriotism<br />
<strong>in</strong> every form, is the material from which Ahriman will build<br />
exactly what he needs.” 4<br />
Believ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the great Ahrimanic deception that economics<br />
drives world history and that the economist knows all. We<br />
turn to economists today for answers. Dr. Ste<strong>in</strong>er actually says<br />
economists have replaced <strong>in</strong>itiates <strong>in</strong> our times. He adds, “We<br />
must not imag<strong>in</strong>e that the rulers of our times are anyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
other than economists.” 5 We need only look to th<strong>in</strong>gs like the<br />
International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization,<br />
or groups like the US Council on Foreign Relations to recognize<br />
this. Naomi Kle<strong>in</strong>’s Shock Doctr<strong>in</strong>e does a lovely job of reveal<strong>in</strong>g<br />
this reality.<br />
Believ<strong>in</strong>g that public welfare depends only on provid<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
3 The Incarnation of Ahriman 20<br />
4 The Incarnation of Ahriman 72<br />
5 The Incarnation of Ahriman 26<br />
economic and material needs of humanity. Provid<strong>in</strong>g material<br />
needs is important, but this alone will not solve the problems<br />
of the world. We see this everywhere as people ask th<strong>in</strong>gs like,<br />
“How does spiritual understand<strong>in</strong>g help me to ac quire stuff?<br />
How does a Waldorf education help me to get a good job?” In<br />
this regard, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er states: “Europeans and their <strong>America</strong>n<br />
appendages are devourers of the spirit.” 6<br />
Involv<strong>in</strong>g ourselves <strong>in</strong> half or quarter truths. These are more<br />
harmful than total errors or outright lies. They create <strong>in</strong>security,<br />
fear, and confusion. They are, therefore, the marketer‘s<br />
delight. If we just dr<strong>in</strong>k the right beer, use the right toothpaste,<br />
and drive the right k<strong>in</strong>d of car, we will be whole human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>gs. We accept these lies and deceive ourselves easily <strong>in</strong><br />
small fractions.<br />
Believ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> fixed creeds of any k<strong>in</strong>d. This <strong>in</strong>cludes bl<strong>in</strong>d anthroposophy.<br />
Concern<strong>in</strong>g Christianity, if we see the world solely<br />
through scripture or through one gospel alone, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
tells us we will be led to the “halluc<strong>in</strong>ation of Christ.” The rise<br />
of religious fundamentalism worldwide from Christianity to<br />
Islam is a case <strong>in</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t Any k<strong>in</strong>d of religious fundamentalism<br />
prepares a good place for Ahriman, such as the Koran only,<br />
secular science only, denom<strong>in</strong>ational <strong>in</strong>struction of any k<strong>in</strong>d.<br />
An excellent BBC film on this is The Power of Nightmares which<br />
documents the rise of the Christian right <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong> as Islamic<br />
fundamentalism rises <strong>in</strong> Muslim countries.<br />
Foster<strong>in</strong>g drowsy unawareness through tedium. We f<strong>in</strong>d<br />
ourselves exhausted and at a loss for energy, and then blame<br />
the state of the world and our lives. Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er tells us that<br />
a dry cash book can be as <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g as the Sist<strong>in</strong>e Madonna<br />
if we can f<strong>in</strong>d the right entry po<strong>in</strong>t of <strong>in</strong>terest. “It is we, not the<br />
world, who are at fault.” We cannot use our wear<strong>in</strong>ess as an<br />
excuse to become unconscious. 7<br />
Fall<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to “pickle jars.” Pickle jars, Dr. Ste<strong>in</strong>er tells us, are<br />
libraries and universities filled with theses no one will ever<br />
read. They may also be lawyer‘s dossiers, the piles of papers<br />
of proofs, and books with little real <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> human be<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />
I have my own piles of paper, my little pickle jars. Sometimes<br />
I th<strong>in</strong>k Ahriman wants to bury us under paper. Ste<strong>in</strong>er gives<br />
a little quote from Ahriman to Lucifer. “It is advantageous to<br />
make use of pickle jars….To you I will leave people‘s stomachs<br />
if you will leave it to me to lull to sleep the awareness of their<br />
stomachs.” 8<br />
Eat<strong>in</strong>g and dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs of the physical and spiritual<br />
worlds unconsciously. How often are we conscious of the gifts<br />
that fill our gustatory needs? How often do we grab a sandwich<br />
on the run, eat at our desks? How often do we quote Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er out of context or without th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs through? How<br />
conscious are we <strong>in</strong> our lives.<br />
Eat<strong>in</strong>g and dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g for cleverness. Market<strong>in</strong>g tells us that we<br />
will be smarter and cleverer if we just eat and dr<strong>in</strong>k certa<strong>in</strong><br />
products. Today <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong> we even have a brand of bottled<br />
libation called Smart Water. We now have pharmaceutical solutions,<br />
from Rital<strong>in</strong> to Prozac, to help enhance our <strong>in</strong>telligence<br />
and deal with human issues.<br />
Tak<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> only through the heart without the head. It is<br />
easy to get lost <strong>in</strong> our silks and felted angels, or any other stuff<br />
that makes us feel good and br<strong>in</strong>gs us bliss. Here we are then<br />
6 The Incarnation of Ahriman 40<br />
7 The Incarnation of Ahriman 58<br />
8 The Incarnation of Ahriman 45-47<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
19
Research–a special section<br />
safely asleep <strong>in</strong> the arms of Lucifer, so<br />
Ahriman can do his work.<br />
Tak<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> only through the<br />
head without the heart; liv<strong>in</strong>g with<br />
abstractions of any k<strong>in</strong>d. We <strong>in</strong><br />
anthroposophical work can be especially<br />
guilty of this. We need the heart‘s bal ance.<br />
Intellectual life without warmth leads us <strong>in</strong>to the<br />
world of pickle jars. 9<br />
Tak<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> through the heart and the<br />
head, and do<strong>in</strong>g noth<strong>in</strong>g with them,<br />
otherwise known as weakness of<br />
will. Speak<strong>in</strong>g of and lov<strong>in</strong>g spiritual<br />
th<strong>in</strong>gs, but not carry<strong>in</strong>g these<br />
<strong>in</strong>to the activities of everyday<br />
life creates a wonderful<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g space for Ahriman. Love of anthroposophy,<br />
knowledge of anth roposophy is not<br />
enough.<br />
Quantify<strong>in</strong>g qualitative Life. Test<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> education, “No Child<br />
Left Beh<strong>in</strong>d,” statistics without qualitative considerations all<br />
fall <strong>in</strong>to this category.<br />
Allow<strong>in</strong>g envy and gossip to sway our common sense. Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
has strong th<strong>in</strong>gs to say about envy and gossip be cause they<br />
underm<strong>in</strong>e our collective work for the future. As he puts it, “We<br />
cannot on the one hand want to take part <strong>in</strong> the processes of<br />
the cosmos, and on the other hand make deroga tory remarks<br />
about our fellow human be<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the widespread way this happens<br />
<strong>in</strong> restaurants and clubs <strong>in</strong> this bourgeois age.” 10<br />
Fear-monger<strong>in</strong>g and submitt<strong>in</strong>g to fear. The news me dia, market<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
our politicians, and to some degree some of our movement<br />
is <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> creat<strong>in</strong>g a k<strong>in</strong>d of fear which para lyzes us.<br />
Forgett<strong>in</strong>g the widespread suffer<strong>in</strong>g of the earth. Writ <strong>in</strong>g on<br />
Christmas, 1919, Dr. Ste<strong>in</strong>er‘s words are enough clear: “We have<br />
no right to forget the widespread suffer<strong>in</strong>g, the wide spread<br />
sorrow of our times….It is our duty to allow all symp toms of<br />
decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> human civilization today to permeate our thoughts<br />
and penetrate right through to the Christmas Tree.” 11<br />
Then there is the GOOD NEWS, the ways <strong>in</strong> which we can help<br />
Ahriman serve humanity. These are th<strong>in</strong>gs we can all do <strong>in</strong> our<br />
daily lives. They are not so easy, but self-development is not a<br />
path of ease.<br />
Control th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and avoid abstractions. The practice of spiritual<br />
science asks us to develop an <strong>in</strong>ner discipl<strong>in</strong>e of th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>in</strong>g.<br />
As Dr. Ste<strong>in</strong>er puts it. We must “ga<strong>in</strong> control over our th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g<br />
just as we have control over our hands and legs.” 12 This also<br />
means that we need to know the difference between liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and abstractions.<br />
See the world with three-fold eyes. We need to move out of<br />
duality and see how we can balance Lucifer and Ahri man with<br />
the Christ. This threefoldness is everywhere, <strong>in</strong> our bones, our<br />
education, and our be<strong>in</strong>gs. It is also <strong>in</strong> our <strong>in</strong>terac tions with<br />
one another, and it is crucial that we beg<strong>in</strong> to work with Dr.<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er‘s picture of the threefold nature of social life, the threefold<br />
social organism.<br />
9 The Incarnation of Ahriman 109<br />
10 The Incarnation of Ahriman 100<br />
11 The Incarnation of Ahriman 84<br />
12 Past and Future Influences <strong>in</strong> Social Events, 3 March 1919<br />
Develop <strong>in</strong>ner strength. This comes with our daily review of<br />
the day, the practice of the six basic exercises, and our cont<strong>in</strong>ued<br />
struggle on the path of self development. Dr. Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
tells us that “Inner strength alone can enable anthroposophy<br />
to achieve its goals.” 13<br />
Be conscious and <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> the world. We need to stay<br />
awake. As Dr. Ste<strong>in</strong>er rem<strong>in</strong>ds us, one of the ma<strong>in</strong> tasks of<br />
humanity today is “to live towards the <strong>in</strong>carnation of Ahriman<br />
with such alert consciousness that this <strong>in</strong>carnation can serve<br />
to promote higher, spiritual development.” 14<br />
Know science. We need to develop an exact knowledge of science<br />
as much as we are able. We need to educate our selves<br />
through scientific illusion to spiritual substance. We need to<br />
love the facts and know how to use them with common sense.<br />
We need to guide science and technology to serve hu man<br />
needs. Young people <strong>in</strong> New York are read<strong>in</strong>g Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er <strong>in</strong><br />
“book slams.” A group gathers, studies and dis cusses a text <strong>in</strong><br />
a weekend. Those who live too far away to at tend are present<br />
through Skype and can take part <strong>in</strong> the process. Thus Ahriman<br />
is foiled by his own technology.<br />
Conduct affairs not for material ends alone but for the free<br />
spiritual life. This is one area <strong>in</strong> which we <strong>in</strong> our move ment<br />
may be imped<strong>in</strong>g Ahriman well. Work<strong>in</strong>g actively for Anthroposophia<br />
is, for most of us, more a labor of love than a way to<br />
pad the packet.<br />
Seek beyond the halluc<strong>in</strong>ation of Christ to the Christ with<strong>in</strong><br />
the self and the other. This is best done where two or three<br />
are gathered together, and we can practice f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g the Christ <strong>in</strong><br />
one another.<br />
Radically re-evaluate all values. Noth<strong>in</strong>g is quite as it seems<br />
<strong>in</strong> the consciousness-soul age. The Ten Command ments no<br />
longer apply <strong>in</strong> all circumstances. For <strong>in</strong>stance, if the donkey<br />
is suffer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the ditch, we need to pull him out, no matter<br />
the day of the week and societal prohibitions. We need to look<br />
aga<strong>in</strong> and aga<strong>in</strong> at our values and how they are play<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>in</strong><br />
life – from the Waldorf curriculum to our national policies.<br />
Refra<strong>in</strong> from envy, gossip and th<strong>in</strong>gs that drive wedges<br />
between people. Dr. Ste<strong>in</strong>er advises us as follows <strong>in</strong> this area.<br />
“We need to leave ambition to one side, but neverthe less,<br />
the most dire manifestations of it exist with<strong>in</strong> the anthroposophical<br />
movement, and mutual envy is on the <strong>in</strong>crease.” 15<br />
We have much work to do <strong>in</strong> this area.<br />
Work aga<strong>in</strong>st hatred, bitterness and resentment <strong>in</strong> our own<br />
souls. This is a daily task, sometimes m<strong>in</strong>ute-by-m<strong>in</strong>ute, task,<br />
and it takes rigorous self honesty, and the constant process of<br />
ask<strong>in</strong>g these forces to sit down and behave them selves rather<br />
than allow<strong>in</strong>g them to take over our souls.<br />
Face fear with courage. There is noth<strong>in</strong>g wrong with fear as<br />
long as we can exam<strong>in</strong>e it with our th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and use it to create<br />
the courage we need. Fear is useful <strong>in</strong> this regard. The crucial<br />
th<strong>in</strong>g is not to allow fear to br<strong>in</strong>g us <strong>in</strong>to a paralysis of will.<br />
Tell the truth. It is not always so easy to speak one‘s po<strong>in</strong>t of<br />
view. Instead we hold back to be nice, and then gossip later<br />
about what another has said. In the end, this is detrimental to<br />
our work. “What is required of us is to courageously stand up<br />
and tell the truth as far as we are able.” 16<br />
13 The Incarnation of Ahriman 9<br />
14 Past and Future Influences <strong>in</strong> Social Events, 3 March 1919<br />
15 The Incarnation of Ahriman 100<br />
16 The Incarnation of Ahriman 112-113<br />
20 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Research does not belong only to quiet, detached observation.<br />
In professional life research is a recurr<strong>in</strong>g element <strong>in</strong> fields<br />
like the arts or teach<strong>in</strong>g or medic<strong>in</strong>e. In the story at right,<br />
Dr. Philip Incao shares the complexity of illness as seen<br />
<strong>in</strong> anthroposophically-extended medic<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
Live life with enthusiasm for and <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> our times. We<br />
need to stop compla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and get busy with the work that<br />
needs to be done all around us. Then, “through our <strong>in</strong>terest—<br />
which is itself luciferic—we can wrest from Ahriman what is<br />
his own.” 17 Michael, our current Time Spirit, needs us to love<br />
his regency. When he sees our <strong>in</strong>terest and enthusiasm, he will<br />
help us.<br />
Widen the zone of <strong>in</strong>dividual comfort. We often th<strong>in</strong>k very narrowly<br />
and only <strong>in</strong> the range that gives us a sense of well-be<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
It is so important to be able to move beyond this range, to see<br />
through the eyes of others and to become, <strong>in</strong> the process, true<br />
global citizens.<br />
Practice, practice, practice. Spirit remember<strong>in</strong>g, sens<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
envision<strong>in</strong>g are gifts from the Christmas Foundation Meet <strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Practic<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> them makes us <strong>in</strong>struments for the good be <strong>in</strong>gs<br />
of the cosmos, and weakens Ahriman.<br />
Bear the burden of the earth with Michael and the Christ.<br />
The times are go<strong>in</strong>g to be hard, there is no doubt about it, and<br />
we need to see them with as much clarity as we can muster.<br />
The afflictions of the world, whether <strong>in</strong> Darfur or next door,<br />
may be there for our consciousness. May the sacrifices of the<br />
downtrodden of the earth not be <strong>in</strong> va<strong>in</strong>. When we watch the<br />
anguish of the world on the even<strong>in</strong>g news, we need to hold that<br />
pa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> our hearts and work towards agape love, i.e. the love<br />
that is too great for others to hurt us. Often as I th<strong>in</strong>k about<br />
these th<strong>in</strong>gs I am rem<strong>in</strong>ded of the Pietà. Perhaps Anthroposophia<br />
today is like the mother of Christ carry<strong>in</strong>g the broken<br />
body of her Son. If we anthroposophers can learn to carry the<br />
sorrows of our world <strong>in</strong> our arms with as much equanimity as<br />
Mary Sophia, we will be able to help Ahriman serve the human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g. These are the many th<strong>in</strong>gs to consider these days, and<br />
ponder <strong>in</strong> our hearts. There is, <strong>in</strong> fact, much we can do about<br />
Ahriman.<br />
17 The Incarnation of Ahriman 57<br />
Sources<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Rudolf. The Fall of the Spirits of Darkness. Trans. Anna<br />
Meuss. Given <strong>in</strong> Dornach 29 September to 28 October, 1917.<br />
Bristol, England: Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Press, 1993.<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Rudolf. The Incarnation of Ahriman. Trans. Matthew<br />
Barton. Forest Row: Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Press, 2006.<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Rudolf. The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman. Trans. D.S.<br />
Osmond. Hudson, New York: Anthroposophic Press, 1993.<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Rudolf. Past and Future Impulses <strong>in</strong> Social Events—Lecture<br />
III & V, unpublished translation by Maria St. Goar.<br />
GA (or CW: Complete Works) Numbers:<br />
GA 190, Lectures 3 & 5; GA 191, Lectures 2 & 3; GA 193, Lec tures<br />
3 & 4; GA 194, Lecture 1; GA 195, Lectures 6 & 7<br />
The<br />
Seven<br />
Levels<br />
of Illness<br />
& Heal<strong>in</strong>g<br />
A Modern Fable<br />
Philip Incao<br />
Once upon a time <strong>in</strong> a far-off realm, seven students of the art<br />
of heal<strong>in</strong>g were gathered for their f<strong>in</strong>al exam<strong>in</strong>ation. Their<br />
mentor, who was old, wise, and greatly loved by his pupils,<br />
led them to the bedside of a patient they had known well <strong>in</strong><br />
life. Alas, he had just given up the ghost, and as the students<br />
contemplated with sadness and wonder his lifeless form, the<br />
master posed the question. “My dear pupils, you knew him well,<br />
and we grieve his pass<strong>in</strong>g. Death comes for all of us, but why<br />
did it come for him now? Why did he die?” The students were<br />
among the best and brightest of that realm. They pondered the<br />
master’s question, but hesitated to speak. F<strong>in</strong>ally, one student,<br />
who had been <strong>in</strong> deep meditation, spoke.<br />
•1•<br />
onored teacher, you have taught me much, and I have<br />
“H also learned from the wisdom which the stars speak to<br />
me. It is clear to me that our friend and patient had lived out<br />
his dest<strong>in</strong>y. He had completed his karma for this life. He freely<br />
chose his path and followed it to the ends of his god-given<br />
capacities. He could make no further progress with<strong>in</strong> the limits<br />
of the soul and bodily constitution furnished to him <strong>in</strong> this life.<br />
So he—his spirit—departed his body for higher realms, to beg<strong>in</strong><br />
work on a new body afford<strong>in</strong>g his spirit and soul further progress<br />
when he returns. It was orda<strong>in</strong>ed by his own higher will<br />
and of course by God’s will.” The master was silent, but another<br />
student spoke up, a bit impatiently.<br />
•2•<br />
es, yes,” she said, “we know about karma and re<strong>in</strong>carna-<br />
but there is a more proximate cause of death here,<br />
“Ytion,<br />
one closer to the reality of this fellow’s life as he lived it.” The<br />
others regarded her expectantly, as she cont<strong>in</strong>ued, “The spark<br />
had gone from his soul, he had lost all <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> life. He had<br />
given up, he had lost his will to live. That’s why he died.”<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
21
Research–a special section<br />
•3•<br />
They pondered her words <strong>in</strong> silence. Then another student<br />
summoned the courage to speak. He began hesitantly: “We<br />
all know that our spirit and soul have a guid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>fluence on our<br />
health <strong>in</strong> the course of our lives, but it was his body, after all,<br />
that failed him <strong>in</strong> the end. For weeks before he died his pulses<br />
were so weak I could barely feel them. His chi, his life forces,<br />
were utterly exhausted, and his organs had no energy to function.<br />
His adrenals especially were shot. He was utterly stressed<br />
out, fatally depleted of the force and energy of life.”<br />
•4•<br />
Now a few students began to speak. “Yes, I agree, I agree”<br />
said one, “but we’re neglect<strong>in</strong>g the most important factor,<br />
his lifestyle. He was a very gifted man, but he neglected his<br />
health terribly. He ate, drank, smoked and used drugs to excess.<br />
He would work or party at night and sleep dur<strong>in</strong>g the day.<br />
Women loved him and he greatly and frequently enjoyed them.<br />
His life consisted of chaotic highs and lows, totally lack<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
any rhythm or consistency. And he never took any fresh air or<br />
exercise. It’s no wonder he exhausted his life forces!”<br />
•5•<br />
Now the students became more animated. “Yes, he was<br />
complex and very talented,” said one, “an <strong>in</strong>tense and<br />
passionate soul. We will certa<strong>in</strong>ly miss him. But I agree that his<br />
lifestyle was torture for his body. I’m sure his cells and organs<br />
were so stressed that they were unable to properly carry out<br />
their breath<strong>in</strong>g, digest<strong>in</strong>g, and self-cleans<strong>in</strong>g life processes. This<br />
caused stagnation and congestion, lead<strong>in</strong>g to a build-up of cellular<br />
wastes and tox<strong>in</strong>s. I am absolutely certa<strong>in</strong> that the levels of<br />
tox<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> his blood were sky high. And that’s what killed him <strong>in</strong><br />
the end—he was utterly toxic. He died from his own toxicity; his<br />
exhausted organs were unable to elim<strong>in</strong>ate the poisons <strong>in</strong> his<br />
body. He could no longer detoxify, so he died.”<br />
•6•<br />
The rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g students spoke at once, excitedly. The master’s<br />
eyes widened, but he rema<strong>in</strong>ed silent. One voice broke<br />
through, “Yes, one could see from his tongue and from his eyes<br />
that he was toxic, but what follows toxicity as night follows day?<br />
Why, <strong>in</strong>fection of course! We all know that as garbage and manure<br />
attract flies, the toxicity and waste matter <strong>in</strong> our body will<br />
attract the bacteria and other verm<strong>in</strong> that normally live <strong>in</strong>, on<br />
and around us. I am sure he died of an <strong>in</strong>fection. He had a very<br />
high fever, he was septic!”<br />
•7•<br />
Now, all had spoken save one. The last student looked at her<br />
colleagues with admiration, and spoke slowly and thoughtfully.<br />
“I can’t disagree with anyth<strong>in</strong>g that has been said,” she<br />
began, “but I have been study<strong>in</strong>g the most recent research, and<br />
it seems we have neglected the ultimate and most proximate<br />
cause of our friend’s demise. Yes, he had an <strong>in</strong>fection, and was<br />
septic, but <strong>in</strong> the end it was his own immune system that killed<br />
him.” The other students were <strong>in</strong>credulous. “How can that be?<br />
That’s impossible!” they exclaimed. A fa<strong>in</strong>t smile crossed the<br />
master’s face, but he rema<strong>in</strong>ed silent.<br />
The last student cont<strong>in</strong>ued, “Yes, until recently the immune<br />
system was thought to be always protective, except <strong>in</strong><br />
autoimmune diseases. But now science has discovered that our<br />
immune system produces chemical agents <strong>in</strong> our body that can<br />
sometimes harm us and even kill us. These agents, called cytok<strong>in</strong>es,<br />
are of many different types: the <strong>in</strong>terferons, the <strong>in</strong>terleuk<strong>in</strong>s,<br />
the tumor-necrosis factors, and others. Some of these cytok<strong>in</strong>es<br />
create and <strong>in</strong>tensify <strong>in</strong>flammation <strong>in</strong> the body and other<br />
cytok<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong>hibit and shut down <strong>in</strong>flammation when it has done<br />
enough of its cleans<strong>in</strong>g work. When our body works harmoniously,<br />
then our cytok<strong>in</strong>es create just enough mild <strong>in</strong>flammation<br />
to destroy excessive microbes and to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> the ongo<strong>in</strong>g detoxification<br />
of our bodies, without caus<strong>in</strong>g symptoms. But just<br />
as the same fire that warms our home can also burn it down, so<br />
too, when our immune system is grievously provoked by severe<br />
imbalance, toxicity or <strong>in</strong>fection, it can aberrantly unleash a “cytok<strong>in</strong>e<br />
storm,” a massive outpour<strong>in</strong>g of cytok<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong>to our blood<br />
stream. These then cause a systemic <strong>in</strong>flammation to flare up <strong>in</strong><br />
us and rage out of control, caus<strong>in</strong>g high fever, septic shock, or<br />
generalized sepsis and a severe dysfunction or shut-down of major<br />
organs often end<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> death. That is what f<strong>in</strong>ally killed our<br />
dear departed friend and patient.”<br />
he students were silent, alternately lost <strong>in</strong> thought and gaz<strong>in</strong>g<br />
at one another <strong>in</strong> wonder. Though reluctant to break the<br />
T<br />
silence, the master f<strong>in</strong>ally spoke, with great emotion: “My dear<br />
pupils, your words and thoughts have warmed me to the core of<br />
my be<strong>in</strong>g, and brought joy to my heart. Though I have but little<br />
knowledge, I believe that all that has been spoken is true. Before<br />
my wonder<strong>in</strong>g soul, you have unfolded a cont<strong>in</strong>uous cha<strong>in</strong> of<br />
causation from the heights <strong>in</strong>to the <strong>in</strong>ner depths of the human<br />
body, stretch<strong>in</strong>g from spirit <strong>in</strong>to matter. At each l<strong>in</strong>k of the<br />
cha<strong>in</strong>, we might discover a different way that the human spirit,<br />
soul and life force can work together harmoniously <strong>in</strong> the body<br />
to create health, or work <strong>in</strong> conflict with each other to create<br />
illness <strong>in</strong> the physical body.<br />
ou are now ready to go out <strong>in</strong>to the world as healers.<br />
“YMy teach<strong>in</strong>g is done, you will learn from your patients<br />
now. But remember always the seven levels of illness you have<br />
learned today. None of the illnesses you will encounter will have<br />
only a s<strong>in</strong>gle cause. Many levels work together <strong>in</strong> health and<br />
illness, and you must never judge by one or two levels alone.<br />
Rema<strong>in</strong> aware of all levels of causation from highest to lowest,<br />
regardless of whether you can see through them or not. That<br />
will give you the necessary measure of humility to truly heal.”<br />
Then the seven students, hav<strong>in</strong>g passed their f<strong>in</strong>al exam<strong>in</strong>ation,<br />
bid farewell to each other and to their beloved teacher<br />
and went out <strong>in</strong>to the world to practice the art of heal<strong>in</strong>g. They<br />
were unsure <strong>in</strong> their knowledge and understand<strong>in</strong>g, but their<br />
will to heal was strong. And learn<strong>in</strong>g much from their patients,<br />
they healed many, and grew <strong>in</strong> understand<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Author’s note:<br />
My little fable is loosely based on a story Michaela Glöckler<br />
[leader of the Medical Section of the School for Spiritual Science<br />
<strong>in</strong> Dornach, Switzerland] tells about Paracelsus, but much modified<br />
and expanded to fit <strong>in</strong> all seven levels of illness important<br />
today, and their <strong>in</strong>terconnections.<br />
Philip Incao, MD, is <strong>in</strong> practice <strong>in</strong> Crestone, CO, and can be found<br />
on the web at PhilipIncao.com.<br />
22 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Book Review / the Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library Newsletter<br />
Metamorphosis: Evolution <strong>in</strong> Action<br />
By Andreas Suchantke. Translated by Norman Skillen. Adonis Press, 2009, 324 pgs. Review by Keith Francis<br />
My first impression on receiv<strong>in</strong>g the review copy of Metamorphosis<br />
was “What a beautiful book!” and the discovery that it<br />
had been pr<strong>in</strong>ted <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a went some way toward eras<strong>in</strong>g recent<br />
impressions of the quality of goods from that country. It is<br />
coffee-table sized and the pictures, most of them by the author,<br />
are an education <strong>in</strong> themselves; but as we shall see, Metamorphosis<br />
is def<strong>in</strong>itely not a coffee-table book.<br />
Andreas Suchantke, who was born <strong>in</strong> Switzerland <strong>in</strong> 1933,<br />
taught life sciences at the Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er School <strong>in</strong> Zurich and<br />
worked extensively <strong>in</strong> teacher tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Apart from teach<strong>in</strong>g, his life’s work<br />
has been the development of an ecological<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g of landscapes<br />
and traditional cultures, and he has<br />
published books on tropical South<br />
<strong>America</strong>, South and East Africa, and Israel<br />
and Palest<strong>in</strong>e. In his new book he<br />
shows how the fundamental pr<strong>in</strong>ciples<br />
implicit <strong>in</strong> Goethe’s scientific work,<br />
together with the <strong>in</strong>sights ga<strong>in</strong>ed from<br />
a lifetime of study<strong>in</strong>g nature’s ways,<br />
lead to a far-reach<strong>in</strong>g understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of the evolution and <strong>in</strong>terrelatedness<br />
of all that lives on Earth. In so do<strong>in</strong>g<br />
he acknowledges his debt to Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er, and it seems appropriate to<br />
allow Ste<strong>in</strong>er to give us a start<strong>in</strong>g<br />
po<strong>in</strong>t with a few words on the subject<br />
of Goethe:<br />
For him, art and science sprang<br />
from a s<strong>in</strong>gle source. Whereas the<br />
scientist immerses himself <strong>in</strong> the<br />
depths of reality <strong>in</strong> order to be able<br />
to express its impell<strong>in</strong>g forces <strong>in</strong> the<br />
form of thoughts, the artist seeks by imag<strong>in</strong>ation to embody<br />
the same forces <strong>in</strong> his material…. ‘In the works of man, as<br />
<strong>in</strong> those of nature, what most deserves consideration is the<br />
<strong>in</strong>tentions,’ says Goethe. Everywhere he sought, not only what<br />
is given to the senses <strong>in</strong> the external world, but the tendency<br />
The fruits of research appear <strong>in</strong> conversations, conferences,<br />
and of course books. Though it is still mostly “outside the<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>stream,” anthroposophical research has a further,<br />
hidden life, like that of runners from a plant, through a quiet<br />
stream of f<strong>in</strong>e books. Also worthy of note is the quality of<br />
work com<strong>in</strong>g from authors from whom serious research<br />
would not be expected <strong>in</strong> the ma<strong>in</strong>stream—high school<br />
teachers, for example. Both the author of this book and the<br />
reviewer were long-time Waldorf high school teachers.<br />
through which it has come to exist…. In nature’s own formations<br />
she gets ‘<strong>in</strong>to specific forms as <strong>in</strong>to a bl<strong>in</strong>d alley’; one<br />
must go back to what was to have come about if the tendency<br />
had been able to unfold without h<strong>in</strong>drance…. Not what nature<br />
has created, but accord<strong>in</strong>g to what pr<strong>in</strong>ciple it has created, is<br />
the important question. And then this pr<strong>in</strong>ciple is to be worked<br />
out as befits its own nature, not as this has occurred <strong>in</strong> the<br />
s<strong>in</strong>gle form subject to a thousand natural cont<strong>in</strong>gencies. The<br />
artist has to ‘evolve the noble out of the common, the beautiful<br />
out of the misshapen.’<br />
In contemplat<strong>in</strong>g the forms of<br />
plants and animals Goethe perceived<br />
a pr<strong>in</strong>ciple of metamorphosis that<br />
enabled him to see each organism<br />
as a unity of <strong>in</strong>terrelated parts. He<br />
expressed his thoughts on plant and<br />
animal morphology <strong>in</strong> such a way<br />
as to suggest pr<strong>in</strong>ciples of growth<br />
and be<strong>in</strong>g that might apply to the<br />
whole process of nature. He saw the<br />
development of the plant as a series<br />
of alternat<strong>in</strong>g expansions and contractions:<br />
seed, leaves, calyx, corolla,<br />
stamens and pistil, fruit, and, aga<strong>in</strong>,<br />
seed. To ask for a physical cause for<br />
the expansions and contractions is,<br />
as Ste<strong>in</strong>er po<strong>in</strong>ted out, to stand the<br />
matter on its head.<br />
Noth<strong>in</strong>g is to be presupposed which<br />
causes the expansion and contraction;<br />
on the contrary, everyth<strong>in</strong>g else is the<br />
result of this expansion and contraction.<br />
It causes a progressive metamorphosis<br />
from stage to stage. People are<br />
simply unable to grasp the concept <strong>in</strong> its very own <strong>in</strong>tuitive<br />
form, but demand that it shall be the result of an external<br />
process. They are able to conceive expansion and contraction<br />
only as caused, not as caus<strong>in</strong>g. Goethe does not look upon expansion<br />
and contraction as if they were the results of <strong>in</strong>organic<br />
processes tak<strong>in</strong>g place with<strong>in</strong> the plant, but considers them as<br />
the manner <strong>in</strong> which the entelechy, the pr<strong>in</strong>ciple,<br />
takes form.<br />
People who believe that nature consists of<br />
noth<strong>in</strong>g but particles, waves, and space feel<br />
the need for a mechanism for such processes.<br />
I speak with the voice of personal experience<br />
when I say that it is very hard, even for those of<br />
us who are <strong>in</strong>tuitively drawn to Goethe’s view<br />
of nature, to get out of the mechanistic habit.<br />
Goethe’s way of express<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs has the cognate<br />
disadvantages of provok<strong>in</strong>g facile ridicule<br />
from the scientific <strong>in</strong>telligentsia and receiv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
uncritical acceptance by the half-baked dilettan-<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
23
Research–a special section<br />
ti. Suchantke’s book shows that a contemplative biology draw<strong>in</strong>g<br />
on the fundamental concepts of Goethean science and imbued<br />
with reverence for the liv<strong>in</strong>g Earth can produce a consistently<br />
illum<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g picture of life <strong>in</strong> all its amaz<strong>in</strong>g abundance and<br />
multiplicity.<br />
•<br />
From the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g, Suchantke emphasizes the need to escape<br />
from the idea of a fixed spatial form (space-gestalt):<br />
We must learn to th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>in</strong> terms of development, to engage<br />
<strong>in</strong> the transformation of our conceptual systems <strong>in</strong> accordance<br />
with a deeper, dynamic understand<strong>in</strong>g of the sphere<br />
of life. It was Goethe who first demonstrated that a method<br />
seek<strong>in</strong>g to unravel the secrets of liv<strong>in</strong>g processes must not be<br />
applied to, but rather must take its lead from its object of<br />
study, and thus… develop organically. This process should<br />
encompass all aspects of the development of the liv<strong>in</strong>g organism<br />
under consideration and recreate them as fully as possible<br />
<strong>in</strong> imag<strong>in</strong>ation—quite a tall order! In the <strong>in</strong>troduction to<br />
his botanical studies, Goethe formulates it as follows:<br />
In <strong>in</strong>troduc<strong>in</strong>g a science of morphology, we must avoid<br />
speak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> terms of what is fixed. If we use the word<br />
Gestalt [form] at all, we ought to have <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d only an<br />
abstract idea or concept, or someth<strong>in</strong>g that is held<br />
fast but for an <strong>in</strong>stant.<br />
The pr<strong>in</strong>ciples of metamorphosis apply not only to the development<br />
of the <strong>in</strong>dividual plant but also to the evolution of<br />
species, <strong>in</strong> which the retention of juvenile characteristics <strong>in</strong>to<br />
adulthood (neoteny), and the chang<strong>in</strong>g relationships to the environment<br />
known as <strong>in</strong>ternalization and externalization play<br />
important parts <strong>in</strong> generat<strong>in</strong>g a stream of cont<strong>in</strong>uous change.<br />
In describ<strong>in</strong>g these and other time-gestalts, the author says,<br />
Our guid<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>in</strong>ciple will be Goethe’s words to the effect<br />
that,<br />
when we study forms, organic ones <strong>in</strong> particular,<br />
nowhere do we f<strong>in</strong>d permanence, nowhere repose or<br />
completion.... For no<br />
sooner has someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
been formed than it is<br />
immediately transformed,<br />
and if we wish<br />
to achieve a liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
perception of nature,<br />
we must strive to keep<br />
ourselves as mobile<br />
and flexible as the<br />
examples she herself<br />
provides.’<br />
What follows, therefore,<br />
will also be concerned<br />
with break<strong>in</strong>g through<br />
from the organism’s sense-perceptible, external form or<br />
space-gestalt to the process of its formation, which is an<br />
expression of its time-gestalt. This can only be perceived when<br />
we actively reconstruct it <strong>in</strong> our imag<strong>in</strong>ation: an <strong>in</strong>ner process<br />
which enables us to experience and describe its formative<br />
movements.<br />
Metamorphosis should not be read like a textbook; it asks the<br />
reader to enterta<strong>in</strong> the possibility of <strong>in</strong>ner transformation <strong>in</strong><br />
which the imag<strong>in</strong>ation becomes an organ of perception, thus<br />
giv<strong>in</strong>g the title a double mean<strong>in</strong>g that its author undoubtedly<br />
<strong>in</strong>tended.<br />
•<br />
It would be impossible to convey the immense richness of<br />
Upcom<strong>in</strong>g Conference of the Natural Science Section <strong>in</strong> Chicago<br />
The Spherical & Radial Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples <strong>in</strong> the Human & Animal Organism, with a focus on Horns & Antlers<br />
The next annual conference of the Natural Science Section<br />
will take place at the Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Center <strong>in</strong> Chicago from the<br />
even<strong>in</strong>g of Thursday, November 18 till noon on Sunday, November<br />
21, 2010. The theme of the conference will be “The Spherical<br />
and the Radial Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples <strong>in</strong> the Human and Animal Organism,<br />
with a focus on Horns and Antlers.” At a time when cows are<br />
rout<strong>in</strong>ely dehorned and organisms are be<strong>in</strong>g manipulated for<br />
practical and commercial purposes, it is <strong>in</strong>cumbent upon us to<br />
ga<strong>in</strong> a scientific understand<strong>in</strong>g of their liv<strong>in</strong>g wholeness and <strong>in</strong>tegrity.<br />
Such an understand<strong>in</strong>g, however, requires the development<br />
of new cognitive capacities. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the conference we will<br />
engage <strong>in</strong> Goethean observation of skeletons, horns and antlers<br />
<strong>in</strong> an attempt to “read” them as the expression of dynamic forces<br />
and <strong>in</strong> relation to our experience of the liv<strong>in</strong>g organisms. The<br />
goal is to experience and understand the organisms <strong>in</strong> question<br />
as concrete manifestations of creative forces.<br />
Because of the importance of cow horns <strong>in</strong> biodynamic<br />
agriculture, we are also <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g members of the Agricultural<br />
Section to participate <strong>in</strong> the conference. As we would also like<br />
to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to work at the level of the Class, this conference will<br />
aga<strong>in</strong> be for Class members only. Essential read<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> preparation<br />
for the conference will be Metamorphosis: Evolution <strong>in</strong><br />
Action (especially chapters 2 and 11) by Andreas Suchantke,<br />
published by Adonis Press, and lecture 4 of Spiritual Foundations<br />
for the Renewal of Agriculture, published by the Biodynamic<br />
Association.<br />
For more <strong>in</strong>formation on the conference, contact:<br />
The Natural Science & Mathematics/Astronomy Section<br />
c/o John Barnes, 321 Rodman Road, Hillsdale, NY 12529<br />
Phone 518-325-1113; Fax 518-325-1103; adonis@fairpo<strong>in</strong>t.net<br />
Metamorphosis: Evolution <strong>in</strong> Action is available to conference<br />
participants at a discount of 40% (for $30). There is more <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
on the book at the Adonis Press website: adonispress.org.<br />
To take advantage of this offer, send a check for $30, made out<br />
to Adonis Press, to the address above along with your reservation<br />
fee.<br />
John Barnes also published an essay some months ago, The<br />
Third Culture, subtitled “Participatory Science as the Basis for a<br />
Heal<strong>in</strong>g Culture.” It deals with this same theme: the need for the<br />
development of new scientific methodologies capable of <strong>in</strong>sight<br />
<strong>in</strong>to liv<strong>in</strong>g organisms and qualities. It attempts to put Goethean<br />
science and anthroposophy <strong>in</strong>to the broader context of the<br />
development and current crisis <strong>in</strong> western culture. A review of<br />
the book will be posted shortly at anthroposophy.org.<br />
24 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Suchantke’s book <strong>in</strong> the few pages of a review, so I’ll give a brief<br />
impression of its contents and concentrate on just one aspect of<br />
the author’s th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
After giv<strong>in</strong>g a vivid account of some of the transformatory<br />
processes of nature he tackles the difficult question of the<br />
function<strong>in</strong>g of the archetype <strong>in</strong> the evolutionary process. He<br />
goes on to clarify the concepts of metamorphosis with a discussion<br />
of Goethe’s perception of the relation between the bones<br />
of the sp<strong>in</strong>e and those of the skull, but he doesn’t limit himself<br />
to the human skeleton. Salamanders, foxes, moles, bats, humm<strong>in</strong>gbirds,<br />
and even cacti are drawn <strong>in</strong>to the discussion, which<br />
ends with the perception of polar tendencies that produce both<br />
round, immobile, protective structures such as the skull, and<br />
mobile, articulated, l<strong>in</strong>ear structures like the arms and legs.<br />
Chapter 3 deals with the forms of leaves, show<strong>in</strong>g their relatedness<br />
to other parts of the plant and to its function<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong><br />
the environment. The theme of sphere and radius, already<br />
developed <strong>in</strong> relation to the vertebral nature of the skeleton,<br />
reappears here. “The leaf, we must agree with Goethe, is the<br />
‘true Proteus.’ From top to bottom the plant is all leaf.” From<br />
leaf to flower is a transformation that naturally takes us <strong>in</strong>to<br />
chapter 4, which deals with the polarity of the two structures<br />
and the extraord<strong>in</strong>ary correlations between color and form. Of<br />
particular note is the section on the evolutionary potential of<br />
the blossoms, <strong>in</strong> which Goethe’s ideal of <strong>in</strong>tensification reaches a<br />
high po<strong>in</strong>t. Chapter 5 reviews the function<strong>in</strong>g of metamorphosis<br />
and rem<strong>in</strong>ds us that we, as readers, are <strong>in</strong>vited to take part <strong>in</strong> a<br />
process of transformation.<br />
Next comes a chapter on the various forms of metamorphosis<br />
<strong>in</strong> the plant k<strong>in</strong>gdom, <strong>in</strong> which the ideas of the previous<br />
chapters are profusely illustrated and developed. In chapter<br />
7 the pr<strong>in</strong>ciples of polarity and threefold organization are illustrated<br />
by the growth of plants from the unity of the seed <strong>in</strong>to<br />
the structure of root, leaf, and blossom, the subtlety of which<br />
cannot altogether be conveyed by a simple spatial picture. Of<br />
great <strong>in</strong>terest is Suchantke’s commentary on the description<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er gives <strong>in</strong> his autobiography of the gradual development<br />
of his perception of the threefold nature of the human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g. Chapter 8 is an extended tour de force that demonstrates<br />
how polarity and threefoldness are expressed <strong>in</strong> different ways<br />
throughout the animal k<strong>in</strong>gdom. The photographs and draw<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
are breathtak<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Chapter 9 br<strong>in</strong>gs us back to the archetype. Different groups of<br />
creatures emphasize different aspects of the threefold organization<br />
and, when viewed together at a moment <strong>in</strong> time, can be<br />
seen as form<strong>in</strong>g a gestalt, momentarily frozen <strong>in</strong> space. When<br />
the gestalt is regarded as “only fixed for a moment” and “about<br />
to undergo transformation” we enter “the realm of formation<br />
and transformation, of development on the different levels of<br />
ontogeny (development of the s<strong>in</strong>gle <strong>in</strong>dividual) and phylogeny<br />
(development of the ancestral group, evolution).” “In this way,”<br />
Suchantke states emphatically, “the archetype comes to be understood<br />
as the <strong>in</strong>itiator of evolution, which is as much as to say as<br />
evolution itself.”<br />
This is important enough to repeat <strong>in</strong> different words:<br />
“The archetype may thus be construed as the prime source<br />
of evolutionary impulses and at the same time, the <strong>in</strong>ner l<strong>in</strong>e,<br />
or, rather, the time-gestalt of the whole of evolution, reveal<strong>in</strong>g<br />
facets of itself <strong>in</strong> the various species, genera, and families of<br />
organisms. Its full compass is only to be revealed through contemplation<br />
of the whole or through the fact that at every stage<br />
of evolution it <strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>es towards polarization and ultimately<br />
toward clear, tri-structured order.”<br />
The Nature Institute: a Center of Excellence <strong>in</strong> Holistic Research<br />
The Nature Institute may be the only scientific research <strong>in</strong>stitute<br />
<strong>in</strong> North <strong>America</strong> dedicated to develop<strong>in</strong>g and practic<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
scientific methodology that can ga<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>sight <strong>in</strong>to liv<strong>in</strong>g, organic<br />
nature. The Institute is enter<strong>in</strong>g a new phase <strong>in</strong> its growth and<br />
development at a time when the limitations of modern science<br />
and technology <strong>in</strong> this regard are becom<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly clear.<br />
John Barnes writes us that “the excellent research and educational<br />
courses occurr<strong>in</strong>g there are lay<strong>in</strong>g the groundwork for<br />
a further development <strong>in</strong> science that will lead to a far deeper,<br />
more liv<strong>in</strong>g, and mutually heal<strong>in</strong>g relationship with nature.”<br />
Recently The Nature Institute jo<strong>in</strong>ed Th<strong>in</strong>k OutWord to sponsor<br />
a new category of the Credere grants, Goethean phenomenology.<br />
The 2010 application deadl<strong>in</strong>e is past, but donations to<br />
fund grants are always welcome, at th<strong>in</strong>koutword.org/grants.html.<br />
Another Institute project, nontarget.org, collects reports<br />
on “un<strong>in</strong>tended effects of genetic manipulation.”<br />
Much of the public debate concern<strong>in</strong>g genetically<br />
modified organisms, their widespread use <strong>in</strong> animal<br />
and human food, and their impact upon the environment<br />
could be raised to an entirely new and more<br />
productive level if certa<strong>in</strong> undisputed facts were<br />
more widely known. The facts at issue have<br />
to do with the un<strong>in</strong>tended and systemic<br />
consequences of genetic manipulations,<br />
as revealed <strong>in</strong> one research report after<br />
another. Putt<strong>in</strong>g the matter pla<strong>in</strong>ly: when foreign genes are<br />
<strong>in</strong>troduced <strong>in</strong>to an organism, creat<strong>in</strong>g a transgenic organism<br />
[GMO or GenTech organisms], the results for the organism and<br />
its environment are almost always unpredictable. The <strong>in</strong>tended<br />
result may or may not be achieved <strong>in</strong> any given case, but the<br />
one almost sure th<strong>in</strong>g is that un<strong>in</strong>tended results—nontarget<br />
effects—will also be achieved. These facts have been, and are<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g, widely reported <strong>in</strong> the scientific literature. While they<br />
are correct<strong>in</strong>g our understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> important ways, they are<br />
not at all controversial. And they bear directly upon the wisdom<br />
of virtually all the current genetic eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g practices.<br />
If there has been limited reportage of un<strong>in</strong>tended effects <strong>in</strong> the<br />
popular press, it may be because the facts are often buried <strong>in</strong><br />
technical scientific articles. And with<strong>in</strong> genetic eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
research itself, scientists are ma<strong>in</strong>ly concerned with achiev<strong>in</strong>g<br />
targeted effects and not with <strong>in</strong>vestigat<strong>in</strong>g beyond the<br />
range of their own <strong>in</strong>tentions and report<strong>in</strong>g unexpected<br />
effects. But when they do <strong>in</strong>vestigate, there is usually<br />
plenty to see. It is the purpose of this project to make<br />
evidence about the wide-rang<strong>in</strong>g and never wholly<br />
predictable effects of genetic eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g readily accessible<br />
to concerned citizens, policy makers, and<br />
scientists... [Emphasis added.]<br />
Along with the searchable short reports,<br />
nature<strong>in</strong>stitute.org has a major collection of<br />
longer articles cover<strong>in</strong>g the whole field.<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
25
Research–a special section<br />
It seems to me that chapter 9 is the fulcrum of the book, the<br />
po<strong>in</strong>t at which the f<strong>in</strong>al <strong>in</strong>tent becomes clear:<br />
The environment is <strong>in</strong>ternalized, and that which later on lights<br />
up as the <strong>in</strong>ner content of consciousness is the <strong>in</strong>side, or spiritual<br />
content of nature, <strong>in</strong>ternalized and raised to the level of consciousness.<br />
Internalization of the external world, steady ga<strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner richness and complexity—this is the leitmotiv <strong>in</strong> the<br />
evolution of deuterostomes, the l<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the animal k<strong>in</strong>gdom<br />
that leads to the human be<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Two further chapters deal with the evolutionary processes of<br />
the endo- (<strong>in</strong>ner) skeleton, characteristic of vertebrates, and the<br />
exo- (outer) skeleton of the <strong>in</strong>sect world, and f<strong>in</strong>ally br<strong>in</strong>g us to<br />
the embodiment of the archetype <strong>in</strong> the human be<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong> whom<br />
evolution “has not only expressed itself <strong>in</strong> the physical form of<br />
a s<strong>in</strong>gle species, but at the same time has become conscious of<br />
itself.”<br />
Evolution does not stop here, however. The capacities of<br />
consciousness can be <strong>in</strong>tensified but “there is a vast discrepancy<br />
between what we actually achieve and the goals we aspire<br />
to, goals which should <strong>in</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciple have been atta<strong>in</strong>able. This is<br />
a feel<strong>in</strong>g that can arise <strong>in</strong> connection with any activity: it could<br />
have been better, we should really do it aga<strong>in</strong> more thoroughly!<br />
The importance of this experience cannot be overestimated because<br />
it <strong>in</strong>duces the future and is an expression of the developmental<br />
potential of the Self, probably its most important attribute.<br />
All this only makes sense… if the Self, as the bearer of this<br />
developmental resolve, has the possibility of further existence<br />
beyond its present life; if, <strong>in</strong>deed, what it has begun <strong>in</strong> this life<br />
can be carried on <strong>in</strong> subsequent ones…. The cont<strong>in</strong>uity of the<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividual spirit through a series of physical <strong>in</strong>carnations is the<br />
precondition for the quantum leap from biological to mental/<br />
spiritual evolution.<br />
This is how Suchantke ends his<br />
book, and some readers may feel<br />
that although the evolution of human<br />
consciousness has been <strong>in</strong> his<br />
crosshairs from the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g, his<br />
conclusion is rather brief and facile.<br />
If, however, we say that the further<br />
development of the human soul<br />
and spirit is a subject that demands<br />
another whole book, we must<br />
recognize that other whole books<br />
have already been written, notably<br />
by Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er, whose <strong>in</strong>timations about the future of this<br />
<strong>in</strong>carnation of our planet make rather uncomfortable read<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
This is not surpris<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>ce any realistic survey of the past has<br />
the same effect.<br />
•<br />
Metamorphosis will undoubtedly be both a comfort and a<br />
challenge to students of anthroposophy, and may well be a<br />
source of <strong>in</strong>spiration to people who have never heard of Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er. Whether it will have any <strong>in</strong>fluence with<strong>in</strong> the scientific<br />
community is a different question, one of the problems be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the rather partisan tone that the author adopts <strong>in</strong> speak<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
Darw<strong>in</strong>, his supporters, and modern biological science. Speak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of the idea of the struggle for existence, Suchantke says, “It<br />
is often forgotten that this idea was no hard-won conclusion<br />
of Darw<strong>in</strong>’s, but was lifted from a completely different realm of<br />
discourse and applied to Nature. He adopted it from Thomas<br />
Malthus, whose book An Essay on the Pr<strong>in</strong>ciple of Population attempted<br />
to address the effect of world-wide population growth.”<br />
This is rather like say<strong>in</strong>g that Niels Bohr filched the idea of<br />
quanta from Max Planck and applied it <strong>in</strong> a different context.<br />
Darw<strong>in</strong> never made any secret of his <strong>in</strong>debtedness to many of<br />
his predecessors, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Malthus, and it’s worth not<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
Loren Eiseley, <strong>in</strong> his masterly Darw<strong>in</strong>’s Century, puts the matter<br />
much more fairly, see<strong>in</strong>g the gradual evolution of Darw<strong>in</strong>’s<br />
ideas as a process—dare I say, as a time-gestalt—rather than<br />
suggest<strong>in</strong>g that he simply plucked a ripe fruit from someone<br />
else’s tree. There are more examples of this tendency. Although<br />
T. H. Huxley may be “notorious” among anthroposophists and<br />
creationists, <strong>in</strong> other circles “famous” would seem more appropriate—but<br />
this is someth<strong>in</strong>g that could easily be corrected and<br />
there is another far deeper problem that is simply <strong>in</strong> the nature<br />
of the enterprise.<br />
Suchantke goes to great lengths to characterize the archetype<br />
and its all-pervasive function<strong>in</strong>g, but it rema<strong>in</strong>s a concept<br />
that is very hard to get hold of, partly because, like Proteus,<br />
it is always chang<strong>in</strong>g its form and partly, perhaps, because it<br />
isn’t a concept. Proteus had been given the gift of prophecy, but<br />
on be<strong>in</strong>g questioned he assumed different shapes and eluded<br />
his questioners. The archetype does not merely “know” the<br />
future; it br<strong>in</strong>gs all k<strong>in</strong>ds of different futures about <strong>in</strong> constantly<br />
chang<strong>in</strong>g ways and we may well be excused for feel<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
we still don’t know what it “really” is. We see what it achieves,<br />
but someth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> us wants to know how it works and where it<br />
comes from. These may be unanswerable or even mean<strong>in</strong>gless<br />
questions, but we can’t help ask<strong>in</strong>g them, and it may be helpful<br />
to look at evolution from a different angle, for which the study<br />
of Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Outl<strong>in</strong>e of Esoteric Science would be a good start<strong>in</strong>g<br />
po<strong>in</strong>t. How does Suchantke’s description of the organic development<br />
of a vehicle for human consciousness relate to Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
account of the work of the hierarchies, <strong>in</strong> which the human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g has been present from the very beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g? And if we want<br />
to know what the driv<strong>in</strong>g force for evolution is, we could profitably<br />
study The Driv<strong>in</strong>g Force of Spiritual Powers <strong>in</strong> World History,<br />
a course which, among many other th<strong>in</strong>gs, gives the clue to the<br />
emergence of the archetype <strong>in</strong> the form it took <strong>in</strong> the Middle<br />
Ages.<br />
As Suchantke <strong>in</strong>dicates, the very idea of the archetype is<br />
likely to promote an acute negative reaction on the part of a<br />
modern biologist, even when it is given a new context and a new<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g, and it will take either a catastrophe or a long<br />
evolutionary process to change this situation. Nevertheless,<br />
Metamorphosis has the r<strong>in</strong>g of truth and will amply repay the<br />
contemplative reader.<br />
Keith Francis majored <strong>in</strong> physics at Cambridge University and<br />
worked as an eng<strong>in</strong>eer at Bristol Aircraft before jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the teach<strong>in</strong>g<br />
profession. He was on the faculty of the Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er School<br />
<strong>in</strong> NY for 31 years as a teacher of physics, chemistry, mathematics,<br />
earth science, English and music. S<strong>in</strong>ce his retirement he has written<br />
several novels and a history of atomic science.<br />
26 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
The Postmodern Revolution<br />
by David Adams<br />
As is well known, the late 1960s marked the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
a wave of social, ecological, and cultural change that swept<br />
the world. The generation reach<strong>in</strong>g adulthood <strong>in</strong> those years<br />
protested aga<strong>in</strong>st the exist<strong>in</strong>g order and sought to develop new<br />
social and cultural forms. An alienated attitude critical of establishment<br />
values was widespread <strong>in</strong> this rebellion, which looked<br />
for some k<strong>in</strong>d of universal renewal of modern civilization.<br />
If we look for a background to these developments <strong>in</strong> Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s research which <strong>in</strong>forms anthroposophy, we focus<br />
first on the open<strong>in</strong>g of the century. The year 1899 marked the<br />
end of an age of spiritual darkness, Kali Yuga, which lasted five<br />
thousand years. Now humanity could beg<strong>in</strong> aga<strong>in</strong> to atta<strong>in</strong> a<br />
conscious awareness of spiritual phenomena. Ste<strong>in</strong>er saw this<br />
evolutionary development as a consequence of the “Mystery<br />
of Golgotha,” the great sacrifice of the Christ. He also observed<br />
that the 33 ¹/ ³ year life-rhythm of Jesus Christ cont<strong>in</strong>ues to<br />
<strong>in</strong>fluence events. Mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the twentieth century, it br<strong>in</strong>gs us<br />
to 1933, when Ste<strong>in</strong>er said human be<strong>in</strong>gs would beg<strong>in</strong> to have<br />
experiences of the reappearance of Christ with<strong>in</strong> the etheric<br />
realm, along with counter-measures which led to the second<br />
world war. In The Spiritual Event of the Twentieth Century Jesaiah<br />
Ben Aharon shared his own research <strong>in</strong>to the “Christ Event of<br />
the Twentieth Century,” which developed <strong>in</strong> stages beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
the twelve years from 1933 to 1945. 1 Ben Aharon suggests that<br />
we look at these twelve years aga<strong>in</strong> after another 33 ¹/ ³ years,<br />
that is, the period 1967-1979, when many deeper changes of the<br />
Christ Event began to occur.<br />
There were human souls <strong>in</strong> the spiritual world dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
1933-1945 events who were approach<strong>in</strong>g a new birth. Born just<br />
after the war, this generation began to reach their ego maturity<br />
around 1966-68. These souls of the “Baby Boomer” generation<br />
helped to lead significant social, ecological, political, cultural,<br />
and spiritual transformations of the last third of the century,<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g out of unconscious will forces and semi-conscious<br />
heart forces.<br />
Even without anthroposophical <strong>in</strong>sights, the period 1967-1968<br />
shows the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of a fundamental change <strong>in</strong> the visual arts,<br />
the shift from modernism to postmodernism. Anthroposophists<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the visual arts have mostly ignored this transformation<br />
<strong>in</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>stream art for more than thirty years now. It is past<br />
time to beg<strong>in</strong> tak<strong>in</strong>g a look at it—especially if we want our art to<br />
relate to the contemporary world and take its place with<strong>in</strong> the<br />
artistic dialogues and developments of our time.<br />
Postmodern art is far too large a topic to cover here, but I<br />
want to make a beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g by look<strong>in</strong>g at the key period of the<br />
late 1960s. Even this is a large topic, so I will only present the <strong>in</strong>itial<br />
period of these artistic changes, symptomatically, through<br />
the work of a s<strong>in</strong>gle <strong>America</strong>n artist. It is appropriate to focus<br />
on an <strong>America</strong>n artist, s<strong>in</strong>ce with each of the two world wars,<br />
<strong>America</strong> assumed a new role and responsibility for the <strong>in</strong>ner<br />
development of western (if not global) human culture, a role <strong>in</strong><br />
which Europe had largely failed. First we must recall briefly the<br />
context of that time <strong>in</strong> the artworld <strong>in</strong> New York City.<br />
The New York Context<br />
Abstract Expressionism, which emerged just after World War<br />
Two <strong>in</strong> the later 1940s and 1950s, was the first major artistic<br />
style to orig<strong>in</strong>ate wholly with<strong>in</strong> the United States—and then be<br />
imitated <strong>in</strong> Europe. The New York School artists experimented<br />
with the spontaneous, the <strong>in</strong>determ<strong>in</strong>ate, the dynamic, the<br />
open, and the unf<strong>in</strong>ished. The development of their pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g has<br />
been classified (somewhat arbitrarily) <strong>in</strong>to two ma<strong>in</strong> tendencies:<br />
gesture (or “action”) pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g and color-field pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Gesture or “action” pa<strong>in</strong>ters such as Jackson Pollock and<br />
Willem de Koon<strong>in</strong>g spontaneously organized their canvases as<br />
open, expressive accumulations of direct pa<strong>in</strong>terly ”gestures,”<br />
form<strong>in</strong>g a unified “allover” image that seemed to expand dynamically<br />
beyond the fram<strong>in</strong>g edge (fig. 1).<br />
Color-field pa<strong>in</strong>ters such as Mark Rothko and Clyfford Still,<br />
who developed slightly later, concentrated on the overall effect<br />
of the pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g as a s<strong>in</strong>gle shape, present<strong>in</strong>g more ref<strong>in</strong>ed,<br />
unified, and expansive optical textures or “fields” (fig. 2). They<br />
wanted to maximize the visual impact of specific colors and<br />
Fig.1 - Jackson Pollock. Reflection of the Big Dipper. 1947, oil on canvas 43¼ x 16¼”.<br />
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found that, to do so, they had to simplify or elim<strong>in</strong>ate any other<br />
figures or symbols and apply the colors <strong>in</strong> large expanses that<br />
would saturate the eye. This was a more radical abandonment<br />
of the familiar structural basis of exist<strong>in</strong>g western art – that is,<br />
of the use of modulated dark and light values to produce the<br />
Fig.2 - Mark Rothko. Orange and Yellow. 1956, oil on canvas, 91 x 71”.<br />
illusion of three-dimensional mass <strong>in</strong> space. Instead, the surface<br />
of the pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g was treated as an active ”field” with a unified<br />
texture for an allover, “s<strong>in</strong>gle image” effect.<br />
A number of younger artists took up the color-field w<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
Abstract Expressionism, eventually lead<strong>in</strong>g it toward simpler,<br />
flatter, and hard-edged forms. Different names were given to<br />
these later tendencies <strong>in</strong> pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g (which cont<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>in</strong>to the<br />
1970s and beyond), of which I will use Post-Pa<strong>in</strong>terly Abstraction.<br />
The Post-Pa<strong>in</strong>terly Abstract artists used a hard edge; a<br />
more anonymous execution; even, clear, bright colors; and often<br />
a feel<strong>in</strong>g of openness and simple clarity.<br />
Clement Greenberg’s Art Theory<br />
New, properly non-pa<strong>in</strong>terly styles first emerged outside of<br />
the New York School: the hard-edged abstraction of Ellsworth<br />
Kelly, Frank Stella, and Leon Polk Smith; and the sta<strong>in</strong>ed colorfield<br />
abstractions of Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, and Jules<br />
Olitski. Louis and Noland <strong>in</strong> Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, DC accepted the <strong>in</strong>fluential<br />
critic Clement Greenberg as their advisor and promoter.<br />
He <strong>in</strong>troduced them to the work of Helen Frankenthaler, who<br />
had th<strong>in</strong>ned her pa<strong>in</strong>t so it soaked directly <strong>in</strong>to the canvas as<br />
a color area, help<strong>in</strong>g elim<strong>in</strong>ate the visual dist<strong>in</strong>ction between a<br />
foreground and a background.<br />
One of the basic ideas of Greenberg, the most important<br />
art critic and theorist to emerge s<strong>in</strong>ce the war, was that <strong>in</strong> the<br />
modern era each of the arts has been impelled toward “selfdef<strong>in</strong>ition,”<br />
toward what is unique and irreducible <strong>in</strong> their<br />
particular medium. Uniquely characteristic of pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g are “the<br />
flat surface, the [rectangular] shape of the support, the properties<br />
of pigments” [i.e., color]. Most important was flatness, for<br />
it alone is “unique and exclusive to pictorial art.” In its urge for<br />
purity, pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g was required to steadily purge itself “self-critically”<br />
of all representation and illusion, of every effect that was<br />
not essential to the medium of pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g. It was this progressive<br />
purification that gave rise to the changes of style <strong>in</strong> modern art. 2<br />
There are some similarities to Greenberg’s idea <strong>in</strong> statements<br />
of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er. For example, <strong>in</strong> The Arts and Their Mission he<br />
criticizes the traditional practice of us<strong>in</strong>g spatial (l<strong>in</strong>ear) perspective<br />
to create the illusion of spatial depth <strong>in</strong> pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g. “This<br />
rejects at the outset the most important material the artist has,<br />
for he does not create <strong>in</strong> space, he creates on a flat surface, and<br />
it is quite ridiculous to want to experience the th<strong>in</strong>g spatially<br />
when one’s basic material is a flat surface. 3 He also refers to<br />
color as the proper or fundamental element of pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g. 4<br />
Greenberg was the leader of a general attack on de Koon<strong>in</strong>gstyle<br />
gestural pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the early 1960s. Loose, gestural brushwork<br />
was condemned because it denied pictorial flatness and<br />
suggested a degree of illusionistic space and “atmosphere.” Also<br />
forbidden was structure based on contrasts of light and dark,<br />
which tended to create illusionistic space. Even thick-textured<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>t produced more of a sculptural quality and detracted from<br />
the purely “optical” effect of color. Greenberg urged Louis and<br />
Noland and other pa<strong>in</strong>ters to suppress pa<strong>in</strong>terly details and<br />
treat the entire picture as an open field of flat color-shapes, us<strong>in</strong>g<br />
th<strong>in</strong> colors sta<strong>in</strong>ed directly <strong>in</strong>to the canvas.<br />
Frank Stella was probably the outstand<strong>in</strong>g figure of this<br />
group. His “black-stripe” pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs seemed to use the physical<br />
depth of the canvas as a k<strong>in</strong>d of module (fig. 3). It dictated the<br />
width of his stripes. These were separated by th<strong>in</strong> strips of bare<br />
canvas that called attention to the physical picture surface. The<br />
rectangular shape of the stretcher determ<strong>in</strong>ed the concentric<br />
and symmetrical composition of the stripes. Shape and thickness<br />
of canvas seemed to dictate the picture’s configuration, i.e.,<br />
it seemed to refer only to itself as an object. Stella aimed to carry<br />
to its ultimate solution the formalist view of the central problem<br />
Fig.3 - Frank Stella. The Marriage of Reason and Squalor (second version). 1959,<br />
black enamel on canvas, 90¾ x 132¼”.<br />
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of modern art – how to articulate the reality of the picture as a<br />
flat, two-dimensional th<strong>in</strong>g. His blunt black and later <strong>in</strong>dustrial<br />
and metallic colors formed large, clear stripe-patterns that were<br />
<strong>in</strong>stantly perceptible, and the <strong>in</strong>-between bare-canvas l<strong>in</strong>es flattened<br />
the pictorial space to an unprecedented degree, assert<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the physicality or objecthood of the canvas.<br />
Stella’s own formalist aesthetic was based somewhat more on<br />
the writ<strong>in</strong>gs of pa<strong>in</strong>ter Ad Re<strong>in</strong>hardt than Greenberg. Re<strong>in</strong>hardt<br />
had argued the purification of pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g by elim<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
that was not of and for pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g, especially extra-aesthetic<br />
references to “life.” He wanted to purge art of everyth<strong>in</strong>g but<br />
art, although he had a rather materialistic idea of the art object.<br />
He ridiculed the “transcendental nonsense, the pictur<strong>in</strong>g of a<br />
‘reality beh<strong>in</strong>d reality’” of color field pa<strong>in</strong>ters. Instead, he called<br />
for “pure pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g [<strong>in</strong> which there] is no degree of illustration,<br />
distortion, illusion, allusion, or delusion.” 5<br />
M<strong>in</strong>imalism<br />
The new style known as M<strong>in</strong>imalism first emerged as sculpture<br />
<strong>in</strong> the one-person shows of Donald Judd and Robert Morris<br />
<strong>in</strong> 1963. M<strong>in</strong>imal sculpture consisted of elementary geometric<br />
volumes or symmetrical, serial sequences of modular geometric<br />
volumes placed not on pedestals but directly on the floor or<br />
wall. They used non-relational design, un<strong>in</strong>flected surfaces with<br />
no signs of process, and colors that were simply those of the<br />
substances used, especially <strong>in</strong>dustrial materials (or pa<strong>in</strong>t). The<br />
emphasis was on literal objecthood and extreme physicality,<br />
but the design was based on preconceived ideas. The seem<strong>in</strong>gly<br />
simple sculptures of M<strong>in</strong>imalism depended upon a lot of critical<br />
writ<strong>in</strong>g, mostly by the artists themselves, to expla<strong>in</strong> why they<br />
were important.<br />
Judd admired visual<br />
<strong>in</strong>tensity or immediate<br />
impact <strong>in</strong> art and felt<br />
that no pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g could<br />
hold its own visually<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st this new work <strong>in</strong><br />
three dimensions that <strong>in</strong><br />
1965 he called Specific<br />
Objects. Also, he argued<br />
that work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> actual<br />
materials like fiberglass,<br />
formica, plexiglas,<br />
chrome, plastic, and<br />
fluorescent lights had<br />
a specificity and power<br />
that pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g lacked, especially<br />
when these new<br />
materials were closely<br />
related to the form of the<br />
artwork. Because of this,<br />
Judd announced, pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />
was dead and “had to<br />
go entirely.” This led to<br />
a series of 1966 debates:<br />
“Was pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g dead and<br />
at its historical end?”<br />
Fig.4 - Donald Judd. Untitled (Ten Stacks). 1969,<br />
anodized alum<strong>in</strong>um.<br />
Even the most m<strong>in</strong>imal<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>ted illusionism was<br />
seen as a distortion of the true nature of the object. Only with<br />
the perception of objects that existed to beg<strong>in</strong> with <strong>in</strong> all three<br />
dimensions did the eye’s vision match what the m<strong>in</strong>d knew to be<br />
true from experience.<br />
For his own art, Judd began <strong>in</strong> 1964 focus<strong>in</strong>g on relief,<br />
construct<strong>in</strong>g metal boxes cantilevered off walls (fig. 4). Each<br />
element was an isolated Specific Object, yet also part of a<br />
mathematically-arranged pattern. Such “arrangement” avoided<br />
traditional composition, the use of major and m<strong>in</strong>or elements<br />
ordered <strong>in</strong>to a balanced, hierarchical structure. In Judd’s work<br />
all parts were equal. Judd felt that traditional composition<br />
reflected a larger idea of order, which diluted the immediate<br />
concrete experience of the piece by referr<strong>in</strong>g to someth<strong>in</strong>g else<br />
exterior to the work of art as an object.<br />
From the later sixties onward he concentrated on large floor<br />
pieces, often with perforated surfaces, to emphasize static immobility,<br />
simplicity, openness, and clarity (fig. 5). His extreme<br />
focus on the literal object was someth<strong>in</strong>g new <strong>in</strong> sculpture.<br />
In contrast to Judd’s rejection of pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g, Clement Greenberg<br />
had argued that the goal of advanced pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g also was objecthood,<br />
accept<strong>in</strong>g its essential qualities of flat canvas and color.<br />
Fig.5 - Donald Judd. Untitled. 1977, sta<strong>in</strong>less steel and nickel, 4 nits, each 59 x 59 x 59”.<br />
Robert Morris <strong>in</strong> 1966 called for a clearer dist<strong>in</strong>ction between<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g’s optical (color) qualities and “sculpture’s essentially<br />
tactile nature.” 6 He also believed pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g was outmoded and<br />
applied Greenberg’s goal of “reduction to essentials” to sculpture.<br />
What made sculpture unique, said Morris, was its literal,<br />
monolithic physicality, whose (physical) properties were scale,<br />
proportion, shape, and mass. To maximize these physical<br />
properties, he preferred simpler forms that could be directly apprehended<br />
as constant, known shapes: ma<strong>in</strong>ly regular polyhedrons,<br />
such as cubes and pyramids. He called them Unitary Objects.<br />
Sculpture also should avoid segmentation, color, sensuous<br />
surfaces, details, and <strong>in</strong>flection—anyth<strong>in</strong>g that could be seen<br />
as spatially illusionistic or pictorial. Not only pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g, but also<br />
pictorial sculpture was outmoded. Ironically, Greenberg didn’t<br />
like M<strong>in</strong>imalism, feel<strong>in</strong>g it was contrived, “someth<strong>in</strong>g deduced<br />
<strong>in</strong>stead of felt or discovered.” 7 For Greenberg, the experience<br />
of modernist art was divorced from common, real, literal space<br />
and time. But the M<strong>in</strong>imalist sculptors used Greenbergian pr<strong>in</strong>ciples<br />
to move beyond Greenberg’s own op<strong>in</strong>ions.<br />
Because M<strong>in</strong>imalist sculptures were pre-planned and prefabricated<br />
(or arranged from prefabricated materials), m<strong>in</strong>imal artists<br />
avoided the improvisational process of creation associated<br />
with Abstract Expressionism. The creative act was the artist’s<br />
idea, not the activity of construction. Carl Andre took a further<br />
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step beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1966 by arrang<strong>in</strong>g bricks and squares of metal<br />
<strong>in</strong> rectangles on the floor, aligned with the form of the room<br />
(fig. 6). “Rather than cutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the material, I use the material<br />
as the cut <strong>in</strong> space,” he said. 8 His use of materials blended them<br />
<strong>in</strong>to the space so that the sculpture loses much of its object-like<br />
quality. He even <strong>in</strong>vited viewers to walk on them, further emphasiz<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the literal presence of the material. “I severed matter<br />
from depiction,” he claimed.<br />
Fig.6 - Carl Andre. Alum<strong>in</strong>um Square. 1968, 25 alum<strong>in</strong>um squares, 3/8 x 197 x 197”.<br />
Postmodern or Postm<strong>in</strong>imalist Art<br />
In addition to his concept of a progressive “self-def<strong>in</strong>ition” of<br />
each art, Greenberg asserted that the artist’s primary goal was<br />
to create art of quality. There was an importance to “aesthetic<br />
value and excellence for its own sake, as an end <strong>in</strong> itself.” 9 Thus,<br />
artworks were typically displayed as isolated, <strong>in</strong>dependent<br />
objects surrounded by white walls <strong>in</strong> galleries and museums.<br />
For Greenberg, the antithesis of modernist art was kitsch:<br />
“popular, commercial art and literature”—e.g., magaz<strong>in</strong>e covers,<br />
illustrations, ads, pulp fiction, comics, pop music, Hollywood<br />
movies. There could be no compromise <strong>in</strong> the struggle between<br />
authentic high culture and debased popular culture or enterta<strong>in</strong>ment.<br />
The idea that the work of art should be autonomous<br />
and self-sufficient with<strong>in</strong> its own realm is a position labeled<br />
“formalism” and associated with modernist art. The primary<br />
enemy for Greenberg <strong>in</strong> the 1960s was Pop Art, which broke<br />
down the barriers between high art and kitsch, foreshadow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
postmodernism.<br />
Actually, there were no widely agreed-upon def<strong>in</strong>itions of<br />
either modernism or postmodernism <strong>in</strong> the 1960s and 1970s – or<br />
even once postmodern art more widely emerged <strong>in</strong> the 1980s.<br />
At first, art historians treated postmodernism as a pluralist<br />
bundle of styles supersed<strong>in</strong>g modernist ones. Then a more<br />
sociological outlook proposed that a radical change had taken<br />
place, from an <strong>in</strong>dustrial society, which had generated modernism,<br />
to a post<strong>in</strong>dustrial society that also gave rise to<br />
postmodern art. 10 In philosophy postmodernism refers<br />
to the end of an epistemologically centered philosophy<br />
based on the efforts of a know<strong>in</strong>g subject to know<br />
truth by achiev<strong>in</strong>g a true mental representation of objective<br />
reality (the Cartesian subject-object dualism).<br />
It argues (among many other th<strong>in</strong>gs) that there is no<br />
temporally <strong>in</strong>variant truth s<strong>in</strong>ce human understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
is always historically-based (or “cont<strong>in</strong>gent”).<br />
Modernism <strong>in</strong> art was characterized by qualities<br />
like autonomy, quality, and novelty. Art was felt to be<br />
universal and transcendent with<strong>in</strong> its own special<br />
sphere (“art for art’s sake”). Viewers expected to react<br />
to the latest formal <strong>in</strong>novations with the “shock of the<br />
new.” By contrast, postmodernism valued social relevance.<br />
It felt art should engage its specific social context and<br />
that noth<strong>in</strong>g really new was still possible <strong>in</strong> art. Viewers should<br />
expect a “shock of recognition” when see<strong>in</strong>g familiar aspects of<br />
their daily world used for works of art. Modernists believed a<br />
work’s content <strong>in</strong>hered <strong>in</strong> its <strong>in</strong>novative and creative form, while<br />
subject matter was more or less <strong>in</strong>cidental. Postmodernists<br />
emphasized subject matter or content <strong>in</strong> art.<br />
Postmodernists <strong>in</strong>itially took their cues from architecture,<br />
which earlier had launched a susta<strong>in</strong>ed attack on the modernist<br />
International Style, an attack <strong>in</strong>itiated by Robert Venturi’s<br />
1967 book Complexity and Contradiction <strong>in</strong> Architecture. Postmodernist<br />
architecture called for multiplicity, <strong>in</strong>clusiveness,<br />
and eclecticism <strong>in</strong>stead of the formalist uniformity and exclusiveness<br />
identified with the International Style. It repudiated<br />
Modernism’s obsessions with the new, and it often rehabilitated<br />
decorative motifs from premodern styles, comb<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g them with<br />
modernist motifs. Although this soon became primarily a k<strong>in</strong>d<br />
of appropriation and eclectic mix<strong>in</strong>g of historical styles (historicism)<br />
that did not develop further, it seemed new and fresh at<br />
the time.<br />
Also prom<strong>in</strong>ent <strong>in</strong> postmodern thought was the idea that the<br />
modernist way of carry<strong>in</strong>g art to extremes to achieve the next<br />
new, <strong>in</strong>novative style had become too commonplace <strong>in</strong> the art<br />
world. It had become a cliché, and art had gone as far as it could<br />
go. The avant-garde was dead. A large part of the public no longer<br />
responded <strong>in</strong> outrage to the latest novel development <strong>in</strong> art.<br />
Modernist art had become <strong>in</strong>stitutionalized and “official” as well<br />
as so popular that it could <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly be considered another<br />
form of mass cultural enterta<strong>in</strong>ment or decor.<br />
Postmodernists also had revised attitudes toward popular<br />
culture (or kitsch). In the second half of the twentieth century,<br />
popular culture (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the mass media and mass consumerism<br />
with its accompany<strong>in</strong>g advertis<strong>in</strong>g) had grown so pervasive<br />
and powerful that it had become like the “second nature” of<br />
modern life. Art could no longer ignore it. By the 1980s the art<br />
of those who mixed artistic mediums, embraced diversity, and<br />
looked for <strong>in</strong>spiration <strong>in</strong> everyday, common imagery, the mass<br />
media, past art, and consumer commodities, seemed much<br />
more vital than modernist art. (See for example fig. 7, which<br />
also suggests the revival of pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g that took place.)<br />
Many young artists had ceased to believe <strong>in</strong> the futuristic<br />
visions of progress from the modernist era and began <strong>in</strong> their<br />
art to “quote” or recycle images and forms from past art and<br />
the mass media. Appropriation, as this practice came to be<br />
known, became the primary sign of postmodernist art. The new<br />
Fig.7 - David Salle. Muscular Paper. 1985, acrylic and oil on canvas and pr<strong>in</strong>ted fabric, 98 x 187½”.<br />
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art declared the end of the modernist, formalist approach and<br />
<strong>in</strong>troduced an art of replication and mix<strong>in</strong>g of previous styles<br />
(often called “neo” or “retro” styles), of<br />
appropriation and simulation. Along with<br />
this was a denial of orig<strong>in</strong>ality, experiment,<br />
<strong>in</strong>novation, and <strong>in</strong>vention – even<br />
of the importance of the role of the artist<br />
as creator.<br />
Above all, postmodernists rejected<br />
modernist claims to universality. Observ<strong>in</strong>g<br />
how such ideas had been used politically<br />
<strong>in</strong> the past to re<strong>in</strong>force exploitative<br />
Fig.8 - Four Directions of Postm<strong>in</strong>imalist Art.<br />
power relations, they were suspicious of<br />
any k<strong>in</strong>d of universal guid<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>in</strong>ciples or idealist programs.<br />
They dissolved every k<strong>in</strong>d of totaliz<strong>in</strong>g explanation and hierarchy.<br />
They asked: Wasn’t this modernist culture just the creation<br />
of Western middle-class whites and heterosexual males? Instead,<br />
Postmodernist artists have stressed differences <strong>in</strong> class;<br />
gender; local, regional and national character; race and ethnicity;<br />
and history, culture, and current events—the particular and<br />
the multicultural. They also began to analyze or “deconstruct”<br />
the practices and <strong>in</strong>stitutions of the art world itself.<br />
It was especially M<strong>in</strong>imalist art that was attacked by the<br />
early postmodernists. In fact, they were called postm<strong>in</strong>imalists<br />
at first, and some still argue that the postm<strong>in</strong>imalists were just<br />
the very last gasp of modernism rather than the first breath of<br />
postmodernism. To become more th<strong>in</strong>glike, m<strong>in</strong>imal sculpture<br />
had elim<strong>in</strong>ated all <strong>in</strong>ternal relations or variations that might call<br />
the viewer’s attention away from simple th<strong>in</strong>gness or objecthood.<br />
However, this led the viewer to pay attention to relationships<br />
between the m<strong>in</strong>imal sculpture and its surround<strong>in</strong>gs. Thus,<br />
changes <strong>in</strong> the environment, light<strong>in</strong>g, and position of the viewer<br />
(or different viewers) were experienced as components of the<br />
work. Because of this, it was po<strong>in</strong>ted out that<br />
the M<strong>in</strong>imalist artwork lacked self-sufficiency.<br />
Critic Michael Fried ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> a much-debated<br />
1967 article “Art and Objecthood,” that,<br />
because the viewer is <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the “situation”<br />
of m<strong>in</strong>imal sculpture, it is “theatrical,”<br />
like a stage with the viewer as an actor, experienced<br />
<strong>in</strong> time. 11 It could also be said that, as<br />
the art object <strong>in</strong> space grew simpler, the focus<br />
of attention began to shift more to the experiences<br />
of the subject (viewer) <strong>in</strong> time.<br />
The postm<strong>in</strong>imalists embraced Fried’s idea<br />
of “theatricality.” If time was implicit <strong>in</strong> the<br />
way m<strong>in</strong>imal sculpture was experienced, these<br />
later artists made temporal experience and<br />
theatricality thoroughly explicit – <strong>in</strong> fact, the<br />
only possible way of experience, especially<br />
<strong>in</strong> new forms of film, video, and performance<br />
art. Postm<strong>in</strong>imalists dematerialized the object<br />
(process art and conceptual art), spread it out<br />
Fig.9 - From Modernism to Postmodernism.<br />
<strong>in</strong>to its surround<strong>in</strong>gs (process art, <strong>in</strong>stallation,<br />
and earth art); formed an idea and presented it as a work of<br />
art <strong>in</strong> itself (conceptual art); and employed their own bodies <strong>in</strong><br />
performance (body art and performance art). (See fig. 8.)<br />
The new postm<strong>in</strong>imalist artists experimented <strong>in</strong> four fundamental<br />
directions based on polarities of m<strong>in</strong>d and body as well<br />
as time and space (which can be seen to form a k<strong>in</strong>d of def<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
cross of <strong>in</strong>carnated existence). Temporary situations <strong>in</strong> actual<br />
space and real time dispensed with the<br />
conception of art-as-a-precious-object,<br />
exist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a special, timeless “art space”<br />
different from ord<strong>in</strong>ary space. It could<br />
be said that the M<strong>in</strong>imalists had tried<br />
to reduce art to purely an object, but<br />
discovered they couldn’t elim<strong>in</strong>ate the<br />
human subject, the other side of the<br />
subject-object polarity that delimits human<br />
experience. So the postm<strong>in</strong>imalists<br />
accentuated the subjective.<br />
Postmodernism generally represents an attempt to open out<br />
the enclosed aesthetic world of modernism to the real world<br />
so that aesthetic experience can be re<strong>in</strong>tegrated with everyday<br />
life. Thus, the postm<strong>in</strong>imalists moved their art <strong>in</strong>to the world,<br />
outside of elite, protected gallery and museum spaces. Likewise,<br />
the postm<strong>in</strong>imal denial of art-as-object was jo<strong>in</strong>ed with a grow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
revulsion aga<strong>in</strong>st the commodification of art. Many artists,<br />
disgusted by the art market, purposely made art that could<br />
not be bought or sold: piles of dirt, trenches dug <strong>in</strong> the desert,<br />
conceptual art consist<strong>in</strong>g only of verbal statements. However,<br />
they eventually discovered that there was no art so extreme<br />
or <strong>in</strong>accessible that some collectors would not still pay handsomely<br />
for it.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the late 1960s many alienated young people and artists<br />
“dropped out” of ma<strong>in</strong>stream society to seek a new way of<br />
life. The counterculture arose to oppose the tradition of Western<br />
culture marked by rationality, work, duty, maturity, and success.<br />
A disgust with the past and despair for the future compelled<br />
disaffected young people to look only to the present. Thus, <strong>in</strong><br />
terms of social context it is not surpris<strong>in</strong>g that artists rejected<br />
art-as-object-for-the-ages and <strong>in</strong>stead favored<br />
the direct, present process of art mak<strong>in</strong>g over<br />
the f<strong>in</strong>ished product, often us<strong>in</strong>g perishable<br />
materials or no materials at all.<br />
The succeed<strong>in</strong>g artists of the 1970s, lead<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>to postmodernism proper, generally<br />
responded with more irony and with radical,<br />
irrational, unconventional, absurdist, or perverse<br />
experiments <strong>in</strong> art. A variety of styles<br />
and approaches arose and are still aris<strong>in</strong>g, especially<br />
under the category of digital or media<br />
art (see fig. 9). Hav<strong>in</strong>g progressively “purified”<br />
itself down to color field pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g and then<br />
m<strong>in</strong>imalist sculpture, modernist art passed<br />
through the “eye of the needle” around 1967-68<br />
to emerge <strong>in</strong>to a new profusion or “pluralism”<br />
of “postmodern” styles and movements. 12<br />
Robert Morris<br />
I want to <strong>in</strong>troduce postm<strong>in</strong>imalist or early<br />
postmodern artwork symptomatically through<br />
the creations of one artist, Robert Morris. In many ways he is<br />
the ultimate postm<strong>in</strong>imalist artist, hav<strong>in</strong>g gone through almost<br />
every postm<strong>in</strong>imalist mode as well as M<strong>in</strong>imalism: Performance,<br />
Body Art, Process Art, Earth Art, Installations, Conceptual Art,<br />
Sound Art, film, and, later, Neo-Expressionism.<br />
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Fig.10 - Robert Morris. Untitled. 1966, fiberglass with light, 91 x 122 x 229 cm.<br />
He had already <strong>in</strong> 1961 been concerned with the problem of<br />
how to get the process to show <strong>in</strong> the product. In 1961 he created<br />
Box with the Sound of Its Own Mak<strong>in</strong>g, a walnut box conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
a 3-hour tape record<strong>in</strong>g of the sounds of its own fabrication.<br />
His I-Box of 1962 clearly made the m<strong>in</strong>imalist box “theatrical.”<br />
When the chalky p<strong>in</strong>k door of this large, M<strong>in</strong>imalist-look<strong>in</strong>g<br />
wooden box was opened, there was a literal “I” <strong>in</strong>side <strong>in</strong> the<br />
form of a full-size photograph of the naked Morris with a tw<strong>in</strong>kle<br />
<strong>in</strong> his eye. That purposely trivialized the Abstract Expressionist<br />
idea of artists <strong>in</strong>scrib<strong>in</strong>g or reveal<strong>in</strong>g their true I <strong>in</strong> their<br />
artwork. When the case was opened, there really was noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>side but another outside. Morris was play<strong>in</strong>g with how we<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k of our “self” hidden with<strong>in</strong> our body.<br />
Morris explored a number of witty variations on the nature<br />
of the M<strong>in</strong>imalist object. He noted that when <strong>in</strong>ternal, <strong>in</strong>timacyproduc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
relationships were taken out of a work, they were<br />
transferred to the context <strong>in</strong> which the work was shown. Thus,<br />
the unitary object is carefully placed <strong>in</strong>to its environment<br />
<strong>in</strong> real three-dimensional space. He created a number of his<br />
“Unitary Objects” from off-white fiberglass that the viewer knew<br />
to be hollow, aga<strong>in</strong> underm<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g their solid objecthood. In the<br />
untitled sculpture shown <strong>in</strong> figure 10 the slit <strong>in</strong> the block allows<br />
a slice of light to escape from the fluorescent-light <strong>in</strong>terior, just<br />
where one would normally expect shadow.<br />
In the late 1960s he developed many variations to his Unitary<br />
Objects <strong>in</strong> both form (cyl<strong>in</strong>der, oval, tapered square, wedge, “L,”<br />
and “H”) and materials (steel mesh, alum<strong>in</strong>um, wood, granite,<br />
fiberglass, etc.). The materials chosen typically compromise the<br />
serial units by mak<strong>in</strong>g them more optically complex. His subversion<br />
of the object was most extreme <strong>in</strong> a 1965 piece consist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of four plexiglas-mirror-covered wood boxes that more or less<br />
dissolved <strong>in</strong> their reflections of the environment (fig. 11). It created<br />
a paradox and <strong>in</strong>vited the viewer’s movement. Hav<strong>in</strong>g disposed<br />
of M<strong>in</strong>imalist pretensions, Morris proceeded to explore<br />
artwork <strong>in</strong> each of the four basic new types, also us<strong>in</strong>g his work<br />
<strong>in</strong> these new forms to comment on previous notions of art.<br />
Conceptual Art<br />
M<strong>in</strong>imal artists based their works on preconceived ideas<br />
<strong>in</strong>tended to produce the most objectlike of objects. At the end<br />
of 1960s artist began to consider the preconceived ideas beh<strong>in</strong>d<br />
M<strong>in</strong>imalist objects for their own sake and to present them <strong>in</strong><br />
verbal form as <strong>in</strong>dependent works of art. This came to be called<br />
conceptual art, and Morris was a pioneer <strong>in</strong> this as well.<br />
In Morris’ 1963 Card File, a series of plastic-encased cards<br />
documented the process of compil<strong>in</strong>g the file. This work anticipated<br />
both process art and conceptual art. It becomes complex<br />
to th<strong>in</strong>k about the work when the work itself is its own description<br />
(as a process). This work also mocked the traditional idea<br />
of the artwork as the sum of the <strong>in</strong>tentions and actions of the<br />
artist. In another conceptual art project <strong>in</strong> 1968, Morris sent a<br />
telegram propos<strong>in</strong>g to “re-do” the Chicago Fire of 1871.<br />
Process Art<br />
As he cont<strong>in</strong>ued to explore form, Morris also turned to what<br />
he considered its dialectical opposite, matter. He began to manipulate<br />
materials whose “forms” were flexible and open-ended,<br />
especially soft materials that would move away from traditional<br />
ideas of structure. Influenced by Joseph Beuys and Claes<br />
Oldenburg, he chose gray felt for many of these works, because<br />
he could preconceive cutt<strong>in</strong>g it accord<strong>in</strong>g to geometric progressions.<br />
Once the cutt<strong>in</strong>g was done, however, the arrangement of<br />
the felt was shaped by the process of gravity. The result<strong>in</strong>g form<br />
could never be predicted or f<strong>in</strong>al, and it changed with time and<br />
new <strong>in</strong>stallations.<br />
In a 1968 essay Morris argued that M<strong>in</strong>imal Art was not as<br />
physical as art could be because the order<strong>in</strong>g of its modular<br />
or serial units was not <strong>in</strong>herent <strong>in</strong> their material. Rather, the<br />
Fig.11 - Robert Morris. Untitled. 1965, 4 mirrored boxes, each 21 x 21 x 21”<br />
process of a work’s “mak<strong>in</strong>g-itself” had to be emphasized. 13<br />
Thus, this new, still more literal art focused on matter and the<br />
action of gravity upon it. Morris argued that the m<strong>in</strong>imalist<br />
unitary object was related to its surround<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> a traditional<br />
figure-ground relationship and was thus “term<strong>in</strong>ally diseased.”<br />
The cure was to base three-dimensional art on “the conditions<br />
of the visual field itself,” to replace the discrete object (for a discrete<br />
subject) by <strong>in</strong>stalled “accumulations of th<strong>in</strong>gs or stuff.” 14<br />
In these works of “process art” accumulations of soft materials<br />
spill across<br />
the floor <strong>in</strong>to<br />
the viewer’s<br />
space and<br />
colonize more<br />
and more of<br />
the gallery<br />
floor space<br />
(fig. 12). His<br />
<strong>in</strong>stallation Fig.12 - Robert Morris. Untitled (Tangle). 1967, felt, 264 pieces.<br />
32 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
“Threadwaste” from 1974 filled the entire gallery floorspace with<br />
an expansive heap of threadwaste, mirrors, asphalt, alum<strong>in</strong>um,<br />
lead, felt, copper, and steel. Random pil<strong>in</strong>g, stack<strong>in</strong>g, and hang<strong>in</strong>g<br />
gave pass<strong>in</strong>g form to the material, and these <strong>in</strong>stallations<br />
were sometimes called “scatter pieces.” Rather than preconceiv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a clear def<strong>in</strong>ition, this form of sculpture depended on real<br />
time and even on chance occurrences, requir<strong>in</strong>g the viewer to<br />
participate, to “be there and to walk around the work.” It was<br />
essentially theatrical and soon evolved <strong>in</strong>to what we refer to as<br />
<strong>in</strong>stallation art today.<br />
Earth Art<br />
In 1968 Morris exhibited an <strong>in</strong>stallation titled Earthwork, composed<br />
of a pile of another disordered material: soil. From that<br />
it was only a short step outdoors <strong>in</strong>to Earth Art. Thus, two new<br />
forms arose: outdoor earth art and <strong>in</strong>door <strong>in</strong>stallation art.<br />
Because<br />
m<strong>in</strong>imal<br />
sculptures<br />
lacked <strong>in</strong>ternal<br />
relationships<br />
and<br />
articulated<br />
their outer<br />
limits so<br />
emphatically,<br />
they po<strong>in</strong>ted<br />
to their<br />
Fig.13 - Robert Morris. Steam. 1971-74 (1967 orig<strong>in</strong>al), steam outlets under<br />
bed of stones outl<strong>in</strong>ed with wood, W. Wash<strong>in</strong>gton Univ., Bell<strong>in</strong>gham.<br />
surround<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
beyond.<br />
Thus, postm<strong>in</strong>imalist Earth Art sculptors began to take <strong>in</strong>to<br />
account the sculpture’s site and overall “situation.” One such<br />
change was to make work outdoors. Nature tended to be a<br />
more appropriate site for these spread<strong>in</strong>g artworks than the<br />
conta<strong>in</strong>ed, four-walled gallery. Like the materials of Process Art,<br />
most substances found <strong>in</strong> nature were impermanent, <strong>in</strong>determ<strong>in</strong>ate,<br />
and changeable. In a piece realized several times between<br />
1967 and 1973, Morris worked outdoors <strong>in</strong> even more “formless”<br />
medium – steam (fig. 13). M<strong>in</strong>imalist sculpture had still been<br />
“commodity art” (precious objects for sale) – but how could you<br />
sell steam? In a later, larger-scale project of 1979 <strong>in</strong> K<strong>in</strong>g County,<br />
Wash<strong>in</strong>gton,<br />
he reclaimed<br />
an abandoned<br />
gravel<br />
pit, a site of<br />
ecological<br />
abuse, shap<strong>in</strong>g<br />
concentric<br />
terraces<br />
and slopes to<br />
form a k<strong>in</strong>d of Fig.14 - Robert Morris. Untitled. 1979, reclamation project, Johnson Pit No.<br />
amphitheater 30, K<strong>in</strong>g County, Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, 3.7 acres, earth, tree trunks, tar.<br />
(fig. 14). From with<strong>in</strong>, only the sky is visible.<br />
Performance Art<br />
Another new art form was body art (or, as it is more commonly<br />
known today, performance art), which carried theatricality<br />
to an extreme <strong>in</strong> “sculpture” where artists (at first) used their<br />
own bodies as the material of their art, perform<strong>in</strong>g elementary<br />
movements whose simplicity was <strong>in</strong>spired by m<strong>in</strong>imal art or<br />
perhaps the artist’s biography or artworld issues. Morris created<br />
and<br />
performed<br />
<strong>in</strong> a number<br />
of dance-like<br />
performance<br />
pieces.<br />
In these<br />
performances<br />
he did not<br />
entirely neglect<br />
undercutt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
modern<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Fig.15 - Robert Morris. Site. 1964, performance with Carolee Schneeman, NYC.<br />
either. In his 1965 work, Site, a large white wooden cube played<br />
the sound of a jackhammer drill as Morris entered <strong>in</strong> pla<strong>in</strong><br />
white workman’s cloth<strong>in</strong>g wear<strong>in</strong>g a mask of his face (made by<br />
artist Jasper Johns). This emphasized the work and “action”<br />
of creat<strong>in</strong>g art, an ironic reference to Abstract Expressionism.<br />
Three 4 x 8’ sheets of white plywood were grasped, turned, and<br />
shifted to reveal the recl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Carolee Schneeman, nude <strong>in</strong> white<br />
make-up, aga<strong>in</strong>st a fourth panel <strong>in</strong> the pose of Edouard Manet’s<br />
1863 Olympia, a famous touchstone of early modernist pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for its unprecedented flatness (fig. 15). But here the scene was<br />
brought out <strong>in</strong>to three actual dimensions, until Morris’s dance<br />
with plywood sheets gradually hid her aga<strong>in</strong>. The performance<br />
was an absurd act<strong>in</strong>g-out of modernist cult of the flat picture<br />
plane (which largely began with Manet). It also referenced the<br />
“white cube” environment of typical gallery and museum exhibition<br />
spaces that re<strong>in</strong>force the modernist idea of the work of art<br />
as exist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> self-referential isolation.<br />
One other example of a Morris performance was Waterman’s<br />
Switch of 1965, performed with dancers Luc<strong>in</strong>da Childs and<br />
Yvonne Ra<strong>in</strong>er (fig. 16). This presentation <strong>in</strong> four segments<br />
lasted 17 m<strong>in</strong>utes. Foam-rubber rocks were rolled on stage<br />
and bounced around to a record<strong>in</strong>g of roll<strong>in</strong>g boulders. After<br />
a blackout, Childs dragged a set of gray plywood tracks to the<br />
center, where, as a Verdi aria played, Morris and Ra<strong>in</strong>er, wear<strong>in</strong>g<br />
only m<strong>in</strong>eral oil and locked <strong>in</strong> an embrace, began slowly travers<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the tracks, shadowed by<br />
Childs <strong>in</strong> an outsized man’s suit<br />
unw<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g a ball of tw<strong>in</strong>e over<br />
her shoulder as she moved.<br />
A series of similar symbolic<br />
movements ensued, sometimes<br />
<strong>in</strong>corporat<strong>in</strong>g elements<br />
of recorded sound or film, but<br />
generally deal<strong>in</strong>g with the same<br />
themes of physical struggle,<br />
stones and boulders, and a<br />
labyr<strong>in</strong>th<strong>in</strong>e str<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />
tw<strong>in</strong>e—almost like a musical<br />
theme-and-variations.<br />
All of these new, postm<strong>in</strong>imalist/postmodern<br />
forms of art<br />
denied and tried to avoid fixed<br />
objecthood <strong>in</strong> art. The acts of<br />
Fig.16 - Robert Morris. Waterman Switch. 1965,<br />
performance with Luc<strong>in</strong>da Childs and<br />
Yvonne Ra<strong>in</strong>er, Buffalo, NY.<br />
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conceiv<strong>in</strong>g and plac<strong>in</strong>g the pieces took precedence over the “object<br />
quality” of the work. Many other artists have worked with<br />
these new forms <strong>in</strong> a great variety of types of expression.<br />
Prelim<strong>in</strong>ary <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Commentary<br />
Where would anthroposophical art stand <strong>in</strong> relation to the<br />
issues of modernism versus postmodernism?<br />
I mentioned that some of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s statements seem to<br />
support the formalist, Greenbergian ideas of a focus<strong>in</strong>g of each<br />
art form on its own unique, essential qualities – for example,<br />
focus<strong>in</strong>g pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g on flatness and color. There are also his comments<br />
on sculpture rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g true to the form tendencies of<br />
particular materials, e.g., concave forms with wood and convex<br />
with stone. Other comments re<strong>in</strong>force the formalist idea of the<br />
work of art as autonomous and self-referential. For example:<br />
“In its <strong>in</strong>herent element, every art becomes both content and<br />
form.” 15 Or he speaks of “the superearthly character of the<br />
m<strong>in</strong>iature world of art.” 16 Or “...the artistic impression depends<br />
solely and entirely upon what confronts us <strong>in</strong> the picture, and<br />
makes itself best felt when we pay no attention at all to anyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
but what speaks from the picture itself. The <strong>in</strong>habitant of<br />
Mars would therefore really be the best observer from a purely<br />
artistic po<strong>in</strong>t of view.” 17 In apparent opposition to the very idea<br />
of conceptual art, Ste<strong>in</strong>er also said the follow<strong>in</strong>g: “You can only<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k afterward about artistic forms. An artist does not understand<br />
them first, does not create from concepts and ideas.” 18<br />
However, still other Ste<strong>in</strong>er statements seem to po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong> the<br />
direction of postmodernism, although it wouldn’t really come<br />
<strong>in</strong>to be<strong>in</strong>g until more than forty years after his death. First, he<br />
supported liberat<strong>in</strong>g art from galleries and museums so that it<br />
can play a role <strong>in</strong> the rest of life: “Beauty must not rema<strong>in</strong> captive<br />
<strong>in</strong> museums. Step by step we must work for its release.” 19 Or:<br />
“Art is very frequently severed nowadays from<br />
the general life of culture and civilization, and<br />
treated as though it were someth<strong>in</strong>g that lives<br />
apart. This, too, is wrong.” 20 Ste<strong>in</strong>er said that <strong>in</strong><br />
the future the visual arts must become more of<br />
a musical experience, more like the perform<strong>in</strong>g<br />
arts, and vice versa. Do not the postm<strong>in</strong>imalist<br />
forms br<strong>in</strong>g an element of time and performance<br />
to the “essential object” that was the<br />
center of the previous modernist aesthetic – as<br />
well as a musical k<strong>in</strong>d of “theme-and-variations”<br />
approach to composition? In the de-emphasis<br />
on the art object (on its “objecthood” and<br />
formal qualities), the emphasis shifted more to<br />
the experience of the viewer—another change<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er predicted must <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly enter <strong>in</strong>to<br />
future art: “Unlike <strong>in</strong> previous times, the work of<br />
art for the future is not there to make its effect<br />
as physical pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g, forms, color, spatial relationships,<br />
etc., but so that the soul’s experience<br />
encounter<strong>in</strong>g the work of art may itself become<br />
a work of art.” 21<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er also advised that, <strong>in</strong> contrast to past<br />
art that arose largely from a one-sided Luciferic<br />
<strong>in</strong>spiration, <strong>in</strong> the future there must be more of<br />
an <strong>in</strong>terplay between the Luciferic (the beautiful)<br />
and the Ahrimanic (the ugly) <strong>in</strong> art. 22 He<br />
Fig.17 - Joseph Beuys. Art = Capital. 1980, color<br />
photograph on alum<strong>in</strong>um with pa<strong>in</strong>t.<br />
supported the idea that everyth<strong>in</strong>g can have multiple <strong>in</strong>terpretations<br />
(at least twelve), although I don’t know if he would have<br />
taken it as far as conclud<strong>in</strong>g that this meant the end of orig<strong>in</strong>ality<br />
and the “death of the artist” (a postmodern catchphrase<br />
from Roland Barthes). In contrast to what I quoted previously<br />
about conceptual art, Ste<strong>in</strong>er said <strong>in</strong> several places that art<br />
today must be created out of greater consciousness than <strong>in</strong> the<br />
past. “I believe that the significant factor <strong>in</strong> the further evolution<br />
of spiritual science will be that, <strong>in</strong> the process of attempt<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
understand the concept of art, it will itself devise an art of the<br />
conceptual, <strong>in</strong> which the work and activity of ideation will be<br />
fulfilled with images, with reality...” 23 Or: “What we must do is<br />
br<strong>in</strong>g art <strong>in</strong>to our th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g...” 24 He also mentioned his unfulfilled<br />
artistic wish to some day “draw the content of the The Philosophy<br />
of Spiritual Activity.” 25 In tune with the philosophical orig<strong>in</strong>s<br />
of postmodernism, Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s own philosophical work moved <strong>in</strong><br />
a similar direction of overcom<strong>in</strong>g the unknowable “th<strong>in</strong>gs-<strong>in</strong>themselves”<br />
of Kantian idealism as well as the rigid Cartesian<br />
separation of subject and object <strong>in</strong> understand<strong>in</strong>g human experience,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the experience of art. In fact, Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s philosophical<br />
views can be seen as a k<strong>in</strong>d of postmodern philosophy<br />
before its time. 26<br />
These comments can seem contradictory or ambiguous <strong>in</strong><br />
relation to postmodernism, so it is important to consider the<br />
complete context of Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s remarks as well as the date. For<br />
example, when he said pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g must be two-dimensional, he<br />
meant us<strong>in</strong>g a “planar color perspective” to overcome what is<br />
merely spatial and enter an etheric fourth dimension, which is<br />
also two-dimensional <strong>in</strong> character. Also, he seemed to speak<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>ly about what the progress of contemporary art of his time<br />
allowed or <strong>in</strong>duced him to speak about. He cautioned about too<br />
much <strong>in</strong>tellectual, l<strong>in</strong>guistic generalization about what is the<br />
“essence of art,” rather advis<strong>in</strong>g us to pay attention<br />
to our actual experience of an art form. 27<br />
Above all, perhaps more than any particular<br />
formal qualities, Ste<strong>in</strong>er sought an expression of<br />
genu<strong>in</strong>e spiritual reality <strong>in</strong> art, someth<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
went beyond the merely personal. “Art, <strong>in</strong>deed,<br />
will never be able to proceed from anyth<strong>in</strong>g else<br />
than from the relation of the human be<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
the spiritual world.” 28 This is what unites these<br />
seem<strong>in</strong>gly contradictory comments.<br />
I feel that the development of Postmodernism<br />
does not necessarily mean that all of<br />
Greenberg’s modernist, formalist views were<br />
totally wrong, only that they may have been<br />
<strong>in</strong>complete or too materialistically understood.<br />
In art it may even be possible to imag<strong>in</strong>e a k<strong>in</strong>d<br />
of balance between the positions of Modernism<br />
and Postmodernism, or at least a comb<strong>in</strong>ation<br />
of the best or most true aspects from each. At<br />
its best (especially when not overly <strong>in</strong>fluenced<br />
by materialistic or Marxist-oriented authors),<br />
postmodernism may be the protest aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />
and alternative to those aspects of the modern<br />
Western culture that are illusory, rigidly dualistic,<br />
materialistic, exploitative, and unfree. Isn’t<br />
this also what anthroposophy wants to be?<br />
While the artwork done with<strong>in</strong> the anthropo-<br />
34 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
sophical movement generally has ignored for more than thirty<br />
years these new postm<strong>in</strong>imalist/postmodern developments <strong>in</strong><br />
ma<strong>in</strong>stream art, there was one anthroposophist who tried to<br />
work with all of these new, postmodern forms of art already<br />
<strong>in</strong> the early 1960s—who <strong>in</strong> fact was one of the chief pioneers<br />
<strong>in</strong> these fields <strong>in</strong> Europe and an <strong>in</strong>spiration for Robert Morris<br />
and other lead<strong>in</strong>g “ma<strong>in</strong>stream” postmodern artists. That was<br />
Joseph Beuys, 1921-1986 (fig. 17).<br />
Joseph Beuys<br />
The <strong>in</strong>novative sculptures,<br />
draw<strong>in</strong>gs, <strong>in</strong>stallations, and<br />
performance art of German<br />
artist Joseph Beuys from<br />
the 1960s through the 1980s<br />
have often been cited as<br />
the most significant expression<br />
of avant-garde art <strong>in</strong><br />
post-war Europe. In his<br />
familiar felt hat, jeans, and<br />
air force ammunition (fisherman’s)<br />
vest, Beuys became<br />
a cult figure for hundreds of<br />
students and artists from<br />
around the world. Through<br />
his own strik<strong>in</strong>g but enigmatic<br />
artworks as well as his<br />
extensive teach<strong>in</strong>g, Beuys Fig.18 - Joseph Beuys. The Chief. 1964, performance <strong>in</strong> Berl<strong>in</strong>.<br />
<strong>in</strong>fluenced two generations of contemporary artists. Beyond the<br />
artworld, Beuys also played a role <strong>in</strong> European politics, higher<br />
education, environmentalism, and social reform.<br />
Beuys is known for his ritualistic “Actions” (performances);<br />
his provocative uses of unfamiliar artistic mediums (for example,<br />
fat, honey, felt, iron, copper, horns, bones, gelat<strong>in</strong>, peat,<br />
blood, chocolate, conversation); his challeng<strong>in</strong>g arrangements<br />
of objects and artwork <strong>in</strong> gallery <strong>in</strong>stallations and vitr<strong>in</strong>es; his<br />
creative blurr<strong>in</strong>g of the boundaries between art and life; his<br />
articulate theoretical statements on art, human evolution, and<br />
social reform; and his <strong>in</strong>tense, wiry draw<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />
Although Beuys adapted for his work aspects of the 1960s<br />
avant-garde, postm<strong>in</strong>imalist movements<br />
known as process, performance,<br />
<strong>in</strong>stallation, and conceptual<br />
art, he used them <strong>in</strong> personal<br />
and unusual ways. In his performances<br />
he extended his th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g<br />
from his own body <strong>in</strong> action to the<br />
body social and politic, which he<br />
felt could also be sculpted—and<br />
healed. He stated that his artworks<br />
could only be understood by an<br />
<strong>in</strong>tuitive, spiritual awareness, not<br />
by l<strong>in</strong>ear, logical thought.<br />
Unhappy with the social role<br />
for art represented by the isolated<br />
“art-world ghetto,” Beuys saw the<br />
end of modernism <strong>in</strong> art as a transition to an expanded “social<br />
art” or “social sculpture” <strong>in</strong> which everyone could be creative<br />
and participate democratically to re-sculpt the body social.<br />
Fig.19 - Joseph Beuys. Coyote. 1974, performance <strong>in</strong> New York City.<br />
Beuys’s “totalized concept of art” referred to the fundamental<br />
process of human form-mak<strong>in</strong>g, whether this occurred <strong>in</strong><br />
artworks, thoughts, speech, or social <strong>in</strong>teraction. “Every human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g is an artist” was his motto, and this expanded idea of art<br />
was his hope to restore a socially reformative—even revolutionary—role<br />
to the cultural sphere.<br />
After work<strong>in</strong>g his way through a more conventional modern<br />
artistic tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and a number of personal crises, Beuys began<br />
participat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1962 <strong>in</strong> the radical and often raucous art performances<br />
of the <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
Fluxus movement. While he<br />
supported the Fluxus goal<br />
of abolish<strong>in</strong>g the traditional<br />
dist<strong>in</strong>ction between artistic<br />
and nonartistic practices of<br />
creativity, he criticized their<br />
anti-<strong>in</strong>dividualism and lack of<br />
a theory of knowledge with a<br />
clearly def<strong>in</strong>ed social goal. His<br />
performances were generally<br />
more complex, metaphorical,<br />
and multi-leveled than the usual<br />
short, simple, outrageous,<br />
and funny Fluxus events.<br />
In anthroposophy Beuys<br />
found both a suitably holistic<br />
theory of knowledge and<br />
clearly articulated social and<br />
spiritual ideals. He had been study<strong>in</strong>g Ste<strong>in</strong>er s<strong>in</strong>ce age 20 (<strong>in</strong><br />
1941), and while the context of his artwork was quite different<br />
from Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s own artistic creations, Beuys based much of his<br />
artwork on anthroposophical ideas and experiences. 29<br />
Mysteries of the Natural and Human Worlds<br />
Much of Beuys’s work attempted to convey forces, energies,<br />
and mysteries of the natural and human worlds, often grasped<br />
at a prel<strong>in</strong>guistic level or presented <strong>in</strong> ways that helped to focus<br />
viewers on their experiences rather than the art objects. “All my<br />
actions are based upon concepts of basic human energies <strong>in</strong> the<br />
form of images,” he remarked. 30<br />
For example, <strong>in</strong> The Chief,<br />
a n<strong>in</strong>e-hour meditative performance<br />
of 1964 <strong>in</strong> Berl<strong>in</strong>,<br />
Beuys used fat, felt-wrapped<br />
copper rods, and two dead<br />
hares (representatives of the<br />
animal world) placed at the<br />
ends of a large hare-fur-felt<br />
roll with Beuys ly<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>side<br />
utter<strong>in</strong>g amplified primitive<br />
sounds, especially the call of<br />
the wild stag and other animals<br />
(fig. 18). As the human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g could be said to be the<br />
irresponsible “chief” with<strong>in</strong><br />
the household of nature,<br />
Beuys attempted temporarily to “die” to his own species and<br />
contact animal forms of life and to rem<strong>in</strong>d his human viewers<br />
of other modes of existence that could help expand restricted<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
35
Research–a special section<br />
human understand<strong>in</strong>g. It also recalled the old “temple-sleep”<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiation death-experience as a means of self-transformation.<br />
This Action seems to prefigure his famous 1974 performance<br />
<strong>in</strong> New York, Coyote (or I Like <strong>America</strong> and <strong>America</strong> Likes Me),<br />
another effort to raise questions about<br />
the nature and root-problems of western<br />
culture, where Beuys lived three days <strong>in</strong> the<br />
gallery with a wild coyote as a representative<br />
of the persecuted, unappreciated, and<br />
misunderstood natural world and Native<br />
<strong>America</strong>ns (fig. 19). The Chief was also a<br />
long-distance collaborative performance<br />
with Robert Morris, who was supposed to<br />
be execut<strong>in</strong>g the same actions as Beuys at<br />
the same time <strong>in</strong> New York City.<br />
Beuys hoped both to connect the human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g “from below with the animals, the<br />
plants, with nature, and <strong>in</strong> the same way<br />
tie him with the heights with the angels or<br />
spirits.” 31 He saw the animal k<strong>in</strong>gdom as an<br />
ally for the evolutionary process of broaden<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and deepen<strong>in</strong>g human awareness.<br />
The bee, horse, stag, elk, coyote, fox, swan,<br />
goat, hare, moose, and wasp all appeared<br />
<strong>in</strong> his draw<strong>in</strong>gs, performances, and sculptures.<br />
Beuys felt that the essential, higher<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g of animals gave access to forgotten<br />
spiritual energies now needed aga<strong>in</strong> by human society.<br />
Beuys also explored new approaches to visual art based<br />
more on the spiritual and even sacramental qualities of substances<br />
themselves than on their<br />
elements of form or content<br />
with<strong>in</strong> a specific artwork—an<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g of art that might<br />
be called “alchemical.” Many of<br />
his creations work with balanc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
polarities, related to Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
Christic conception of “mediated<br />
polarity,” for example, between<br />
iron and copper (Mars and<br />
Venus), or between chaotic,<br />
expanded forms and ordered,<br />
contracted forms with<strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle<br />
medium, such as beeswax or fat.<br />
Beuys’s art questioned the belief<br />
that we can adequately understand<br />
the <strong>in</strong>ner work<strong>in</strong>gs of our<br />
world through normal modes of<br />
perception. He ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed that<br />
organs of Imag<strong>in</strong>ation, Inspiration,<br />
and Intuition quite different<br />
from ord<strong>in</strong>ary logical, analytical<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g must be employed to<br />
apprehend the forces at work <strong>in</strong><br />
material substances, as well as<br />
<strong>in</strong> his own artworks. For Beuys,<br />
visual art only had a real mean<strong>in</strong>g<br />
if it worked upon the development<br />
of human consciousness.<br />
Fig.20 - Joseph Beuys. The Pack. 1969, Volkswagen<br />
bus, 20 sleds with fat, felt rolls, flashlights.<br />
The Four Postmodern Modes<br />
Fig.21 - Joseph Beuys. Stag Monument. 1948-1982, <strong>in</strong>stallation at exhibition Zeitgeist,<br />
Mart<strong>in</strong>-Gropius-Bau, Berl<strong>in</strong>.<br />
From the vast range of Beuys’s artistic production, I want to<br />
po<strong>in</strong>t briefly to a few of his artworks as examples of each of the<br />
four new postm<strong>in</strong>imalist modes of artistic<br />
expression. Many of his performance<br />
props and sculptures were either made<br />
with perishable materials, such as fat,<br />
chocolate, or sausages, or were made so<br />
that they demonstrate the process of their<br />
mak<strong>in</strong>g. Beuys himself po<strong>in</strong>ted out, “...the<br />
nature of my sculpture is not fixed and f<strong>in</strong>ished.<br />
Processes cont<strong>in</strong>ue <strong>in</strong> most of them:<br />
chemical reactions, fermentations, color<br />
changes, decay, dry<strong>in</strong>g up. Everyth<strong>in</strong>g is<br />
<strong>in</strong> a state of change.” 32 So, as an example<br />
of process art or <strong>in</strong>stallation, we could cite<br />
The Pack of 1969 (fig. 20), a Volkswagen<br />
bus from whose open rear door spills a<br />
number of survival sleds, each equipped<br />
with a roll of felt, fat, and a flashlight. Fond<br />
III/3 of 1979, consist<strong>in</strong>g of n<strong>in</strong>e large piles<br />
of felt and copper, or the much larger Stag<br />
Monument of 1982 (fig. 21), are two of many<br />
sprawl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>stallations that perhaps could<br />
be labeled “scatter pieces.”<br />
In a sense, all of Beuys’s work is “conceptual<br />
art.” Unlike most conceptual artists<br />
of the period, Beuys did not just demonstrate the possibility<br />
of conceptual art by exhibit<strong>in</strong>g a pithy or witty verbal phrase,<br />
usually related to art itself,<br />
but he shaped a more complex<br />
and mean<strong>in</strong>gful conceptual<br />
structure that he felt had the<br />
power to change the world.<br />
This is not to mention his<br />
present<strong>in</strong>g and work<strong>in</strong>g out of<br />
advanced potentials of human<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g to develop Imag<strong>in</strong>ation<br />
and higher powers of<br />
knowledge. Probably the<br />
clearest example of Beuys’s<br />
conceptual art are his many<br />
blackboard draw<strong>in</strong>gs, derived<br />
<strong>in</strong> part from those of Ste<strong>in</strong>er,<br />
and used to illustrate Actions<br />
and conversations (fig. 22).<br />
As for earthworks, 7000<br />
Oaks, begun <strong>in</strong> 1982 as “an<br />
ecological sign” (of the difference<br />
between dead matter<br />
and liv<strong>in</strong>g plant), is still the<br />
largest sculpture <strong>in</strong> world. It<br />
consisted of 7,000 oak trees<br />
matched one-to-one with 7,000<br />
tall basalt stones gathered<br />
together <strong>in</strong> Kassel, Germany,<br />
from where they were gradually<br />
placed <strong>in</strong> parallel <strong>in</strong>stalla-<br />
36 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Fig.22 - Joseph Beuys. “Sun State.” 1974, blackboard draw<strong>in</strong>g, Chicago.<br />
tions all around the world (fig. 23).<br />
Some of Beuys’s works focused on expos<strong>in</strong>g “trauma po<strong>in</strong>ts”<br />
<strong>in</strong> modern materialistic social life and then attempt<strong>in</strong>g to effect<br />
a symbolic heal<strong>in</strong>g. For Tallow of 1977 he chose a “sick” spot<br />
<strong>in</strong> the town of Münster, a pedestrian underpass represent<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
“wound” of an ugly corner of a rectil<strong>in</strong>ear build<strong>in</strong>g created out<br />
of the abstract th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g of modern city plann<strong>in</strong>g and architecture.<br />
He cast the “negative” form of this urban access ramp <strong>in</strong> a<br />
huge block composed of 20 tons of animal fat, which was then<br />
cut <strong>in</strong>to 5 elements of which the largest was 78¾ x 78¾ x 118”<br />
(fig. 24). Through the warm<strong>in</strong>g qualities of fat, he hoped to br<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a new warmth to the cold one-sidedness of the underpass, and<br />
thus effect a heal<strong>in</strong>g of this soulless modern urban environment<br />
by re<strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>g the warm and cold poles.<br />
Despite Beuys’s widely varied artistic production, he still is<br />
probably best known for his imag<strong>in</strong>ative performance pieces.<br />
Fig.23 - Joseph Beuys. 7000 Oaks. 1982 onward. Partial <strong>in</strong>stallation <strong>in</strong> New York City<br />
at Dia Art Center.<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
37<br />
As one example from his more than one hundred Actions, 33 we<br />
can consider How to Expla<strong>in</strong> Pictures to a Dead Hare of 1965.<br />
This was a three-hour gallery Action for the open<strong>in</strong>g of his art<br />
exhibition at Galerie Schmela <strong>in</strong> Düsseldorf. In this strange but<br />
compell<strong>in</strong>g performance, Beuys sat on a stool or walked about<br />
<strong>in</strong>side the closed gallery gestur<strong>in</strong>g as he silently expla<strong>in</strong>ed his<br />
artworks to a dead hare he cradled <strong>in</strong> his arm or let touch the<br />
pictures with its paw (fig. 25). Viewers could watch through an<br />
open doorway or a w<strong>in</strong>dow. They saw Beuys speak<strong>in</strong>g to the<br />
hare, with his head covered <strong>in</strong> honey and gold leaf, a felt sole<br />
tied to his left shoe, an identical iron sole tied to his right shoe,<br />
a leg of the stool wrapped <strong>in</strong> felt, and under the stool a “radio”<br />
constructed of modern electronic parts and animal bones<br />
connected to an<br />
amplifier. The felt<br />
was made of hare’s<br />
fur and carried a<br />
warm<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>sulat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and/or <strong>in</strong>filtrat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
effect. The felt<br />
sole was attached<br />
to the more <strong>in</strong>ner,<br />
receptive left side<br />
of his body, while<br />
the sole made of<br />
hard, mascul<strong>in</strong>e<br />
iron was attached<br />
to the more active,<br />
outwardly-oriented<br />
right side.<br />
The Action<br />
raised questions<br />
about the possibilities<br />
of adequately<br />
Fig.24 - Joseph Beuys. Tallow. 1977, work<strong>in</strong>g on 1 of 6 “fat cast<strong>in</strong>gs.”<br />
expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g art or<br />
the world and about what capacities would be necessary for<br />
real understand<strong>in</strong>g. Beuys commented: “Us<strong>in</strong>g honey on my<br />
head I am naturally do<strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g that is concerned with<br />
thought. The human capacity is not to give honey, but to th<strong>in</strong>k<br />
— to give ideas. In this way the deathlike character of thought<br />
is made liv<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>. Honey is doubtlessly a liv<strong>in</strong>g substance.<br />
Human thought can also be liv<strong>in</strong>g.” 34 Gold is the metal of the<br />
sun, and Beuys was also <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g the potential for br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
sunlike quality <strong>in</strong>to th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g, a Christ-related human potential<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er had spoken about. The hare, which literally digs <strong>in</strong>to<br />
matter, represented the sharpened materialistic th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
modern science that now needed to be filled by liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>tuitive<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g. The fact that the hare was dead, recalls the deathly<br />
qualities of modern abstract, scientific thought. Beuys spoke<br />
to an externalized part of himself (representative of all human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>gs), re-enliven<strong>in</strong>g and re<strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>g the dead th<strong>in</strong>g that now<br />
existed outside himself as “object.” At the same time, the hare<br />
represented a still authentic spiritual power alive <strong>in</strong> the animal<br />
world that human be<strong>in</strong>gs have largely forgotten. “The idea of<br />
expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to an animal conveys a sense of the secrecy of the<br />
world and of existence that appeals to the imag<strong>in</strong>ation. . . . even<br />
a dead animal preserves more powers of <strong>in</strong>tuition than some<br />
human be<strong>in</strong>gs with their stubborn rationality.” 35
Research–a special section<br />
Social Sculpture<br />
Beuys also always pursued art with<strong>in</strong> the context<br />
of Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s ideas on the “threefold social organism,”<br />
which he promoted tirelessly through both his artistic<br />
and political activities. This is the conception of society<br />
organized <strong>in</strong>to three <strong>in</strong>dependent areas, each with<br />
its own fundamental pr<strong>in</strong>ciple: freedom <strong>in</strong> the culturalspiritual<br />
sphere, equality <strong>in</strong> the political-legal sphere,<br />
and cooperation (“brotherhood”) <strong>in</strong> the economic<br />
sphere. Beuys commented:<br />
In the future it will be unimag<strong>in</strong>able that a conscious<br />
person could work solely with<strong>in</strong> culture, like a pa<strong>in</strong>ter<br />
who would make lots of pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs without pay<strong>in</strong>g attention<br />
to what happens <strong>in</strong> the democratic structures<br />
and the economic activities.... It’s an element of degeneration<br />
<strong>in</strong> so-called modern art. It’s the statement of a<br />
k<strong>in</strong>d of empt<strong>in</strong>ess, of an absence of mean<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong> favor<br />
of curious <strong>in</strong>novations.... The new art is concerned<br />
with the needs of everyone to create th<strong>in</strong>gs, not only<br />
art.... 36<br />
Fig.26 - Joseph Beuys. Plight. 1985, <strong>in</strong>stallation at Anthony d’Offay Gallery, London.<br />
This was part of Beuys’s radically broadened concept of art<br />
itself, his compassionate version of postmodernism as “social<br />
sculpture.” At times he began to speak of an “ecological Gesamtkunstwerk”<br />
(total work of art), to be created through the<br />
democratic participation of all citizens <strong>in</strong> reconstruct<strong>in</strong>g “a social<br />
organism as a work of art.” 37 His solution to the riddle of the<br />
work of art is the end of modernism and the development of a<br />
new concept of art as social art, where every person recognizes<br />
him/herself as a creative be<strong>in</strong>g with powers of th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g, feel<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
and will<strong>in</strong>g—as well as their more highly developed forms—and<br />
participates <strong>in</strong> the reshap<strong>in</strong>g of the world out of the free, selfconscious<br />
ego.<br />
Yet Beuys’s last work, an <strong>in</strong>stallation <strong>in</strong> London from 1985<br />
titled Plight, seems somewhat pessimistic (fig. 26). It can be read<br />
as an image of the modernist isolation (by rolls of felt <strong>in</strong>sulation)<br />
of culture and art (represented by the piano) from the rest<br />
of the contemporary social world. A thermometer on the piano<br />
records the temperature of artistic activity <strong>in</strong> relationship to the<br />
rebalanc<strong>in</strong>g warmth forces so needed by modern society.<br />
As his own orig<strong>in</strong>al contributions to art and culture, Beuys<br />
once cited his “totalized,” “anthropological” understand<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
art—the ideas that everyone is an artist, that one can be a formcreat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
artist already <strong>in</strong> th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g or <strong>in</strong> speech, that art expanded<br />
to life as ”social sculpture” is what is needed <strong>in</strong> our time, and<br />
also that this creative <strong>in</strong>telligence of the people, this enlarged<br />
art, is the real capital of an economy. His primary purpose was<br />
always to stimulate social and spiritual reform, and he used new<br />
contemporary art forms as his means for br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g this message<br />
<strong>in</strong> ways that he hoped would reach people more deeply than<br />
purely <strong>in</strong>tellectual dialogue and hopefully motivate them to get<br />
creatively <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> chang<strong>in</strong>g themselves and their world. His<br />
example still stands as a suggestive, alternative way of work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
artistically out of anthroposophical <strong>in</strong>spiration with<strong>in</strong> a postmodern<br />
cultural climate.<br />
David Adams, PhD, has published and taught about art history at<br />
various state universities and art schools for 30 years and at Sierra<br />
College <strong>in</strong> California s<strong>in</strong>ce 1996. He taught <strong>in</strong> Waldorf schools for n<strong>in</strong>e<br />
years and is a member of the Council of the Art Section of the School<br />
of Spiritual Science <strong>in</strong> North <strong>America</strong>. Contact: ctrarcht@nccn.net.<br />
Endnotes<br />
Fig.25 - Joseph Beuys. How to Expla<strong>in</strong> Pictures to a Dead Hare. November 26, 1965, performance <strong>in</strong><br />
Düsseldorf.<br />
1. Jesaiah Ben-Aharon, The Spiritual Event of the Twentieth Century: An<br />
Imag<strong>in</strong>ation (London: Temple Lodge, 1993).<br />
2. Clement Greenberg, “Modernist Pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g,” Arts Yearbook 4 (1961), pp.<br />
38 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
103-104; as cited <strong>in</strong> Irv<strong>in</strong>g Sandler, Art of the Postmodern Era (Boulder,<br />
CO: Westview Press, 1998), p. 2.<br />
3. Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Colour, trans. John Salter and Paul<strong>in</strong>e Wehrle (London:<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Press, 1992), p. 127; for a different translation see The Arts<br />
and Their Mission, trans. Lisa D. Monges and Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Moore (Spr<strong>in</strong>g Valley,<br />
NY: Anthroposophic Press, 1964), p. 31.<br />
4. The Sensible-Supersensible and Its Manifestation <strong>in</strong> Art (manuscript<br />
translation; Emerson College Library, Forest Row, East Sussex), p. 20;<br />
differently translated by Cather<strong>in</strong>e E. Creeger <strong>in</strong> Michael Howard, ed. Art<br />
as Spiritual Activity: Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Contribution to the Visual Arts<br />
(Hudson, NY: Anthroposophic Press, 1998), p. 207.<br />
5. Ad Re<strong>in</strong>hart, <strong>in</strong> Ad Re<strong>in</strong>hart, exhibition catalog (New York: Betty Parsons<br />
Gallery, 1947), n.p.; as cited <strong>in</strong> Sandler, Art of the Postmodern Era, p. 46.<br />
6. Robert Morris, “Notes on Sculpture: Part I,” Artforum (February 1966): pp.<br />
43-44.<br />
7. Clement Greenberg, “Recentness of Sculpture,” <strong>in</strong> Maurice Tuchman, ed.,<br />
<strong>America</strong>n Sculpture of the Sixties (Los Angeles: Los Angeles County<br />
Museum of Art, 1967), p. 25.<br />
8. Carl Andre, quoted <strong>in</strong> Barbara Rose, “ABC Art,” Art <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong> (October-<br />
November 1965): 67.<br />
9. Clement Greenberg, “Modern and Post-Modern,” Arts Magaz<strong>in</strong>e (February<br />
1980): 65.<br />
10. In addition to Daniel Bell’s related earlier books, The Com<strong>in</strong>g of Post-<br />
Industrial <strong>Society</strong> (1973) and The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism<br />
(1976), probably the earliest full statement of this aspect was the <strong>in</strong>fluential<br />
book by Jean-François Lyotard, The Postmodern Condition: A Report<br />
on Knowledge (Paris 1979; English translation: M<strong>in</strong>neapolis: University of<br />
M<strong>in</strong>nesota, 1984).<br />
11. Michael Fried, “Art and Objecthood,” Artforum (Summer 1967): 12-13.<br />
12. For short overviews of the various forms postmodern visual art has taken<br />
(at least through the early 1990s), see Charles Jencks, What Is Post-<br />
Modernism? (New York: St. Mart<strong>in</strong>’s Press, 1986) and Eleanor Heartney,<br />
Postmodernism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002). For a<br />
much more detailed account, see Sandler, Art of the Postmodern Era.<br />
13. Robert Morris, “Anti-Form,” Artforum (April 1969): 30-33.<br />
14. Robert Morris, “Notes on Sculpture, Part 4: Beyond Objects,” Artforum<br />
(April 1969): 50-54.<br />
15. “The Two Sources of Art: Impressionism and Expressionism,” <strong>in</strong> Howard,<br />
ed. Art as Spiritual Activity, p. 211.<br />
16. “Truth and Verisimilitude <strong>in</strong> a Work of Art,” Dramaturgische Blätter,”<br />
supplement to Magaz<strong>in</strong> für Literatur (August 1898); translation <strong>in</strong> The<br />
Forerunner 3, 1 (Spr<strong>in</strong>g 1942): 1-6.<br />
17. “Raphael’s ‘School of Athens’ and ‘Disputa.’” Lecture of May 5, 1909 (manuscript<br />
translation; Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library, Ghent, New York); my italics.<br />
18. Ways to a New Style <strong>in</strong> Architecture, (New York: Anthroposophic Press,<br />
1927), p. 9.<br />
19. Lectures to Teachers (report by Albert Steffen of 1921 lectures; London:<br />
<strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Publish<strong>in</strong>g Co., 1931), p. 79. For more on this theme,<br />
see my “Dissolv<strong>in</strong>g the Cartesian Threshold: <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Art, Postmodernism,<br />
and the Reunion of Art and <strong>Society</strong>” <strong>in</strong> Art Section Newsletter<br />
24 (Spr<strong>in</strong>g-Summer 2005): 17-24; and my five-part article, “Show<strong>in</strong>g Off:<br />
A Critical Review of the History of Exhibition of Art,” Art Section Newsletter<br />
25 (Autumn-W<strong>in</strong>ter 2005): 7-9; 26 (Spr<strong>in</strong>g-Summer 2006): 32-36, 41; 27<br />
(Autumn-W<strong>in</strong>ter 2006): 20-21; 28 (Spr<strong>in</strong>g-Summer 2007): 19-23.<br />
20. The History of Art. Lecture IV of November 15, 1916 (manuscript translation;<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library, Ghent, New York), p. 1.<br />
21. “Technology and Art,” Golden Blade (1959): 8;. The same thought is<br />
expressed <strong>in</strong> The Balance <strong>in</strong> the World and Man. Lucifer and Ahriman<br />
(North Vancouver, B.C.: Ste<strong>in</strong>er Book Centre, 1977), pp. 28-29; my italics.<br />
22. The Mission of the Archangel Michael, (New York: Anthroposophic<br />
Press, 1961), p. 47.<br />
23. Questions and Answers after The Inner Nature of Music and the Experience<br />
of Tone (Spr<strong>in</strong>g Valley, NY: Anthroposophic Press, 1983), lecture of<br />
September 3, 1920 (manuscript translation); my italics.<br />
24. Speech and Drama (London: <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Publish<strong>in</strong>g Company,<br />
1960), p. 325.<br />
25. The Be<strong>in</strong>g and Mean<strong>in</strong>g of Illustrative Art, p. 16.<br />
26. See my “Dissolv<strong>in</strong>g the Cartesian Threshold”; my ““Philosophical Similarities<br />
between Anthroposophy and Postmodernism as a Basis for a Socially<br />
Effective <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Art,” Jahrbuch für Schöne Wissenschaften<br />
(Dornach: Verlag am Goetheanum, 2006), pp. 371-376; Douglas Sloan,<br />
“Introduction” to Revision<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Society</strong> and Culture: Classics from The<br />
Journal for Anthroposophy 77 (Spr<strong>in</strong>g 2007): 5-40; and sections of Andrew<br />
Welburn, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Philosophy and the Crisis of Contemporary<br />
Thought (Ed<strong>in</strong>burgh: Floris Books, 2004) such as pp. 17-26, 35-46.<br />
And 57-58.<br />
27. Questions and Answers after The Inner Nature of Music, lecture of September<br />
30, 1920.<br />
28. “The Mean<strong>in</strong>g of Art <strong>in</strong> Ancient Times and Today,” <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
Movement (July 17, 1927): 225-32 (lecture of June 1, 1923).<br />
29. For a more thorough treatment of Beuys’s relation to anthroposophy as<br />
well as additional <strong>in</strong>formation on his artistic work, see my essay “From<br />
Queen Bee to Social Sculpture: The Artistic Alchemy of Joseph Beuys,”<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>ted as an afterword <strong>in</strong> Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Bees (Hudson, NY: Anthroposophic<br />
Press, 1998), pp. 187-213; I have also drawn on this essay for parts of<br />
this summary of Beuys’s work.<br />
30. Joseph Beuys, <strong>in</strong> Götz Adriani, W<strong>in</strong>fried Konnertz, and Kar<strong>in</strong> Thomas,<br />
Joseph Beuys: Life and Work (Woodbury, NY: Barron’s Educational<br />
Series, 1979), p. 257.<br />
31. Joseph Beuys, quoted <strong>in</strong> Filiberto Menna, “Encounter with Beuys,” Nov.<br />
1971, handout, Ronald Feldman gallery, New York, 1971, p. 7; as cited <strong>in</strong><br />
Sandler, Art of the Postmodern Era, p. 15.<br />
32. Joseph Beuys (1979), <strong>in</strong> Car<strong>in</strong> Kuoni, comp., Energy Plan for the Western<br />
Man: Joseph Beuys <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong> (New York: Four Walls Eight W<strong>in</strong>dows,<br />
1990). p. 19; also <strong>in</strong> Carol<strong>in</strong>e Tisdall, Joseph Beuys (New York: Thames &<br />
Hudson, 1979), p. 6.<br />
33. These Actions are covered comprehensively <strong>in</strong> photographs and descriptions<br />
(<strong>in</strong> German) <strong>in</strong> Uwe M Schneede, Joseph Beuys: Die Aktionen<br />
(Ostfildern-Ruit bei Stuttgart: Verlag Gert Hatje, 1994).<br />
34. Adriani, Konnnertz, and Thomas, Joseph Beuys, p. 132.<br />
35. Tisdall, Joseph Beuys, p. 105.<br />
36. Interview with Jean-Pierre Van Tieghem, February 5, 1975, <strong>in</strong> Joseph<br />
Beuys (Brussels and Paris: Galerie Isy Brachot, 1990), p. 26.<br />
37. Quoted <strong>in</strong> Johannes Stüttgen, Zeitstau: Im Kraftfeld des erweiterten Kunstbegriffs<br />
von Joseph Beuys (Stuttgart: Urachhaus, 1988), p. 150.<br />
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Research Issue 2010<br />
39
Research–a special section<br />
Challenges Fac<strong>in</strong>g Waldorf Education<br />
Hague Circle Report (The Hague, Netherlands, May 12-24, 2009)<br />
By James Pewtherer, Chairman,<br />
Pedagogical Council of North <strong>America</strong><br />
The Hague Circle, active for 40 years, aims to renew itself<br />
from time to time. The group has expanded to 37 members now<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g representatives from Italy and countries as far flung<br />
as New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, and Chile. Two new members<br />
from North <strong>America</strong> jo<strong>in</strong>ed the Hague Circle at this writ<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
Dorit W<strong>in</strong>ter from California and Frances Kane from M<strong>in</strong>nesota.<br />
Education <strong>in</strong> 21st Century <strong>Society</strong><br />
Waldorf education is faced with challenges that go far beyond<br />
the realm of education alone. Th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g that has produced our<br />
global society with its endless merchandis<strong>in</strong>g of consumer<br />
items, <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly restrictive accountability standards, and<br />
hypersensitivity to <strong>in</strong>dividual rights, also surrounds Waldorf<br />
schools wherever they may be. In discussions over four days <strong>in</strong><br />
the Ste<strong>in</strong>er School <strong>in</strong> The Hague (one of only a handful founded<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s lifetime), these pressures were evident.<br />
Contributions came from more than twenty countries. The conversation<br />
turned repeatedly to the challenge of educat<strong>in</strong>g free<br />
human be<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the context of our times and our culture.<br />
Much of the appeal of Waldorf/Ste<strong>in</strong>er education is based on<br />
values that run counter to considerations that see education<br />
as a “product” that can be purchased. If it is a product, then<br />
product standards and test<strong>in</strong>g from the world of bus<strong>in</strong>ess make<br />
perfect sense. What happens then, when education is presented<br />
as a process? How is accountability to be implemented without<br />
cutt<strong>in</strong>g short the process itself? This is at the heart of a question<br />
that parents and governments and society as a whole are<br />
obliged to th<strong>in</strong>k about <strong>in</strong> a different way if education is to be<br />
properly supported. It is especially the case when they seek<br />
to understand and gauge the educational practice <strong>in</strong> Waldorf<br />
schools. Because we <strong>in</strong> Waldorf schools understand that<br />
education is a partnership last<strong>in</strong>g many years among parents,<br />
teachers, and society, we need to make clear that enrollment<br />
of a child <strong>in</strong> the k<strong>in</strong>dergarten is just the first step <strong>in</strong> a long-term<br />
process that really can’t be thought about as a f<strong>in</strong>ished product.<br />
In light of this, what happens <strong>in</strong> the realm of accountability?<br />
Here, the th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g beh<strong>in</strong>d often well-<strong>in</strong>tentioned government<br />
mandates tries to reduce education to a common denom<strong>in</strong>ator<br />
for ease of comparison, so that “no child is left beh<strong>in</strong>d.” Yet we<br />
can see that measur<strong>in</strong>g only a narrow band of student performance<br />
through use of standardized tests strangles an approach<br />
to holistic learn<strong>in</strong>g such as the one we use <strong>in</strong> the Waldorf<br />
Research is an <strong>in</strong>ternational activity, and is nowhere more<br />
important than <strong>in</strong> the Waldorf schools movement, where<br />
large social trends conflict with core aspects of a holistic and<br />
heal<strong>in</strong>g impulse. James Pewtherer k<strong>in</strong>dly agreed to share<br />
this report of <strong>in</strong>ternational work some time ago, and we are<br />
glad to round off our presentation of research activity with it.<br />
school. F<strong>in</strong>ally, the wish to live <strong>in</strong> a society based on <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
freedom has to balance the <strong>in</strong>dividual needs of the child with<br />
the social responsibility of accommodat<strong>in</strong>g the needs of the<br />
group. The wishes of the parent to make sure his/her child’s<br />
needs are always met and always paramount need to be broadened<br />
to <strong>in</strong>clude all the children <strong>in</strong> the class. We know that the<br />
class community is an essential element <strong>in</strong> our schools. So we<br />
strive to provide an education <strong>in</strong> which every child is expected<br />
to be <strong>in</strong> every subject so as to provide a rich basis for the <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
choices <strong>in</strong> school and <strong>in</strong> life and which will come later.<br />
Holland as a study: pluralism vs. uniformity<br />
The Waldorf/Ste<strong>in</strong>er schools <strong>in</strong> Holland provided a po<strong>in</strong>t of<br />
study for our meet<strong>in</strong>gs this time which illustrated some of what<br />
is noted above. It also demonstrated an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g tension <strong>in</strong><br />
decid<strong>in</strong>g how to adm<strong>in</strong>ister our schools. The Dutch government<br />
offered to take on the support of the Ste<strong>in</strong>er schools after World<br />
War II, provid<strong>in</strong>g state salaries as well as school construction<br />
and ma<strong>in</strong>tenance. The schools were assured that they could<br />
teach as they had before and did so for many years. In the last<br />
decade or so, difficulties have emerged. One challenge on the<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutional level has to do with runn<strong>in</strong>g an effective, efficient,<br />
transport bus<strong>in</strong>ess, accountable to the government education<br />
m<strong>in</strong>istry. The M<strong>in</strong>istry is look<strong>in</strong>g for economies and decides,<br />
for <strong>in</strong>stance, that there must be only a limited number of high<br />
schools and that these should be separated from elementary<br />
schools. This means effectively that there are almost no 12-year<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er schools. Moreover, some 50% of the HS students are new<br />
to Waldorf education at the 9th grade level. What happens to<br />
the ideal of a 12-year education <strong>in</strong> such circumstances?<br />
In contrast to the view which emphasizes schools as a bus<strong>in</strong>ess,<br />
others emphasize the educational process as an artistic<br />
endeavor which meets child and class and student body with<br />
creativity and someth<strong>in</strong>g of a process—which is not easily<br />
def<strong>in</strong>ed or measured. Tension between these two views has<br />
been <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly evident over the last ten years around the<br />
world. But it seems to have hit an extreme <strong>in</strong> the Netherlands, of<br />
all places, the country that offered sanctuary to the Pilgrims to<br />
worship as they chose when that freedom was denied them <strong>in</strong><br />
England. Yet now the laws have developed to such a po<strong>in</strong>t that<br />
equality has eclipsed freedom—and too often the equality has<br />
come to mean “be<strong>in</strong>g the same.”<br />
Meet<strong>in</strong>g with representatives from Dutch Ste<strong>in</strong>er Schools, the<br />
difficulties with the government were made manifest. A national<br />
Waldorf bus<strong>in</strong>ess manager association negotiates fund<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
salaries with the government on behalf of some 52 schools and<br />
1,500 faculty and staff. Yet it has little <strong>in</strong>fluence<br />
because it is a small group among many other<br />
schools which are negotiat<strong>in</strong>g with the government<br />
on behalf of their teachers, all of whom<br />
are government employees. Moreover, the<br />
possibility to f<strong>in</strong>d fund<strong>in</strong>g for special aspects<br />
of Waldorf curriculum like eurythmy under a<br />
1902 law guarantee<strong>in</strong>g free choice by parents<br />
40 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
has been progressively restricted under socialist governments.<br />
All early childhood places must be connected to a school and<br />
the elementary school is obliged to end at grade 6. Increas<strong>in</strong>g<br />
numbers of tests accompany these restrictions.<br />
Waldorf teacher tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g has flourished <strong>in</strong> Zeist where 80% of<br />
the students are <strong>in</strong> their 20’s and 30’s and the tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g runs four<br />
years. It comb<strong>in</strong>es early childhood and elementary tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g for<br />
two and a half years and then specializes for the next one and a<br />
half years, provid<strong>in</strong>g a BA degree with the possibility for an MA<br />
with additional study. There is currently no high school tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g,<br />
so this need has to be met by the schools themselves. Even<br />
with the robust enrollment, there are only enough graduates <strong>in</strong><br />
a given year to fill about half the 66 open<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> early childhood<br />
and elementary schools. It is encourag<strong>in</strong>g that so many young<br />
people seek out this education as a career.<br />
When Ste<strong>in</strong>er Schools do not meet<br />
government standards<br />
The education m<strong>in</strong>istry tested all schools <strong>in</strong> Holland three<br />
years ago and found that there were 19 Ste<strong>in</strong>er schools which<br />
tested “very weak” accord<strong>in</strong>g to their test results. In addition<br />
to poor scores <strong>in</strong> math and language skills, these schools were<br />
found lack<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> effective leadership and record keep<strong>in</strong>g. The<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er School Association, which is represented by delegates<br />
from 53 of the 70 schools (many of whom are board members<br />
from their respective schools), has decided that it will aim to<br />
have all schools meet government expectations and then push<br />
to have acceptance and support for the “Waldorf” requirements.<br />
In the meantime, there are a number of faculties which feel that<br />
their creativity and effectiveness as Ste<strong>in</strong>er educators is be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
barga<strong>in</strong>ed away and are dissatisfied.<br />
Pedagogical Section support<br />
The Pedagogical Section has been active over the last 17<br />
years and is work<strong>in</strong>g to help to th<strong>in</strong>k through the approach to<br />
some of these questions. It has been especially active <strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with teachers on the Study of Man, the role of re<strong>in</strong>carnation<br />
and karma, on meditative work and lately on address<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
child from the po<strong>in</strong>t of view of doctor, teacher, and priest. The<br />
School Association provides some fund<strong>in</strong>g for its activities and<br />
to support on-go<strong>in</strong>g exploration of educational themes.<br />
In conclusion<br />
The Hague Circle is an organ of the Pedagogical Section and<br />
so is there to offer advice or suggestions when asked and not to<br />
issue dictates. But it was clear to us that the matter of balanc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the wish to offer universal education regardless of <strong>in</strong>come along<br />
with a truly free and creative education cont<strong>in</strong>ues to be a knotty<br />
issue. We found it highly <strong>in</strong>structive to see what these challenges<br />
look like on the ground and expect that more wrestl<strong>in</strong>g with<br />
these issues will be necessary. One of the strongest expressions<br />
we heard from our Dutch colleagues was the solidarity they felt<br />
from their <strong>in</strong>ternational colleagues was crucial as they struggle<br />
to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> pluralism of education. As this term of pluralism is<br />
now be<strong>in</strong>g written <strong>in</strong>to European Union law, some colleagues<br />
feel that this will be the pr<strong>in</strong>ciple which will w<strong>in</strong> out <strong>in</strong> the end.<br />
Included <strong>in</strong> this volume:<br />
Diana Hughes and John Kettle: Waldorf Education:<br />
Radical and Relevant<br />
John Gardner: What is a Waldorf School?<br />
Reg Down: The Role of the Teacher-Artist With<strong>in</strong> the Waldorf School<br />
Christy Barnes: Can Imag<strong>in</strong>ation be Tra<strong>in</strong>ed?<br />
A Crucial Question for Schools Today<br />
M. C. Richards: Early Childhood<br />
Eugene Schwartz: Grade One – Notes<br />
Ruth Pusch: What to Do about Witches<br />
He<strong>in</strong>z Müller: Heal<strong>in</strong>g Forces <strong>in</strong> the Word and its Rhythms<br />
Amos Franceschelli: Mathematics <strong>in</strong> the Classroom:<br />
M<strong>in</strong>e Shaft and Skylight<br />
Hans Gebert: About Goetheanistic Science<br />
Christy Barnes: Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Capacities through the Study of Literature<br />
Henry Barnes: Has Religion A Role <strong>in</strong> Education Today?<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er: Education for Adolescents<br />
Helmut von Kügelgen: How Important is it that<br />
Schools are Independent Today?<br />
Der Spiegel: Research on Waldorf School Graduates: Government-<br />
Sponsored Study Compar<strong>in</strong>g Graduates of Waldorf and State<br />
(Public) Schools<br />
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT anthroposophy.org (l<strong>in</strong>k to Store)<br />
Other titles <strong>in</strong> the series:<br />
Meet<strong>in</strong>g Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er * Anthroposophy & Imag<strong>in</strong>ation *<br />
Revision<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Society</strong> & Culture * Mani & Service * Meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Anthroposophy * Novalis * Science & Anthroposophy<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
41
Freedom and Initiative<br />
Can an <strong>in</strong>dividual human be<strong>in</strong>g still make a difference today?<br />
Tor<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>ser<br />
The follow<strong>in</strong>g thoughts are excerpted from remarks prepared for delivery at the Third<br />
International English Conference at the Goetheanum, at the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of August 2010.<br />
The <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong><br />
General Council Members<br />
Tor<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>ser (General Secretary)<br />
MariJo Rogers (General Secretary)<br />
James Lee (at large)<br />
Virg<strong>in</strong>ia McWilliam (at large)<br />
Regional Council Representatives<br />
Ann F<strong>in</strong>ucane (Eastern Region)<br />
Dennis Dietzel (Central Region)<br />
Joan Treadaway (Western Region)<br />
Marian León, Director of<br />
Adm<strong>in</strong>istration & Membership Services<br />
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Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News for Members &<br />
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of articles is the authors’.<br />
All of us here have lived a significant part of our lives <strong>in</strong> the 20th century. Yet as we<br />
look back, despite tremendous technological and material progress, the last hundred<br />
years have done little to resolve some of the most fundamental issues fac<strong>in</strong>g humanity.<br />
Despite wars and even revolutions fought <strong>in</strong> the name of freedom, few people today<br />
are truly free, or even have a real conception of freedom. And as for tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiative,<br />
many feel hobbled by organizational structures, f<strong>in</strong>ancial constra<strong>in</strong>ts and the general<br />
hectic pace of our modern lives.<br />
* * *<br />
I would like to beg<strong>in</strong> with the assertion that freedom is an <strong>in</strong>ner condition that rests<br />
upon a fertile bed of soul conditions that supports the true <strong>in</strong>tentions of the human<br />
spirit. Anthroposophy is dedicated to help<strong>in</strong>g the striv<strong>in</strong>g human be<strong>in</strong>g create and<br />
nurture the <strong>in</strong>ner conditions that make freedom possible. To start let us look at the<br />
notion of impartiality.<br />
We need to f<strong>in</strong>d a balance between the open<strong>in</strong>g of the senses<br />
to the rich world of impressions around us and at the same time<br />
reject any sort of compulsion that comes from external sources.<br />
We want to be open to the beauty of the natural world, such<br />
as the wonderful colors we f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong> flowers dur<strong>in</strong>g the summer<br />
months, while at the same time protect<strong>in</strong>g our senses from the<br />
onslaught that comes from the media and advertis<strong>in</strong>g. This<br />
battle of the senses, fought on a daily basis, is one threat to our<br />
freedom. Another, much more subtle one, is the one-sided prejudice<br />
that can come from deeply held convictions with<strong>in</strong>. How<br />
often do we see others through the lenses we have chosen to<br />
wear? Dur<strong>in</strong>g my recent trip to Ch<strong>in</strong>a, I was surprised at myself,<br />
<strong>in</strong> that only when I was there did I see how varied the people<br />
where, depend<strong>in</strong>g on their prov<strong>in</strong>ce or family background,<br />
and all along I had carried one predom<strong>in</strong>ant visual image of an<br />
abstract Ch<strong>in</strong>ese person. How many unexam<strong>in</strong>ed, un<strong>in</strong>tended<br />
prejudices do we all carry around with us?<br />
This battle of the<br />
senses, fought<br />
on a daily basis,<br />
is one threat to<br />
our freedom.<br />
Another, much<br />
more subtle<br />
one, is the onesided<br />
prejudice<br />
that can come<br />
from deeply<br />
held convictions<br />
with<strong>in</strong>.<br />
So when speak<strong>in</strong>g of impartiality <strong>in</strong> The Stages of Higher Knowledge, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
said: “Freedom means not only that I am free from the compulsion of an outer authority,<br />
but above all that I am not subservient to any prejudices, op<strong>in</strong>ions, sensations and<br />
feel<strong>in</strong>gs of my own” (p. 19). Even with the advice of esoteric teach<strong>in</strong>g, one cannot allow<br />
bl<strong>in</strong>d acceptance of an external authority. Instead, one becomes free <strong>in</strong> practic<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
good advice and mak<strong>in</strong>g it one’s own. So although there are different spiritual paths,<br />
the Oriental or Christian, for example, it is a particular aspect of the Rosicrucian approach<br />
that there is noth<strong>in</strong>g opposed to modern man’s sense of freedom.<br />
Tak<strong>in</strong>g the notion of impartiality one step further, one can say that on a daily basis,<br />
we tend to know the life of the soul from one side. S<strong>in</strong>ce we are immersed <strong>in</strong> it, we<br />
tend to see the world from with<strong>in</strong> out. I am here and the world around me is out there.<br />
This tends to have us see the surface of th<strong>in</strong>gs, and the danger as described above is<br />
that we either look too much through our own lenses, or we let the external world of<br />
senses rule the impressions we take <strong>in</strong>to the soul life. But there is a further step that<br />
the seeker of freedom can take. Instead of look<strong>in</strong>g at the external world from outside<br />
and experienc<strong>in</strong>g himself from <strong>in</strong>side, the seeker can “slip out of his sk<strong>in</strong> as it were, to<br />
observe himself from outside” (p. 33). This objective observation of oneself is an essential<br />
part of esoteric tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and a crucial step toward atta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g greater freedom.<br />
And likewise <strong>in</strong> our daily <strong>in</strong>teractions with each other, we tend to see separate uni-<br />
42 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
ties: I am here, you are there. Even <strong>in</strong> read<strong>in</strong>g Theosophy, one<br />
can come away with the conception of the I as kernel of the soul.<br />
This everyday understand<strong>in</strong>g of our own I is a necessary illusion<br />
for liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> our sense bound world. However, <strong>in</strong> the phrase<br />
Know thyself and know the world;<br />
Know the world and know thyself<br />
one has a h<strong>in</strong>t of someth<strong>in</strong>g more. The revelation of the world<br />
with<strong>in</strong> us <strong>in</strong> the physical body entails the earthly I. The normal<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g of the I is a projection of myself <strong>in</strong>to my body.<br />
Yet anyone who has worked with young children knows, <strong>in</strong> the<br />
wonderful powers of imitation one has someth<strong>in</strong>g else at work<br />
as well, someth<strong>in</strong>g that works <strong>in</strong> from the periphery – Know the<br />
world and know thyself.<br />
In his Bologna lecture of 1911, “The Psychological Basis of Spiritual<br />
Science,” Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er describes the transcendent I that<br />
uses the physical body as a k<strong>in</strong>d of mirror of consciousness:<br />
The I is not <strong>in</strong> the body but outside it …. One’s physical activity<br />
represents only a liv<strong>in</strong>g mirror that reflects the life of the I<br />
with<strong>in</strong> the transcendental.”<br />
It is a<br />
challenge to<br />
all who are<br />
<strong>in</strong>spired, who<br />
have found<br />
certa<strong>in</strong> truths,<br />
that we tend<br />
to advocate<br />
for those<br />
selfsame truths<br />
without always<br />
<strong>in</strong>quir<strong>in</strong>g<br />
enough about<br />
the real nature<br />
of the other<br />
person.<br />
Just as Goethe said that the light creates the eye so the eye<br />
can observe the light, so it is with the I that needs the physical<br />
so it can observe its reflected image and thus become aware.<br />
We as humans need to be sure to dist<strong>in</strong>guish between the<br />
reflected image of the I that is embedded <strong>in</strong> our everyday experience<br />
of our physical existence, and the true reality of the I,<br />
which is free of these constra<strong>in</strong>ts. Anthroposophy gives us this<br />
cross<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t, this path of freedom, <strong>in</strong> which the I is transcendent<br />
and the body is physical. We, out of our<br />
conscious <strong>in</strong>tention, can move between the<br />
everyday I and the transcendent I. This relationship<br />
holds throughout life, only to be dissolved<br />
at death, when one realizes once and<br />
for all this dual aspect of human existence.<br />
* * *<br />
In addition to the path of conscious selfdevelopment<br />
described <strong>in</strong> anthroposophy,<br />
which can help school the capacities for a<br />
new state of freedom <strong>in</strong> regard to the I and<br />
Self, life also offers unexpected opportunities<br />
when we can work with “awaken<strong>in</strong>g” moments.<br />
These awaken<strong>in</strong>g moments <strong>in</strong>clude<br />
illness, <strong>in</strong> which an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g number<br />
of people have experiences that their life<br />
was unfulfilled until illness became a wise<br />
teacher. Many of the stories told out of experiences<br />
of illness po<strong>in</strong>t to the transcendent<br />
I. There are also moments of other k<strong>in</strong>ds of<br />
crisis, earthquakes and the like, which lead to spirit awaken<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Especially <strong>in</strong> times of economic challenge, many people feel the<br />
old material supports slipp<strong>in</strong>g away and, upon observ<strong>in</strong>g themselves,<br />
sense that life is call<strong>in</strong>g for a new beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g. When realized,<br />
whether through the portal of death, illness, or economic<br />
struggle, human be<strong>in</strong>gs are prompted to self observe, and even<br />
if they do not use terms such as “transcendent I”, the activity<br />
itself is liberat<strong>in</strong>g. The result is more self-aware action, which is<br />
the bedrock of human freedom.<br />
Before leav<strong>in</strong>g the topic of freedom, despite an <strong>in</strong>adequate<br />
time and space devoted to this topic thus far, I would like to<br />
say a few words about freedom and those <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> spiritual<br />
movements such as anthroposophy. It is perhaps ironic,<br />
though I hope not <strong>in</strong>evitable, that those who have achieved a<br />
sort of spiritual certa<strong>in</strong>ty <strong>in</strong> their own lives can <strong>in</strong>advertently<br />
restrict the freedom of others. If I heard correctly, our friends<br />
<strong>in</strong> Holland who did exit <strong>in</strong>terviews of those leav<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong>, reported that some gave the reason that<br />
they wanted to re-claim their freedom. How could this be, when<br />
the very core of anthroposophy is based upon the notion of<br />
freedom? I took this remark, if accurate, to reflect a human fail<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
not a shortcom<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> anthroposophy. It is a challenge to all<br />
who are <strong>in</strong>spired, who have found certa<strong>in</strong> truths, that we tend<br />
to advocate for those selfsame truths without always <strong>in</strong>quir<strong>in</strong>g<br />
enough about the real nature of the other person. If I am certa<strong>in</strong><br />
about someth<strong>in</strong>g, does that give me license to expound and<br />
expla<strong>in</strong> regardless of the human condition represented <strong>in</strong> the<br />
person across from me? In the name of freedom, we may want<br />
to rem<strong>in</strong>d ourselves that there is value <strong>in</strong> enterta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g questions<br />
together, and not always jump<strong>in</strong>g to a conceptual formulation of<br />
an answer.<br />
Initiative<br />
* * *<br />
Just as the human soul is the start<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t<br />
for reclaim<strong>in</strong>g freedom, so it also is the basis<br />
for foster<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiative as a way forward for<br />
the 21st century. If the considerations about<br />
freedom (above) had a lot to do with imag<strong>in</strong>ative<br />
consciousness, the next section on <strong>in</strong>itiative<br />
will have to concern itself with access<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>spiration and <strong>in</strong>tuition as resources for<br />
active deeds on the earth. Just as we need to<br />
transform our imag<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>in</strong> pictur<strong>in</strong>g the I<br />
Inspirations<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d us<br />
when we are<br />
receptive.<br />
They fire up<br />
the human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g for<br />
tak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiative.<br />
and the Self, so also we need a new way of work<strong>in</strong>g with feel<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
and will<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> order to support a culture of entrepreneurship<br />
and <strong>in</strong>novation.<br />
One exercise is to work with what is “true” and by its side,<br />
what is “false”. One lets the juxtaposition of the true alongside<br />
the false work aga<strong>in</strong> and aga<strong>in</strong> to gradually develop a heightened<br />
faculty of judgment. Not only does one become more sensitive<br />
to an erroneous op<strong>in</strong>ion, even experienc<strong>in</strong>g an error as <strong>in</strong>ward<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>, but one has likewise to develop tolerance toward the<br />
very person express<strong>in</strong>g the erroneous fact. This <strong>in</strong>ner struggle,<br />
after time can produce “quick-witted judgment and unerr<strong>in</strong>g<br />
certa<strong>in</strong>ty of decision.” (Ste<strong>in</strong>er, p. 39) Thus one learns to act and<br />
decide more effectively when such exercises have been carried<br />
for a while.<br />
Ancient Ch<strong>in</strong>ese medic<strong>in</strong>e taught that each act should<br />
consume only the amount of energy needed for that deed, no<br />
more, no less. We often become tired simply because we exert<br />
too much energy for tasks that could be done with less. This<br />
conservation of human life forces (chi) can be considered also<br />
from the po<strong>in</strong>t of view of the human soul. Emotions such as<br />
fear or anxiety also entail an expenditure of soul force. One<br />
could say that soul force is lost when one gives way to fear and<br />
anxiety. But if one can curtail the emotion, such as fear, the<br />
soul force rema<strong>in</strong>s available for other purposes: “If he repeats<br />
such processes often, he will build up an <strong>in</strong>ner treasure of<br />
these cont<strong>in</strong>ually husbanded soul forces…and such economies<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
43
of feel<strong>in</strong>g will…br<strong>in</strong>g to expression the revelations of a higher<br />
life.” (Ste<strong>in</strong>er, p. 40) Thus if, dur<strong>in</strong>g the course of normal liv<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
one practices this exercise of expos<strong>in</strong>g oneself to events while<br />
deny<strong>in</strong>g the emotional gratification of simply go<strong>in</strong>g with the flow<br />
of feel<strong>in</strong>gs, gradually an <strong>in</strong>ner resilience is developed that becomes<br />
the fertile ground for Inspirations. Rather than becom<strong>in</strong>g<br />
cold and un-feel<strong>in</strong>g, this exercis<strong>in</strong>g of the soul produces a k<strong>in</strong>d<br />
of receptivity to higher forces. One has only to consider the long<br />
preparations of the ancient mystery schools to see this soul<br />
preparation at work. Inspirations f<strong>in</strong>d us when we are receptive.<br />
And <strong>in</strong>spirations fire up the human be<strong>in</strong>g for tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiative.<br />
* * *<br />
I was fasc<strong>in</strong>ated to f<strong>in</strong>d an excerpt of a lecture given by Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er on June 26th, 1906 <strong>in</strong> Berl<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> which he described some<br />
common obstacles and four basic laws that accompany them<br />
[only the conclud<strong>in</strong>g passage is pr<strong>in</strong>ted here]:<br />
Conclusion: A pupil of spiritual science must search<br />
and counsel with<strong>in</strong> himself his foremost task: how can<br />
I fulfill these four sentences:<br />
Learn to be silent and yours will be power.<br />
Forego the power and yours will be will<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Forego the will<strong>in</strong>g and yours will be feel<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Forego the feel<strong>in</strong>g and yours will be cognition. 1<br />
In a world of constant chatter, one has to let go of the word<br />
and f<strong>in</strong>d silence. This will produce <strong>in</strong>ner<br />
resources of strength out of which one can<br />
We need<br />
be creative. Next, one has to let go of the<br />
to create<br />
power, the authority, the trapp<strong>in</strong>gs of any<br />
leadership office <strong>in</strong> order to free the will<strong>in</strong>g. Those who<br />
roles that spend most of their day fulfill<strong>in</strong>g the expectations<br />
of others will not so easily be able to<br />
have little<br />
managerial generate new impulses. We need to create<br />
responsibility leadership roles that have little managerial<br />
responsibility but maximum emphasis on<br />
but maximum<br />
vision build<strong>in</strong>g and forward-mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiatives.<br />
emphasis on<br />
vision build<strong>in</strong>g How can one let go of will<strong>in</strong>g? It is not<br />
and forwardmov<strong>in</strong>g<br />
have to power our way through the day<br />
easy, especially for those of us who often<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiatives. despite exhaustion. If we can let go, step<br />
back and see the situation from a distance,<br />
so to speak, then we free an <strong>in</strong>ner space for true experiences of<br />
feel<strong>in</strong>g. That feel<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong> turn, gives us the possibility to relate, to<br />
connect <strong>in</strong> ways that would not have happened if we had just<br />
powered our way through the situation. Here aga<strong>in</strong> we have a<br />
reference to the peripheral I, <strong>in</strong> that the body, or <strong>in</strong> this case<br />
the problem, can become a k<strong>in</strong>d of mirror which can reflect an<br />
image and thus help us atta<strong>in</strong> new consciousness.<br />
The f<strong>in</strong>al step is then to let go of the feel<strong>in</strong>gs so as to achieve<br />
cognition. We all know what it is like to be immersed <strong>in</strong> feel<strong>in</strong>gs,<br />
swimm<strong>in</strong>g as it were <strong>in</strong> deep waters. There is often a po<strong>in</strong>t of<br />
emotional block when one cannot see through th<strong>in</strong>gs clearly.<br />
Thus one needs to aga<strong>in</strong> practice lett<strong>in</strong>g go, this time of the<br />
1 Lerne Schweigen und dir wird die Macht.<br />
Begib dich der Macht, und dir wird das Wollen.<br />
Begib dich des Wollens und dir wird das Feuhlen.<br />
Begib dich des Fuehlens und dir wird Erkenntnis.<br />
feel<strong>in</strong>gs. This can come with reflection, (as my wife would say,<br />
more blue and less red) when one starts to look at the horizon<br />
of th<strong>in</strong>gs. This distanc<strong>in</strong>g generates perspective that lifts us<br />
out of the feel<strong>in</strong>g realm and helps us eventually form reflective<br />
thoughts.<br />
At each step of the four-fold journey, the exercise requires a<br />
k<strong>in</strong>d of stepp<strong>in</strong>g back, a lett<strong>in</strong>g go of the ord<strong>in</strong>ary, the usual way<br />
of work<strong>in</strong>g. Rather than work<strong>in</strong>g out of the Self as embedded <strong>in</strong><br />
the body/th<strong>in</strong>gs of the world, one has to let go and work from<br />
the periphery. This then frees the human soul for new capacities,<br />
<strong>in</strong> this case new strength, new will<strong>in</strong>g, new feel<strong>in</strong>g and new<br />
cognition. This is a path of freedom that can result <strong>in</strong> released<br />
capacities for <strong>in</strong>itiative.<br />
* * *<br />
Initiative is <strong>in</strong> fact released capacity. That which was held<br />
with<strong>in</strong> is now available to the world, that which was a seed is<br />
now manifest <strong>in</strong> a new form. Rather than wander<strong>in</strong>g along <strong>in</strong><br />
an evolutionary way, we are look<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>in</strong>volution as a basis for<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiative and <strong>in</strong>novation.<br />
The great challenge for many of us today is f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g the resources<br />
out of which to act. Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er ends the lecture on<br />
the above-mentioned exercises with the image of the pentagram<br />
and the follow<strong>in</strong>g words:<br />
If this pentagram is used, it will be a key to the spiritual world.<br />
If you can develop a feel<strong>in</strong>g for the relative strength of these<br />
impressions and hold them together <strong>in</strong>to one, then that harmony<br />
of strength is brought about which exists between the<br />
forces of the ego (circle), astral body (outer pentagon), ether<br />
body (pentagram) and physical body (<strong>in</strong>ner pentagon).<br />
Is it not fasc<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g that the ego or I is portrayed <strong>in</strong> the circle,<br />
not at the center! This image of the pentagram is thus a true picture<br />
of the four-fold human be<strong>in</strong>g, and the unity of expression is<br />
the basis for creative work <strong>in</strong> the world.<br />
Tor<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>ser is General Secretary of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong>. These remarks will be made available <strong>in</strong><br />
expanded form later this year.<br />
44 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
“A New Impulse” Conference<br />
February 18-20, 2010, San Rafael, CA<br />
I must give a new impulse .... Make no mistake, it is largely a<br />
question of <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> the children and the young people and<br />
a matter of enthusiasm .... We shall not get anywhere <strong>in</strong> any<br />
direction without enthusiasm and <strong>in</strong>ner mobility.... A person<br />
certa<strong>in</strong>ly cannot be tired if s/he is to be spiritually alive.<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
With these words spoken at the faculty meet<strong>in</strong>g of the Stuttgart<br />
Waldorf School, July 24, 1924, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er ends his engagement<br />
<strong>in</strong> the orig<strong>in</strong>al Waldorf School. N<strong>in</strong>ety years later we<br />
might ask ourselves: Do we now also need a new impulse? How<br />
can we balance structure and form with impulse and creativity<br />
so that they serve a “new impulse” for Waldorf schools—an impulse<br />
that is needed as we approach the centenary of this new<br />
educational paradigm?<br />
These thoughts formed the “seed crystal” around which the<br />
Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g imag<strong>in</strong>ed and<br />
structured the conference. More than 200 Waldorf professionals<br />
from six states represent<strong>in</strong>g more than 30 schools attended.<br />
Us<strong>in</strong>g references to contemporary research and autobiography,<br />
Schiller’s Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Man, lively<br />
anecdotes, personal research, humor, straight talk, and <strong>in</strong>sightful<br />
comparisons of familiar Waldorf verses and meditations,<br />
Christof Wiechert brought us an utterly fresh and refresh<strong>in</strong>g<br />
way of see<strong>in</strong>g the human be<strong>in</strong>g, the world, our tasks as Waldorf<br />
educators and ourselves. Head of the Pedagogical Section <strong>in</strong><br />
Dornach and ma<strong>in</strong> speaker at “A New Impulse,” Christof splendidly<br />
modeled the content of his lectures.<br />
He rem<strong>in</strong>ded us that our task as educators is to ensure that<br />
the teacher and the pupils/students always form a unity. This<br />
unity develops out of our deep <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> our fellow human be<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
and out of enthusiasm born of love for everyth<strong>in</strong>g that is <strong>in</strong><br />
the world around us (love every subject you teach).<br />
Christof said one way to f<strong>in</strong>d unity with our pupils and students<br />
is <strong>in</strong> realiz<strong>in</strong>g that, perhaps surpris<strong>in</strong>gly, we are not here<br />
to educate the <strong>in</strong>dividualities before us. Individualities, the spiritual<br />
essences of human be<strong>in</strong>gs, come <strong>in</strong>to physical existence<br />
to educate themselves. We teachers are here to educate the<br />
sheaths that are receiv<strong>in</strong>g those <strong>in</strong>dividualities. That is, Waldorf<br />
education addresses the physical body, the senses, purposeful<br />
movement, soul, heart, imag<strong>in</strong>ation, th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g, all with clarity<br />
and rigor—but not the unique <strong>in</strong>dividuality itself.<br />
We learned that different capacities for judgment develop <strong>in</strong><br />
different seven-year periods: aesthetic, with the physical body<br />
(1-7); <strong>in</strong>tellectual, with development of the soul (7-14); idealistic,<br />
with the long<strong>in</strong>g for identity and authenticity<br />
(14-21); personal when the full <strong>in</strong>dividuality<br />
is present (from 21 on).<br />
Christof rem<strong>in</strong>ded us of<br />
what Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er said<br />
at the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
Study of Man: Unity<br />
that is born of <strong>in</strong>terest<br />
(<strong>in</strong> each human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g) and enthusiasm<br />
(for the whole<br />
world) begets a new<br />
moral relationship, for our task as Waldorf educators is not only<br />
<strong>in</strong>tellectual and emotional, but also moral and spiritual.<br />
In order to educate <strong>in</strong> a way that respects the sanctity of the<br />
child’s <strong>in</strong>dividuality, we have to develop moral techniques:<br />
• Take each child/student as s/he is; do not label.<br />
• With this as the start<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t, f<strong>in</strong>d an <strong>in</strong>dividual way to<br />
work with each child. Note: There is no longer such a be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
as an “ideal child.” This may have existed fifty years ago, but<br />
conditions have now changed.<br />
• Wholeheartedly accept the child/student as s/he is.<br />
• If the child/student is not “perform<strong>in</strong>g” as you would like (<strong>in</strong><br />
meet<strong>in</strong>g standards, <strong>in</strong> behavior), look with<strong>in</strong> yourself, not<br />
at the child or student for the answer to the riddle of why.<br />
Note: No child or student wants to perform badly, and every<br />
s<strong>in</strong>gle one wants to learn.<br />
Christof showed us ways to better understand the situation<br />
of the modern child or youth. The physical body has two basic<br />
urges: the urge toward matter (physical necessities and all that<br />
we f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong> the physical world) and the striv<strong>in</strong>g toward organized<br />
life, form and structure. Out of this duality there develops a<br />
third realm: the urge to play. It is only <strong>in</strong> play (<strong>in</strong> the wider sense<br />
of the word) that we can f<strong>in</strong>d freedom. This is also the realm of<br />
imag<strong>in</strong>ation and <strong>in</strong>itiative.<br />
We can also look at the polarity between sensory ‘<strong>in</strong>put’ and<br />
personal, active ‘output’. When we do not f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong>dividualized<br />
soul life develop<strong>in</strong>g between these two poles, we see that ‘<strong>in</strong>put’<br />
with no ‘output’ is what characterizes autism. ‘Input’ with unprocessed,<br />
immediate ‘output’ is what we f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong> hyperactivity.<br />
Even more arrest<strong>in</strong>g is the realization that between ‘<strong>in</strong>put’<br />
and ‘output’ is the middle realm, the realm of images, stories,<br />
metaphors, and play. This is where there is human experience.<br />
It is just this human experience of perceiv<strong>in</strong>g, th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
speak<strong>in</strong>g that the spiritual be<strong>in</strong>gs we work with are look<strong>in</strong>g for.<br />
Thus, our educational task takes us <strong>in</strong>to a new paradigm, one<br />
that reaches across the threshold, beyond the <strong>in</strong>tellectual and<br />
emotional to the moral and spiritual.<br />
In 2019 we come to the 100th anniversary of Waldorf education.<br />
Christof suggested that we have some work to do before<br />
we can celebrate with all the enthusiasm such an event should<br />
engender <strong>in</strong> us. He mentioned the follow<strong>in</strong>g focus po<strong>in</strong>ts:<br />
• Re-balance the material/organizational/structural and play/<br />
imag<strong>in</strong>ative /<strong>in</strong>itiative forces <strong>in</strong> our schools.<br />
• Eradicate from our schools habits unrelated to Study of Man.<br />
For example: too many stories; Form Draw<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> blocks;<br />
“Circle Time” (see his research soon to be published <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Pedagogical Section Journal); start<strong>in</strong>g the day with movement<br />
because children no longer walk to school.<br />
He left us with several blackboard images of familiar verses<br />
and meditations to ponder <strong>in</strong> our hearts and enliven our <strong>in</strong>ner<br />
work. He rem<strong>in</strong>ded us that the Second Teacher’s Meditation<br />
(“Geistiges blicken…”/“Spirit behold<strong>in</strong>g…”) was given to the<br />
first Waldorf teachers after a crisis and was meant as an “energy<br />
boost.” Indeed, participants felt that “A New Impulse” conference<br />
itself served as an energy boost, and the decision was<br />
made to have Christof return next February for “A New Impulse<br />
II.” We look forward to the opportunity to cont<strong>in</strong>ue and deepen<br />
our work together.<br />
Jeanie Elliott, Santa Cruz<br />
45
Joan Treadaway<br />
General Council Western Representative<br />
Joan Treadaway rejo<strong>in</strong>ed the General Council of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong> <strong>in</strong> 2009 succeed<strong>in</strong>g L<strong>in</strong>da Connell,<br />
who had given devoted service and reached her term limit.<br />
Joan is a long-time member of the Western Regional Council and<br />
served previously on the General Council from 1994-2000. For<br />
over 45 years she has been a consultant and mentor, and is <strong>in</strong><br />
private practice (Childhood Consult<strong>in</strong>g Services <strong>in</strong> Prescott, Arizona)<br />
as a Waldorf Remedial Therapist. She works with children<br />
and young adults, consults with parents, and provides support<br />
for teachers and schools. A consultant to several Waldorf<br />
schools, she lectures widely on the challenges of children <strong>in</strong> the<br />
21st century.<br />
Joan has also worked extensively <strong>in</strong> adm<strong>in</strong>istration and<br />
community development, advis<strong>in</strong>g boards, parent groups, and<br />
school adm<strong>in</strong>istrations. She is currently work<strong>in</strong>g on a booklet<br />
on effects of custodial arrangements on children of divorce.<br />
In recent talks<br />
<strong>in</strong> several areas<br />
of the West Joan<br />
shared some fundamental<br />
<strong>in</strong>sights<br />
about how children<br />
and adults—<br />
all of us—are constantly<br />
immersed<br />
<strong>in</strong> the media’s<br />
reality. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
period from birth<br />
to seven years,<br />
children are learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
naturally by<br />
imitation and lack<br />
the ability to dist<strong>in</strong>guish<br />
fantasy<br />
from reality. Even<br />
at later stages studies show that exposure to media violence is<br />
desensitiz<strong>in</strong>g, and television itself affects bra<strong>in</strong> function for all<br />
viewers. Parents and teachers work<strong>in</strong>g together can reduce the<br />
negative effects of the media.<br />
Along with provid<strong>in</strong>g a Western perspective to the General<br />
Council, Joan hopes to br<strong>in</strong>g the strengths of “Goethean observation”<br />
to the work of council development. At her first meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
she shared some constructive aspects of the way the Western<br />
Regional Council works:<br />
Each meet<strong>in</strong>g is a build<strong>in</strong>g processes to br<strong>in</strong>g the Western<br />
Region alive. The WRC works, <strong>in</strong> a very real way, to attempt a<br />
new social form <strong>in</strong> which council members are given the space<br />
to come together and speak freely out of themselves and their<br />
experiences, to share <strong>in</strong>sights, not out of a plan, but creat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
out of what is possible and out of the real contacts with groups<br />
and branches <strong>in</strong> the region. This gets reforged and recreated<br />
by the end of their regular weekend meet<strong>in</strong>gs and becomes a<br />
direction <strong>in</strong> which to move forward.<br />
Joan graduated from Whittier College with a degree <strong>in</strong><br />
Psychology and Sociology, and has a MS <strong>in</strong> Waldorf Remedial<br />
Therapy from Sunbridge College. She lives <strong>in</strong> Prescott, Arizona<br />
with her husband Glen. Whenever possible, she enjoys bird<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
hik<strong>in</strong>g, kayak<strong>in</strong>g, go<strong>in</strong>g to great movies, read<strong>in</strong>g, and be<strong>in</strong>g with<br />
her grandson. She credits her joy <strong>in</strong> life, <strong>in</strong> a large part, to her<br />
parents and three brothers, with whom she shared an archetypal<br />
childhood of strong family rhythms, laughter, and liv<strong>in</strong>g close<br />
to nature <strong>in</strong> rural New Jersey.<br />
She is a board member of the Association for a Heal<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Education which is <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> promot<strong>in</strong>g healthful practices<br />
<strong>in</strong> education and <strong>in</strong> therapeutic <strong>in</strong>tervention through a deeper<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g of childhood development and h<strong>in</strong>drances to<br />
development.<br />
Michael Support Circle Report<br />
At the depth of what has been called the Great Recession,<br />
Ernst Katz and I took the <strong>in</strong>itiative to beg<strong>in</strong> a donor circle<br />
to help ensure the f<strong>in</strong>ancial viability of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong>. Start<strong>in</strong>g with a simple letter mailed<br />
to a few friends, the effort cont<strong>in</strong>ued after Ernst’s death last<br />
year. About ten people responded immediately. We consciously<br />
decided not to do any brochures or mass mail<strong>in</strong>gs,<br />
thus keep<strong>in</strong>g our costs to date at less then $300. S<strong>in</strong>ce then<br />
I have cont<strong>in</strong>ued the effort, ma<strong>in</strong>ly through phone calls and<br />
personal conversations at branch meet<strong>in</strong>gs and conferences.<br />
Now, a little over a year later, we have 65 commitments of<br />
$1,000 per year for five years. This means not only $65,000 of<br />
unrestricted gifts for this year’s operat<strong>in</strong>g budget, but over<br />
$300,000 <strong>in</strong> total pledges for the next five years, a tremendous<br />
vote of confidence <strong>in</strong> our future as a <strong>Society</strong>.<br />
One especially gratify<strong>in</strong>g development over the past<br />
months is that several participants <strong>in</strong> the Michael Support<br />
Circle have suggested friends and acqua<strong>in</strong>tances who might<br />
be approached. This is so needed, <strong>in</strong> that one person cannot<br />
possibly reach all those who might want to support the<br />
work. This is our <strong>Society</strong>, and it’s future is truly <strong>in</strong> our hands.<br />
For those read<strong>in</strong>g this report who have not jo<strong>in</strong>ed this effort,<br />
please ask yourself as well as those members and friends you<br />
know who might be able to support this project.<br />
If at the same time we deepen our spiritual work, <strong>in</strong>dividually<br />
and <strong>in</strong> groups, as well as f<strong>in</strong>d new ways to connect with<br />
others who carry the same values, we can hope to ever more<br />
fully realize the hopes and the mission of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong>, not only <strong>in</strong> our country by as part of a world-wide<br />
movement for social renewal. And as you so well know, the<br />
world needs Anthroposophy today more than ever.<br />
Tor<strong>in</strong> M F<strong>in</strong>ser, PhD<br />
Florida Groups Gather At The<br />
Spr<strong>in</strong>g Equ<strong>in</strong>ox<br />
I had the pleasure of represent<strong>in</strong>g the Eastern Regional Council<br />
at the sixth annual <strong>Anthroposophical</strong>/Waldorf conference <strong>in</strong><br />
Brooksville, Florida the weekend of March 18-20, on “The Heal<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Power of Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education.” Approximately<br />
30 people were <strong>in</strong> attendance represent<strong>in</strong>g five active<br />
groups, and there were several students from the University of<br />
Southern Florida. The groups present <strong>in</strong>cluded:<br />
The Michael Group of Cutler Bay, near Miami. The leader<br />
46 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
of the group is Yvonne Cumm<strong>in</strong>g. They have been meet<strong>in</strong>g for<br />
20 years and are home to the K-5 Waldorf International School,<br />
which will add a 6th grade next year. They are <strong>in</strong> process of<br />
build<strong>in</strong>g a “totally green” new school. They have four study<br />
groups <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a Spanish-speak<strong>in</strong>g one read<strong>in</strong>g Parzival.<br />
Clearwater, Florida is the site of the Ste<strong>in</strong>er Circum-Study<br />
group led by Dr. Stephen Salamone, whom I would call “the<br />
Ernst Katz of USF,” a university professor with a large follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of students <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s works. Barbara Bedd<strong>in</strong>gfield,<br />
coord<strong>in</strong>ator of this wonderful conference, is contact person for<br />
this group. They are currently read<strong>in</strong>g Mystics after Modernism.<br />
Nearby is the K-8 Suncoast Waldorf School <strong>in</strong> Palm Harbor.<br />
The Sarasota Group is study<strong>in</strong>g How to Atta<strong>in</strong> Knowledge of<br />
Higher Worlds and is led by Anne and Joe Savage, teachers at the<br />
K-5 Sarasota Waldorf School. The Boynton Beach Group (near<br />
Boca Raton) is also read<strong>in</strong>g How to Atta<strong>in</strong> Knowledge of Higher<br />
Worlds. They are home to the Sea Star Initiative, an aspir<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Waldorf School currently from N-K to grade 2. The Jacksonville<br />
Beach Group has a Waldorf <strong>in</strong>itiative (N-K) and is currently<br />
study<strong>in</strong>g The K<strong>in</strong>gdom of Childhood.<br />
Conference Overview<br />
The Conference opened with <strong>in</strong>troductions and s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g. The<br />
next morn<strong>in</strong>g, Herbert Hagens began with a talk on the heal<strong>in</strong>g<br />
nature of fairy tales. He spoke of the symbolism <strong>in</strong> Grimm’s fairy<br />
tales and led <strong>in</strong>to Goethe’s fairy tale and the fairy tales <strong>in</strong> Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
mystery dramas. He humorously recommended that we<br />
see “Happily Ever After” a Broadway play based on fairy tales<br />
with modern themes (e.g. Peter Pan becomes a gay drag queen;<br />
Gretel opens a bakery; and the old witch from Snow White f<strong>in</strong>ds<br />
herself <strong>in</strong> a nurs<strong>in</strong>g home s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g “Que sera, sera”).<br />
Dr. Richard Halford spoke about the heal<strong>in</strong>g power of anthroposophical<br />
medic<strong>in</strong>e and <strong>in</strong>geniously wove together his talk<br />
with Herbert’s, beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g with the myth of Prometheus and<br />
how the eagle eat<strong>in</strong>g his liver represents sugar metabolism (the<br />
anabolic and catabolic rhythm of the liver). Dr. Halford gave a<br />
magnificent review of the major organs and illnesses, and told of<br />
the unique ways anthroposophical medic<strong>in</strong>e helps cure them.<br />
Michelle Cumm<strong>in</strong>g, daughter of Yvonne Cumm<strong>in</strong>g of the Cutler<br />
Bay group, teaches at the Waldorf School <strong>in</strong> Atlanta. She gave<br />
a talk on the causes of learn<strong>in</strong>g and behavioral dysfunctions,<br />
and how anthroposophical methods provide heal<strong>in</strong>g for sensory<br />
<strong>in</strong>tegration issues. She gave a wealth of <strong>in</strong>formation for Waldorf<br />
teachers <strong>in</strong> the classroom, and a large stack of handouts.<br />
The f<strong>in</strong>al speaker was Dr. Stephen Salmone, professor at<br />
the University of Southern Florida, whose impressive resumé<br />
<strong>in</strong>cludes a degree <strong>in</strong> Classical Studies from Boston University<br />
and others <strong>in</strong> L<strong>in</strong>guistics, Psychotherapy and Cultural History.<br />
He has studied <strong>in</strong> Turkey and Greece and subsequently led tours<br />
there. He has even counseled drug addicts. His talk was entitled:<br />
“Honor<strong>in</strong>g the Development of the ‘I’”. It was followed by a very<br />
animated question and answer period.<br />
My favorite part of every conference is the conversation and<br />
fellowship <strong>in</strong> between the talks. I was very much impressed by<br />
the warmth and vitality of this group of <strong>in</strong>dividuals. One really<br />
“cool” th<strong>in</strong>g was that Cherylynn Van Kirk did free facials for<br />
the women attendees with her wonderful “Star Flower” organic<br />
cosmetics. I was most elated, however, by the energy and <strong>in</strong>terest<br />
expressed by the college students <strong>in</strong> attendance. One young<br />
man named Jordan Stone is vice president of a Student Alliance<br />
that sponsors all sorts of events for social justice, alternative<br />
media, schools and spirituality (especially Waldorf and anthroposophy).<br />
Jordan would like to start a Ste<strong>in</strong>er Group at the university.<br />
When asked if he wanted to become a Waldorf teacher,<br />
he replied, “No, I want to become a banker—I want to support<br />
Waldorf education!” Hav<strong>in</strong>g left Waldorf teach<strong>in</strong>g because I<br />
could not live on the salary, I really appreciated that remark!<br />
F<strong>in</strong>ally I must mention is the beautiful and peaceful site, the<br />
P<strong>in</strong>es Conference Center operated by the Unitarian Universal<br />
Church. The lodg<strong>in</strong>g was peaceful and rustic; we were surrounded<br />
by live oaks, palm and hollies.<br />
Kathleen Wright, Eastern Regional Council<br />
(Slightly abridged from the report <strong>in</strong> the Sophia Sun.)<br />
Stars, Stones & Mutuality: Weav<strong>in</strong>g the Social Fabric of the Future<br />
Central Regional Council and <strong>Society</strong> Members Gather <strong>in</strong> Ohio for an AGM and Retreat<br />
About twenty people gathered from Ohio, Michigan, North<br />
Dakota, Wiscons<strong>in</strong>, Texas, New Orleans, Kentucky, Ill<strong>in</strong>ois and<br />
M<strong>in</strong>nesota for the Central Regional Council’s Annual General<br />
Meet<strong>in</strong>g and retreat held <strong>in</strong> rural Peebles, Ohio. Each day, we<br />
sat <strong>in</strong> a circle around a candle surrounded by ra<strong>in</strong>bow silks, on<br />
which were placed stones which each participant brought from<br />
their region, land or home. Quilted stars, created by members <strong>in</strong><br />
the various regions, were hung <strong>in</strong> the ma<strong>in</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>g space.<br />
On the open<strong>in</strong>g even<strong>in</strong>g, the names of many Waldorf schools,<br />
study groups, biodynamic farms, anthroposophic medical<br />
practices, organizations and other community <strong>in</strong>itiatives were<br />
spoken <strong>in</strong> the circle as a way to br<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>dfulness and <strong>in</strong>clusion<br />
to the many anthroposophic <strong>in</strong>itiatives we each represented, and<br />
that are active throughout the central region.<br />
The morn<strong>in</strong>gs began with s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g, led by Marianne Fieber, and<br />
songs were woven <strong>in</strong> throughout each day. The beautiful space<br />
at Hope Spr<strong>in</strong>gs Institute provided plenty of room for daily eurythmy<br />
led by Connie Michael which <strong>in</strong>cluded “I Th<strong>in</strong>k Speech”<br />
and the “Five-Po<strong>in</strong>ted Star.” Lively speech exercises were carried<br />
by Kim Snyder-V<strong>in</strong>e, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a participatory recitation of the<br />
Foundation Stone Meditation each even<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
We spent one day at Serpent Mound, a quarter-mile long<br />
ancient Indian mound, <strong>in</strong> a festival atmosphere—s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g, read<strong>in</strong>g<br />
poetry, meditat<strong>in</strong>g and do<strong>in</strong>g eurythmy as we made our way<br />
around the entire perimeter of the sacred place.<br />
The basis of study for the weekend retreat was Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
lecture, “Brotherhood and the Fight for Survival.” (Berl<strong>in</strong>, November<br />
23, 1905 GA 54.) Though spoken over 100 years ago, this<br />
lecture bears strik<strong>in</strong>g relevance to the social issues we face today.<br />
It centers largely on community build<strong>in</strong>g as a practical basis<br />
for true human progress, and as a spiritual gesture, because, by<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> conscious community, we are actually participants <strong>in</strong> the<br />
new mystery centers. As an artistic exercise, we each drew a colored<br />
gesture <strong>in</strong> response to the word “brotherhood.” Alternately, we drew<br />
a colored gesture <strong>in</strong> response to the phrase “fight for survival.”<br />
There was much to “see” by express<strong>in</strong>g the concepts of brother-<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
47
hood and fight for survival through color and image.<br />
Group discussions were enriched by small breakout groups,<br />
so each had the chance to share <strong>in</strong>sights and everyone’s voice<br />
was heard. We<br />
worked through<br />
concepts <strong>in</strong> the<br />
lecture, and we<br />
devoted time <strong>in</strong><br />
small groups to<br />
share the needs<br />
and challenges<br />
of our respective<br />
anthroposophic<br />
community<br />
work,<br />
and then shared<br />
that which we<br />
thought we<br />
could offer to<br />
Margaret Runyon, Dennis Dietzel, Marianne Fieber, Robert Karp,<br />
Lori Barian and Mary Louise Hershberger, organized a meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with a wonderful balance of artistic activity, spiritual study and<br />
fellowship—<br />
with delicious,<br />
healthy food <strong>in</strong><br />
between.<br />
A special<br />
goodbye was<br />
said to longtime<br />
CRC members<br />
Robert Karp<br />
and Lori Barian.<br />
Robert is now<br />
active as the<br />
director of the<br />
Biodynamic<br />
Farm<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
Garden<strong>in</strong>g<br />
our community’s<br />
development.<br />
CRC members at Great Serpent Mound, near Peebles, Ohio<br />
Association,<br />
while Lori will<br />
The days began early and ended late—there was plenty of<br />
work to be done, and ground to cover. The council members,<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ue to serve as editor for The Correspondence.<br />
Christy Korrow, Burkesville, KY<br />
The Aust<strong>in</strong> Centenary Celebration of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
Announcement of the Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric<br />
By Beth & Stephen Usher<br />
The Novalis Branch of Aust<strong>in</strong>, Texas held a festive conference<br />
of the centenary of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s 1910 announcement of the<br />
Reappearance of Christ. The event took place March 26-28, 2010<br />
on the Aust<strong>in</strong> Waldorf School campus. About seventy people<br />
attended the celebration. The event was bathed <strong>in</strong> the art of eurythmy<br />
and brought to life through scenes from Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
first mystery drama, The Portal of Initiation, lectures by General<br />
Secretary MariJo Rogers, Judith Brockway, and Stephen Usher,<br />
a projective geometry lesson with David Booth, conversation,<br />
good food, and some real fun.<br />
The conference opened Friday even<strong>in</strong>g with eurythmy by<br />
Aust<strong>in</strong>’s Chaparral Eurythmy on Beethoven’s sixth and tenth sonatas<br />
for piano and viol<strong>in</strong>. Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er choreographed these<br />
forms several weeks before he died <strong>in</strong> 1925. Dr. Stephen Usher<br />
then lectured on “The Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric &<br />
The Re-emergence of Human Awareness of the Etheric World”<br />
[which follows this report.] He expla<strong>in</strong>ed the basic content of<br />
the 1910 lectures when Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er first spoke of the imm<strong>in</strong>ent<br />
reappearance of the Christ <strong>in</strong> an etheric body that would<br />
commence <strong>in</strong> the 1930s and would develop over the next 2500<br />
to 3000 years. Steve also noted that Ernst Katz had agreed to<br />
speak at the conference with the caveat that he might already<br />
be on the other side as turned out to be the case. But Ernst was<br />
most certa<strong>in</strong>ly attend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> his spiritual form.<br />
After the lecture pianist Anthony Tob<strong>in</strong> performed Adagio ma<br />
non troppo from Beethoven’s Sonata <strong>in</strong> A-flat Major, Op 110.<br />
Dr. David Booth’s Projective Geometry Lesson 1<br />
Saturday morn<strong>in</strong>g opened with a lesson on projective geometry<br />
and the etheric by Dr. David Booth; everyone had the<br />
opportunity to draw projective geometric constructions. David<br />
expla<strong>in</strong>ed that “ether,” or aether, refers on the one hand to<br />
a hypothetical medium for the waves of optical theory <strong>in</strong> late<br />
n<strong>in</strong>eteenth century physics, and on the other hand to a fact of<br />
the clairvoyant observation of nature. He described how the<br />
ether can be seen as <strong>in</strong>terweav<strong>in</strong>g streams <strong>in</strong> the atmosphere,<br />
related to flows on the earth. These streams resemble flows<br />
of water, but do not always go downhill. Plants appear to be<br />
fundamentally etheric objects <strong>in</strong>to which matter is lifted by<br />
spiral<strong>in</strong>g ether to produce the botanical forms of everyday,<br />
physical observation.<br />
Dr. Booth went on to tell how early anthroposophical scientists<br />
sought experimental evidence of this etheric action <strong>in</strong><br />
delicate processes, and recognized that certa<strong>in</strong> mathematical<br />
ideas are related to etheric phenomena. Projective geometry<br />
was prom<strong>in</strong>ent <strong>in</strong> these studies. As the twentieth century<br />
proceeded, however, various scientists reported a “death of<br />
geometry.” An autopsy would identify the cause of death as<br />
excessive formalization and algebraic abstraction. The decl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
of geometry was long and <strong>in</strong>tergenerational; scientists,<br />
then eng<strong>in</strong>eers, schoolteachers, and f<strong>in</strong>ally, Waldorf schoolteachers<br />
and anthroposophists were affected. Geometry will<br />
be born aga<strong>in</strong>. There was a basis for renewal among anthroposophists<br />
<strong>in</strong> the 1950s and <strong>in</strong>dependently <strong>in</strong> the structural<br />
topology movement <strong>in</strong> the 1970s. These two groups never got<br />
together to form a s<strong>in</strong>gle school of thought, however.<br />
48 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
How is the almost vanished science of projective geometry<br />
connected with the ether, Dr. Booth asked. Geometry <strong>in</strong>volves<br />
duality, which resembles the relationship between physical<br />
and etheric action. In plane geometry this duality <strong>in</strong>terchanges<br />
the concepts of po<strong>in</strong>t and l<strong>in</strong>e. Everyth<strong>in</strong>g true of po<strong>in</strong>ts and<br />
l<strong>in</strong>es is equally true of l<strong>in</strong>es and po<strong>in</strong>ts. It is <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g to take<br />
familiar geometrical constructions, such as those of perspective<br />
draw<strong>in</strong>g, and consider their dual configurations. The horizon<br />
l<strong>in</strong>e becomes an <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>itely distant po<strong>in</strong>t; a vanish<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t on<br />
the horizon becomes a l<strong>in</strong>e through that <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>itely distant po<strong>in</strong>t.<br />
Us<strong>in</strong>g this approach you can gradually become familiar with<br />
the truths of planar duality.<br />
In three dimensions, po<strong>in</strong>ts<br />
and planes are dual; l<strong>in</strong>es are<br />
self-dual. The configurations<br />
of l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> space are symmetrically<br />
balanced between positive<br />
and negative space, and<br />
may be applicable to those<br />
phenomena that share physical<br />
forces and etheric action.<br />
Parallel eurythmy lessons<br />
followed Dr. Booth’s lesson.<br />
After lunch, the audience reassembled<br />
for Judith Brockway’s<br />
lecture, which was placed between<br />
solo and duo eurythmy<br />
performances of Beethoven<br />
sonata movements.<br />
Judith Brockway’s Lecture: “The Occult<br />
Resistances to Perceiv<strong>in</strong>g the Etheric Christ and<br />
the New Natural Clairvoyance”<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the years of World War I, and particularly <strong>in</strong> 1917,<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er spoke about occult powers and forces that were<br />
actively work<strong>in</strong>g to prevent human be<strong>in</strong>gs from perceiv<strong>in</strong>g this<br />
event. 2 Judith explored the content of these lectures where<br />
the work<strong>in</strong>g of certa<strong>in</strong> occult brotherhoods of the West and<br />
of the East are characterized. Ste<strong>in</strong>er began the lectures with<br />
a request that his audience exam<strong>in</strong>e our concept of the word,<br />
“unconscious.” In those worlds we cannot see with our physical<br />
eyes, highly conscious be<strong>in</strong>gs are active. There are those<br />
who work for progressive evolution whereby the human be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
will become <strong>in</strong>dependent, responsible and free to co-work with<br />
them. There are also those who have as their sole purpose the<br />
subjugation and materialization of the human soul and spirit.<br />
The power of the spiritual be<strong>in</strong>gs work<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st our human<br />
evolution is enhanced when people th<strong>in</strong>k there is a world of unconsciousness.<br />
As soon as we beg<strong>in</strong> to pursue a deeper knowledge<br />
of what lies below or above our consciousness and ga<strong>in</strong> an<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g of these pernicious be<strong>in</strong>gs and their <strong>in</strong>tentions,<br />
who are themselves very conscious, we have a chance of w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the battle with materialism.<br />
Judith expla<strong>in</strong>ed that one of the groups oppos<strong>in</strong>g the Etheric<br />
Christ is designated the Brotherhoods by Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er. It is<br />
their <strong>in</strong>tention to bl<strong>in</strong>d human be<strong>in</strong>gs to the event of Christ’s<br />
Return <strong>in</strong> the Etheric by eventually plac<strong>in</strong>g a be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> physical<br />
<strong>in</strong>carnation and identify<strong>in</strong>g him as the true Christ. He will not<br />
be the true Christ, he will be a false Christ. To do this they make<br />
use of their occult capacity to use materialistically m<strong>in</strong>ded souls<br />
who have crossed the threshold of death, yet are caught <strong>in</strong> the<br />
sphere between the Earth and the Moon. These souls cannot<br />
easily move beyond the moon sphere <strong>in</strong> the way normal to the<br />
human soul after death, and it is their fate to be used as the<br />
“clientele” of these brotherhoods. They cause disturbances on<br />
earth and cultivate and further materialistic thoughts <strong>in</strong> human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>gs on the earth, thereby bl<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g them to the true event of<br />
the Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric.<br />
The Brotherhoods of the East, Judith expla<strong>in</strong>ed, work differently<br />
and will not place a false Christ before human be<strong>in</strong>gs,<br />
but will create the situation<br />
whereby the event of Christ <strong>in</strong><br />
the Etheric will be passed by.<br />
Under certa<strong>in</strong> circumstances<br />
human etheric bodies do not<br />
immediately dissolve after<br />
death <strong>in</strong>to the cosmic ether.<br />
These etheric bodies can<br />
become <strong>in</strong>habited by demonic<br />
be<strong>in</strong>gs and it is these that the<br />
Eastern brotherhood use for<br />
their purposes. By encourag<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a k<strong>in</strong>d of ancestor worship<br />
they aim to divert human be<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
from hav<strong>in</strong>g any <strong>in</strong>terest<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Etheric Christ.<br />
Both the brotherhoods<br />
of the West and the brotherhoods<br />
of the East are well<br />
aware that the Christ is active <strong>in</strong> the Etheric. They also know<br />
that our becom<strong>in</strong>g aware of both the Etheric Christ and their<br />
activity will decrease their power <strong>in</strong> the situation. In connection<br />
with these events Judith commented on the <strong>in</strong>carnation of Ahriman<br />
3 , the role of comets, notably Halley’s and Biela’s comets, 4 5<br />
the Ahrimanic double 6 , and the battle of Michael <strong>in</strong> the Spiritual<br />
world dur<strong>in</strong>g the years just before 1879 when he became the<br />
rul<strong>in</strong>g Archangel. 7<br />
Judith went on to describe the task of the Fifth Post-Atlantean<br />
Epoch that is to transform evil <strong>in</strong>to good through love. It is a<br />
Manichean task that is full of mystery. One approach to this<br />
mystery is to immerse oneself <strong>in</strong> the description of what Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er calls the second crucifixion of the Christ that occurred<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Etheric. 8 Dur<strong>in</strong>g the last third of the n<strong>in</strong>eteenth century a<br />
black sphere had formed <strong>in</strong> the etheric world. This was created<br />
by the materialistic thoughts that human be<strong>in</strong>gs were carry<strong>in</strong>g<br />
over <strong>in</strong>to the spiritual world when they died. This “black sphere<br />
of materialism” caused Christ—then liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the etheric and<br />
carried by an Angel be<strong>in</strong>g—to suffer ext<strong>in</strong>ction of his consciousness<br />
through a k<strong>in</strong>d of suffocation. 9 This resulted <strong>in</strong> a new resurrection.<br />
Because of this crucifixion and resurrection human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>gs can now experience <strong>in</strong> their own souls a direct consciousness<br />
of the Christ. “The spiritual death by suffocation that<br />
accompanied the dissolution of consciousness of the angelic<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g is a repetition of the Mystery of Golgotha <strong>in</strong> the worlds<br />
ly<strong>in</strong>g directly beh<strong>in</strong>d ours, so that a resurrection of the previously<br />
hidden Christ consciousness can take place <strong>in</strong> the souls<br />
of human be<strong>in</strong>gs on Earth. This return to life is <strong>in</strong> the process of<br />
becom<strong>in</strong>g the clairvoyant vision <strong>in</strong> the twentieth century.” 10<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
49
Judith concluded by po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g to the P<strong>in</strong>k w<strong>in</strong>dow <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Goetheanum. There we can see the disciple accompanied by his<br />
angel enter<strong>in</strong>g the liv<strong>in</strong>g, creative world of the etheric. The disciple<br />
sees the Christ <strong>in</strong> the midst of this. From the two w<strong>in</strong>dows<br />
below we can see and learn how<br />
Christ approaches Lucifer on the<br />
one side and Ahriman on the other.<br />
It is clear that it is with <strong>in</strong>dependent,<br />
freely-given, over-flow<strong>in</strong>g love. 11 By<br />
contemplat<strong>in</strong>g such a picture we<br />
can water the seeds now <strong>in</strong> our own<br />
soul, for this needed future activity.<br />
After a group conversation followed<br />
by a delicious supper, the<br />
Aust<strong>in</strong> Mystery Drama Players<br />
presented the fruits of one year of<br />
rehearsal: parts of scenes 1, 3, and<br />
7 of The Portal of Initiation, which<br />
frame Theodora’s proclamation of<br />
the com<strong>in</strong>g Reappearance.<br />
Sunday morn<strong>in</strong>g, MariJo Rogers’<br />
presentation was preceded and followed<br />
by speech eurythmy. Before<br />
the lecture Chaparral presented “If<br />
It Could Ascend” by N. Scott Momaday and “Great Spirits” by<br />
John Keats. “Light’s Weav<strong>in</strong>g Essence” from The Portal of Initiation<br />
followed the lecture.<br />
MariJo Rogers Lecture: “See<strong>in</strong>g Christ <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Etheric: The Roles of Conscience and the Etheric<br />
Body of Christian Rosenkreutz.”<br />
MariJo’s lecture directed our attention to the fact that we had<br />
entered Easter Week, as it was Palm Sunday. She expla<strong>in</strong>ed that<br />
Easter’s Holy Week marked the heart of the Mystery of Golgotha<br />
and the last days that Christ walked the earth <strong>in</strong> a material,<br />
physical body. She cont<strong>in</strong>ued to expla<strong>in</strong> that today—as Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Spiritual Scientific research has discovered—He walks<br />
among us <strong>in</strong> an etheric body that can be seen with etheric<br />
vision. “Christ will reappear,” Ste<strong>in</strong>er states, “because human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>gs will raise themselves to Him <strong>in</strong> the etheric.”<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er not only lectured about see<strong>in</strong>g the etheric<br />
Christ, he dramatized it <strong>in</strong> The<br />
Portal of Initiation, first performed<br />
<strong>in</strong> August 1910. Theodora, a<br />
seeress, envisions that one day<br />
she and others will see a Form <strong>in</strong><br />
sh<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g light. The Form tells them<br />
that “a drop of spirit vision” is now<br />
theirs, that they will beg<strong>in</strong> to see<br />
and no longer need believe. “Feel<br />
it deeply <strong>in</strong> your souls,” says the<br />
Form, whom we understand to be<br />
the Christ.<br />
While such a meet<strong>in</strong>g may<br />
occur by grace and by natural<br />
development, anthroposophy<br />
asks us to understand all that<br />
this reappearance <strong>in</strong>volves and<br />
signifies and to cultivate etheric<br />
MariJo Rogers, General Secretary,<br />
<strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong><br />
vision. Otherwise, the Christ experience dest<strong>in</strong>ed for this time<br />
may pass humanity by and “<strong>in</strong>jure Earth’s salvation,” as Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er once phrased it.<br />
Theodora’s vision and men’s actual experiences of see<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Christ were foreshadowed by Paul’s<br />
Damascus event. Paul had cultivated<br />
a form of etheric vision through prolonged<br />
esoteric tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, which also<br />
taught him that when the Messiah<br />
came, He would be seen <strong>in</strong> the atmosphere<br />
of the earth, no longer <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Sun realm. Paul not only saw, heard,<br />
and knew the Messiah had come,<br />
but also realized he was filled with<br />
His Impulse, with “Christ <strong>in</strong> me.”<br />
The more we become accountable<br />
to the Christ for our actions, the<br />
more we will see how our actions<br />
must be karmically balanced <strong>in</strong> the<br />
future. In this way our conscience<br />
becomes an organ for perceiv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Christ as He works today as Lord<br />
of Karma, br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g order aga<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>to<br />
humanity’s karma by weav<strong>in</strong>g our<br />
actions <strong>in</strong>to the evolution of humanity as a whole, so that what<br />
we do may benefit all humanity, not just our own progress.<br />
Conscience becomes a new faculty of conscious collaboration<br />
with Christ <strong>in</strong> the sphere of karma. The etheric body of Christian<br />
Rosenkreutz, which strengthens all work <strong>in</strong> anthroposophy,<br />
enables the development of this new faculty.<br />
After MariJo’s lecture a tasty taco brunch preceded the<br />
clos<strong>in</strong>g plenum, where a warm conversation about the many<br />
offer<strong>in</strong>gs and experiences unfolded. Beth Usher had arranged<br />
for some serious fun at the close of the plenum. Several folks<br />
quickly passed around baskets hold<strong>in</strong>g 12 dozen traditional<br />
Mexican cascarones, Easter Egg tokens for wish<strong>in</strong>g one another<br />
good luck. The eggs are emptied, dyed, filled with confetti and<br />
sealed with a bit of colored tissue paper. Everyone commenced<br />
gleefully break<strong>in</strong>g eggs over the heads of their neighbors, ra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
confetti with peals of laughter. It was a joyous end<strong>in</strong>g to an<br />
unforgettable weekend.<br />
Endnotes<br />
1. The summaries of the presentations by Dr. Booth, Judith Brockway,<br />
and MariJo Rogers were written by the presenters and slightly edited for<br />
<strong>in</strong>tegration <strong>in</strong>to this report.<br />
2. Nov. 18,19,and 25, 1917, Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric.<br />
3. Nov. 1 and 2, 1919, Lucifer and Ahriman by Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
Press; Lecture by Hans Peter von Manen, March 3,1966, Das Goetheanum,<br />
Mercury Press.<br />
4. March 5, 1910, Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric, Anthroposophic<br />
Press.<br />
5. September 16, 1924, Book of Revelation, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Press.<br />
6. November 1917, Geographic Medic<strong>in</strong>e, Mercury Press.<br />
7. Nov. 18 and 19, 1917, Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric, Anthroposophic<br />
Press.<br />
8. May 2, 1913, Occult Science and Occult Development, Christ at the Time<br />
of the Mystery of Golgotha and Christ <strong>in</strong> the Twentieth Century Approach<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the Mystery of Golgotha, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Press.<br />
9. Ibid.<br />
10. Ibid.<br />
11. The Coloured W<strong>in</strong>dow Motifs at the Goetheanum, Michaela Glöckler.<br />
50 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
The Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric<br />
& the Re-emergence of Human Awareness of the Etheric World<br />
Lecture given March 26, 2010, at the Aust<strong>in</strong><br />
Reappearance Conference by Stephen E. Usher, Ph.D.<br />
Introduction<br />
We are celebrat<strong>in</strong>g the 100th anniversary of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
announcement of Christ’s imm<strong>in</strong>ent Second Com<strong>in</strong>g or Reappearance<br />
<strong>in</strong> the etheric world. The first time Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
made this announcement was on January 12, 1910 <strong>in</strong> Stockholm,<br />
Sweden dur<strong>in</strong>g a lecture cycle on the John Gospel. Unfortunately<br />
no transcript of that lecture exists, though there is a one-page<br />
note about the announcement <strong>in</strong> Marie Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s handwrit<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
His next lecture on the Reappearance took place January<br />
25, 1910 <strong>in</strong> Karlsruhe, Germany and a transcript of that lecture<br />
exists, which was published under the title “The Event of the<br />
Appearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric World.” From Karlsruhe he<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ued to other German and Italian cities, lectur<strong>in</strong>g on the<br />
theme until May of 1910. In all, he delivered 17 lectures <strong>in</strong> 13<br />
cities dur<strong>in</strong>g this period. He returned to the theme on many occasions<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g the rest of his life;<br />
and a number of the important<br />
lectures have been published<br />
under the English title The Reappearance<br />
of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric. 1<br />
In August of 1910 the first<br />
performance of Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s first<br />
Mystery Drama was produced <strong>in</strong><br />
Munich. The drama <strong>in</strong>cludes the<br />
proclamation of the Reappearance<br />
by the seeress, Theodora. 2<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Announcement<br />
In a Nut Shell<br />
What exactly did Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
announce <strong>in</strong> 1910? He stated<br />
that commenc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the 1930’s,<br />
human be<strong>in</strong>gs—ord<strong>in</strong>ary human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>gs who had not undergone<br />
an esoteric tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g—would start<br />
to have delicate experiences of<br />
the etheric world. He po<strong>in</strong>ted to<br />
these experiences:<br />
A person might have a vision<br />
and discover that what he saw<br />
would come true <strong>in</strong> a few days;<br />
<strong>in</strong> other words, a pre-vision of<br />
events to come.<br />
A person about to enact a<br />
deed might have a vision of the<br />
karmic consequences that would<br />
flow from the deed; thus a k<strong>in</strong>d of<br />
second chance would be offered to those about to do someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with undesirable karmic consequences. Additionally, a person<br />
might have a vision of the karmic consequences of a deed just<br />
enacted.<br />
Notes of Marie von Sievers (later Marie Ste<strong>in</strong>er) of the Stockholm lecture.<br />
A person might see a very delicate etheric aura around other<br />
people, animals, or plants.<br />
And, f<strong>in</strong>ally, a person might experience the Christ <strong>in</strong> the form<br />
of an etheric angel, an angel who <strong>in</strong> the moment of the experience<br />
would appear to be a physical human be<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
A person hav<strong>in</strong>g the experience of the Etheric Christ would<br />
be <strong>in</strong> difficulties of some k<strong>in</strong>d. He might be very depressed and<br />
not know how to manage. Suddenly, a person will be beside him<br />
and speak a few words. These will have the effect of completely<br />
chang<strong>in</strong>g his perspective. His soul disposition will lift and he<br />
will see how to go forward with life. Then the stranger will<br />
disappear and the person will realize that this could not have<br />
been an ord<strong>in</strong>ary human be<strong>in</strong>g. In a lecture of 1911 titled “The<br />
Etherization of the Blood” 3 Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er described this experience<br />
<strong>in</strong> these words:<br />
“[H]e may become aware that suddenly someone has come<br />
near to help him, to make him alert to this or that. The truth is<br />
that Christ has come to him, although he believes that what he<br />
sees is a physical man. He will<br />
come to realize, however, that this<br />
is a supersensible be<strong>in</strong>g, because<br />
it immediately vanishes. Many<br />
a human be<strong>in</strong>g will have this<br />
experience when sitt<strong>in</strong>g silently<br />
<strong>in</strong> his room, heavy-hearted and<br />
oppressed, not know<strong>in</strong>g which<br />
way to turn. The door will open,<br />
and the etheric Christ will appear<br />
and speak words of consolation<br />
to him. The Christ will become a<br />
liv<strong>in</strong>g comforter to men. However<br />
strange it may as yet seem, it<br />
is true nevertheless that many<br />
a time when people, even <strong>in</strong><br />
considerable numbers, are sitt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
together not know<strong>in</strong>g what to<br />
do and wait<strong>in</strong>g, they will see the<br />
etheric Christ. He Himself will be<br />
there, will confer with them, will<br />
cast His word <strong>in</strong>to such gather<strong>in</strong>gs.”<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er expla<strong>in</strong>ed that<br />
the Etheric Christ has the only<br />
etheric body that can appear as a<br />
physical body. Moreover, He can<br />
appear simultaneously to 10, 100,<br />
1000 people all around the globe.<br />
“[Christ has] the only etheric<br />
body able to work <strong>in</strong> the physical<br />
world as a human physical body<br />
works. It will differ from a physical<br />
body <strong>in</strong> this respect only, that it can be <strong>in</strong> two, three, even a<br />
hundred, a thousand places at the same time.” 4<br />
In the 1910 lectures Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er stated that the Reappearance<br />
would start dur<strong>in</strong>g the years from 1930 to 1940 and that<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
51
it would be particularly notable <strong>in</strong> the years 1933, 1935, and<br />
1937. From a small number of occurrences <strong>in</strong> the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g, the<br />
experience would come to ever more people over the course of<br />
the next 2500 to 3000 years.<br />
It is important to note that Christ came only once <strong>in</strong> a physical<br />
body and will never aga<strong>in</strong> appear <strong>in</strong> that form.<br />
The Evidence 100 Years After Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
Announcement<br />
As 100 years have passed s<strong>in</strong>ce Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s pronouncement, we<br />
may well ask if there is evidence that people have encountered<br />
the Etheric Christ <strong>in</strong> the manner predicted. As a matter of fact<br />
there are numerous accounts. When I have lectured about the<br />
Reappearance over the last few years, it is not uncommon for a<br />
member of the audience to tell of an experience of the Etheric<br />
Christ, either his own or that of some acqua<strong>in</strong>tance. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
late 1970s two Swedish Researchers posted ads <strong>in</strong> newspapers,<br />
ask<strong>in</strong>g for people who had experienced the Christ, to write the<br />
experience down and send it to them. They published their<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs, which unfortunately have never been translated <strong>in</strong>to<br />
English. 5<br />
A caveat <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>terpret<strong>in</strong>g peoples’ accounts is <strong>in</strong> order. Some<br />
people tell, for example, how they met Christ <strong>in</strong> a dream or perhaps<br />
<strong>in</strong> a daytime vision. Such accounts are not consistent with<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s prediction for he says, specifically, that <strong>in</strong> the moment<br />
of an awake encounter, the person will believe he is meet<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
physical human be<strong>in</strong>g. But then, by the way the be<strong>in</strong>g departs,<br />
he realizes it could not have been an ord<strong>in</strong>ary physical person.<br />
One of the most remarkable accounts I have come across 6 is<br />
from a Danish author, Hans Heltoft, who wrote about his experiences<br />
<strong>in</strong> a Gestapo prison dur<strong>in</strong>g the 2nd World War <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Copenhagen newspaper Morgenbladed.<br />
“In a musty cellar are five hundred prisoners of all nationalities<br />
busy plait<strong>in</strong>g mats. An overseer came <strong>in</strong> and for some<br />
groundless reason cudgeled a Russian to death and went on<br />
beat<strong>in</strong>g the lifeless bloody heap. Every blow was felt on our own<br />
bodies by we prisoners … ‘It is enough’, cried a Polish prisoner,<br />
beside himself. ‘It is enough’, we all repeated <strong>in</strong> a hollow voice.<br />
…’ In that same moment Jesus entered the cellar. I do not belong<br />
to the church and have never seen Jesus before. And still I<br />
knew him and noticed also that the others recognized Him…<br />
His whole impression simply went beyond our usual world of<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g. The one th<strong>in</strong>g that is clear to me today, is that<br />
this Jesus was someth<strong>in</strong>g that I cannot describe and yet at<br />
the same time was an ord<strong>in</strong>ary man. And, <strong>in</strong> spite of stand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
outside the church, I must say: ‘It was the very greatest th<strong>in</strong>g<br />
that we had experienced and <strong>in</strong>deed could experience.’ And<br />
now the follow<strong>in</strong>g happened simultaneously with the entrance<br />
of Jesus: The musty cellar-space was quite transformed…above<br />
the cellar there settled a color with shades of bright red and<br />
blue which spread out to a sphere which gave one the feel<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of peace…the space to the ceil<strong>in</strong>g seemed to me to be so large<br />
that a complete barn could have been built <strong>in</strong>side…Jesus did<br />
not look at us…he gazed only at the battered man at his feet.<br />
His countenance rayed out a love that cannot be expressed <strong>in</strong><br />
words…He bent over the Russian and gently kissed his bleed<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
swollen cheeks. The man that we held for dead opened<br />
one eye; the other was stuck together with blood. When he saw<br />
Jesus his maltreated countenance lit up <strong>in</strong> childish joy. With a<br />
great effort he stretched out one hand towards Jesus, who took<br />
it <strong>in</strong> both his hands while he bent forward a little. It was so <strong>in</strong>describably<br />
beautiful that we others stood there <strong>in</strong>voluntarily with<br />
a quiet smile—the warden too. The Russian collapsed and the<br />
unspeakably beautiful expression over the whole abused figure<br />
vanished. Jesus softly laid the hand of the Russian back aga<strong>in</strong><br />
on the body and went out of the cellar. Forthwith everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
was as before.”<br />
A Refresher On Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Spiritual Scientific<br />
Investigation of the Mystery of Golgotha<br />
This refresher must be brief and <strong>in</strong>complete. 7 Probably the<br />
most important po<strong>in</strong>t to understand is what actually occurred<br />
at the Baptism. Just prior to the Baptism the Ego of the great <strong>in</strong>itiate,<br />
who had lived as Jesus of Nazareth and who had perfected<br />
the body as a vessel, left the body of Jesus. This happened<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g a conversation with his mother dur<strong>in</strong>g which his ego left<br />
on the stream of his breath. The <strong>in</strong>itiate’s last deed was to give<br />
the body—consist<strong>in</strong>g of physical body, etheric body and astral<br />
body—an impulse to walk to the river Jordan where John was<br />
baptiz<strong>in</strong>g. When John baptized Jesus there resounded from the<br />
heavens these words: “This is my beloved Son. This day have<br />
I begotten Him.” Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er this is the correct<br />
translation of the Greek words usually rendered “This is my<br />
beloved son with whom I am well pleased.”<br />
When I first read Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s explanation about 37 years ago, I<br />
was a student at the University of Michigan and I wanted corroboration.<br />
My search at the enormous graduate library turned<br />
up an edition of the New Testament that conta<strong>in</strong>ed a footnote<br />
stat<strong>in</strong>g the passage could be rendered “This day have I begotten<br />
Him.” So Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s <strong>in</strong>terpretation was supported by at least one<br />
biblical scholar!<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Ste<strong>in</strong>er, the significance of the Baptism is this:<br />
the great Solar God, the Logos of the Sun, or Christ took possession<br />
of the body and lived <strong>in</strong> it for 3½ years. This body had been<br />
prepared by 6 times 7 generations of Hebrews who followed<br />
elaborate dietary laws and migrated accord<strong>in</strong>g to star patterns<br />
guided by the great spirit, Jehovah, <strong>in</strong> order to perfect a blood<br />
strong enough to withstand the presence of a macrocosmic god.<br />
The founder of the ancient Persian civilization, the orig<strong>in</strong>al Zarathustra,<br />
already knew of this God around 6,000 BC and named<br />
him the Ahura Mazdao or the Great Aura. While the ellipsoidal,<br />
microcosmic aura of a human be<strong>in</strong>g is about twice as high and<br />
four times as wide as the physical body, the aura of Ahura<br />
Mazdao was as great as the outspread light of the sun.<br />
The 3½ years of Christ’s life <strong>in</strong> a physical body ended with his<br />
dy<strong>in</strong>g on the cross at Golgotha. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
spiritual scientific research, when the blood flowed from the<br />
wounds of Christ and permeated the earth, the entire earth<br />
aura changed.<br />
Death means that the etheric body, the carrier of life, which<br />
makes organic and biochemistry possible, separates from<br />
the physical body and the latter beg<strong>in</strong>s to follow the laws of<br />
<strong>in</strong>organic chemistry and rigor mortis and decay set <strong>in</strong>. By Easter<br />
Sunday two th<strong>in</strong>gs had happened. First, the earth <strong>in</strong>side the<br />
tomb opened and the physical body of Christ was received <strong>in</strong>to<br />
the depths of the earth. Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s spiritual scientific research<br />
reveals that the earth not only opened to receive the body but it<br />
shook <strong>in</strong> such a way as to neatly fold the burial garment. He tells<br />
52 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
that this movement of the earth represented a rare manifestation<br />
of the work<strong>in</strong>g of the Father God. Second, Christ reassembled<br />
an etheric body that was specially densified and rose from<br />
the dead. When Doubt<strong>in</strong>g Thomas touched the wound of Christ,<br />
he actually felt the densifed etheric. Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er expla<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
this by observ<strong>in</strong>g that to heal a wound the etheric body puckers<br />
around it. Because the etheric body had densified, Thomas was<br />
able to feel the etheric pucker<strong>in</strong>g that had formed around the<br />
lance wound <strong>in</strong> the side of Christ. 8<br />
At the Ascension, Christ lifted <strong>in</strong>to the clouds and <strong>in</strong>to the<br />
earthly atmosphere where he has dwelt ever s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>in</strong> the etheric<br />
form of an Angel. He appeared <strong>in</strong> this etheric form to Paul at<br />
Damascus. And, <strong>in</strong>deed, Paul’s experience was a precursor of<br />
the experience human be<strong>in</strong>gs can have <strong>in</strong> our time, the experience<br />
of Christ <strong>in</strong> the etheric that is also known as the Second<br />
Com<strong>in</strong>g of Christ.<br />
The Second Com<strong>in</strong>g, which commenced dur<strong>in</strong>g the 1930s and<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ues until about 5000 AD, can be described as the awaken<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of humanity to the Etheric World at the hand of Christ <strong>in</strong> His<br />
Etheric Form.<br />
This means transform<strong>in</strong>g our understand<strong>in</strong>g of the earth<br />
itself. The generally accepted view of our planet is that of<br />
materialistic geology and astronomy. The earth is thought to be<br />
a dead body with an iron core around which rotates a molten<br />
mass. Above the molten mass are the earth’s crust and the<br />
earth’s surface upon which human, animal, and plant life run<br />
their course. The rotation of the molten mass around the iron<br />
core generates an electric field about the earth. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
accepted materialistic theory the earth orig<strong>in</strong>ated from accretion<br />
from the solar nebula about 4.54 billion years ago. This<br />
accepted picture concerns activities <strong>in</strong> dead matter.<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er argues the materialistic picture of the earth’s<br />
orig<strong>in</strong> is not correct. In the lecture “Buddhism and Paul<strong>in</strong>e<br />
Christianity” 9 he claims that a new understand<strong>in</strong>g of the orig<strong>in</strong><br />
will arise that contemplates not dead material and the po<strong>in</strong>t centered<br />
forces known to physics, but rather the plant world and<br />
etheric forces that are not po<strong>in</strong>t centered but work <strong>in</strong> planes. 10<br />
The new understand<strong>in</strong>g will arrive at a picture of a primordial<br />
etheric earth composed only of plants with pure etheric forms,<br />
i.e. non-material. Slowly, these etheric plants condensed to<br />
warmth and then to air forms. They directed their roots to the<br />
earth’s center and their leaves and blossoms toward the sun.<br />
Further condensation led to <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly dense conditions of<br />
materiality, that is liquid and f<strong>in</strong>ally solid forms. This, accord<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to Ste<strong>in</strong>er, will become recognized science <strong>in</strong> the future. The<br />
plants, he expla<strong>in</strong>s, preceded m<strong>in</strong>erals just as coal was once<br />
plant life. The plants give the earth its form and they give off<br />
the substance from which m<strong>in</strong>erals orig<strong>in</strong>ate. When man is able<br />
to receive the growth forces of the plant k<strong>in</strong>gdom, he will be<br />
released from the forces that now h<strong>in</strong>der him from behold<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the Christ.<br />
Three Paths to Etheric Experience:<br />
The Old Atavistic Clairvoyance,<br />
The New Natural Clairvoyance, and<br />
Modern Imag<strong>in</strong>ative Consciousness<br />
In the 1910 lectures on the Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Etheric, Ste<strong>in</strong>er expla<strong>in</strong>ed that ord<strong>in</strong>ary people will beg<strong>in</strong> to experience<br />
higher sight. They will beg<strong>in</strong> to have perceptions of the<br />
etheric world and will meet the Etheric Christ. This becomes<br />
possible because these people atta<strong>in</strong> what Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er calls<br />
the “New Natural Clairvoyance.”<br />
This clairvoyance arises of itself <strong>in</strong> the course of human<br />
evolution. Many of the 1910 lectures sketch a long horizon<br />
of human development, describ<strong>in</strong>g four periods or ages: the<br />
Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, and the Dark Age<br />
or Kali Yuga. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the Golden and Silver ages mank<strong>in</strong>d was<br />
endowed with the old atavistic clairvoyance where, <strong>in</strong> a k<strong>in</strong>d of<br />
enhanced dream awareness, men could look <strong>in</strong>to the spiritual<br />
world. But for this old clairvoyance to function it was necessary<br />
that people have only a dull consciousness of self. With their<br />
limited self-awareness people could dream <strong>in</strong> a k<strong>in</strong>d of ecstasy<br />
of spiritual realities and spiritual be<strong>in</strong>gs. The old atavistic consciousness<br />
dim<strong>in</strong>ished <strong>in</strong> the Bronze Age and slowly came to an<br />
end for most human be<strong>in</strong>gs around the middle of the Kali Yuga,<br />
which lasted some 5000 years.<br />
The reced<strong>in</strong>g atavistic clairvoyance co<strong>in</strong>cided with a gradual<br />
shr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g of the etheric body, particularly around the head. In<br />
the early ages—Golden and Silver—the etheric head extended<br />
way beyond the physical head and this made it possible for the<br />
etheric head to be <strong>in</strong> deep connection with the etheric environment.<br />
11 As time progressed the etheric head shrank and reached<br />
the po<strong>in</strong>t where it co<strong>in</strong>cided with the outl<strong>in</strong>e of the physical<br />
head, whereupon the old atavism was lost and the possibility of<br />
develop<strong>in</strong>g wide-awake self-consciousness came about.<br />
The last two thousand years of human history have revolved<br />
around acquir<strong>in</strong>g and stabiliz<strong>in</strong>g a strong sense of self <strong>in</strong> the<br />
security of the sense world. But the Kali Yuga ended <strong>in</strong> 1899 and<br />
a new Age of Light has begun. This means that the etheric body<br />
is beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g to loosen aga<strong>in</strong>. The loosen<strong>in</strong>g will be a gradual<br />
process manifest<strong>in</strong>g, at first, <strong>in</strong> a small number of people. Then,<br />
over the course of time, it will become reality for many. Some of<br />
those who experience this loosen<strong>in</strong>g will awaken to the etheric<br />
world through the New Natural Clairvoyance and will be able<br />
to experience those phenomena, enumerated above 12 that are<br />
associated with the Second Com<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
But modern people do not have to wait for the natural loosen<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
It is possible to take one’s spiritual development <strong>in</strong> hand by<br />
practic<strong>in</strong>g certa<strong>in</strong> exercises of soul and spirit. These exercises<br />
are organized accord<strong>in</strong>g to the laws that govern the germ<strong>in</strong>al<br />
potential for higher sight that lies <strong>in</strong> every human be<strong>in</strong>g. 13<br />
Practic<strong>in</strong>g these exercises rigorously can lead to a much more<br />
comprehensive unfold<strong>in</strong>g of supersensible perception than that<br />
of the New Natural Clairvoyance. It should be noted, however,<br />
that the speed of such self-engendered development is dependent<br />
on a person’s <strong>in</strong>dividual karma. 14<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er expla<strong>in</strong>s these exercises <strong>in</strong> many books and<br />
lectures. 15 The exercises lead to enhanc<strong>in</strong>g consciousness to<br />
states above that normal to human be<strong>in</strong>gs of our time, the consciousness<br />
of the senses and the <strong>in</strong>tellect bound to the senses.<br />
The enhanced consciousness that arises from systematic practice<br />
enables the awakened seer to perceive the etheric world<br />
and the etheric body of liv<strong>in</strong>g entities and much more. Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er designates the first enhancement “Imag<strong>in</strong>ative” consciousness,<br />
and he def<strong>in</strong>es what he means by this quite precisely<br />
<strong>in</strong> a number of his works. In particular, he asks his readers<br />
not to confuse the term with the normal dictionary mean<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
the word. In the same spirit he speaks of a second and third en-<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
53
hancement of consciousness. Above “Imag<strong>in</strong>ative” is “Inspired”<br />
consciousness and above that is “Intuitive” consciousness. To<br />
fully behold the etheric world and etheric body requires the<br />
first two enhancements.<br />
A shorthand way to th<strong>in</strong>k of Imag<strong>in</strong>ative consciousness—<br />
which is obviously an oversimplification—is as follows. It is<br />
possible for most people to visualize pictures <strong>in</strong> their m<strong>in</strong>ds, e.g.<br />
geometric figures,<br />
images, sounds,<br />
smells, textures,<br />
etc. Creat<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
clear visualization<br />
takes strenuous<br />
mental effort.<br />
Suppose now that<br />
a person exerts<br />
all his effort to<br />
create a mantric<br />
image. Next try<br />
to conceive that<br />
the image, once<br />
placed clearly<br />
before the m<strong>in</strong>d’s<br />
eye, beg<strong>in</strong>s to be<br />
shaped by a force<br />
com<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
beh<strong>in</strong>d the image.<br />
It is as if another<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g beg<strong>in</strong>s<br />
to take hold of<br />
the image and<br />
remold it. As this<br />
happens the person suddenly merges onto the two-dimensional<br />
plane of the image that has taken on a life of its own. He is then<br />
experienc<strong>in</strong>g the Imag<strong>in</strong>ative enhancement of consciousness.<br />
The Etheric World is Manifest <strong>in</strong> the Plants<br />
With this enhanced consciousness a person can beg<strong>in</strong> to experience<br />
the etheric world. But even before achiev<strong>in</strong>g this state<br />
it is possible to form concepts of the etheric world by observ<strong>in</strong>g<br />
its manifestations <strong>in</strong> the world of the senses. Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
directs us to the world of plants, which he says manifest the<br />
etheric world <strong>in</strong> the physical world:<br />
“[T]he physical becomes visible for us <strong>in</strong> the m<strong>in</strong>eral world.<br />
In the world of the plants the physical has already become <strong>in</strong>visible,<br />
for what we see is really the etheric made visible through<br />
the agency of the physical. We would not, of course, see the<br />
plants with our ord<strong>in</strong>ary eyes if the <strong>in</strong>visible etheric body did<br />
not carry with<strong>in</strong> it little granules (an overly simplified and crude<br />
expression, to be sure) of physical matter. Through the physical<br />
the etheric form becomes visible to us; but this etheric form is<br />
what we are really see<strong>in</strong>g. The physical is, so to speak, only the<br />
means whereby we see the etheric.” 16<br />
In the plant we see the rhythmic character of the etheric<br />
world as the plant goes through its cycle of contractions (e.g.<br />
seed) and expansions (e.g. leaf) as described by Goethe <strong>in</strong> his<br />
poem The Metamorphosis of Plants. We also see the relation<br />
of the etheric to the Sun as the plant lives and unfolds <strong>in</strong> the<br />
sunlight.<br />
The time property of the etheric also manifests <strong>in</strong> the plant.<br />
As an example of this time relationship consider the simple<br />
philodendron plant. Each successive leaf grows from the stem<br />
of the one before. First, there appears a slight thicken<strong>in</strong>g along<br />
the stem with a little po<strong>in</strong>t close to where the leaf grows out of<br />
the stem. This thicken<strong>in</strong>g of the stem then breaks loose from the<br />
stem and looks like a very delicate green spear. The spear then<br />
beg<strong>in</strong>s to unfold<br />
<strong>in</strong>to a tender<br />
leaf. This new<br />
leaf’s stem grows<br />
longer so the new<br />
leaf extends beyond<br />
the one out<br />
of which it grew.<br />
Then a new thicken<strong>in</strong>g<br />
appears<br />
on its stem. If we<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k—illustrative<br />
purposes—of<br />
the new leaf<br />
as the present<br />
moment then its<br />
whole history, its<br />
past, can be seen<br />
beh<strong>in</strong>d it. So we<br />
can th<strong>in</strong>k of the<br />
plant as show<strong>in</strong>g<br />
time spread<br />
out <strong>in</strong> space. It<br />
is <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
contemplate how<br />
long that process of unfold<strong>in</strong>g leaves stretches back <strong>in</strong> time!<br />
Bust of Ahriman bust by Robert Miller of the Aust<strong>in</strong> Waldorf School, for the first scene of Portal of Initiation.<br />
The Processes of Water Also Manifest the Etheric<br />
World<br />
The etheric world also manifests is activity <strong>in</strong> all the watery,<br />
liquid conditions of the sense world. “The Etheric” says Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er “is at work <strong>in</strong> the aqueous processes of earth. All <strong>in</strong> the<br />
mighty drop of water earth—<strong>in</strong> the sea, <strong>in</strong> the rivers, the ris<strong>in</strong>g<br />
mists, fall<strong>in</strong>g drops, cloud formations- <strong>in</strong> all this, etheric currents<br />
are work<strong>in</strong>g. Here weav<strong>in</strong>g ether is revealed <strong>in</strong> pictures to<br />
strengthened consciousness. Everywhere beh<strong>in</strong>d this weav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
water the cosmic imag<strong>in</strong>ation is weav<strong>in</strong>g.” 17<br />
It is <strong>in</strong> the nature of the etheric to shape itself <strong>in</strong>to a drop and,<br />
as Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er states above, the oceans of the earth resemble<br />
a “mighty drop.” The drop, both <strong>in</strong> the t<strong>in</strong>y sphere of ra<strong>in</strong> and<br />
the mighty ocean, are images of the etheric world itself. The<br />
human etheric body, if it were free to follow its own tendency,<br />
would have a drop shape too, but the forces <strong>in</strong>herent <strong>in</strong> the<br />
physical body constra<strong>in</strong> the human etheric body to resemble<br />
the physical body. When death severs the bond between physical<br />
and etheric bodies the etheric expands <strong>in</strong>to the cosmos <strong>in</strong><br />
an ever-grow<strong>in</strong>g drop shape.<br />
The ocean rhythms and mists also help us approach the<br />
idea of the etheric world. Spend<strong>in</strong>g a few days—with sensitivity<br />
of soul - with<strong>in</strong> hear<strong>in</strong>g of an ocean; listen<strong>in</strong>g to the relentless<br />
rhythm of the waves and tide; be<strong>in</strong>g regularly enveloped by<br />
sea mist; through all this the soul can slip <strong>in</strong>to the sea mystery<br />
54 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
of the etheric. Ocean vastness and depth beg<strong>in</strong> to whisper the<br />
language of the world etheric ocean.<br />
In ancient F<strong>in</strong>land, <strong>in</strong> the time of the F<strong>in</strong>nish epic, the Kalevala,<br />
man still possessed the old atavistic clairvoyance. Three<br />
gulfs of the sea encroached on the F<strong>in</strong>nish land: the Gulf of Riga,<br />
the Gulf of F<strong>in</strong>land, and the Gulf of Bothnia. The great dragon<br />
of the sea sent his host of elemental be<strong>in</strong>gs through these gulfs<br />
and over the F<strong>in</strong>s like a great sea mist. The old F<strong>in</strong>s leaned<br />
through their atavistic clairvoyance of this dragon and learned,<br />
thereby, the ancient wisdom:<br />
“The sea here makes <strong>in</strong>roads <strong>in</strong>to the land and forms the<br />
Gulfs of Bothnia, F<strong>in</strong>land and Riga. But if we want to see through<br />
to the spiritual counterpart of the physical appearance, we have<br />
to take together what can be seen when we make as it were a<br />
transverse section of Nature. Down below is a great mass of water;<br />
up above is air. Man breathes the air; and that world of sea<br />
below is a great and might be<strong>in</strong>g that is only differently formed<br />
from what we are accustomed to—a mighty be<strong>in</strong>g spread<strong>in</strong>g<br />
itself out over that entire region. With this be<strong>in</strong>g the men of an<br />
earlier time had a particular and quite special connection. We<br />
talk of Folk-spirits; but Folk-spirits have as <strong>in</strong>struments for their<br />
work the elemental be<strong>in</strong>gs that manifest <strong>in</strong> countless ways. They<br />
are organized like an army, for the purpose of work<strong>in</strong>g right<br />
<strong>in</strong>to the etheric body, that by form<strong>in</strong>g the ether body they may<br />
so form man <strong>in</strong> his physical body that this physical body may<br />
become a fitt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>strument for his special mission on Earth. …<br />
[I]f we want to understand what is there <strong>in</strong> reality, let us return<br />
to the sea-dragon that is a k<strong>in</strong>d of <strong>in</strong>spirer of European humanity—push<strong>in</strong>g<br />
his way over from the Atlantic Ocean to be the <strong>in</strong>spirer<br />
of European humanity. In this dragon is conta<strong>in</strong>ed, when<br />
we survey the totality of his elemental be<strong>in</strong>gs, everyth<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
is spiritual <strong>in</strong> European humanity. If we were able to understand<br />
him fully, this dragon, we would be able to give ourselves up<br />
entirely to him, and would then all be clairvoyant.” 18<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er proceeds to clarify that it is not the task of<br />
modern humanity to return to the old atavistic clairvoyance.<br />
Rather the task was first to develop a firm self-awareness <strong>in</strong> the<br />
sense world and second, <strong>in</strong> our time, to reawaken to the etheric<br />
world through the New Natural Clairvoyance or Imag<strong>in</strong>ative<br />
Consciousness while reta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g modern ego consciousness.<br />
To achieve modern self awareness, the atavistic clairvoyance<br />
had to pass away <strong>in</strong> the course of time as expla<strong>in</strong>ed above. This<br />
separated man from knowledge of the etheric world or world of<br />
life. It conf<strong>in</strong>ed him to the world of dead and shattered forms,<br />
but it gave him the possibility to become a self-conscious be<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
i.e. a be<strong>in</strong>g that can “know that he knows” <strong>in</strong> the sense this<br />
thought is developed <strong>in</strong> Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Philosophy of Spiritual Activity.<br />
In the old consciousness man dreamed; dreamed of the ancient<br />
dragon and his wisdom <strong>in</strong> the rhythmic movements of the<br />
etheric world. Though he saw and grasped much <strong>in</strong> that ancient<br />
time he was not self-aware. He bought self-awareness at the cost<br />
of his awareness of the life world, the cosmic etheric ocean <strong>in</strong><br />
which he is still embedded unconsciously.<br />
The new task of mank<strong>in</strong>d is to reawaken to the etheric world<br />
through the development of a modern clairvoyance, Imag<strong>in</strong>ative<br />
consciousness that can operate simultaneously with wideawake<br />
self-awareness.<br />
Etheric Manifestations <strong>in</strong> the Human Organism<br />
The work<strong>in</strong>g of the etheric body of a human be<strong>in</strong>g manifests<br />
<strong>in</strong> a number of ways <strong>in</strong> the sense world if we understand what<br />
we perceive. One manifestation is <strong>in</strong> sweat and secretions.<br />
Every secretion <strong>in</strong>dicates the work<strong>in</strong>gs of the etheric body. Note<br />
that as <strong>in</strong> outer nature these manifestations are <strong>in</strong> the watery<br />
or liquid element. Even more strik<strong>in</strong>g is Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s observation<br />
that the feel<strong>in</strong>g life of the soul rides on secretions, i.e.<br />
secretions are the physiological basis of feel<strong>in</strong>gs. So the feel<strong>in</strong>g<br />
life of the soul has as its basis etheric activities that manifest <strong>in</strong><br />
secretions. This idea, of course, goes aga<strong>in</strong>st accepted notions<br />
that feel<strong>in</strong>gs—and all other aspects of soul life—are based on<br />
the nerves.<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er also connects the feel<strong>in</strong>g life with the blood circulation<br />
and the heart, which is a fluid system that he sees as a<br />
manifestation of etheric activity <strong>in</strong> the body.<br />
Here is a passage where Ste<strong>in</strong>er relates bodily secretions to<br />
activity of the etheric body and the life of feel<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
“It can become visible when a person sweats—when a person<br />
sweats the etheric body becomes visible [manifests] outwardly…Generally<br />
speak<strong>in</strong>g, then, there is very little external<br />
expression of the etheric. Inwardly, on the other hand, it is<br />
experienced all the more, namely <strong>in</strong> feel<strong>in</strong>g. The whole life of<br />
feel<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>wardly experienced, is what is liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the etheric<br />
body when this body is active from with<strong>in</strong>, so that one experiences<br />
it from with<strong>in</strong>. The life of feel<strong>in</strong>g is always accompanied<br />
by <strong>in</strong>ner secretions. To [clairvoyant] observation of the etheric<br />
body <strong>in</strong> the human be<strong>in</strong>g it appears that the liver, for <strong>in</strong>stance,<br />
sweats, that the stomach sweats—that every organ sweats and<br />
secretes. The etheric life of the human be<strong>in</strong>g lives <strong>in</strong> secretions.<br />
The whole life of feel<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>wardly experienced is what is liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong> the etheric body when the ether body is active with<strong>in</strong> us. The<br />
life of feel<strong>in</strong>g always is accompanied by <strong>in</strong>ner secretions. For the<br />
seer: the liver sweats, the stomach sweats, every organ sweats<br />
and secretes. The etheric life of human be<strong>in</strong>gs lives <strong>in</strong> process<br />
of secretion. Around the heart, around the liver there is a cloud<br />
of sweat, all is enveloped <strong>in</strong> mist and cloud.” 19<br />
In this next passage Ste<strong>in</strong>er <strong>in</strong>dicates that the heart and circulation<br />
are an image of the etheric body:<br />
“What really do the blood circulation and the heart mean to<br />
us? They are the etheric world condensed; they are the densified<br />
forces of the etheric world!” 20<br />
He goes on to make the remarkable observation that the<br />
heart with the blood circulation have densified or entered material<br />
form as far as necessary for human evolution, and that they<br />
have already begun to dematerialize back <strong>in</strong>to an etheric condition,<br />
a topic we shall discuss further.<br />
Imag<strong>in</strong>ative Perception of the Etheric World<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s collected works—over 360 volumes—are<br />
filled with descriptions of his experiences <strong>in</strong> Imag<strong>in</strong>ative and<br />
higher states of consciousness. In particular, he gives many<br />
pictures of the etheric world. He expla<strong>in</strong>s that all liv<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs—<br />
plants, animals, and human be<strong>in</strong>gs—have an etheric body <strong>in</strong><br />
addition to their physical body. In his basic writ<strong>in</strong>gs Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er describes the etheric body of the human be<strong>in</strong>g as resembl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the physical body, particularly above the waist. Below, the<br />
etheric body merges with the etheric body of the earth. To each<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
55
physical organ there corresponds an etheric organ. These etheric<br />
organs have characteristic forms but at the same time are<br />
fluid and shape shift<strong>in</strong>g. The physical organs can be pictured as<br />
condensations out of the etheric ones, like ice out of water. From<br />
certa<strong>in</strong> perspectives of enhanced consciousness, the etheric<br />
body appears to have a color resembl<strong>in</strong>g young peach blossoms,<br />
though Ste<strong>in</strong>er emphasizes that the actual imag<strong>in</strong>ative<br />
color is not to be found <strong>in</strong> the sense world. The etheric body is<br />
composed of the four types of ether—warmth ether, light ether,<br />
chemical or tone ether, and life ether. On all sides the etheric<br />
body is l<strong>in</strong>ked to the surround<strong>in</strong>g etheric world and there is a<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>uous exchange of currents and forces with this surround<strong>in</strong>g<br />
environment.<br />
He speaks of “[O]ne’s own etheric organism grow[<strong>in</strong>g] together<br />
… with the etheric cosmos …the confluence of his etheric<br />
nature with etheric weav<strong>in</strong>g and puls<strong>in</strong>g of the cosmos...” 21 Then<br />
we feel our connection with cosmic space, with the planets and<br />
the stars, just as from the consciousness of our physical body<br />
we feel ourselves connected with quartz crystals, cabbages, and<br />
rabbits. When a clairvoyant learns to live <strong>in</strong> her etheric body<br />
she leaves the realm of gravity and enters the forces of lightness<br />
or levity, 22 whose activity can be observed, for example, <strong>in</strong> the<br />
force that allows the sap to rise <strong>in</strong> trees. Levity forces are, of<br />
course, not recognized by modern physics, but then aga<strong>in</strong> modern<br />
physics has no explanation of how a large, heavy volume of<br />
sap ascends hundreds of feet <strong>in</strong> a great tree every spr<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er depicts be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the etheric world <strong>in</strong> these words:<br />
“With imag<strong>in</strong>ation he lives <strong>in</strong> the etheric world. He feels<br />
himself as alive <strong>in</strong> the etheric world as otherwise he has felt<br />
<strong>in</strong> his physical body. But he feels the etheric world more as<br />
a sum of rhythmic processes, a vibrat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the world ether,<br />
which, however he is certa<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong> a position to <strong>in</strong>terpret <strong>in</strong> ideas<br />
and concepts. Man senses events of a universal nature <strong>in</strong> the<br />
etheric-imag<strong>in</strong>ative experience; he feels supersensible, etheric<br />
phenomena. In <strong>in</strong>spiration he feels not only such supersensible,<br />
etheric facts merg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to each other, metamorphos<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and tak<strong>in</strong>g on all manner of possible forms, but now, through<br />
<strong>in</strong>spiration, he senses how <strong>in</strong> this etheric, billow<strong>in</strong>g world, <strong>in</strong><br />
this rhythmically undulat<strong>in</strong>g world, as if on waves of an etheric<br />
word-ocean, real be<strong>in</strong>gs are weav<strong>in</strong>g and work<strong>in</strong>g. In this<br />
way one feels someth<strong>in</strong>g rem<strong>in</strong>iscent of the sun, moon, planets<br />
and the fixed stars, and also of th<strong>in</strong>gs on the physical earth,<br />
for example, the m<strong>in</strong>erals and plants, and all this is bathed <strong>in</strong><br />
the cosmic ether. …While here <strong>in</strong> the physical sense world we<br />
perceive only the exterior of everyth<strong>in</strong>g, there we recognize it<br />
<strong>in</strong> its essential, spiritual existence. We also atta<strong>in</strong> a view of the<br />
<strong>in</strong>ner nature of the human organism, as well as the form of the<br />
separate organs, lungs, heart, liver and so on. For we see now<br />
that everyth<strong>in</strong>g that gives form and life to the human organism<br />
orig<strong>in</strong>ates not only <strong>in</strong> what surrounds us and is active <strong>in</strong> the<br />
physical cosmos, but also proceeds from the spiritual be<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
with<strong>in</strong> this physical cosmos.” 23<br />
From another perspective, look<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the etheric world<br />
gives this impression:<br />
“And what would we sense if, just as we look out <strong>in</strong>to the<br />
physical world with our physical body, we look <strong>in</strong>to the etheric<br />
world though the etheric body? What would we behold then?<br />
We would see the past of all th<strong>in</strong>gs spread out before our physical<br />
eyes—the actual past, from which this physical world arose.<br />
We would see, <strong>in</strong> the spirit, the images of what was—of what<br />
made the present possible.” 24<br />
This next description portrays <strong>in</strong> a wondrous manner the<br />
etheric body with its light, tone, and life ethers:<br />
“[T]he etheric body is woven of light and sound and life<br />
and partakes not only of life on the earth but of the life of the<br />
cosmos. The etheric body glows through the physical body.<br />
The etheric body breathes light and it gives it out. And when it<br />
gives light out and confers the light on us we live by means of<br />
the light. It breathes <strong>in</strong> light. When it breathes light <strong>in</strong>, it uses<br />
the light up and changes it to darkness, and then can receive<br />
sound <strong>in</strong>to this darkness, the sounds of the worlds that live <strong>in</strong><br />
the harmony of the spheres, and can receive it <strong>in</strong>to the impulses<br />
of life. As we receive physical nourishment so does the etheric<br />
body breath light <strong>in</strong> and out. As we use up oxygen and make<br />
CO 2<br />
, so the etheric body uses up light, shoot<strong>in</strong>g it through with<br />
darkness, so it appears <strong>in</strong> color. So the etheric body shows itself<br />
to clairvoyance as waves of color. And whilst the etheric body<br />
prepares the light for darkness and thereby carries on the <strong>in</strong>ner<br />
work of breath<strong>in</strong>g, it lives <strong>in</strong> that it receives the sound of the<br />
worlds and changes the sound <strong>in</strong>to life of worlds.” 25<br />
It is worth not<strong>in</strong>g that this passage is given dramatic portrayal<br />
<strong>in</strong> the seventh scene of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s first Mystery Drama,<br />
The Portal of Initiation. The scene takes place <strong>in</strong> the Spirit World<br />
and the three soul forces - Philia, Astrid, and Luna- describe<br />
light, tone and life ether <strong>in</strong> beautiful poetic language.<br />
As we are beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g to see, the Etheric world and etheric<br />
body of the human be<strong>in</strong>g are complex and multidimensional,<br />
and can be viewed from many perspectives. At first these perspectives<br />
can be confus<strong>in</strong>g. For example, at times Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
describes the etheric body as if it were <strong>in</strong> space. On other occasions,<br />
he states that it actually is a “time body” extend<strong>in</strong>g back<br />
<strong>in</strong> time to the po<strong>in</strong>t when it was formed prior to birth. Earlier we<br />
illustrated this fact with a sense perceptible philodendron plant.<br />
But the sense perceptible plant form is not actually a time body<br />
because the grow<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t at the end of the youngest leaf is really<br />
not “the present moment” of the plant; the whole plant is <strong>in</strong><br />
the present moment <strong>in</strong> each moment. But from certa<strong>in</strong> clairvoyant<br />
perspectives the etheric body really does show its whole<br />
past, and time really does spread out before such behold<strong>in</strong>g as<br />
space. To spiritual perception one’s own etheric body presents<br />
its entire growth history. Simultaneously, the seer beholds the<br />
period of embryological development, the chang<strong>in</strong>g teeth, and<br />
puberty with all its adolescent trials etc. If through a shock,<br />
the etheric body is momentarily separated from the physical<br />
body and the person reta<strong>in</strong>s consciousness, then he will see his<br />
entire life pass before him as a great tableau. There are many<br />
reports of see<strong>in</strong>g this tableau from people who came close to<br />
dy<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The Development of the Human Etheric<br />
Body From Its Formation Until the Onset of<br />
Adolescence 26 : The Formation of the Etheric<br />
Heart<br />
To clairvoyant vision the etheric body of a small child looks<br />
like an image of the universe.<br />
“It is a universe <strong>in</strong> the form of an image. In its circumference<br />
it has someth<strong>in</strong>g like stars, and <strong>in</strong> its lower part someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
reveals itself that is more or less an image of the earth. It even<br />
56 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
conta<strong>in</strong>s a k<strong>in</strong>d of image of the sun and moon. It is extraord<strong>in</strong>arily<br />
significant that we, <strong>in</strong> our descent <strong>in</strong>to earthly life, draw<br />
together forces from the universal ether and thus take with us,<br />
<strong>in</strong> our ether body, a k<strong>in</strong>d of image of the cosmos. If one could<br />
extract the ether body of man, at the moment when he is unit<strong>in</strong>g<br />
himself with the physical body, we should have a sphere which<br />
is far more beautiful than any formed by mechanical means- a<br />
sphere conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g stars, zodiac, sun and moon.”<br />
These configurations are already there <strong>in</strong> embryological development.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g early childhood they fade a little but rema<strong>in</strong><br />
to the 7th year. With the change of teeth the stars beg<strong>in</strong> send<strong>in</strong>g<br />
out rays—hav<strong>in</strong>g previously been more star like. Between 7-14<br />
these rays sh<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>to a center situated at the physical heart.<br />
The star rays actually build up a center around the physical<br />
heart. As the center takes form the stars become pale and what<br />
has come together <strong>in</strong>to a ball-like formation around the heart<br />
becomes vivid and alive. The physical heart is suspended with<br />
its blood vessels <strong>in</strong> the center of this etheric structure.<br />
The stars draw <strong>in</strong>ward and disappear; the etheric body itself<br />
rema<strong>in</strong>s but is less differentiated at the periphery. At about<br />
puberty the ball like etheric structure becomes the child’s own<br />
etheric heart. Before that he had a provisional etheric heart<br />
from heredity. Now he has his own etheric heart. This whole<br />
process can be compared to what happens physically when the<br />
childhood teeth are replaced with the new teeth.<br />
Spiritually it is a very significant development because the<br />
etheric heart is the organ of dest<strong>in</strong>y.<br />
Etheric Streams From Heart to Head: the<br />
Etherization of the Blood. 27<br />
As blood passes through the heart some of it is transmuted<br />
to etheric blood. This blood is said to be etherized. An <strong>Anthroposophical</strong><br />
medical doctor once stated that the blood <strong>in</strong> the<br />
heart moves <strong>in</strong> a k<strong>in</strong>d of vortex and at the top of the vortex the<br />
etherization takes place. 28 This etherized blood then streams<br />
from the heart to the head.<br />
This stream<strong>in</strong>g etheric current plays an extremely significant<br />
role. It makes it possible for human be<strong>in</strong>gs to th<strong>in</strong>k about th<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
that do not concern them directly.<br />
“Unless these streams of ether were to flow cont<strong>in</strong>uously<br />
from the heart towards the head, however much we tried to<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k about the world and to know about it, we should be quite<br />
unable to make use of our bra<strong>in</strong> as the <strong>in</strong>strument for thought.<br />
As an <strong>in</strong>strument for knowledge the bra<strong>in</strong> would be completely<br />
useless if it were only to function as physical bra<strong>in</strong>. We have to<br />
resort to occultism to learn how the bra<strong>in</strong> would work today<br />
if it were left to itself. The human be<strong>in</strong>g would only be able to<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k thoughts connected with the <strong>in</strong>ner needs of his body. For<br />
example, he would be able to th<strong>in</strong>k, “Now I am hungry, now I am<br />
thirsty, now I will satisfy this or that <strong>in</strong>st<strong>in</strong>ct.” If he were entirely<br />
dependent upon his physical bra<strong>in</strong> man would only be able to<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k thoughts connected with his own bodily needs, he would<br />
be the perfect egotist.” 29<br />
These currents are <strong>in</strong>directly related to the p<strong>in</strong>eal gland.<br />
“They cont<strong>in</strong>ually lave the p<strong>in</strong>eal gland, which becomes<br />
lum<strong>in</strong>ous, and its movements as physical bra<strong>in</strong> organ respond<br />
<strong>in</strong> harmony with these etheric currents emanat<strong>in</strong>g from the<br />
heart.” 30 By way of the p<strong>in</strong>eal gland the etherized blood reacts<br />
upon the bra<strong>in</strong>. This enables the bra<strong>in</strong> to know someth<strong>in</strong>g about<br />
the outside world beyond egotistical concerns.<br />
In “Etherization of the Blood” 31 , Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er poses the<br />
question: Does there exist a macrocosmic counterpart to the<br />
microcosmic etherization of the blood <strong>in</strong> the human heart?<br />
To answer this question he po<strong>in</strong>ts to the Mystery of Golgotha<br />
and tells how the blood that flowed from the wounds of Christ<br />
entered the earth and etherized <strong>in</strong> the course of time. This is<br />
the macrocosmic parallel. “This blood must not be regarded<br />
simply as chemical substance, but by reason of all that has<br />
been described as the nature of Jesus of Nazareth, it must be<br />
recognized as someth<strong>in</strong>g altogether unique. When it flowed<br />
from His wounds and <strong>in</strong>to the earth, a substance was imparted<br />
to our earth which, <strong>in</strong> unit<strong>in</strong>g with it, constituted an event of the<br />
greatest possible significance for all future ages of the earth…”<br />
This special blood etherized and exists <strong>in</strong> homeopathic dilution<br />
<strong>in</strong> the etheric body of the earth. It is possible for the etherized<br />
blood of Christ to unite with the etheric stream <strong>in</strong> the human<br />
body that runs from heart to his head. For this to happen the <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
must “unfold a true understand<strong>in</strong>g of what is conta<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Christ Impulse.”<br />
In “Etherization of the Blood” it is stated that through slowly<br />
assimilat<strong>in</strong>g the content of spiritual science the stream flow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
from heart to bra<strong>in</strong> will be fired and this will enable people<br />
to understand the Second Com<strong>in</strong>g, which is occurr<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> our<br />
time. Apparently, this union of the Christ etheric blood stream<br />
with the human etheric blood stream enhances our capacity<br />
to grasp what is not an immediate egotistical concern so that<br />
human understand<strong>in</strong>g can advance from natural science to<br />
the spiritual science of the etheric world. “[I]n our present age<br />
it is important that man should learn to understand that the<br />
knowledge conta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> spiritual science must be received and<br />
gradually be able so to fire the streams flow<strong>in</strong>g from heart to<br />
bra<strong>in</strong> that anthroposophy can be understood. If this comes to<br />
pass, <strong>in</strong>dividuals will be able to comprehend the event that has<br />
its beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the twentieth century; the appearance of the<br />
etheric Christ…” Note here the issue is not experienc<strong>in</strong>g Christ<br />
<strong>in</strong> the etheric, but of comprehend<strong>in</strong>g that this stupendous event<br />
is occurr<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The Formation of Memory and Etheric Currents:<br />
The Light Ether Prayer of Risen Christ<br />
The etheric current flow<strong>in</strong>g from heart to the head is not only<br />
connected with the capacity for unselfish th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g about the<br />
world, but also with the faculty of memory. Memory formation<br />
also makes use of a second etheric current that arises not<br />
from the heart but from the lower part of the breast, the lymph<br />
vessels and other organs. This current collects around the<br />
pituitary gland. The work<strong>in</strong>g of the two currents makes memory<br />
possible. 32 This comes about from a tremendous etheric tension<br />
aris<strong>in</strong>g between the p<strong>in</strong>eal gland and the pituitary gland, a<br />
tension that arises as a result of the forces <strong>in</strong> the two currents.<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er compares the tension to that of oppos<strong>in</strong>g electric fields.<br />
This tension impr<strong>in</strong>ts the memory picture <strong>in</strong>to the etheric body.<br />
Speak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the sense of Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Philosophy of Spiritual Activity,<br />
the th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g activity l<strong>in</strong>ks a concept with a percept result<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
a mental picture, e.g. I see a black and white animal graz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
the field and l<strong>in</strong>k the sense percept with the concept “graz<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Holste<strong>in</strong> cow.” The tension between the two currents impr<strong>in</strong>ts<br />
the memory picture <strong>in</strong>to the etheric body.<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
57
Light Ether, one of the four ethers, plays a special role <strong>in</strong><br />
the process of memory creation. 33 Memories are carried <strong>in</strong> a<br />
person’s light ether body, i.e. <strong>in</strong> the light ether component of the<br />
etheric body, which Ste<strong>in</strong>er designates the Light Body. The tension<br />
that arises between the two glands apparently impresses a<br />
unique movement <strong>in</strong>to Light Body, a unique movement or dance<br />
for each mental picture. To remember means that the Light<br />
Body re-dances the unique dance.<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er expla<strong>in</strong>s that the Risen Christ—prior to the Ascension—taught<br />
this mystery of the Light Body to his <strong>in</strong>timate<br />
disciples and told them that they needed to awake to awareness<br />
<strong>in</strong> their etheric body while outside the physical body and from<br />
there behold their own Light Body. But Satan or Ahriman works<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st the possibility of such etheric vision by darken<strong>in</strong>g our<br />
consciousness when we step out of our physical body. Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er po<strong>in</strong>ts to a passage <strong>in</strong> the Pistis Sophia—one of the<br />
few Gnostic texts that survived destruction—where the Risen<br />
Christ teaches the disciples a prayer to help them achieve this<br />
state of awareness:<br />
“Oh, you powers <strong>in</strong> the Spiritual World, let me step <strong>in</strong>to the<br />
light world and behold <strong>in</strong> the Light my own Light Body. And let<br />
not Ahriman’s power over me be so great that I am unable to<br />
behold what takes place <strong>in</strong> my own Body of Light.”<br />
Conclusion: Christ Sees Us<br />
We have completed a journey through some of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s<br />
spiritual scientific research concern<strong>in</strong>g the Reappearance<br />
of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric and the re-awaken<strong>in</strong>g of humanity to the<br />
world of life, the etheric world. No doubt form<strong>in</strong>g a connection<br />
with these complicated thoughts is challeng<strong>in</strong>g. But they will<br />
lead us to a deeper understand<strong>in</strong>g of the Christ who is aware of<br />
every s<strong>in</strong>gle human soul at all times. To conclude let us contemplate<br />
this mantra:<br />
“Christ knows us. To a soul that sees our Spiritual Science <strong>in</strong><br />
the true light, to a heart that feels it <strong>in</strong> its true significance, I can<br />
impart no more esoteric say<strong>in</strong>g: The Christ Is See<strong>in</strong>g Us.” 34<br />
Stephen Usher holds a PhD <strong>in</strong> economics from the University of<br />
Michigan. His professional experience <strong>in</strong>cludes serv<strong>in</strong>g as a staff<br />
economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a number<br />
of years as a f<strong>in</strong>ancial and economic consultant with a lead<strong>in</strong>g firm<br />
of consult<strong>in</strong>g economists. Steve also spent eight years as Manag<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Director of the Anthroposophic Press as well as serv<strong>in</strong>g on the Board<br />
of the Threefold Educational Foundation. He and his wife Beth, a wellknown<br />
eurythmist, live <strong>in</strong> Aust<strong>in</strong>, Texas, where they are both active <strong>in</strong><br />
the Novalis Branch of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong>.<br />
Endnotes<br />
1. Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Anthroposophic Press, Spr<strong>in</strong>g Valley, New York, 1983.<br />
2. The term “Mystery Drama” refers to the “mysteries” that were places of<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiation <strong>in</strong> the ancient world. Ste<strong>in</strong>er wrote four mystery dramas. The<br />
first, The Portal of Initiation, was written and performed <strong>in</strong> 1910. Three<br />
more plays followed <strong>in</strong> 1911, 1912, and 1913 and each was premiered dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
an August conference <strong>in</strong> Munich. The plays depict the lives of a group<br />
of students of esoteric knowledge.<br />
3. Included <strong>in</strong> Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric. (See note 1)<br />
4. From “Etherization of the Blood,” conta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong><br />
the Etheric.<br />
5. The German translation was published under the title Sie Erlebten Christus<br />
by Gunnar Hillerdal and Berndt Gustafsson, Pforte Verlag, 2002.<br />
6. Available <strong>in</strong> English <strong>in</strong> Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Millennium Prophecies by He<strong>in</strong>z<br />
Herbert Schoeffler, MD, Goulden Books, The Chapel, Treligga,Delabole,<br />
Cornwall PL33 9EE, England.<br />
7. For a full picture of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s discovers regard<strong>in</strong>g the life of Christ<br />
see his lectures on each of the Gospels (one volume per gospel) and The<br />
Fifth Gospel.<br />
8. To add to the complexity it should be noted that Christ rose from the dead<br />
<strong>in</strong> His densified etheric body and also <strong>in</strong> what Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er calls the<br />
phantom. This is the form pr<strong>in</strong>ciple of the physical body that had been<br />
damaged by the Fall of Man that resulted from <strong>in</strong>terference <strong>in</strong> Earth evolution<br />
by Luciferic be<strong>in</strong>gs. One of the great deeds of Christ dur<strong>in</strong>g his 3½<br />
years <strong>in</strong> a physical body was to overcome the corruption and re-perfect<br />
the human phantom. So Christ rose from the dead <strong>in</strong> both a densified<br />
etheric body and the perfected phantom. See From Jesus to Christ by<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er.<br />
9. In Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric; one of the 1910 lectures.<br />
10. Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er and his students used projective geometry to capture aspects<br />
of the work<strong>in</strong>gs of etheric forces. See The Plant Between Sun and<br />
Earth and The Science of Physical and Etherial Spaces, George Adams,<br />
Olive Whicher, Ehrenfried Pfeiffer.<br />
11. The heads of animals still extend way beyond their physical heads. In<br />
some lectures Ste<strong>in</strong>er describes the enormous etheric extension of the<br />
head of a horse.<br />
12. See section titled “Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Announcement <strong>in</strong> a Nut Shell.”<br />
13. See “The Psychological Foundations of Anthroposophy,” (lecture of April<br />
8, 1911) <strong>in</strong> Esoteric Development, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Anthroposophic Press,<br />
1982.<br />
14. Ste<strong>in</strong>er states that cases of the old atavism have l<strong>in</strong>gered on as well, so it<br />
takes some discernment to dist<strong>in</strong>guish between old atavistic clairvoyance<br />
and the new natural clairvoyance.<br />
15. The primary work on this topic is Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and<br />
Its Atta<strong>in</strong>ment.<br />
16. The Mystery of the Tr<strong>in</strong>ity, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er, July 28, 1914, GA 214.<br />
17. Anthroposophy, an Introduction, GA 234, Feb 1. 1924.<br />
18. Die Zusammenhang des Menschen mit der elementarischen Welt, GA<br />
158, Lecture of November 14, 1914, available <strong>in</strong> typescript from Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library.<br />
19. Mystery of the Tr<strong>in</strong>ity, July 18, 1922.<br />
20. Wonders of the World, August 25, 1911.<br />
21. Philosophy, Cosmology, Religion, Sept. 7, 1922.<br />
22. What Is Anthroposophy, July 21, 1923.<br />
23. Philosophy, Cosmology and Religion, lecture of Sept. 8, 1922.<br />
24. What Is Anthroposophy, July 21, 1923.<br />
25. Lecture of Oct. 2, 1916, GA 171. Available as manuscript from the Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library.<br />
26. The Human Soul In Relation to World Evolution, May 26, 1922, GA 212<br />
27. “The Etherization of the Blood,” Oct. 1, 1911, <strong>in</strong> Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong><br />
the Etheric; lecture of August 25, 1911 <strong>in</strong> Wonders of the World; lecture of<br />
March 23, 1911 <strong>in</strong> Occult Physiology.<br />
28. Dr. David Brill <strong>in</strong> a lecture given <strong>in</strong> the 1990s <strong>in</strong> Spr<strong>in</strong>g Valley, New York.<br />
29. August 25, 1911, Wonders of the World.<br />
30. August 25, 1911, Wonders of the World.<br />
31. Oct.1, 1911, Reappearance of Christ <strong>in</strong> the Etheric.<br />
32. March 23, 1911, Occult Physiology.<br />
33. GA 165 lecture of Jan. 2, 1916. Not available <strong>in</strong> English<br />
34. Lecture of Nov. 1, 1915, GA 254 unavailable <strong>in</strong> English. The verse is published<br />
<strong>in</strong> Verses and Meditations.<br />
58 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Review of Where on Earth is Heaven? cont. from p.6<br />
others, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g anthroposophists like Edmunds, John Davy,<br />
Owen Barfield, Karl Koenig, James Dyson, and Rudolf Meyer. Mr.<br />
Stedall is noth<strong>in</strong>g if not eclectic—he takes his wisdom, purpose,<br />
and mean<strong>in</strong>g where he f<strong>in</strong>ds them. And after his long journey, he<br />
refuses to “fall <strong>in</strong>to the trap of suddenly try<strong>in</strong>g to make everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
comprehensible.”<br />
But Mr. Stedall’s journey has not been without order and<br />
progress. In his conclusion, he is firm and confident <strong>in</strong> his<br />
dismissal of militant atheists and acolytes of the random such<br />
as Richard Dawk<strong>in</strong>s and Christopher Hitchens. He believes that<br />
there are no limits to knowledge—one horizon always follows<br />
the next. As for the question that engendered the book—<br />
“Where on Earth is heaven?”—the answer is clear to him.<br />
Heaven is a possibility that can become a reality, not as some<br />
“th<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> itself” only derivatively knowable, but here on Earth,<br />
“amidst all the obstacles through which we learn and grow.”<br />
Where on Earth is Heaven?<br />
Reviewed by Signe Schaefer<br />
Jonathan Stedall’s Where on Earth is Heaven? is a big book—<strong>in</strong><br />
size and even more <strong>in</strong> the breadth of its imag<strong>in</strong>ation. I hope no<br />
one will be put off by its length; for from the open<strong>in</strong>g of its title<br />
question, asked many years ago by the author’s young son, the<br />
reader is <strong>in</strong>vited on an extraord<strong>in</strong>ary journey through the 20th<br />
century and beyond. This is a cultural and spiritual journey,<br />
accompany<strong>in</strong>g a man f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g himself through follow<strong>in</strong>g his questions<br />
and honor<strong>in</strong>g what he calls the “awakeners” along his way.<br />
The details of the author’s life are never the po<strong>in</strong>t of his writ<strong>in</strong>g;<br />
this is more an <strong>in</strong>ner memoir, a record of the<br />
legacy he has received from literature, art, psychology,<br />
natural science, philosophy, anthroposophy,<br />
and most of all from other people. It is<br />
the story of a life lived deeply and car<strong>in</strong>gly; and<br />
its tell<strong>in</strong>g is, <strong>in</strong> a way, a call to us all.<br />
For me that call felt quite personal, an <strong>in</strong>vitation<br />
from a friend to consider with him the<br />
search<strong>in</strong>g and the <strong>in</strong>fluences, the questions<br />
and the gratitudes of a lifetime. I have known<br />
Jonathan s<strong>in</strong>ce the Spr<strong>in</strong>g Valley International<br />
Youth Conference <strong>in</strong> 1970, and I had the good<br />
fortune to see him often when my family lived<br />
<strong>in</strong> England through most of the 1970’s. His keen <strong>in</strong>telligence, his<br />
warm heart, and his ever-ready wit permeate this rich book.<br />
Throughout his long career as a documentary filmmaker<br />
Jonathan had the opportunity to <strong>in</strong>terview many remarkable<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividualities of our times: the writer Laurens van der Post,<br />
poets John Betjeman and Ben Okri, novelist Alexander Solzenhitsyn,<br />
physicist Fritjof Capra, and economist E.F. Schumacher<br />
to name a few. Dur<strong>in</strong>g his many years with the BBC, he also<br />
directed films on Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Carl Gustav<br />
Jung. Now he br<strong>in</strong>gs these people, and many others, <strong>in</strong>to his<br />
book, <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g us along on his different projects and <strong>in</strong>troduc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
us to those he felt privileged to come to know. With deep<br />
respect he explores the varieties of thought and creativity that<br />
have shaped our modern consciousness. But Jonathan’s wide <strong>in</strong>terest<br />
is not limited to the famous and <strong>in</strong>fluential. He also shares<br />
stories of the wounded and vulnerable, and of everyday people<br />
do<strong>in</strong>g quiet, often unnoticed good work.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce his youth Jonathan kept a notebook <strong>in</strong> which he jotted<br />
down questions or <strong>in</strong>sights that occurred to him, quotations<br />
from his read<strong>in</strong>g or poems that moved him. The book is rich<br />
with these mementos of his meander<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>tellect and heart. At<br />
times it feels almost like an anthology of treasured references.<br />
Aga<strong>in</strong> and aga<strong>in</strong> we meet the writers who played a significant<br />
role <strong>in</strong> his <strong>in</strong>ner journey, th<strong>in</strong>kers like Ralph Waldo Emerson,<br />
Pierre Teilhard de Chard<strong>in</strong>, C.G. Jung, and Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er. We follow<br />
the evolution of his th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g as it is challenged and <strong>in</strong>spired,<br />
as his life experiences evoke ever deeper questions about life<br />
and death, and as his search<strong>in</strong>g takes him around the world and<br />
also approaches <strong>in</strong>visible realms.<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er plays a central role <strong>in</strong> Jonathan’s quest and<br />
<strong>in</strong> the book. We meet Ste<strong>in</strong>er the man, his teach<strong>in</strong>gs, and the<br />
results of his spiritual research. In clear and approachable<br />
language Jonathan presents complex ideas such as the four-fold<br />
human be<strong>in</strong>g, re<strong>in</strong>carnation and karma, life phases, the Christ<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g, the evolution of consciousness, and Waldorf education, to<br />
name only some of the areas he addresses. He has had his arguments<br />
with Ste<strong>in</strong>er which he expresses, but also allows to evolve<br />
over the years. His quest is ongo<strong>in</strong>g, and his gratitude is enormous.<br />
He is deeply motivated by a certa<strong>in</strong>ty that people today<br />
need to meet real ideas and real pictures of what it means to be<br />
a human be<strong>in</strong>g. Committed as he is to speak<strong>in</strong>g the language of<br />
everyday and avoid<strong>in</strong>g exclusive term<strong>in</strong>ology of any k<strong>in</strong>d, it must<br />
also be said that he is an elegant and <strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g writer.<br />
Early <strong>in</strong> his career Jonathan met the work of the Camphill<br />
movement, and the profound effect of his meet<strong>in</strong>gs with both<br />
co-workers and villagers is mov<strong>in</strong>gly <strong>in</strong>voked <strong>in</strong> the book. In<br />
1968 his film In Need of Special Care won a<br />
British Film Academy Award. This was followed<br />
over the years by other films about Camphill<br />
and also about Waldorf education. It is excit<strong>in</strong>g<br />
news that he is now prepar<strong>in</strong>g to film The<br />
Challenge of Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er. His experience<br />
document<strong>in</strong>g other great world leaders and his<br />
lifelong work with anthroposophy make him<br />
s<strong>in</strong>gularly qualified to direct this film, and we<br />
can await it with great anticipation.<br />
As a clos<strong>in</strong>g to this review, I would like to<br />
mention that my husband and I read Where<br />
on Earth is Heaven? aloud, over the course<br />
of many weeks. We looked forward to this part of our even<strong>in</strong>g<br />
when we would open that big book and enter <strong>in</strong>to this story of<br />
our times. Inevitably our read<strong>in</strong>g would spark rich conversations<br />
and reflections about our own lives. If you like to read with<br />
others—one or a group—this book is a great choice. It seems<br />
somehow appropriate to share it with others, because <strong>in</strong> a way<br />
the book itself is a testament to the importance of relationships<br />
and to the endur<strong>in</strong>g reality of what lives between people, even<br />
beyond death. It is all about mak<strong>in</strong>g connections—with others,<br />
with ideas, with history and the times we live <strong>in</strong>, with nature,<br />
and with the spirit. F<strong>in</strong>ally, whether one reads it with others or<br />
alone, this is a book that will nourish and <strong>in</strong>spire.<br />
Signe Schaefer was for many years Director of Foundation Studies<br />
at Sunbridge College. She founded and cont<strong>in</strong>ues to direct a part-time<br />
program <strong>in</strong> Biography and Social Art. She has had a life-long <strong>in</strong>terest<br />
<strong>in</strong> questions of human development.<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
59
Ronna McEldowney<br />
February 27, 1953—July 8, 2010<br />
Ronna was born <strong>in</strong> Detroit, the middle<br />
child of three daughters. Her parents were<br />
Russian Jews. She was part of a very colorful<br />
upbr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g. Even <strong>in</strong> her early childhood<br />
years Ronna was always dynamic<br />
and adventuresome.<br />
I met Ronna <strong>in</strong> 1976 dur<strong>in</strong>g the Foundation<br />
Year at the Waldorf Teacher Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
Institute of Detroit. At 21 or 22, she<br />
was the youngest person enrolled <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Teacher Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g. I remember be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
snow for the first time, hav<strong>in</strong>g grown up<br />
<strong>in</strong> Southern California. It was freez<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
blizzards were happen<strong>in</strong>g outside and I was covered head to toe<br />
<strong>in</strong> wool and wear<strong>in</strong>g boots. Ronna came breez<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> dressed <strong>in</strong><br />
colorful embroidered clothes from Guatemala. I loved her immediately.<br />
We bonded and formed a lifetime friendship that year.<br />
Ronna completed the k<strong>in</strong>dergarten tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and then traveled<br />
to Vienna to tra<strong>in</strong> and work with Bronja Zhaligen, a renowned<br />
master teacher. After a few years she moved to Stuttgart, Germany,<br />
to cont<strong>in</strong>ue with another master teacher, Freya Jaffke.<br />
While <strong>in</strong> Germany she developed a special relationship with<br />
Dr. Von Kugelgen who profoundly <strong>in</strong>fluenced her teach<strong>in</strong>g. Her<br />
desire for excellence led her to two foreign countries where<br />
she learned German while work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the k<strong>in</strong>dergarten with the<br />
children. Joan Almon shared a wonderful story about the time<br />
<strong>in</strong> Vienna where they met:<br />
Bronja often told a story about Ronna’s first com<strong>in</strong>g to Vienna<br />
and help<strong>in</strong>g Bronja harvest apricots at her garden <strong>in</strong> the Vienna<br />
Woods. They then had to carry the large, heavy basket filled<br />
with fruit on the streetcar back to Bronja’s apartment at the<br />
other end of the city. Ronna took charge of the basket. She had<br />
lived <strong>in</strong> Mexico and was used to carry<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs on her head.<br />
She hoisted the basket to her head and walked through town to<br />
the streetcar quite effortlessly. You can imag<strong>in</strong>e how startled<br />
the Viennese were by this sight. Bronja found it delightful.<br />
After her extensive tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Europe, Ronna returned to the<br />
warm tropical climate she loved and took a position as a k<strong>in</strong>dergarten<br />
teacher at the Honolulu Waldorf School. It was here that<br />
she met and married her husband Robert David McEldowney.<br />
While teach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Honolulu, a group of families recruited her<br />
to create a new Waldorf school on the island of Kauai. Ronna<br />
was first and foremost a person of <strong>in</strong>itiative, a pioneer at heart.<br />
She leapt at the chance to beg<strong>in</strong> a new school. Ronna was very<br />
happy creat<strong>in</strong>g a school from the ground up and these pioneer<br />
efforts became her legacy <strong>in</strong> the Waldorf Movement. Later she<br />
founded the Shepherd Valley Waldorf School <strong>in</strong> Boulder and the<br />
Boulder Waldorf K<strong>in</strong>dergarten.<br />
From Kauai, Ronna returned to California and helped to<br />
establish the Cedar Spr<strong>in</strong>gs Waldorf School with Nancy Poer.<br />
Ronna taught summer courses at Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er College and was<br />
a member of Gradalis with Bonnie River, Williams Bento, Thom<br />
Schaeffer and Prairie Adams. She also taught k<strong>in</strong>dergarten tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
courses with Dorit W<strong>in</strong>ter. She delighted <strong>in</strong> teach<strong>in</strong>g k<strong>in</strong>dergarten<br />
children dur<strong>in</strong>g the summers <strong>in</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
Teachers from all over the world contacted Ronna for mentor<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
She traveled to many schools to observe, mentor, evaluate<br />
and mediate difficult situations. When teachers from Germany<br />
would call for mentor<strong>in</strong>g, she could be heard speak<strong>in</strong>g German<br />
with the familiar Austrian accent—we joked with her<br />
about it because she sounded like she was s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Ronna loved the parents <strong>in</strong> her classes and had<br />
a gift for counsel<strong>in</strong>g. She and Robert David created<br />
parent<strong>in</strong>g workshops where they went <strong>in</strong>to the<br />
home for a week at a time to help parents. She often<br />
counseled parents who were <strong>in</strong> conflict around child<br />
rear<strong>in</strong>g. Because of her exceptional skills, teachers<br />
often sought her out to help mediate conflicts.<br />
Ronna was amaz<strong>in</strong>gly gifted with her hands.<br />
She had crafted exceptional table puppets, dolls,<br />
marionettes, and t<strong>in</strong>y babies <strong>in</strong>side walnut shells.<br />
She made soaps, lip balm, hand dyed garments and<br />
many other creations. Enter<strong>in</strong>g her k<strong>in</strong>dergarten, one was filled<br />
with awe. Every detail was <strong>in</strong>fused with artistry, vibrant color<br />
and impeccable organization. She ensouled the k<strong>in</strong>dergarten<br />
with her joyful warmth and<br />
reverent love for the young child.<br />
Ronna was like the Pied Piper—<br />
children followed her wherever<br />
she went. Her “strength of be<strong>in</strong>g”<br />
held the children with <strong>in</strong>visible<br />
threads from her heart to theirs.<br />
She had contact with many of<br />
them once they were grown.<br />
Ronna had an enormous capacity<br />
for work and colleagues loved<br />
and respected her. Dur<strong>in</strong>g faculty<br />
meet<strong>in</strong>gs, when different po<strong>in</strong>ts<br />
of view became polarized, she<br />
always asked us to “f<strong>in</strong>d what<br />
lives <strong>in</strong> the middle.” What does<br />
the “be<strong>in</strong>g of the school” want?<br />
Her <strong>in</strong>tuitive wisdom often could<br />
guide the group back to harmony.<br />
At the same time she fiercely<br />
adhered to her ideals and pr<strong>in</strong>ciples and took up <strong>in</strong>itiatives with<br />
a fiery choleric will, f<strong>in</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>g whatever tasks she took up.<br />
Playful, athletic and adventuresome, Ronna traveled the<br />
world, hiked mounta<strong>in</strong>s, and kayaked. I have memories of her<br />
laugh<strong>in</strong>g and danc<strong>in</strong>g with Robert <strong>in</strong> our liv<strong>in</strong>g room. She lived<br />
life with a passion and vibrancy which touched everyone who<br />
knew her <strong>in</strong> a deep and profound way. Unique and <strong>in</strong>describable<br />
Ronna, we will always love her! With gratitude,<br />
Janis Williams<br />
Janis adds that those wish<strong>in</strong>g to help with medical costs can write<br />
to The Ronna Memorial Fund, PO Box 909, East Sound, WA 98245.<br />
Make checks out to Robert David McEldowney, not<strong>in</strong>g “Ronna’s<br />
memorial fund.”<br />
60 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Members Who Have Died<br />
Judith Brewer, Short Hills NJ; died 5/1/2010<br />
Renn Fenton, Newcastle WY;<br />
died 6/29/2010<br />
Thelma Hartste<strong>in</strong>, Fair Oaks CA;<br />
died 9/10/2010<br />
Ary K<strong>in</strong>g, Soquel CA; died 7/30/2010<br />
David Lessner, Wilm<strong>in</strong>gton DE;<br />
died 2/11/2010<br />
Ronna McEldowney, Laupahoehoe HI;<br />
died 7/8/2010<br />
Eleanore Paul, Chestnut Ridge NY;<br />
died 9/3/2010<br />
Betty Peckham, Spr<strong>in</strong>g Valley NY;<br />
died 8/1/2010<br />
Maryann Perlman, Gouldsboro ME;<br />
died 6/29/2009<br />
Mary Shands, Louisville KY; died 8/15/2009<br />
Janette Zuzalek, Sauk Centre MN;<br />
died 7/30/2010<br />
Lorna Odegard<br />
September 14, 1946–October 31, 2009<br />
Lorna Odegard is the first from the Circle of<br />
Friends~An <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> Fellowship, to cross<br />
the threshold. She died at home <strong>in</strong> Fargo, North<br />
Dakota.<br />
Lorna was at the heart of Circle of Friends activities<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g the 1990’s. Her <strong>in</strong>troduction to spiritual<br />
science was through attend<strong>in</strong>g anthroposophic<br />
lectures by James Ulness. She then participated <strong>in</strong><br />
and hosted anthroposophical study and was active<br />
<strong>in</strong> the birth<strong>in</strong>g of the Circle of Friends as a recognized<br />
group of the society. She was a member of<br />
the society from 1994-2006. This was an especially<br />
enliven<strong>in</strong>g time for Lorna and she often spoke about<br />
how mean<strong>in</strong>gful anthroposophy was <strong>in</strong> her life and<br />
the <strong>in</strong>spiration she received from the thoughtful and<br />
heartfelt conversation that took place <strong>in</strong> the study<br />
groups. She felt a warmth and acceptance <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Circle that she had not often felt <strong>in</strong> her life.<br />
Lorna also participated <strong>in</strong> the Circle’s anthroposophically-<strong>in</strong>spired<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g workshops with Leszek<br />
Forczek from 1995-2000. It was important to Lorna to be able<br />
to give back to the Circle for what she felt she received and she<br />
generously opened her home to study groups, festivals and our<br />
monthly plann<strong>in</strong>g group. Upon her pass<strong>in</strong>g, we were surprised<br />
to hear that she also remembered the Circle of Friends <strong>in</strong> her<br />
will.<br />
An event we remember well was a potluck she held at her<br />
home where Leszek gave an advent talk. Even though the pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />
weekends could often be <strong>in</strong>tense and tir<strong>in</strong>g, especially for<br />
someone with a chronic illness, it was very important to her<br />
to host this event and she did it to the n<strong>in</strong>es br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g out her<br />
This photo from the <strong>in</strong>ternet of a “needle’s<br />
eye” rock formation honors Renn Fenton,<br />
remembered as a climber <strong>in</strong> the South<br />
Dakota/Wyom<strong>in</strong>g border region.<br />
mother’s ch<strong>in</strong>a and mak<strong>in</strong>g sure<br />
everyth<strong>in</strong>g was ‘just right.’ Her house<br />
was filled to the rafters with guests<br />
who came out for this special gather<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Lorna was born and raised on a<br />
farm <strong>in</strong> the Red River Valley of North<br />
Dakota where she attended grade<br />
school <strong>in</strong> a one room country school.<br />
She earned her bachelor’s degree<br />
<strong>in</strong> social work from the University<br />
of North Dakota. Social justice was<br />
a thread that wove throughout her<br />
life. In her work, she was an advocate<br />
for children, the handicapped, and<br />
the elderly. Women’s issues were<br />
also of great importance to her as we<br />
experienced <strong>in</strong> her use and support<br />
of <strong>in</strong>clusive language. In the life of<br />
the Circle she was a voice for social<br />
conscience.<br />
At a memorial service that the<br />
Circle held, we spoke of a smile that<br />
could light up the room as well as the challenges Lorna faced <strong>in</strong><br />
her life. Not only did she live with a chronic illness from her 20’s<br />
on, she also carried the pa<strong>in</strong> of early life experiences that she<br />
felt were “gett<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the way”, as she would often say, of realiz<strong>in</strong>g<br />
her higher aspirations. Not content to stay bound to the past,<br />
she modeled dedication <strong>in</strong> seek<strong>in</strong>g to overcome her personal<br />
h<strong>in</strong>drances.<br />
On occasion, she would speak about experiences that <strong>in</strong> the<br />
past would have been quite challeng<strong>in</strong>g for her but that she now<br />
navigated with more confidence and ease. In recount<strong>in</strong>g these<br />
times, Lorna would often say “I took the group with me.”<br />
LuAnn Hagel for the Circle of Friends<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
61
New Members<br />
of the <strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong><br />
As recorded by the society from 2/23/2010 through 9/17/2010<br />
Paula Alkaitis, New York NY<br />
Alicia Allen, Santa Fe NM<br />
Mary Baenen, Sandpo<strong>in</strong>t ID<br />
Edward Balmuth, Granbury TX<br />
Krist<strong>in</strong> C. Barton, Hillsdale NY<br />
Victoria Basarabescu,<br />
Houston TX<br />
L<strong>in</strong>da Bestor, Sturtevant WI<br />
Rebecca Bissonnette,<br />
Hudson NY<br />
Herm<strong>in</strong>a Booysen,<br />
Glenmoore PA<br />
Carolyn Briglia, Wilton NH<br />
Tom Brunzell, New York NY<br />
Kimberly A. Carr, Easton CT<br />
Francisco Cavazos, Tomball TX<br />
Ellen Cim<strong>in</strong>o, Decatur GA<br />
Mark V<strong>in</strong>cent Coll<strong>in</strong>s,<br />
Friendswood TX<br />
Kim Couder, Soquel CA<br />
Susan Crozier, Wadsworth OH<br />
Krist<strong>in</strong> E. Dalton, Ghent NY<br />
Canyon Darcy, Aust<strong>in</strong> TX<br />
Francesco De Benedetto,<br />
Fair Oaks CA<br />
Cather<strong>in</strong>e H. Decker,<br />
Chatham NY<br />
Jennifer Dye, San Rafael CA<br />
Danielle Epifani, Berkeley CA<br />
John K. Fallon, Delmar NY<br />
John M. F<strong>in</strong>ale, Brooklyn NY<br />
Library Annotations, from p.5<br />
Jonas, librarian at the Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er Library <strong>in</strong> London, places<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s view of astrology <strong>in</strong> a<br />
historical, cultural, and philosophical<br />
context.<br />
Biography: Freedom and<br />
Dest<strong>in</strong>y. Enlighten<strong>in</strong>g the Path<br />
of Human Life, translated by<br />
Paul<strong>in</strong>e Wehrle, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er<br />
Press, 2009, 264 pgs. Includes<br />
notes and a bibliography.<br />
Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er shows here that<br />
every biography—regardless of<br />
one’s place <strong>in</strong> life or a person’s<br />
perceived importance or success—is<br />
ruled by archetypal<br />
<strong>in</strong>fluences, patterns and laws. He<br />
describes the human <strong>in</strong>dividuality<br />
as a be<strong>in</strong>g with a cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g<br />
existence, both before birth<br />
Jan<strong>in</strong>e Fron, Huntley IL<br />
Richard Frost, Alfred ME<br />
Laura Gabelsberg, Tucson AZ<br />
Amy Garnsey,<br />
Boynton Beach FL<br />
Hazel Archer G<strong>in</strong>sberg,<br />
Chicago IL<br />
Mahalath Gordon, Medford OR<br />
Michael Gratsch,<br />
Grosse Po<strong>in</strong>te MI<br />
Paul M. Helfrich, Castaic CA<br />
Angelica G. Hesse, Portland OR<br />
Doug Horner, Lafayette CA<br />
Gene Hutloff, Phoenix AZ<br />
Laura Iturralde, Houston TX<br />
Louis Kauffman, Chicago IL<br />
Kay K<strong>in</strong>derman, Glenmoore PA<br />
Sylvia Lagergren,<br />
Johnson City TN<br />
Kar<strong>in</strong> Layher, Sa<strong>in</strong>t Louis MO<br />
Margaret Leary, Culpeper VA<br />
Ashley Shea Legg, Philmont NY<br />
Julianna Lichatz,<br />
Carbondale CO<br />
Daniel Lips, Hauppauge NY<br />
Jolie Hanna Luba, Decatur GA<br />
Jessica Mansbach,<br />
Spr<strong>in</strong>g Valley NY<br />
Anna V. Masters, La Mesa CA<br />
Todd Matuszewicz, Denver CO<br />
Melanie Maup<strong>in</strong>, Chapel Hill NC<br />
and beyond death. Our eternal<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g experiences a myriad of<br />
conditions and situations, the effects<br />
of which may be observed<br />
<strong>in</strong> one’s biography. This book<br />
addresses these and other issues<br />
such as freedom and dest<strong>in</strong>y, the<br />
effects of heredity, illness, and<br />
the impact of education, among<br />
others.<br />
Eurythmy Therapy: Eight<br />
Lectures Given <strong>in</strong> Dornach,<br />
Switzerland, between 12 and<br />
18 April 1921 and <strong>in</strong> Stuttgart,<br />
Germany, on 28 October 1922,<br />
translated by Alan Stott, Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er Press, 2009, 159 pgs.<br />
This new translation of Curative<br />
Eurythmy is based on the<br />
thoroughly revised German edition<br />
of 2003 and <strong>in</strong>cludes a new<br />
appendix with rem<strong>in</strong>iscences by<br />
Matthew Messner,<br />
Charlottesville VA<br />
Rick Mitchell, Lawrence KS<br />
Megan Neale, Inverness CA<br />
Carol<strong>in</strong>e Nguyen,<br />
San Francisco CA<br />
Joseph Papas, Copake NY<br />
Emilie Papas, Copake NY<br />
Vicki Petersen, Phoenix AZ<br />
Nattapat Ph<strong>in</strong>ittanont,<br />
Glenmoore PA<br />
Patricia A. Robertson-Russell,<br />
Miami FL<br />
Anthony W. Roemer,<br />
Mart<strong>in</strong>ez CA<br />
Carl St.Goar, Chattanooga TN<br />
Susan Stern, Fair Oaks CA<br />
Anouk Tompot, Seattle WA<br />
Maria Cel<strong>in</strong>a Trzepacz,<br />
Clifton NJ<br />
Julia Van Vliet, Chicago IL<br />
Forrest Ann Walsh, Tempe AZ<br />
Casey Warner, Kirkwood MO<br />
Mary Wildfeuer, Kimberton PA<br />
Benjam<strong>in</strong> A. Wilson,<br />
Marengo IL<br />
Karl Wilson, Copake NY<br />
Liz Woodlock, Leesburg VA<br />
Lucy Wurtz, Portola Valley CA<br />
early eurythmists, as well as revised<br />
and expanded notes based<br />
on those prepared for the 2003<br />
German edition by Dr. Walter<br />
Kugler, director of the Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er Archives <strong>in</strong> Dornach,<br />
Switzerland.<br />
Gett<strong>in</strong>g Old: Excerpts from Rudolf<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s Complete Works,<br />
Gisela Gaumnitz, compiler,<br />
Mercury Press, 2009, 289 pgs.<br />
Orig<strong>in</strong>ally published <strong>in</strong> German<br />
<strong>in</strong> 1987, this new translation<br />
features an <strong>in</strong>troduction by<br />
Gisela Gaumnitz, a coworker at<br />
Johanneshaus Öschelbronn, an<br />
anthroposophical senior residential<br />
community <strong>in</strong> Germany.<br />
Gaumnitz emphasizes her hope<br />
that readers will be <strong>in</strong>spired to<br />
read Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s lectures <strong>in</strong> full<br />
after “tast<strong>in</strong>g” the excerpts she<br />
has selected. “After [age] 35,”<br />
she says, “one should learn to<br />
become older every day consciously….”<br />
“Ste<strong>in</strong>er places two<br />
extreme geriatric pictures before<br />
us: a sage work<strong>in</strong>g out of heart<br />
forces and a person who has rigidified<br />
<strong>in</strong>to a ‘mummy’ through<br />
their life rout<strong>in</strong>e.”<br />
Anthroposophy—Medic<strong>in</strong>e<br />
Compendium for the Remedial<br />
Treatment of Children, Adolescents<br />
and Adults <strong>in</strong> Need of<br />
Soul Care. Experiences and Indications<br />
from Anthroposophic<br />
Therapy, Bertram von Zabern,<br />
M.D., compiler, Mercury Press,<br />
2009, 167 pgs.<br />
Orig<strong>in</strong>ally compiled <strong>in</strong> 1972<br />
and published by Weleda, this<br />
work is now available <strong>in</strong> English<br />
for the first time. Various<br />
syndromes are presented with<br />
lists of suggested remedial<br />
<strong>in</strong>dications. Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s suggestions<br />
are the keystone; other<br />
experienced anthroposophical<br />
doctors also contribute. The<br />
editor stresses that this book is<br />
meant to be used as work<strong>in</strong>g material<br />
and stimulus for therapists<br />
and doctors who are active <strong>in</strong><br />
anthroposophic medic<strong>in</strong>e. The<br />
therapies mentioned should be<br />
used <strong>in</strong> close collaboration with<br />
a supervis<strong>in</strong>g physician.<br />
Anthroposophy—Nutrition<br />
Cosmos, Earth, and Nutrition:<br />
The Biodynamic Approach to<br />
Agriculture, Richard Thornton<br />
Smith, Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er Press,<br />
2009, 304 pgs.<br />
Biodynamic agriculture is<br />
a unique development of the<br />
organic approach that does not<br />
focus only on agricultural techniques.<br />
A whole new way to th<strong>in</strong>k<br />
about farm<strong>in</strong>g, nutrition, and the<br />
world of nature, biodynamics<br />
allows revitalized relationships<br />
with the liv<strong>in</strong>g soil, the elemental<br />
world, and the cosmos. Orig<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g<br />
from a series of eight lectures<br />
by Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er <strong>in</strong> 1924, biodynamic<br />
methods broaden the<br />
outlook of agriculture and the<br />
science beh<strong>in</strong>d it, lead<strong>in</strong>g to a<br />
holistic perspective that <strong>in</strong>corporates<br />
astronomical rhythms and<br />
unique preparations for plants<br />
and earth.<br />
62 Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News
Richard Thornton Smith describes<br />
the foundations on which<br />
biodynamics as well as the<br />
more general organic movement<br />
are based. He builds bridges<br />
between ma<strong>in</strong>stream science<br />
and Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s <strong>in</strong>sights, mak<strong>in</strong>g it<br />
easier for the broader organic<br />
and ecological movement to<br />
approach biodynamic concepts<br />
and practice.<br />
The Waldorf Book of Breads,<br />
collected by Marsha Post, illustrated<br />
by Jo Valens, edited and<br />
<strong>in</strong>troduced by W<strong>in</strong>slow Eliot,<br />
Ste<strong>in</strong>erBooks, 2009, 57 pgs.<br />
“All four elements that are<br />
essential to life are <strong>in</strong>herent <strong>in</strong><br />
[a] s<strong>in</strong>gle loaf of bread.” This<br />
book <strong>in</strong>cludes breads for the<br />
daily table as well as specialty<br />
breads for the seasons and festive<br />
occasions. There are recipes<br />
for wheat, spelt, corn, and rye<br />
breads, and for honey-salt bread,<br />
“a new bread for our time.”<br />
Anthroposophy—Waldorf<br />
Education<br />
Dyslexia: Learn<strong>in</strong>g Disorder<br />
or Creative Gift?, Cornelia<br />
Jantzen, Floris Books, 2008,<br />
248 pgs.<br />
Dyslexia has long been known<br />
as a learn<strong>in</strong>g difficulty that<br />
primarily affects literacy skills.<br />
Increas<strong>in</strong>gly, however, researchers<br />
and professionals work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with dyslexia suggest that it is<br />
less a disorder than a sign of specially<br />
gifted persons. They often<br />
have above average <strong>in</strong>telligence<br />
and are highly creative, provided<br />
they are supported and nurtured<br />
by parents and teachers.<br />
In this book Cornelia Jantzen<br />
explores the basis of this radical<br />
viewpo<strong>in</strong>t. Throughout, she provides<br />
many practical examples<br />
that explore various aspects<br />
of dyslexia, giv<strong>in</strong>g parents and<br />
teachers greater confidence<br />
when deal<strong>in</strong>g with the challenges<br />
that dyslexia presents.<br />
The author is a consultant on<br />
dyslexia <strong>in</strong> Hamburg and is the<br />
mother of two dyslexic children.<br />
Her <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> a new approach is<br />
based on her study of the Davis<br />
method, Waldorf education, and<br />
a broad overview of current<br />
practices.<br />
Lessons for Middle School<br />
Issues. Classroom Lessons<br />
Support<strong>in</strong>g the Development<br />
of Life Skills, Self Knowledge<br />
and Social Grace for 13 and 14<br />
Year Olds, Grades 8–9, L<strong>in</strong>da E.<br />
Knodle, Com<strong>in</strong>g of Age Press,<br />
2008 [2009], 116 pgs.<br />
L<strong>in</strong>da Knodle, a Waldorf<br />
teacher from the Seattle area,<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ues the pioneer<strong>in</strong>g work<br />
of Tamara Slayton to create a<br />
contemporary life skills curriculum<br />
for middle school students<br />
that reflects an anthroposophical<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g of the human<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Darw<strong>in</strong> (and More), David<br />
Mitchell, editor and compiler,<br />
AWSNA, February 2010, 107 pgs.<br />
This is the 14th volume <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Waldorf Journal Project series.<br />
These publications feature essays,<br />
articles, and specialized<br />
studies from around the world,<br />
translated <strong>in</strong>to English for the<br />
first time. This issue, <strong>in</strong>spired by<br />
the recent Darw<strong>in</strong> bicentennial,<br />
centers around three substantial<br />
articles on the theme by<br />
biologist Wolfgang Schad. Other<br />
contents discuss school governance;<br />
Goethean observation <strong>in</strong><br />
literature lessons; anthroposophy<br />
and modern bra<strong>in</strong> research;<br />
ecology study <strong>in</strong> the 11th grade;<br />
and several articles on the perform<strong>in</strong>g<br />
arts. These journals are<br />
always filled with rich, contemporary<br />
ideas.<br />
A Day Full of Song: Work<br />
Songs from a Waldorf K<strong>in</strong>dergarten,<br />
Karen Lonsky, illustrated<br />
by Victoria Sander, WECAN,<br />
February 2009, 64 pgs.<br />
Subtitled “Forty-two Orig<strong>in</strong>al<br />
Songs <strong>in</strong> the Mood of the Fifth,”<br />
this collection by a veteran earlychildhood<br />
teacher offers songs<br />
to accompany children as they<br />
work <strong>in</strong> the k<strong>in</strong>dergarten: gr<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g<br />
gra<strong>in</strong>, bak<strong>in</strong>g bread, clean<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
build<strong>in</strong>g, shovel<strong>in</strong>g. The author<br />
states that songs can facilitate<br />
children’s movements by creat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
form around them. “To learn<br />
to work with joy as a young child<br />
is a true gift for the adult that<br />
he or she will one day become.”<br />
Teachers and parents will be<br />
glad to add these new songs to<br />
their repertoires. There is also a<br />
companion CD available for this<br />
collection.<br />
Four Electronic Books 2009,<br />
Research Institute for Waldorf<br />
Education and the Waldorf Curriculum<br />
Fund, AWSNA, 2009.<br />
Someth<strong>in</strong>g new! AWSNA has<br />
just released a compact disc with<br />
the contents of three sem<strong>in</strong>al<br />
classics for teachers: Karl Koenig’s<br />
For Teachers: Conferences<br />
and Sem<strong>in</strong>ars on Arithmetic [31st<br />
January–2nd February 1964]; For<br />
Teachers: Conferences and Sem<strong>in</strong>ars<br />
on Read<strong>in</strong>g and Writ<strong>in</strong>g; and<br />
Embryology and World Evolution;<br />
and Dieter Brüll’s “attempt to<br />
penetrate to the heart of social<br />
life,” orig<strong>in</strong>ally published <strong>in</strong><br />
German <strong>in</strong> 1995, Creat<strong>in</strong>g Social<br />
Sacraments.<br />
Esoteric Christianity<br />
The East <strong>in</strong> the Light of the<br />
West, Parts 1–3, Sergei O.<br />
Prokofieff, Temple Lodge, 2010,<br />
552 pgs.<br />
Previously available only <strong>in</strong><br />
German as three separate books,<br />
with just an early version of part<br />
1 published <strong>in</strong> English, this translation<br />
has been long awaited.<br />
The work comprises a comprehensive<br />
study of Eastern and<br />
Western esoteric streams and<br />
the occult powers beh<strong>in</strong>d them.<br />
In part 1, Prokofieff discusses<br />
the spiritual movement of Agni<br />
Yoga presented to the world by<br />
Helena Roerich and her husband,<br />
the pa<strong>in</strong>ter Nicolas Roerich.<br />
Part 2 focuses on the teach<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
developed by Alice Bailey, while<br />
part 3 considers the relationship<br />
between Eastern and Western<br />
spiritual masters and the esoteric<br />
streams they represent.<br />
Studies <strong>in</strong> the Gospels, vol. 1,<br />
Emil Bock, edited by Tony<br />
Jacobs Brown, translated by<br />
Val Jones, Floris Books, 2010,<br />
448 pgs.<br />
How we welcome the publication<br />
of this much-<strong>in</strong>-demand<br />
work by Emil Bock! The library<br />
has long circulated the contents<br />
of this volume <strong>in</strong> the form of<br />
ancient typescripts, and it was<br />
anyone’s guess how much longer<br />
they would last.<br />
Br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g his broad knowledge<br />
of the history of the Gospels<br />
and their time together with his<br />
deep anthroposophical <strong>in</strong>sights,<br />
Bock, one of the first priests <strong>in</strong><br />
The Christian Community, offers<br />
fresh views of familiar stories <strong>in</strong><br />
the New Testament.<br />
Volume 1 looks <strong>in</strong> particular<br />
at the relationship of the New<br />
Testament to the Old, as well<br />
as discuss<strong>in</strong>g Matthew and the<br />
Sermon on the Mount, Judas,<br />
and Peter. He concludes with a<br />
chapter on Simon of Cyrene and<br />
Joseph of Arimathea.<br />
Research Issue 2010<br />
63
2011<br />
What is next year say<strong>in</strong>g to you?<br />
A year off from politics.<br />
The Mayan calendar runn<strong>in</strong>g out.<br />
That school you’re help<strong>in</strong>g to build. The farm you want to<br />
connect with. The tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g you mean to take.<br />
That “social <strong>in</strong>vestment” you looked <strong>in</strong>to.<br />
Yes.<br />
And Rudolf Ste<strong>in</strong>er’s birthday—<br />
150—that’s a big one!<br />
A year to engage and share<br />
his amaz<strong>in</strong>g vision? “A future<br />
worthy of the human be<strong>in</strong>g.”<br />
A year to learn about and honor<br />
the forward-look<strong>in</strong>g impulses all around us?<br />
2011—a year for the future?<br />
What is 2011 say<strong>in</strong>g to you?<br />
Share your vision<br />
at anthroposophy.org/2011<br />
Evolv<strong>in</strong>g News is a publication of the<br />
<strong>Anthroposophical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>America</strong>,<br />
1923 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104