Letter from the General Secretary - March 2014

- Arie van Ameringen

Dear Friends,

On Thursday evening, January 23^rd,  we met with some fifty members at Hesperus, in Thornhill, Ontario. The evening had been organized by the Council with the artistic collaboration of Regine Kurek. The theme of our gathering was: “How can we work together in these challenging times as members of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada even though we may come from different directions?”  A brief presentation at the start of this gathering tied this theme to the theme of the year for the General Anthroposophical Society: “The “I” recognizes itself.”

Social exercise with clay modeling

Regine Kurek divided the participants into groups of seven, each group standing around a mound of clay which had already been slightly sculpted but hidden under a cloth.  Upon uncovering the clay model, we were urged to observe its forms and attempt to characterize in words how the concave and convex surfaces interacted.  A basic idea emerged: generosity, harmony.  We were then shown a picture of an existing sculpture and asked to relate it to the form we had in front of us.  In my group, the image we were given to relate to was a human figure by the sculptor Barlach – an image quite striking in its simplicity of line and its almost living quality of warmth. Then the participants, inspired by this contemplation, set about transforming their mound of clay together. The work proceeded in silence, in a mood of respect and devotion. It soon became a rhythmic dialogue:  in one place clay was added, in another the shape was modified. And in the course of the activity, we sensed how we were truly learning to work together. At the end of the exercise, we were able to give a name to what we had created: freedom.

Sharing

Once again as a large group, we observed the various creations and shared our impressions of the results of the exercise. The following are some of the comments made by participants:

-I had feelings of sympathy and antipathy in watching someone else
-we could work in a harmonious, sensing-feeling way
-the groups only added to the sculpture, there was no taking away
- the archetypal picture was there at the end as a gift
-when we recognize the "I" in the other, there is a gift quality to it
-only the "I" can make space for the other

At the end of the gathering, one lady said how she didn’t really understand the theme at the outset; it was a mystery to her. But then, at the end, she felt she had understood: the “I” recognizes itself in the other.

Our sincere thanks to Regine for having given us the opportunity to live this artistic experience!

2016 Conference

As I mentioned last spring, we are planning an international conference to be held in Ottawa from August 7^th to 13^th, 2016. Although several elements have already been set in motion, the organizing committee, consisting of Jean Balekian, Dorothy LeBaron, Robert Mackay and myself, was only able to meet for the first time on March 14^th. Reinhart Rosch has made preliminary enquiries as to a suitable venue, and it is highly probable that the event will be held at Saint Paul’s University. Several members of the Executive Committee at the Goetheanum have already confirmed their presence as lecturers for the conference: Paul Mackay, Bodo von Plato, Joan Sleigh and Seija Zimmermann. The general theme will explore how anthroposophy is experienced in the various fields of human activity. For now, we have given the conference a provisional working title: In search of the universally human. Besides lectures and artistic activities, we are also planning to provide substantial space for members to present their own research into one aspect of the conference theme. Somewhat along the lines of a “symposium”, this form is an attempt at something new, a way to allow members an active voice during the event. We will be encouraging members from all parts of the country to share the results of their personal research in their chosen field. Throughout the year, the members of the organizing committee and I myself will be more that happy to meet with you to discuss the theme and content of the conference.

Other news and events 

Despite her extremely heavy schedule, Virginia Sease has kindly agreed to visit Canada; she will be in Montreal on July 13^th and 14^th of this year.  On the first day, she is to meet with Class members in the context of the School for Spiritual Science and on the second day with members and friends. She will be giving two lectures, and we shall be able to give more detailed information as it becomes available, most likely in April.

After several months’ absence, Jean Balekian is back working with the Council. We are extremely pleased that he has regained his health and can once again resume an active role.

Wishing you a wonderful beginning of the spring season,

Arie van Ameringen

General Secretary

Mot du Secrétaire général - mars 2014

- Arie van Ameringen

Chers amis,

Nous sommes jeudi soir le 23 janvier, il se tient une rencontre avec une cinquantaine de membres à  Hesperus, Thornhill, Ontario. Cette soirée  est organisée par le conseil, avec l’apport artistique de Regine Kurek, et porte le thème : Comment pouvons-nous travailler ensemble comme membres de la société Anthroposophique au Canada en regard des défis de notre temps, même si nous provenons d’horizons différents ? Une courte présentation au début de la soirée fait le lien avec le thème de l’année « Le  je se reconnaît » 

Exercice social avec la glaise

Regine Kurek  place les participants par petits groupes de sept autour d’un amas de glaise, en partie modelé. Après l’avoir dévoilé, nous sommes appelés à observer les formes, l’interaction des courbes concaves et convexes. Nous essayons de caractériser cette ‘sculpture’ par des mots .Une idée générale surgit : générosité, harmonie… ensuite nous la mettons en relation avec une reproduction. Dans notre petit groupe, c’est l’image un personnage du sculpteur Barlach, image saisissante par la simplicité de ses lignes, avec une chaleur presque vivante. À partir de ce moment, les participants inspirés de cette œuvre se mettent à transformer ensemble la glaise. Le travail s’élabore en silence, dans une atmosphère de respect et de dévotion. Il devient bientôt un dialogue rythmé ; on ajoute de la glaise à un endroit, on la modifie à un autre. Au fur et à mesure, nous arrivons vraiment à travailler de concert. À la fin, nous donnons un nom à cette création : liberté.

Le partage

Nous contemplons, en grand groupe, les différentes créations et nous partageons les impressions suite à l’exercice. Voici quelques commentaires :

-« J’avais des sentiments de sympathie ou d’antipathie en regardant travailler quelqu’un d’autre »

« Les groupes ajoutaient de la glaise, mais n’ en enlevaient pas »

-« Nous avons pu travailler en harmonie, en étant dans l’attention ressentie ».

-« L’image archétypale est la à la fin, comme un cadeau ».

-« Lorsque nous reconnaissons le je chez l’autre il y a comme une qualité de don ».

-« Seulement le je peut créer l’espace pour l’autre ».

À la fin de la rencontre, une dame intervient en disant : je ne comprenais vraiment pas le thème au début, il restait pour moi un mystère. Maintenant, j’ai compris : le « je » se reconnaît lui-même chez l’autre.

Un grand merci à Regine pour cette expérience artistique!

Congrès de 2016

 Comme je vous l’avais mentionné au printemps passé, nous projetons un congrès international du 7 au 13 août 2016, à Ottawa. Même si plusieurs éléments sont déjà en marche, le comité organisateur n’a pu se réunir que  le 14 mars dernier, pour la première fois. Il s’agit de Jean Balekian, Dorothy LeBaron, Robert Mackay et moi-même. Reinhart Rosch, a fait des recherches de lieu au préalable et tout indique que cet événement se tiendra à l’université Saint Paul. Les premiers conférenciers, membres du comité directeur au Goethéanum  ont déjà confirmé leur participation : Paul Mackay, Bodo Von Plato, Joan Sleigh et Seja Zimmermann. Le sujet va porter sur comment l’Anthroposophie est vécue dans les différents domaines de l’activité humaine. Le titre provisoire est : À la rencontre de l’universel humain. En plus des conférences et des activités artistiques, nous prévoyons aussi un espace important durant le congrès pour la participation active de membres où ils pourront partager leur recherche personnelle sur un des thèmes du congrès. Un peu sous la forme ‘colloque’, cette forme permettra aux membres d’avoir ‘une voix active’. C’est un peu une expérience nouvelle. Nous voudrions encourager les membres de différentes parties du pays et travaillant dans différents domaines de présenter leur expérience.  Durant l’année, les membres du comité organisateur et moi-même seront prêts à venir vous rencontrer pour échanger sur le thème et le contenu du  congrès.

Événements

 Malgré son horaire chargé, Virginia Sease a accepté de venir à Montréal les 13 et 14 juillet prochain. Elle travaillerait la première journée avec les membres de la classe dans le cadre de l’École de la science de l’esprit et la deuxième journée avec les membres et amis. Elle donnera deux conférences. Les détails seront disponibles au cours du mois d’avril.

Après une absence de plusieurs mois, Jean Balekian est de retour au conseil. Nous sommes très contents de savoir qu’il a recouvré la santé.

Je vous souhaite un bon début de printemps,

Arie van Ameringen

Secrétaire général

Council Meeting With Members - 23 January 2014

- by Mark McAlister

On the Thursday evening before the Classholder's meeting, Council members invited Society members to meet and continue working with the question, What is emerging in the Anthroposophical Society? (See Invitation here.) It is interesting to note that members from the East and West Coast joined the local folks.   Regine Kurek led us through experiences with clay in small groups,and we felt the emergence of a strong constructive mood as the evening came to a close.  The following comments were posted on the Internet following the event.  (If you would like to add your own comments, use the button at the end of this article.)

Graham Jackson:  Although the event was nice for us members, I am concerned that anthroposophy is absent in public discussions. On January 10, The Globe and Mail published a long editorial on the declining state of maths education. 

It described Andreas Schleicher as "arguably the most influential person in global education policy today". It said he was failing in school at 10 until he was sent to a "private Waldorf academy", where he thrived. He went on to earn top marks on his college entrance exams and study maths and physics.
I wrote them a letter about this, but it was not printed. If there had been many letters, however, it might have been. That is how it works. How many members noticed and responded?...

Mark McAlister.  Thanks for your comment Graham.  I do not agree that anthroposophy is missing in public discussions. It was apparent to me that many people participating in the workshop are in the public "line of fire" every day, and are doing their darndest to represent anthroposophy in a responsible way. Press coverage is only one measure of impact - and perhaps we will gradually earn more attention if we keep working at it.

ISIS Cultural Outreach International Society in Russia

- Arie van Ameringen 

The ISIS Foundation is dedicated to promoting and supporting anthroposophical initiatives in Russia. It was started in 1988 by Monica Gold, a Vancouver anthroposophist and art therapist. During an anthroposophical gathering in Ann Arbor in 2008, I met with Mary Lee Plumb-Mentjes (who at the time was a resident of Alaska) and Galina Fin of Toronto. The three of us agreed that we would work together to ensure the continuing existence of this Foundation.

Since 2009 we have traveled three times to Russia and have visited multiple locations: Siberia (Vladivostok), Irkutsk, and Talovka, in the Buriatia region east of Lake Baikal. We also traveled to the Urals and to Kirov, located 800 km. east of Moscow. In each of these places we offered mini conferences on anthroposophy and Waldorf education (lectures, workshops, artistic activities). Our fundraising campaigns have been successful enough to allow us to offer modest support to initiatives including schools, kindergartens and centers for the handicapped.  

Images of Russia’s recent past

During our stay in Kirov, in August of 2013, Slava, our host, took us to Slobodskoï, a small town on the edge of the Vyatka. The city is known for its expertise in leatherworks and furs, due to the fact that the clayey soil of the region is far better suited to raising bovine herds than it is to growing crops.

During our visit, Slava showed us photographs dating from the beginning of the 20^th century, depicting the family of the owners of a large boot-making factory. The moving story Slava recounted was part of his own family history and gave us a touching glimpse into the plight of the Russian people of the last century:

With the outbreak of the 1917 revolution the owners were forced to flee (the buildings once housing the factory are still standing). One day, Slava’s grandparents took in a nun who had no place to live following the destruction of her convent. During those years of hardship, Slava’s grandmother, who worked in a bakery, was accused of having traded bread coupons and was sent to the gulag, from which she was never to return. The nun, who was then living with the family, took on the task of raising little Victor (Slava’s father) and became his adopted mother. She continued to say her prayers throughout the rest of her life, but in secret, without the knowledge of other members of the family. Indeed religion was forbidden and under communist rule it was quite dangerous for anyone to be known as a practicing Christian. 

Victor’s father, Slava’s grandfather, was killed in the war. His maternal grandfather was severely injured in the battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943) and had to be hospitalized for several years. He wrote to the members of his family, but the letters never reached them because they had been forced to move after their home was flooded. He remarried, believing that his wife had died. But then, due to a set of quite remarkable circumstances, they discovered to their overwhelming astonishment that life had protected both of them and that they were both still alive. However, the grandfather made the decision to continue living with his second wife.

The photographs of the factory owner’s family had been safely guarded by a woman employee, an ethnic native of the area who had also been taken in by Slava’s family. Our host then took us to visit the square in the center of the town where, not far from a towering statue of Lenin, there stands an old wooden church built in the 17^th century. This structure had been dismantled in order to be shown in an exposition in Paris in the 1980’s. However, when the building was reassembled, the work could not be executed according to the original technique, which did not make use of nails, because no contemporary workmen possessing the necessary skills could be found.

Today, Slava is a prosperous business owner, and his wife runs a new Waldorf kindergarten.

Institutions for care of the handicapped

Near Lake Baikal there are three anthroposophically-inspired centers for the handicapped. These initiatives are often founded and carried by parents who have handicapped children themselves. And their work is beginning to be acknowledged in this country where the intellectually handicapped are not considered to be fully human. Indeed, the government is starting to recognize that these institutions obtain tangible results and the authorities are becoming more open to the possibility of supporting them, but there is still much work to be done to increase public awareness of the benefits of this educational work.

Waldorf Schools

In Irkutsk, in Siberia, a well-established, government-supported Waldorf school offers classes through grade 12, but government support does not come without restrictions. For example, during our 2009 visit several inspectors had come by the school, requiring, among other things, that the walls be repainted since they considered the colors too bold. The school’s permit renewal depended on this change being made. It is worth mentioning here that this school had received assistance from several Swiss teachers.

In Kirov, the school called Our School (Nasha Skolje) was founded in the early 1980’s and is struggling to remain independent. It is a private school that requires heavy sacrifices on the part of both teachers and parents to be able to survive.

In Yekaterinburg, in the Urals, in spite of the presence of an active anthroposophical group and an institution for the handicapped, none of the attempts to found a school have met with success. It is in this city that the Bolsheviks assassinated the Czar and his family in 1918 and on the very spot where this crime was committed there now stands an imposing cathedral. At a distance of several kilometers from the city itself, at the site of the quarry where the victims’ remains were buried, an immense religious complex consisting of chapels and a training seminary for orthodox priests has been erected with funds donated by Russian billionaires. Portraits of the imperial family adorn the chapel façades, since the members of the Czar’s family have been declared saints and are the object of great devotion. One must cover one’s head before being allowed to enter the site.

That being said, anthroposophy and Russian orthodoxy do not always live harmoniously side by side. One kindergarten teacher admitted to having been threatened with exclusion from the church if she did not give up anthroposophy. And so, she does as do many other Russian anthroposophists: she remains orthodox but in her own individual way!

In each location we visited we met individuals who shared a keen interest in Waldorf education and anthroposophy. Their openness to what we were offering was evident; parents, educators and friends of anthroposophy participated in our workshops with great enthusiasm, and everywhere we were deeply touched by the warmth and unlimited generosity of the people we met.

Today’s challenges

The Russian people’s remarkable strength lies in their sense of community and their fundamental ability to work together towards a common goal. This is something we were able to observe in all the groups we met. Although living standards have improved since the end of the communist regime, the gap between rich and poor has considerably widened. Business tycoons, political leaders and heads of church continue to work hand in hand to retain control over the country’s wealth and power.

Yet we must recognize the fact that President Vladimir Putin recently acknowledged the relevance of the Waldorf approach in education during a visit to a Moscow school. Although after the fall of the Berlin wall several European countries gave financial support to anthroposophical initiatives in Russia, this financial aid has since been curtailed. ISIS is committed to continue to support local initiatives in that country, though its means are modest.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the ISIS Foundation is welcome to contact me at: arieva.perceval@gmail.com or Mary-Lee Plumb-Mentjes  :maryplumbmentjes@yahoo.com

Meta Williams

Many of you may remember Meta Williams, who gave a moving talk during the Whitehorse conference in 2009, and recall the fact that she was actively involved in the life of her First Nation’s community. After hearing the lecture, Monica Gold decided to utilise the ISIS Foundation’s legal structure to raise funds for Meta’s projects. Contributions from participants during the conference amounted to $3 100. We attempted several times to transfer this money to Meta Williams, but the correct conditions were not yet set up and she did not feel right in accepting the donation. But we are pleased to inform you that the money has now been transferred to The Haines Junction Employment Development Society, a non-profit organisation she is presently running in the Yukon with other members of her community. This initiative is a social reintegration project whose goal is to help ex-drug users re-enter the work place by producing furniture and other objects out of wood.

Arie van Ameringen, Dunham, February,2014

ISIS Cultural Outreach International Society en Russie

- Arie van Ameringen 

La Fondation ISIS a été initiée en 1988 par Monica Gold anthroposophe et art thérapeute de Vancouver. À l’occasion d’une rencontre anthroposophique à Ann Arbor, en 2008, Mary Lee Plumb-Mentjes, vivant en Alaska à l’époque, Galina Fin, de Toronto, et moi-même avons décidé de continuer à porter cette fondation qui vise à appuyer des initiatives anthroposophiques en Russie.

Depuis 2009, trois voyages nous ont conduits à différents endroits en Sibérie - Vladivostok, Irkoutsk et Talovka, en Bouriatie, à l’est du lac Baïkal -,  dans l'Oural et à Kirov, ville située à 800 km à l’est de Moscou, dans la région de la Viatka. À chaque visite, nous avons offert de mini congrès en anthroposophie et en pédagogie Waldorf (conférences, ateliers, activités artistiques). Nos levées de fonds nous ont permis de soutenir, bien que modestement, quelques écoles, jardins d'enfants et centres pour personnes handicapées.

Images de la Russie récente

Lors de notre séjour à Kirov, en août 2013, notre hôte Slava nous a amenés dans une petite ville au bord de la Viatka. Slobodskoï est connue pour le travail du cuir et de la fourrure. Comme la terre y est très glaiseuse, on a toujours préféré l'élevage bovin à l'horticulture.

Lors de notre excursion, Slava nous a présenté quelques photos datant du début du XX^e siècle. Elles montraient une famille propriétaire d'une grande usine fabriquant des bottes. Slava nous en a raconté l’histoire, en lien avec la vie de ses parents. Une histoire saisissante et représentative du sort du peuple russe au siècle dernier. Lors de la révolution de 1917, les propriétaires ont dû fuir. Aujourd’hui encore, on peut voir les bâtiments qui abritaient l’usine.

Un jour, les grands-parents de Slava ont accueilli une religieuse qui n'avait plus d'endroit où vivre, après la destruction de son monastère. Durant les années de disette, la grand-mère qui travaillait dans une boulangerie fut accusée d'avoir troqué des bons de pain. On l’envoya pour cette raison au goulag, dont elle ne revint jamais. Hébergée dans la famille, la religieuse prit en charge le petit Victor (père de Slava) et devint sa mère adoptive. En secret, elle continua à prier pendant cette période, et durant toute sa vie, sans que les habitants de la maison ne soient au courant. La religion était en effet prohibée sous le communisme et les pratiquants couraient de grands risques.

Le père de Victor, et grand-père de Slava, fut tué au front. Quant au grand-père du côté maternel, soldat à la bataille de Stalingrad (1942-1943), il fut hospitalisé pendant plusieurs années, en raison d’une blessure grave. Il écrivait à sa famille, mais ses lettres ne se rendaient pas à destination, ses proches ayant quitté les lieux après une inondation. Il se remaria, croyant que sa femme était décédée. Or, par un concours de circonstances bien particulières, ils apprirent un jour que la vie les avait mutuellement protégés et qu’ils étaient toujours tous les deux de ce monde. Ce fut pour eux une surprise sidérante. Le grand-père a cependant décidé de continuer à vivre avec sa seconde épouse.

C’est une employée, originaire d'une communauté ethnique de l'endroit, qui avait conservé les photos de la famille propriétaire de l’usine. Cette femme avait aussi été accueillie dans la famille de Slava. Ce dernier nous amena ensuite sur la place centrale où trônait une statue de Lénine avec, juste à côté, une vieille église en bois datant du XVII^e siècle. L’église avait été démontée pour une exposition à Paris dans les années 1980. Mais on fut incapable de la reconstruire selon la vieille technique du «sans clou», car on ne la maîtrisait plus .

Slava est aujourd’hui un entrepreneur prospère. Sa femme dirige un nouveau jardin d'enfants Waldorf.

Institutions pour  personnes handicapées

Près du lac Baïkal, il existe trois institutions pour personnes handicapées qui s'inspirent de l'anthroposophie. Elles sont souvent initiées et portées par des parents ayant eux-mêmes un enfant handicapé. Leur travail commence à être reconnu dans un pays qui ne considère pas les handicapés intellectuels comme des êtres humains à part entière. Le gouvernement constate cependant que le travail dans ces institutions porte des fruits tangibles et se montre plus ouvert à les soutenir. Il reste encore beaucoup de travail à accomplir auprès de la population pour faire reconnaître pleinement ce travail éducatif.

Écoles Waldorf

À Irkoutsk, en Sibérie, une école bien établie et soutenue par le gouvernement offre le programme jusqu'à la 12^e année. Cela entraîne toutefois des contraintes. Lors de notre visite en 2009, par exemple, quelques inspecteurs étaient de passage. Ils réclamaient, entre autres, de faire repeindre les murs, qu’ils considéraient comme de teinte trop prononcée. Le permis d’exploitation était conditionnel à ce changement. Mentionnons que l’école a reçu l’aide de professeurs venus de Suisse.

A Kirov, l'école s'appelle Notre École (Nasha Skolje). Fondée au début des années 80, elle lutte toujours pour demeurer indépendante. Cette école privée réussit à survivre au prix de lourds sacrifices, tant de la part des professeurs que des parents.

Dans l’Oural, à Ekaterinbourg, malgré le travail d’un groupe d’anthroposophes actifs et l’existence d’une institution pour handicapés, plusieurs tentatives pour fonder une école n'ont pas été couronnées de succès. C’est dans cette ville, notamment, que les Bolcheviks ont assassiné le tsar et sa famille, en 1918. Sur le lieu même du crime se dresse aujourd’hui une immense cathédrale. À quelques kilomètres de la ville, à la carrière où l’on a enseveli les dépouilles, on a édifié un immense complexe religieux, avec des fonds provenant de milliardaires. On y retrouve des chapelles ainsi qu’un lieu de formation des prêtres orthodoxes. Des portraits de la famille impériale ornent la façade des chapelles; les membres de la famille du tsar ont été sanctifiés et sont l’objet d’une grande dévotion. On doit se couvrir pour entrer sur le site.

Ceci dit, anthroposophie et orthodoxie russe ne font pas nécessairement bon ménage. Une jardinière d’enfants nous a ainsi confié qu’un prêtre l’avait menacée d’exclusion si elle ne délaissait pas l’anthroposophie. Alors, elle fait comme font de nombreux autres anthroposophes russes, elle est orthodoxe à sa façon.

À chaque endroit visité, nous avons rencontré des gens qui avaient de l’intérêt pour la pédagogie Waldorf et l'anthroposophie. Cette ouverture se manifestait notamment par la présence et la participation enthousiaste à nos ateliers de parents, professeurs et amis de la société anthroposophique. Ce qui nous a frappés chez ces personnes, c'est l’accueil particulièrement chaleureux et la générosité sans limite.

Défis d'aujourd'hui

La force remarquable du peuple russe réside dans l’esprit communautaire, si bien que, généralement, les Russes arrivent à travailler ensemble vers l’atteinte d’un même but. Nous l'avons observé dans tous les groupes rencontrés. Même si le niveau de vie s'est amélioré depuis la fin du communisme, l’écart entre riches et pauvres s'est considérablement accentué. Magnats, dirigeants du pays et église orthodoxe travaillent main dans la main.

Précisons toutefois, à sa décharge, que le président Vladimir Poutine a récemment reconnu la pertinence de l'approche Waldorf, lors d’une visite d’une école à Moscou. Après la chute du mur de Berlin, plusieurs pays européens ont soutenu financièrement les initiatives anthroposophiques en Russie. Ce soutien s’est aujourd’hui estompé, mais ISIS, au gré de ses faibles moyens, continue à appuyer des initiatives locales.

Si vous désirez faire un don à ISIS, vous pouvez me contacter à : arieva.perceval@gmail.com ou Mary-Lee Plumb-Mentjes  :maryplumbmentjes@yahoo.com

Meta Williams

Certains d’entre vous se rappellent peut-être Meta Williams. Elle était intervenue comme conférencière à la rencontre de Whitehorse, en 2009 ; elle participait à la vie des membres de sa communauté des Premières nations. À la suite de son intervention, Monica Gold avait effectué une levée de fonds, afin d’assister Meta dans ses projets, en se servant d’ISIS comme véhicule.

La contribution de plusieurs participants au congrès avait alors permis d’amasser 3 100 $. Nous avions tenté à quelques reprises de faire parvenir cette somme à Meta Williams, mais les conditions n’étaient pas réunies et elle ne se sentait pas légitimée d’encaisser l’argent. Elle travaille à présent avec d’autres membres de sa communauté sur un projet de réinsertion sociale, dans le cadre d’un organisme à but non-lucratif. Il s’agit d’aider des ex-toxicomanes à regagner le marché du travail. Ils fabriquent notamment des meubles et d’autres objets en bois.

Nous sommes très contents d’informer les donateurs  que  l’argent amassé a été envoyé à The Haines Junction Employment Development Society, du Yukon. 

Arie van Ameringen

Dunham,  février 2014

Classholders' Meeting - January 2014

 - Part One, by Heidi Vuklovich and Ute Weinmann

Our recent class-holders' meeting took place on on January 24 -26.  2014, at the Hesperus Community in Richmond Hill.  With a little imagination, one could perceive some shiny new threads , woven into the  fabric of this yearly meeting.  

The  presentations delivered by individuals were well-researched, and  were received  by equally well-prepared participants. For example, we worked with the Foundation Stone  given  by Rudolf Steiner for the first Goetheanum  in 1913.  Entering the mood of this very special  moment  in  history, when Rudolf Steiner also  received  the Fifth Gospel  and  spoke the reversed  Lord’s Prayer, we experienced a working-ethic  one could describe as : be on  guard.  

A courageous step was taken by the preparatory group with the following questions:

1)   How do guarantee that the mantras do not lose their spiritual force? 

2)  Do we indeed achieve the requirements for the true School of Michael when we hold the Class?

3)  What are the occult laws underlying these requirements?

These questions are placed right into the struggle for anthroposophy in our time. They remained somewhat open-ended, because each question is  not only a concern for classholders, but also involves every individual who is a member of the School of Spiritual Science.  

From these efforts, a heightened participation took place. One could experience a density of  attention. And the fruit of this work were  not only  new insights,   but surprisingly it was a first beginning of allowing moments of silence, of not falling into the temptation to give  answers, because there were  moments left open  for  the unexpected….    

To the authors of this little excerpt, in the process of reviewing , something of this new  quality emerged that wants to be taken up. To have  the courage to leave the silence hovering in the room and  wait  to see what possibilities can come from such working .

  

- Part 2, by  Brenda Hammond 

We are the religion of the gods.

This quote from Rudolf Steiner, brought by Penelope Baring,  still resonates with me. So, I thought, what did the gods behold when they considered our circle during those hours, days and evenings?

Fellowship, certainly. A general mood of trust and also one of inquiry. The gods would have delighted in the art of speech (brought by Patricia Smith) and that of eurythmy (Michael Chapitis) where we sounded out the Reverse Lord’s Prayer and moved the Zodiac.

I think they would also have been gratified by the prepared contributions of others such as Judy King and France Beaucage. and Ingrid Belenson.  New connections were made; old ones renewed and enhanced. Information was exchanged in various fields such as: what’s happening at the Goetheanum; which members of the Vorstand will be visiting Canada during the summer and for the proposed conference in 2016.

The meetings were chaired by Eric Oxford who brought a discipline towards time and yet a sensitivity to process that was much appreciated. The effort that all had put in towards preparation always adds to the quality of the meeting.

Rudolf Steiner's 89th Death Anniversary - Sky Notes

- by Debbie Allen

The Northern Lights and Winter Skies have been wonderful.  A snowy Owl crossed my path yesterday.  Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and Venus grace the skies in the morning darkness.  This year as we approach the 89th Anniversary of Rudolf Steiner's death, Saturn resides in the House of Justice as it was at the time of Rudolf Steiner's death.  The exact return was in October 2013 but Saturn was too close to the Sun to be observed; however, by March 30, Saturn will be quite visible in the Constellation of Libra.  Also on March 30, 2014 there is a second New Moon and the next couple of days will give way to the Grail Moon which this year is followed by the Full Lunar eclipse, The Blood Red Moon of Easter, at Midnight April 14 -15.  The Lunar eclipse is in close proximity to Red Mars.  This combination (minus the eclipse part) has not been around since Christmas 2007 when Mars was also at its brightest and closet to Earth.  What died at Christmas 2007 is reborn at Easter 2014, in the broadest sense.  All this is significant to the relationship to Rudolf Steiner's 89th Death Anniversary and the 100th approach of that Anniversary in the line of significant 100th Anniversaries in the anthroposophical realm.  It is important through what Rudolf Steiner brought as knowledge of the Christ, Easter, and the Grail Moon.  Walter Johannes Stein was one who really grasped this.

Cheers!  As I write, Mars and Saturn stand still in the Heavens as they are poised to move retrograde...