The Soul of Anthroposophical Initiatives; Signs of the Times

From the General Anthroposophical Society Annual Report in Anthroposophy Worldwide 2012-03:

Dear members, Last year a certain convergence became visible—at least in Europe: it was Rudolf Steiner’s 150th birthday and his powerful ideas and humane anthroposophical work received wide public attention and recognition. At the same time, crises, conflicts, and ecological catastrophes demonstrate how difficult it is to take responsibility for what we human beings create.

Apparently, crisis is needed to rouse an interest in anthroposophy and its founder. We need only imagine what kind of echo this anniversary might have found in generally optimistic and prosperous times. Anyone without questions and satisfied with himself and the world will probably have no serious interest in Rudolf Steiner or anthroposophy. Anthroposophy presupposes disquiet, a seeking or desire for development—socially and personally.

There is a rapidly growing consciousness that a fundamentally different approach is needed in our understanding of humanity and nature; this consciousness appears around the world as yearning, protest, or engagement. Does it meet and find a living and open engagement with Rudolf Steiner’s work—a Society and School for Spiritual Science that fulfills these expectations? One thing is certain: such a Society and such a School are urgently needed.

And a second phenomenon became clear: in how it understands the human being and the world—and despite its popularity—anthroposophy is foreign to everyday thinking and opinion. There are many publications that demonstrate this; it is of little use to characterize these as oppositional. An openness to anthroposophical views will not be established on the level of argumentation.

Matters are different in the applied area. The anthroposophically inspired reality in education, agriculture, medicine is valued—even if the source that makes it possible is not grasped. How can an understanding arise about the relationship between successful practice and a path of knowledge that seeks to unite the spiritual in the human being with the spiritual in the cosmos? This is not just important for the interested public—it is especially significant for the future of anthroposophical institutions and the Anthroposophical Society. A living understanding of anthroposophy becomes existential at this point: our identity is at stake.

It is encouraging that these questions about identity are being asked; the quest for the source and the hope for a deep and contemporary understanding become apparent. The scientific quality of anthroposophy, or its Christian character, are under discussion; inner culture and meditation have become central themes. The question of how anthroposophy can live powerfully as the soul of anthroposophical initiatives is being urgently asked around the world. We are grateful that this attempt to seek an ever-renewed understanding of anthroposophy—and it is best understood in activity—will continue to have an important focal point at the Goetheanum. Today, we can see that our painful decision (in 2011) to work with a seriously curtailed budget has had positive results. I will close with warm thanks for your support of the anthroposophical work done by its groups, your country, and for making our work at the Goetheanum possible. Without your ongoing support we would be unable to do what we have briefly sketched in this annual report and everything developing worldwide as the life of anthroposophy.

With warm greetings from the Goetheanum Executive Council:

Bodo von Plato

Signs of the Times

by members of the US General Council

Are current events and standard historical facts the last word in reality—or merely symptoms of deeper forces? Rudolf Steiner advocated the symptomatic approach, and at its May 2012 meeting in Massachusetts, the General Council of the Anthroposophical Society in America took part of their meeting time to share what they are seeing as “signs of the times.” Council members are all volunteers and come from diverse professions and walks of life, and a brief note of their observations is offered here as what might arise in any of our groups today.

Virginia McWilliam noted that the times call out for renewal. It’s important to take the opportunity to connect with what is good in the community beyond anthroposophically inclined folks. Anthroposophy offers hope, love through understanding. It also makes sense of what otherwise might be overwhelming in these chaotic times.

Carla Comey: “As a young student at Emerson College, I asked Francis Edumunds how one could face all the darkness in the world, and his answer in that moment was: ‘Focus on the light, build the light.’ I definitely see the trends toward darkness and that it is important to clearly recognize them; but I also look for the dandelions pushing their way through the pavement and providing a small ray of hope. Many are working toward a future more worthy of the human being because they see a need to take positive action. Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS Shoes and a pair of shoes is given to someone in need for every pair that is purchased. Carlo Petrini founded the Slow Food Movement as a counter to “fast food.” Yvon Chouinard founded Patagonia, known for its environmental focus and responsible business practices. The Fair Trade movement promotes brotherhood in the economic realm between developing countries and developed countries. And the interest in Waldorf education and the number of Waldorf schools worldwide continues to increase.

Dennis Dietzel: “As human beings we find ourselves in unprecedented times where the capability of machines is increasing exponentially, seemingly eclipsing the intelligence of human beings. Electronic computing devices are amazing tools that are allowing us to communicate and work in ways that were unthinkable just a few years ago. They make possible many technologies, such as GMO’s and medical treatments, that many would consider questionable, but none the less are remarkable in their own right. As the capabilities of machines continues to increase and more tasks are relegated to the machine world, how do we as human beings maintain our humanity? How are we able to use machines as tools to allow us to be more fully human, rather than being relegated to the sidelines as the speed, efficiency and predictability of these machines increases? What does it mean to be human? Anthroposophy gives a way to ask these questions, finding glimpses of truth and inspiration in our process of becoming free human beings. So the next time you swipe your finger across your smart phone or iPad and it responds to your touch, compare that to what happens inwardly when you touch another human being or look in their eyes.

Torin Finser: “Today many people feel pulled in different directions. One might say there is a pull downward, compelling us to fixate on finances in a traditional sense, captivating our attention on the mechanical aspects of technology, limiting our gaze to the sense perceptible and causing us to see anything spiritual as flights of fancy, as irrelevant. Then there is the Luciferic ‘lift off’ that can come with all sorts of fantastic dreams of tomorrow, new fads and promises of health through alternative workshops and retreats as one is drawn away from the unpleasantness of life to enjoy, even if fleetingly, a larger, stress free world of promised self realization. Anthroposophy gives us a pathway that, while cognizant of divergences, nevertheless works out of strengthening powers of thought, renewed feeling, and cooperative willing to bring the whole human being into play. We stand in the center of world drama today, yet we can make conscious choices at every moment as to how we want to live our lives. Rather than being pulled in separate directions, we can stand upright, rooted in the certainty of our own being. Anthroposophy gives us confidence to be human.”

Ann Finucane: “Two thoughts came to mind as ‘signs of our times.’ In the economic sphere, even seniors who are maintaining some semblance of dignity, staying in their homes despite dwindling savings, are affected by greedy financial markets. Cash flow becomes problematic and they are unable to meet basic needs of three meals a day, and care for dental, hearing and visual needs are beyond their reach. What to do? Senior society members could have ‘touch-in partners’ on branch or regional levels to give support if society dues are an issue, or to help them receive email publications and notices. Second, what about chemical pollution including the disputed ‘chem trails’? How are they are affecting our consciousness and health, and the future of ‘being human’? We can support the Nature Institute and Science Section members in investigating the current situation and future prognosis for humanity.”

And from Joan Treadaway: “The rate of children on the autistic spectrum is now 1 in 90, a concerning rise from years past. Are these individualities our ‘canaries in the coal mine,’ the mirror of 21st century life, who somehow are sounding a warning call with their solitude and alienation? Being at home in oneself, feeling ‘comforted through and through,’ is a fundamental life orientation on which all other orientations are built. These children clearly have a significant lack of this orientation, resulting in a damaged sense of well-being, and of the sense of life. The four lower senses of balance, self-movement, touch and life are, each one, disturbed in the child with autism, and the unconscious existential question, ‘Where is the warmth of soul?’ seems to resound in these children who are lost to themselves. How are we, as a society, understanding this profound phenomenon? How can we perceive the true individuality of the child, and so begin to bring a warmth of soul, accompanying the child out of solitude in a world of accelerating change, sensory attack, and increasing uncertainty?”

Leadership Colloquium

Torin Finser

For those planning to attend the Leadership Colloquium in Ann Arbor, August 8-9, 2009 and all those who inwardly carry the future of our work together in this country:

“It is Michael’s mission to bring into human etheric bodies the forces through which the thought-shadows may regain life; then the souls and spirits in the supersensible worlds will incline towards the enlivened thoughts, and the liberated human being will be able to live with them....”

From Leading Thoughts, page 69.

It seems to me that any accomplishments of the Leadership Colloquium will rest not just on how we interact during those two days before the conference, but on the inner attitude of soul we carry in the weeks and days ahead of time. It is of course up to each participant how to prepare as that is part of our work in freedom. But I would like to share some questions I am working with, so as to stimulate this inner preparation. For brevity, I will characterize them in two ways:

The way of “thought-shadows”: Am I going to the event to simply represent the groups and institutions with which I have connected my ego? Will I have a defensive posture when some of my favorite ideas and long held positions are questioned? Am I working out of positionality, or out of established patterns of friendship with some of the participants? To what extend am I trapped in old ways of thinking? Do I recognize how uncertainty can at times bring moments of fear? Will I simply “appear” to be open minded, or will that in fact be my inner bearing?

The way of a “liberated human being”: What does it mean to have a beginner’s mind? Will a certain amount of “letting go” be needed to create the space for new life? To what extent can I really take interest in the other human beings so that I can see “what the other person really is” (Work of the Angel in Our Astral Body). To what extent have our old “forms” and even some anthroposophical institutions perhaps unintentionally worked against freedom in the religious and spiritual lives of our members and friends? Will I be able to maintain courage during events for which I am not in control, knowing that the hierarchies want to work through us?

Not a complete list of questions I am working with, but I thought it might be helpful.

General Council Report

Carla Beebe Comey

The General Council of the Anthroposophical Society in America gathered in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, May 16–19, 2012. The major focus was preparation for three events coming this summer in Ann Arbor: a leadership colloquium August 8–9, the annual conference August 9-12, and the annual general meeting (AGM) August 12. The Council began each day by working with the etheric heart meditation given by Rudolf Steiner and with eurythmy related to the meditation. It has also been studying The Work of the Angel in Our Astral Body since January, continuing throughout this meeting in several sessions including a Goethean conversation.

To better accomplish its business, the Council has formed working committees which report and lead discussion in major areas. The Communications Committee is reviewing strategic directions after three years of a new approach, and a joint communications project is in development with the Council of Anthroposophical Organizations. The Library Committee is focusing on outreach, digitization and fundraising. The Development Committee shared, “What Could Development Look Like in the Anthroposophical Society in America?” And the Council heard a full report of the Central Regional Council retreat in Little Rock, Arkansas, taking up parts of a Parzival pageant enacted at that retreat.

The Council also heard news from the recent General Secretaries’ meeting and AGM in Dornach, including Society membership worldwide and coming special events: a 100th anniversary in Cologne and the Michaelmas First Class Conference in Dornach. An interesting brochure from India showed individuals’ paths to anthroposophy.

Carla Beebe Comey was elected secretary for the Council, and deep gratitude was expressed to Ann Finucane for many years’ service in that office. Finally, we encourage you to join us August 9-12 for the members’ conference, “That Good May Become”: Meeting Our Spiritual Destinies in America. And we invite all members and friends to take up the preparatory material in this and the previous issue of being human. Together, we hope to work toward a future worthy of the human being.