Renewal

“There is more to life than merely increasing its speed.” — Gandhi

“Renewal” is a powerful idea that occurs frequently in anthroposophical contexts. Social and cultural and educational and ecological renewal are urgent concerns, and anthroposophical initiatives are filled with extraordinarily committed people who work long hours and strive to be highly conscious, responsible and creative in their contributions.

So “renewal” takes on another character when turned toward the individual. Personal renewal can be health and emotional balancing, it can be reinspiration or new perspectives, it can come from relief felt when finding a community and knowing that one’s challenges and frustrations are shared by others.

Karine Munk Finser

For the past ten years the Center for Anthroposophy in Wilton, New Hampshire, has offered “renewal courses” in the summer. We asked Karine Munk Finser, coordinator of the center’s renewal courses, to share her thoughts on the significance of such programs as well as specific plans for next year.

KMF: There is a clear urgency for people to come together, to nurture the powers of the spirit over the gravity pull of the external forces of our lives. We offer a place where individuals can find teachers, colleagues, and friends in a beautiful, rejuvenating community setting for adults—a place for the strengthening of courage in life.

» How is the experience structured?

» What inspired you most about these programs? What lights me up about the Center for Anthroposophy are the dedicated long-term core faculty and staff. The Center attracts some of the very best teachers in their fields, who are schooled in the art of adult education. We have proven that yes, we can create a vibrant minicommunity in a limited period of time. People come, and transformation and growth happens. Many return, year after year, for the teacher training summer session or for our annual renewal. Both groups become a family. These people are our inspiration.

Participants sign up for one Sunday evening through Friday lunchtime course, and therefore have an in-depth experience of their chosen subject. Some of our courses help teachers prepare and others are more philosophical, but all have a strong artistic component. Our veteran instructors try to foster both expertise and joy in learning. The schedule allows for time to rest or walk in the gardens or fields, take in the mountain vista, or swim in the pool. Our kitchen is excellent and serves bountiful organic meals, both vegetarian and not.

» The renewal courses are offered during two weeks each summer. What else goes on at the center?

KMF: In this coming year our two weeks are June 27–July 2, and July 4–9. The center is on Main Street in Wilton, in southern New Hampshire, above our Waldorf and art supply store, The Color Shop and More. We are fortunate to have a summer home on the campus of High Mowing School, and Pine Hill Waldorf School just up the road. Along with the renewal programs there are foundation studies, which are offered in clusters in communities throughout North America, and high school teacher education, which offers a wide variety of subject areas to practicing and future high school teachers. CfA works in close collaboration with the Waldorf Program of Antioch University New England, which offers a variety of Waldorf teacher education options, including Waldorf Certification and an accredited MEd and state certification program.

» What special offerings will you have in summer 2010’s Renewal Courses?

KMF: Christof Wiechert joins us in week one. He is a Dutchman, with a dry sense of humor, and the sharpest intellect, all warmed by a deep humanity. Christof, who leads the Pedagogical Section at the Goetheanum, is a specialist in the Child Study.

Christof Wiechert

Christof is co-author of a book on the subject. And I quickly found an article by him on the internet [See waldorflibrary.org]. “Child study” has a unassuming sound, but it involves the whole faculty working together—with imagination, inspiration, intuition—around a problem a teacher is facing with one particular student.

Yes, his insights into human development are very keen. They can bring a new dignity to the heart of faculty meetings: the Child Study. He is a master in his field, who can help us live into the questions we carry as teachers from his rich vantage point. Christof has presented widely at AWSNA conferences and pedagogical gatherings around the world. We are happy to have him back on the East Coast for our for week one, and it’s his first Renewal Course ever.

» I see he is a great traveler, and will also be at the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training, February 2010 [www.bacwtt.org]. Who else would you mention?

KMF: Iris Sullivan, who is Australian, works out of the Collot d’Herbois painting stream; she will teach veil painting with pastels, a deep living into pure color. I find her to be incredibly wise, intuitive, priestess-like, and intensely into color and soul. Iris will strengthen and inspire her participants. Both the novice and the advanced painter will discover avenues for renewed courage in life. Iris’ paintings are in many private collections, and on book covers. She teaches at Sacramento High School and has a private practice as an art therapist.

Glen Williamson, an actor who specializes in modern mystery dramas, is also with us this year. He will warm the imaginative powers within us. Glen offers an evening on his work with Goethe’s Faust. Other stellar faculty members include Georg Locher, offering an upper elementary painting course. Georg, who never travels without his cello, and his colleague, pianist Marc Ferguson, bring us the blessings of beautiful music. As I said, the faculty inspire me, and I can only mention a few of them. Elizabeth Auer, is a master in creating the most beautiful and dynamic classrooms, and she will offer a course on “practical arts” for the first three grades. You will return with armfuls of materials for your classroom and many new ideas for circle work and more. And we are grateful to be able to benefit from Christopher Bamford’s deep and wise soul. Chris has come for many years and his work is invaluable and profound.

» And that’s just a part of the first week. Can I have a just a touch of week two?

KMF: Aonghus Gordon from Ruskin Mills in England is coming to the East Coast! He brings a course focusing on changing the lives of teenagers at risk, creative and practical tools. This is a possible new and important venue for anthroposophy in the world. Aonghus is bringing along several of his people, a blacksmith, and a soap maker, and a green woodworker and a felter, so that the daily lectures will be accompanied by hands-on workshops. Return home with a skill that can be passed on or join with others in this good work! It’s important to sign up early for this particular course, to be in the workshop of one’s first choice.

» Ok! Now you also have Rudiger Janisch from the Camphill movement, working with Rudolf Steiner’s biography as we approach the 150th anniversary of his birth in 2011. And Dennis Klocek will join you for the first time, working on two topics: “Natural Laws and Human Potentials: a Cosmic Look at the Climate,” and “The Role of Imagination in Establishing a Meditative Practice.” And many more! Where will all the details be posted?

KMF: For current information, go to centerforanthroposophy.org and navigate to “Renewal Courses.”