Nr.

October 1999

Anthroposophy and Politics Pan American Conference

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Olivera Todorovic I Have My Goal before Me Always

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Revision of the Constitution of the General Anthroposophical Society Planned

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Forum Anthroposophy around the World Portrait Signs of the Times School of Spiritual Science Anthroposophical Society Feature

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People from 17 nations collaborated to build the Goetheanum during the first world war, including several from both sides of the conflict. Though it was often difficult to master their patriotic emotions for the benefit of serving anthroposophy and humanity, they managed. Indeed, as article 4 of the Statutes of the General Anthroposophical Society states, party politics are not considered to be part of its task. Anthroposophy is not about separation, it is about association. How does anthroposophy relate to a conflict such as the recent NATO war against Yugoslavia? Since anthroposophy itself does not relate to war, one must rephrase the question: How do human beings relate to it in the spirit of anthroposophy? The members of the Anthroposophical Society belong to many nations, and their feelings are influenced by their nationalities. They need not give this up any more today than did the Germans and British during the world war, who were able to work together as anthroposophists in the service of humanity during the same years that they had to fight each other as citizens of particular nations. The same holds true for a conflict like the NATOYugoslavian war. From an anthroposophical point of view there can be no position for or against one side or the other. Every judgement calls forth an immediate opposite judgement; a politically-motivated search for truth is necessarily one-sided. This is quite different from the kind of characterization that would serve to uncover Truth. From an anthroposophical perspective, we interest ourselves in the world, indeed in the whole world. Anthroposophy thus leads us through characterizations to intuitions that are healing. I would like to offer an example of what I consider to be a healthy way of occupying oneself with a conflict such as Kosovo. It is Albert Schmelzers comment in the June issue of this paper, where he mentions an idea that could contribute to overcoming conflicts between nationalities: threefolding the social organism. Anything that is healing for social and international life cannot be good for one person and simultaneously bad for the other. Good for the one is good for the other. Oskar Borgman-Hansen, Denmark
Translated from the German

Forum
Rudolf Steiners Complete Works on CD?
Should the collected works of Rudolf Steiner be made available on CD so that they can be accessed by computer at home? This question is currently being considered by the Caretakers of Rudolf Steiners Estate, while others have already begun the work of making his works electronically accessible (in German). This raises questions such as: What kind of consciousness would be fostered by this form of the collected works? In Theosophy, Rudolf Steiner writes: This cannot be read as books are usually read in our time. I remembered this sentence only vaguely, but because I have the text of Theosophy in my computer for test purposes, I was able to find the quote immediately, based on the words cannot be read. However, this demonstrates the problematic nature of quick research as opposed to in-depth reading in context. When the search is so easy (with the CD one can locate virtually any phrase of the collected works) Rudolf Steiners work becomes a boundless quotation quarry in which anyone can cut the stones they want, to build any building. This is not new in principle. We already have reference books (such as Emil Mttelis) that allow for this, albeit with more effort. However, not only anthroposophists would be able to use such a CD. Recently, for example, quotations by Rudolf Steiner were published in a non-anthroposophical magazine in such a way as to give the impression that Rudolf Steiner was antisemitic. Until now, one had to read a lot of material to be able to write such an article. With a CD, it can be written immediately. There are also other themes that could be used to discredit Steiner today. Also, does not a CD encourage a merely intellectual grasp of spiritual science, thereby contradicting any kind of meditative study? Yes, this kind of access to the Complete Edition will doubtless encourage detached intellectual thinking, but it is also possible that the ideas will unexpectedly startle the intellect out of its lethargy. Initial contact with spiritual science is usually undertaken by the (as yet) unenlivened mind, in any case. In any event, the question is no longer whether the Complete Edition should appear on CD or not, because preliminary versions of it are already in circulation. The rights to the lectures and to the form of publication still rest with the Caretakers of Rudolf Steiners Estate in Dornach, and they are currently grappling with the technical and moral questions involved. The complete works will appear in electronic form, the only question is who will do it and how. If CDs can help Rudolf Steiners work reach the public, and help individual anthroposophists in their studies, then the dangers of a quotation quarry will probably be worth the risk. Only the future will tell. Andreas Heertsch, Switzerland

Finding Younger Members

Response to Few Members Are under 30, in Anthroposophy Worldwide, Nr. 7/1999 An authoritative atmosphere is probably seldom a reason for not wanting to be part of the Anthroposophical Society. Usually the young people are the ones who take decisive action to prevent authoritarian atmospheres. New young members of the Anthroposophical Society could come from Waldorf schools, if the schools would not merely base their teaching on anthroposophy but also teach more anthroposophy itself. It is still true, of course (as Rudolf Steiner said), that Waldorf schools do not exist to produce anthroposophists, but rather to raise independent human beings. But a well-founded knowledge of anthroposophy would help to serve this end. It would allow the independent young people to arrive at a standpoint from which they could decide whether to join the Anthroposophical Society, or not. Peter Vlkner, Germany 2

Soul Calendar in Spanish

Coordination of Translations Toni Zenker arrived at the Pan American Conference with a Spanish translation of Rudolf Steiners Calendar of the Soul fresh off the press. Translated by Miriam Schwebsch, Mexico, it contains color illustrations by Irma Roldn and Toni Zenker and was published by the San Juan de la Cruz Branch in Mexico.

Anthroposophy Worldwide
Life in the Anthroposophical Society Anthroposophy Worldwide is published monthly. It is distributed by the regional Anthroposophical Societies in some cases augmented with independently edited news and articles. It also appears as a supplement to the weekly paper Das Goetheanum. Publisher: General Anthroposophical Society, represented by Paul Mackay Editors: Carol Brousseau (responsible for the English-Language Edition), Sebastian Jngel, Dietrich Rapp, Ursula Remund Fink (responsible for this issue), Michaela Spaar, Stephan Stockmar, Justus Wittich Correspondents: Jrgen Vater (Sweden) Marianne Mller-Nielsen (Denmark) Andrew Wolpert (Great Britain) We expressly wish for active support and collaboration. The process of building a team of editors and correspondents has not yet been completed. To receive Anthroposophy Worldwide, please apply to the Anthroposophical Society in your country. If questions with the distribution arise, only the subscribers to Das Goetheanum should contact the address below. For all others the address is the address of the Anthroposophical Society in your country. Address: Weekly Paper Das Goetheanum, Box, CH4143 Dornach 1, Switzerland, fax +41/61/706 44 65 e-mail: wochenschrift@goetheanum.ch Copyright 1999 General Anthroposophical Society, Dornach, Switzerland Printing by J.W. Arrowsmith Ltd. Bristol

Toni Zenker has offered to help coordinate translations of anthroposophy into Spanish. Perhaps unnecessary duplications could be avoided and existing translations better shared among the Spanish-speaking countries if translators knew of each others work. CB
Contact: Toni Zenker, Avenida Revolucion 134118, Col. Campestre San Angel, MX01040 Mexico DF.

Anthroposophy Worldwide 8/1999

Anthroposophy around the World

The Spiritual Mission of the Americas
Pan American Conference in San Diego, U.S.A., July 31August 6, 1999 The Pan American conference was a landmark meeting attended by about 150 people from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Mexico, Peru, Philippenes, Spain, Switzerland, U.S.A., and Uruguay. A Native American prophecy that speaks of a time when the eagle of the North will fly with the condor of the South accompanied the conference as a picture of the cosmopolitan Michaelic impulse for the Americas. Virginia Sease (Goetheanum) began the series of keynote lectures by describing how in earlier times, the peoples were guided by initiates of the Mystery Centers. Several different spiritual streams originated on the American continent. At the turning point of time there occurred signs and events indicating that a high spiritual being had entered the material plane. In the old Mexican Mysteries, Ahriman, Lucifer and later the Asuras were actively involved in the ritual activities of tribes and peoples living in Central America. A spiritual being refered to as Taotl, an Ahrimanic degeneration of the Great (Atlantean) Spirit, who did not appear in a physical body but in an elemental form, inspired the ritual sacrifice of human beings. This was done in such a way that the victims soul would want to avoid returning for another earthly incarnation. A very great number of souls were affected. Then, in the year one of our calendar, a being came into the world in Central America, born to a virgin who had conceived through a supersensible power pictured as a feathered being. The child of this union was a high being from the sun, who incarnated for the sake of humanity. His name was noted phonetically by Rudolf Steiner as Vitzliputzli. He lived for 33 years as the unknown contemporary of Christ in the Western Hemisphere. At the same time, out of the Ahrimanic Mysteries, the greatest black magician who ever walked the Earth came and continued the bloody ritual. Many young people died. Finally, this false prophet was captured and nailed to a cross by Vitzliputzli. This event in Central America succeeded in holding back the Ahrimanic forces in the fourth and fifth epochs. Through lively personal presentations by friends familiar with todays Central American culture and its history, the conversations during the conference opened many new vistas and a better understanding for all participants. Meeting and conversing with friends from Latin America was an important part of the conference. The
Anthroposophy Worldwide 8/1999

question came up: How does Ahrimanic activity express itself today in our culture, in art, and in modern technology? Some friends expressed the feeling that the old Mexican Mysteries have changed their appearance but not their Ahrimanic spirit. Todays black magic shows up in strong egoism. We might understand the spiritual mission of the Americas to be the task of helping people understand old traditions in a wider context, so that they can begin to recognize the Christ Being in the etheric realm. Nicanor Perlas (Philippines) lectured in his charismatic way about the need for globalization, threefolding, and spiritualization. He presented many facts about modern civilization and economics. He condemned especially the U.S. trade contracts through

technologies we experience the unleashing of elemental spirits occupied by Ahrimanic beings. The etheric Christ has to enter the hearts of human beings in order to transform evil. The final lecture was presented by Manfred Schmidt-Brabant (Goetheanum) on the theme of the Americas in the mystery tradition of humanity. The old mysteries are cosmic organisms in time and space that still live on today. It is out of these cosmic organisms that the new mysteries will need to be shaped. The Americas have a significant role to play in this. Other lecturers were Florencio Herrero (Spain), Jorge Sanz-Cardona (U.S.A.), Denis Schneider (Canada), Els Woutersen (U.S.A.), and Arthur Zajonc (U.S.A.). The art program of the conference deserves special praise! Also, it needs to be said that every lecture, every workshop, and every announcement was provided in two languages, English and Spanish. All the translators did a marvelous job! May this conference be the first of many! Uwe Stave, U.S.A.
Excerpts from a report in Aspects, Newsletter of the Faust Branch in Fair Oaks.

Ecuadoreans to Help Coordinate

During a Curative Education Conference in Ecuador in July, and the Pan American Conference in the U.S. about two weeks later, it became clear that the anthroposophical collaboration between North and South America, and indeed within each country, needs to be better integrated. For one thing, we need a better flow of information. As a result of both conferences, the Micael Branch in Quito, Ecuador, and Efrn Donoso in particular, were asked to coordinate the flow of information. It is hoped that the coordinator will be able to collect and distribute ideas and information toward a future conference: suggestions, possible dates, venues, themes, etc. are to be made available to anyone who wants to send or receive information. An impulse was also expressed for the Goetheanum to join in with the work of the Spanish-speaking world more closely, by offering more translations into Spanish there and by contributing to conferences in the Spanish-speaking regions, with the aim of intensifying the work. Micael Branch, Ecuador
Contact: Rama Micael, P.O. Box 17-04-10454, Quito, Ecuador, tel./fax 593/2/468421, e-mail pjaramil@ramt.com or efrendo@hotmail.com

Photo: Michael Kochowiec

Efrn Donoso with two editors of Anthroposophy Worldwide, Sandra Beals and Carol Brousseau

which, in a very subtle way, the worlds biggest corporations gain more and more power, rendering entire countries dependent and poor. He portrayed the present situation as already having apocalyptic dimensions. The spiritualization of economic life is most needed, and hardest to accomplish. Leading us back to the sacred earth of the Americas, Patricia Kaminski (U.S.A.) pointed to the dark mysteries of modern time exemplified by the atomic bomb. In many modern

Sweden
Questioning Society
Waldorf Students in Discussion with Prominent Citizens For once a different start to the school year: the twelfth graders from all of the Swedish Waldorf Schools came together in Jrna for a seminar on questions of society. Better a Fellow Citizen than a Subject was the theme of the week-long event. Prominent representatives from Swedish economic, legal and cultural life were also invited and came. The initiative had arisen from a group working with questions of threefolding in connection with Ekobanken, the recently founded alternative bank. The group felt that threefolding is discussed a lot, but little is done. They wanted to approach young people who have just acquired the right to vote. The idea was to let the young participants plan the week themselves. Two students from each class were involved in the planning from the start. They helped decide what would be done and which speakers to invite. The end result was a week with morning lectures, discussion groups, workshops, and evening parties. Meeting Decision Makers Nearly all of the invited guests were prominent Swedes. However, the students were not at all interested in representatives of the political parties. Instead, the life of rights was represented by the president of the Swedish police and a woman prison pastor. The discussion groups received a series of visitors who were pioneers active in various anthroposophic fields: art, curative education, Waldorf education, economics, etc. The workshops dealt with themes relating to money, school reports, future networks for young people, feminism, and practical artistic exercises. The most popular was a workshop called Siesta. When 160 young people meet, the nights can become quite short and people do need to sleep sometime Now a written evluation of the week is to be sent to the Waldorf schools. Perhaps similar initiatives will follow. In a small country like Sweden, that has only ten full-sized Waldorf schools, it is not always easy to find qualified teachers for every single subject. Such forms of collaboration might actually help Waldorf education to continue here. Jrgen Vater, Sweden 4

Denmark
Danish Alternative Bank Opens its Third Branch
Merkur Andelskasse, an alternative bank in Denmark, has just opened a third branch in Arhus, Denmarks second largest city. The bank was founded in 1982. Its first branches were in Nordjtland (lborg) and Kopenhagen. Today it has a total of 20 coworkers. In 1998 the budget was 220 million krones. Merkur has been an actual bank from the beginning. Today it looks after the needs of 5000 customers from different sectors of Danish society. Since most of them are likely to have daily business, the bank must employ a relatively large number of people. The banks customers are involved mainly in education (including social work, curative education and child care) and agriculture (biodynamic or organic). Denmark is unusual in that it has long had an independent, state-supported school system with many different kinds of schools. (Of the 440 independent schools, only 17 are Waldorf schools.) Merkur has contributed a great deal to the development of organic agriculture in Denmark, particularly when the movement was still young and investments were considered too risky by the established banks. Merkur also sent an Agricultural Memorandum to the political parties in 1998. The bank publishes a quarterly magazine. Sociale penge has a circulation of 4000 and includes contributions by their customers and perspectives on threefolding. Merkur has a representative in Hamburg and collaborates with Triodos (the Netherlands) and GLS Gemeinschaftsbank (Germany). It meets several times a year with other anthroposophically oriented financial institutions in Scandinavia (Cultura Sparebank, Norway, and Ekobanken, Sweden see Anthroposophy Worldwide, Nr. 2, 1998) to discuss various projects and future collaboration. Marianne Mller-Nielsen, Denmark

Poland
Koberwitz Palace in New Splendour
Memorial Plaque Honors Agriculture Course

When I last visited Koberwitz Palace, it was a ruin, and the grounds had grown wild. This had once been the property of the Count Carl von Keyserlingk family, where Rudolf Steiner held his course for farmers in 1924, for more than 100 people. When a group from Breslau visited the palace in May 1999, they were surprised and delighted to find that everything had been excellently renovated. A guard eventually understood the interest of the reverent German guests and secured permission by telephone for them to tour the residence. The renovation had been undertaken by the Koberwitz municipality wealthy through the sale of land. Today the palace is used for cultural events and the local administration. Christian von Wistinghausen, who worked as an agricultural advisor in Poland for many years, arranged for a plaque commemorating the agriculture course to be placed to the left of the entrance. The visitors of 1999 were impressed by the etheric wealth in the light and warmth of the broad Silesian landscape, particularly in the park with its pond full of reeds and water lilies, and the tall, old trees. It was exactly 75 years since the Koberwitz course! Charlotte Eckloff-Dietz, Germany
Anthroposophy Worldwide 8/1999

India
European Students Visit India
First Public Assembly and 4000 Trees For one month (July 7 August 7, 1999) thirty young people aged 1524 visited India. Most of them were from Switzerland and Southern Germany. They visited the Sloka Waldorf School and the biodynamic Maikaal project, which involves more than 1000 farmers, cultivating cotton, soy, chili, and other crops. On July 29, 1999 the visitors celebrated a public assembly with the Indian children. The trip was organized by the Basel Christian Community. Anand Mandaiker, a priest of the Christian Community in Basel, Switzerland, had prepared the young people thoroughly. Wonderful encounters and rich experiences arose for them with the farmers and their families living in the remote areas by the Narmada River. During the first three weeks they were given the opportunity to add their efforts to the Maikaal project. They happily planted more than 4000 trees together with school groups from the region. A high point of the trip was the encounter with students, teachers, parents, and friends of the Sloka Waldorf school in Hyderabad, July 2830, 1999. After a warm welcome, KarlJulius Reubke (Germany) held a lecture on education and elements of Waldorf education in India. Later, the visiting students entered into a lively discussion on the theme Mutual Help and Consideration among Waldorf Students. An audience of 250 came, along with reporters for Indian television. A press conference was arranged. The following day, the students visited the Sloka Waldorf School and observed classes in the three kindergarten groups and grades one and two. It was moving to experience the loving, peaceful, and enthusiastic atmosphere that surrounds the hundred children of this school. This even came to expression in the unavoidable Indian school uniform the children in their tri-colored, bright, warm uniforms radiated joy and great warmth. On the afternoon of July 29, a first public assembly was held before 300 guests at the Greenpark Hotel. The brand new first graders showed a counting game, the second graders acted the fable of a fox that outsmarts a rooster. The visiting youth group sang in chorus, did eurythmy, played instruments, and performed dramatic scenes in English. This two-hour event also drew the interest of the press and television. The reaction to the television programs was very positive. We can only hope that Sloka will soon succeed in financing a larger school building and that it will be able to continue to develop as well as it has so far. After the encounter with Sloka, the students travelled to Bangalore (to attend the first Christian Community baptism in India) and visited temples and palaces in Belur, Halebid, Mysore, Kancheepuram, Mahaballipuram, and Madras. Susanne Reubke, Germany

U. S. A.
Self Development in Prison
Prisoners Work with Basic Exercises Fred Janney, a psychologist who works with groups of incarcerated men, has developed a course called Self Development in the Penitentiary, which incorporates Steiners six basic exercises. In presenting these exercises, Janney uses examples from prison life so that the men can identify with the content of the exercises. When issues of death and evil arise in the ensuing discussions, Janney introduces an anthroposophical perspective. This stimulates questions from the men, who begin asking for more information about anthroposophy. With generous donations from the Great Lakes Branch of the Anthroposophical Society and Anthroposophic Press, a study group formed that continued for over three years. One of the group members took the initiative to create an official prisoner organization called Friends of Anthroposophy. This official status will enable the group to bring speakers and educators into the prison. The Anthroposophical Society in America supports this initiative. Louise Hill, U.S.A.
From a report in News for Members, June 1999. A group has committed to explore the possibility of developing a prison outreach program in the U.S. Contact: Louise Hill, tel. +1/610/827 16 46, e-mail: Louisehill@aol.com

IN BRIEF
Argentina. Several curative education projects in Argentina were described in Anthroposophy Worldwide Nr. 3/1999. Now ACACIA reports that the Basel City Fund for Development Collaboration has contributed 30,000 Swiss Francs to the following projects: Fundacin Tobias, Fundacin Ita Wegman, Fundacin La Choza, and Fundacin La Escondida. It was also possible to persuade a Basel printer (Druckerei Linsenmann) to print a Spanish translation of Rudolf Steiners Curative Education course free of charge. The 1500 copies were given to a publishing house in Madrid (Editorial Rudolf Steiner). Sixty of the books will be given to the above projects students who buy it will receive a discount and 2.50 Swiss Francs of every book sold will go to the Argentina Fund of ACACIA. World. A series of conferences deliberately placed on different parts of the planet aims to help renew civilization on the basis of a living relationship with the Time Spirit, particularly by fostering threefolding initiatives. The first, Shaping the Future. Elite Globalization, Anthroposophy, and the Threefold Social Order, was held in the Philippines October 2530, 1998. Preparations are now underway for a conference in Gothenburg, Sweden (December 29, 1999 January 3, 2000) on the theme The Anthroposophical Society and its Living Relation to the Present Social Intention of Michael. In January/February 2001, the conference will move to Cape Town, South Africa. The current initiators are Hkan Blomberg, Hans Brodal, Alexandra Ivn, Hans von Essen (Sweden), Jesaiah Ben Aharon (Israel/U.S.A.), Nicanor Perlas (Philippines), Ralph Shepherd (South Africa), Paul Zachos (U.S.A.).
Contact for the Northern Conference: Anthroposophical Society, Birkagatan 10C, SE416 56 Gothenburg, fax +46/31/84 69 41, tel. +46/31/ 21 90 19, e-mail: hansbrodal@privat.utfors.se

Source: ACACIA-Rundblick Contact: ACACIA, Fonds fr Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, Eisengasse 5, CH4051 Basel, tel. +41/61/263 35 00, fax 262 15 12, e-mail: acacia@datacomm.ch Anthroposophy Worldwide 8/1999

Portrait
I Have My Goal before Me Always
Interview with Olivera Todorovi c
A simply-clothed, slender, reticent woman arrives at the editors office. When I hear that she is from former Yugoslavia, I seize the opportunity and introduce myself. We quickly make a date to discuss her initiative in Belgrade and the general situation in her country. (See Anthroposophy Worldwide Nr. 4/1999.) Olivera Todorovi c is an educator who works for the public kindergarten system of Belgrade. She studied Waldorf kindergarten teaching in Bern, Switzerland, 19921995. In 1995 she founded the Association for Waldorf Education and Art in Belgrade. What has been achieved since you founded the Association? After I completed my training in Bern in 1995, I intended to continue doing what I had done before work for the public kindergarten system. However, I found that I really wanted to start a Waldorf kindergarten in Belgrade, so I created the Association with the help of friends from outside of Yugoslavia. Various friends have visited Belgrade. Dr. Schdel, a pediatrician, came in 1996, bringing medicines with him, to examine children and give lectures on childhood illnesses and anthroposophical medicine. Jon McAlice of the Pedagogical Section came with Juriaan Cooiman to give a workshop which included formdrawing and eurythmy. Our next visitor was Heinrich Schneider, a doctor from Bern. He lectured to the public and studied anthroposophy with us privately. There were usually fifteen or twenty of us. Last February, Dr. Schneider came again. We had planned eurythmy classes for April, but then the war started. In addition to these events, mothers have been meeting regularly in my apartment to create puppets, celebrate festivals, or go for walks. I organize all these things in order to find parents who would be interested in Waldorf education. I expected many people to be interested, but so far interest has not grown much. For this reason, I began organizing fewer events, also because of visa problems and the war. However, I have been hearing more and more from people who want to visit us. I do not have to send invitations any more, people want to come. Why has it not yet been possible to open a Waldorf kindergarten? We have space problems. I still have not been able to find a room. I have to buy one. This is the biggest problem. We have received money from various friends and foundations, but a house with a garden is very expensive. I share a house with two families. Perhaps I will be able to buy a small additional piece of property and start a kindergarten there. 6 Is there a group of parents behind your plan? There are interested parents, but they are scattered around Belgrade, so they will not be able to send their children if I am outside the center. I will just take the children whose parents want a private kindergarten in my part of town. tions. Our periodical appears just once a year, since there is not enough money to publish it more often. Do you also have larger gatherings of anthroposophists from different parts of the country? Not really. I am in contact with people in Croatia, and with two or three people in Slovenia and Bosnia. So far no one has thought of gathering. Perhaps it is becoming more likely now. I would like to support the idea of meeting regularly. I am disappointed when the others do not want to. I am the only one who has done a training outside of Yugoslavia who came back. All the others just read. This is a little hard for me. Very few have had any kind of practical anthroposophical training, and those who have do not usually return to the country. Personally, I have a very strong connection to the Goetheanum and the Anthroposophical Society. Others think this is unnecessary, they just do not feel it. This disappoints me. What are your plans? My main interest is education. I have my goal. Another wish of mine would be to find better rooms for our anthroposophical cultural center, which we opened in 1994. We also need better translations for our library. We need more initiatives besides the ones in Pan cevo, Subotica, and Zrenjanin in the Vojvodina. So far there is no group at all south of Belgrade. Friends from the surroundings come into Belgrade for special events. Our problem is to become a Society. We have made several attempts to meet once a year, to discuss things and make plans, but it has not really worked. I do not know why. I do not think it is because of lack of interest. Does it perhaps have something to do with the Balkans? Is it a reflection of what is happening there politically? Yes, certainly. In addition, there is no strong sense of responsibility. It is not enough to be responsible for myself alone. I can share responsibility with others, but then I need to look at what the others are doing, I cannot just do what I want. I have to stay in commuAnthroposophy Worldwide 8/1999

How is the anthroposophical work progressing? There is a group of about ten people who meet once a week to study books by Steiner. In Pan cevo, a small city nearby, three or four young people meet regularly. (They attended the Faust youth conference at the Goetheanum this year.) There are two or three other initiatives near Belgrade that are growing slowly. The difficulties lie elsewhere, however. One can take in a great deal theoretically, one can know a lot and enjoy the weekly gatherings. Difficult, however, is to apply it to real life. Is there is a readiness to think about spiritual questions in spite of every-day worries? Yes. We study anthroposophy. Political problems and our personal worries are another matter. Sometimes we come together and speak first about our problems. Then we put them aside and speak of anthroposophy. There is still hardly anything really practical being done. There is a biodynamic farm in Subotica, and we have various translations and publica-

Photo: Privat

nication with them. This quality is lacking somewhat here. I think people are not familiar with such a process. Anthroposophy fosters responsibility? Yes, it is a challenge, a task, one that perhaps not everyone wants to take on. We have often spoken about it. We feel that we lack the strength. There is no one to take responsibility, to insist that we come together. So we each just do our own thing, as well as we can. Many guests have tried to explain to us the difference between a Society that unites various groups as opposed to many isolated groups and initiatives. A Society must have a connection to the Goetheanum. So far, we do not have a representative or even a central address. We always give several addresses. Can you say a bit more about your work in public kindergartens? I work as an advisor and instructor. Belgrade has 13 districts. The one in which I work has 200 kindergartens. They are supervised by a director and two to four advisors, educators, or psychologists. We visit all 200 groups to see how they are doing and whether they have any problems. We buy toys, books, etc. We make a schedule for the year, discuss supplementary training. This is strictly regulated and I do not have much freedom. However, when I am with the teachers I can speak openly. I have a good connection with them. They are very aware of the problems, so I can speak about Waldorf education. I have made many puppets, and I have been able to replace some of the plastic toys with wooden ones. But we are very limited by official directives. It is strange there is always enough money for plastic things such as Legos, but we never have enough of other things such as paper. We also have to improvise with the food, to make sure that the children get enough vitamins, milk, fat, etc. We try to make the rooms as beautiful as possible and to acquire the things that the children really need. However, things are still very much like they were in communist times, with hierarchy, for example. Maybe it is just the laws that the government makes. Sometimes there seems to be a deliberate plan to ruin the people. However, I think that European education is similar. An old anthroposophist in Belgrade once said to me that the schools of the 20th century teach people to make war. People do not learn social values, they learn to be egoistic. What was your experience of violence during the war? I did not experience physical violence personally. Someone told me that one should not occupy ones mind with
Anthroposophy Worldwide 8/1999

the violence, even if one knows exactly what is going on. I know I did not want to think about it. But I do experience a great deal of mental violence as an educator. I experience my lack of freedom, for example, when I want to do something for and with the children and my suggestions are not accepted. How is the violence reflected in the children? They act out what they see on television. They bring weapons to kindergarten. Their teachers have often told me how hard it is to deal with the childrens aggression or restlessness. How do you see the situation in your country? Do you have concerns or hopes? Yes, I always have hope. I am optimistic. I keep my goal before me always, and I do not give up. Did Milosovic sow hate among the people? It is not so much hate, I think. He goaded them. He or his group (one senses that he is not alone) created the situation in Bosnia. Bosnia used to be a good example of how different peoples and religions can live peacefully together. Everyone says that, and we felt these good relations in Sarajevo still do. Young Serbs are still falling in love with young people of other nationalities (Croations, Turks, Alba-

nians) and other religions (Catholics and Muslims) and vice versa. Did the media convey a false picture? Yes, I think so. One must think individually. The same happened during the second world war. It was bad, but not in the way that it was portrayed later in books and the press. There are certain situations, experiences of violence, in which one does not necessarily develop hate, one develops love, because one has suddenly lost everything. One can choose between two paths: either to hate, or simply to develop love. All of us are developing. All of us have a chance. A terrible situation like war is always also an opportunity to do something better. We need to learn to forgive. Everyone makes mistakes Yes. With us, no one wanted to admit they were wrong; they said it was the others. But it was not genuine hate against another folk, against other people. It was generated by the war, especially in Bosnia (now in Kosovo, of course). I cannot speak about it, but one senses clearly that it is not normal.
Interview by Michaela Spaar in August 1999 Donations for the Association for Waldorf Education and Art in Belgrade: Freunde der Erziehungskunst, Kpernicker Str. 175, D10997 Berlin, tel. +49/30/61 70 26 30, fax 61 70 26 33. GLS Gemeinschaftsbank bochum, account nr. 13 042 010, BLZ 430 609 67, earmarked: Kiga Belgrad.

Signs of the Times

We Are Already within the Skin of the Dragon
As the year 2000 approaches, it would seem a valuable exercise for anthroposophists involved in various branches of activity to ask themselves how their field of work relates to the spiritual situation in the world at large. For those involved in science, this problem takes a particular form. As Rudolf Steiner was at pains to stress on many occasions, the chief importance of science to mankind is not the content of science or the use to which science is put, but the effect that thinking scientifically has upon the human soul. The time has arrived when science and scientific ways of thought have ceased to be the preserve of a very few. The thought forms and thought habits of scientific people, once confined to a tiny minority, have now, by means of mechanisms invented by that very same thinking, multiplied themselves in the souls of virtually everyone in the western world and far beyond. A man like Michael Faraday in the early 19th century could still perform extremely simple investigations with magnets and wires, and respond with a kind of innocent awe and reverence towards the world and its marvels, treating every new discovery with a kind of religious sensitivity, which lived in his austerely devotional background. One needs to be quite clear about the fact that in Faradays opinion, science was something to be studied because it made men amiable and liberal, whereas trade made them vicious and selfish. It would be worth asking how Faraday or his like would view a world which has turned his inventions entirely towards the very things he avoided; i.e. trade, greed, selfishness, and governments. It would be good to imagine for a moment the social situation of 1831, 7

when electromagnetism was more or less discovered, and contrast it with the use of electricity today in every branch of life. Having perceived this, there can be no question whatever of imagining that scientific discovery can ever again be a preserve of a kind of gentle otherworldliness in a world where what Faraday called viciousness is considered absolutely normal, natural and the only possible way of life. We hear on all sides that the task for anthroposophists is to come to grips with modern life and transform it, and this is cited as a kind of justification for anthroposophical science circulating information on the Internet and using all the paraphernalia of modern information technology. Various phrases about transforming the dragon from within and so on are cited. However, this should not be believed without question. The characteristic of science and scientific investigation is that they require of the human being a very definite effort of soul. Scientific discovery, being by its nature factual, tends more

than anything else human beings do towards a kind of soulessness; an attitude of being uninvolved and impartial. It takes little to see that this attitude spills over into life as a kind of indifference to others, a sort of cold lack of interest in other people and even in nature. It demands a very special effort of soul to keep alive the forces of soul of which Faraday was a pre-eminent example; i.e., forces of wonder, interest, and love, both for nature and its miracles, and for other human beings (to whom he was generosity itself). This effort of soul, this need to maintain living human interest in other human beings and in things is precisely what is being subtly and cleverly undermined and overwhelmed by the fantastic proliferation of information towards which the real human soul cannot possibly be related. The idea that one should enter the skin of a dragon cannot be applied to every situation. Otherwise one would feel obliged to take drugs or murder people in order to enter the skin of drug takers and murderers!

Such an idea would be utterly absurd. Therefore, confronted with a dragon which wishes to deny the human soul and utterly misrepresent to the human being its own true nature, anthroposophists should surely be among those who feel committed enough to the real issues of life today as to assert in the strongest possible terms the fully human soul in all they do. A science conducted by disembodied messages transmitted electronically can in no way whatever be a science in which human beings express their full humanity. There is no question of having to enter a dragons skin; we are already fully within the dragon of soulless information, and having been consumed, our task is to reassert the human soul and to demonstrate by a heart-filled way of thinking, speaking and acting about science the way out of the dragon for other human beings. Stephen Moore-Bridger, Great Britain
Reprinted from the Science Group Newsletter, September, 1999.

School of Spiritual Science

YOUTH SECTION Bringing Spirit into Action
International Youth Conference, July 1999, California, U.S.A.
A vision without a task is a dream, a task without a vision is drudgery, but a task with a vision can change the world. Black Elk

The 1999 International Youth Conference, At the Turning Point Bringing Spirit into Action, was a truly timeless event in which over 250 planners, presenters, and participants gathered in the redwood forests that Mount Madonna Center has so elegantly nurtured for over 21 years. The event sprung from the desire to further the energy generated during the 1997 International Youth Conference, Conversation, Consciousness, and Community Where the Inner and Outer Worlds Touch, towards a practical, hands-on form, based on the experiences of everyone gathered for the conference. It is significant to note that these two conferences were, in a general sense, polar opposites to one another, and thus the theme Bringing Spirit into Action reflects this relationship perfectly. The planners arrived at the Santa Cruz Arboretum four days before conference registration began, to prepare and set up. Our work, however, demanded a more focused location and atmosphere, so the following day, 8

the computers, surf boards, crayons, thoughts, work, and planners made their way to the Santa Cruz Waldorf School for two days of meetings with conference presenters, and the refinement of our vision. There was a constant battle around contacting the outside world as our portable phone would frequently lose its connection in the middle of registering lastminute participants and coordinating other details. A few presenters could not make it to the meeting. One participant made it all the way to the California border from Michigan when his vehicle decided to call it quits. Yet, such crises and difficulties only solidified our resolve, and we pushed forward with increased enthusiasm. Monday began with planners, presenters and participants scattered about finishing tasks, preparing each workshop room, and arriving at Mount Madonna. It was truly an amazing experience to witness travelers from various parts of the Earth coming together with such enthusiasm and high spirits, despite their long journies. There was an instant kinship that formed at each individual meeting, and one could feel the strength and potential that each one brought. So, by the

end of the opening ceremony, everyone could feel the history that we were embarking upon together, and there was a certain recognition or cognition of the goal we had set ourselves as a result of our collaboration, though this journey was just beginning. The content of the week consisted of a morning gathering after breakfast and exercises that Dennis Klocek brought. After the object exercise, everyone scattered to workshops or the office. Among the self-development workshops, Bill Cranstouns Spatial Dynamics wove along strongly from opening to closing as well as picking up the occasional dropped stitch in the middle. Dennis Kloceks Drawing from the Book of Nature challenged many a young and old soul, while awakening with humorous candor and descriptive biography the lessons written in everyday human experience and in the nature surrounding us. Such lessons provided a wonderful mirror into the human soul through reflection on Natures present state of being, through everyday, practical experience and thought. In addressing the conference theme from another direction, Vital Systems (a company dedicated to sustainable development and to supporting youth activities that had arisen from the 1997 International Youth Conference) facilitated the building process of a strawAnthroposophy Worldwide 8/1999

bale animal house, which culminated on Saturday afternoon with nearly 200 participants contributing their hands, feet, brawn, sweat, laughter, drumming, and dancing into sculpting and completing the building. Standing as Guardian of the Gate between these two poles of Spirit in Action, Orland Bishops Community Development & Healing workshops opened the hearts of most. His amazing capacity to bring his presence to a room ignited many to share their heartfelt experiences, a truly inspiring capacity that is urgently needed in the world at this time. As the end of the conference drew nearer, the connection that was felt during the beginning of the conference grew stronger and stronger. This was emphasized by the fact that the closing was filled with a heavy, potent feeling of purpose and an amazing thankfulness.

We had pushed through the momentum necessary to create such a timeless event and were rewarded with many fresh experiences and connections, some of which will last, and have lasted, through several lifetimes. Now that such an event is once again living in the hearts of hundreds of people, only time will tell if the goal was achieved. The most important aspect, however, is the achieving. So if one judges through actions rather than words, great strides have been made. A challenge remains: Will we truly allow ourselves to learn from one another and be open to giving or receiving whatever is needed of us? Jesse D. Osmer, U.S.A.
For further information on the 1999 International Youth Conference, future conference planning, or initiatives associated with these conferences, please subscribe to the Conversations Newsletter, 3conversations@usa.net or www.arteverywhere.com/news/

PEDAGOGICAL SECTION The Natural Sciences and Waldorf Education

So Paulo, July 310, 1999 The impact of the magnitude of So Paulo as a city, with a population comparable to that of Australia, was not lessened by the second visit. The endless horizon of buildings and lines of traffic are the exterior for a vibrant life, part of which is evident in the Rudolf Steiner School and its surrounding community. The conference began smoothly, with participants arriving from many parts of Brazil (a country with an area larger than the Australian continent), Chile, Colombia, and Peru, along with visiting speakers from Germany and Switzerland. The six and a half days of the conference had a tight, well organized format that allowed for intense, varied work and flexibility for spontaneous interest groups to form. Every morning, eurythmists from the Performing Group introduced elements from Goethes Fairy Tale of the Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily. This provided both an enlivening start to the day and an increased appreciation for the excellent performance on Thursday evening, in which the eurythmists and a group of musicians performed the whole fairy tale to a very appreciative audience. The eurythmy was followed by the ongoing morning course with Dr. Manfred von Mackensen. Over seven mornings, he led us in a highly original, lively, and deep way through the steps of cognition that a person can develop in coming to a universal understanding of the world. Using observation exercises, he teased out
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the steps of coming to a perception, forming representations, memories, concepts, and finally the idea, which brings a new level of connection to the world. He then went on to show how the three essential steps of cognition are worked with in the different ages of childhood, and how these ages each demand a different activity from the teacher. The seven sessions provided a seldom-heard synthesis of epistemology, human development, and pedagogical practice. Following the tea break, the conference divided into two work groups on subjects for class twelve one working with optics, led by Christian Ohlendorf and Johannes Greber from Kassel, Germany, and the other led by Peter Glasby from Mt. Barker, Australia, who worked with the content of the anthropology/biology main lesson. In the optics course, a way was shown to lead the class twelve students into the area of illumination and images whereby they become active participants in the self-conscious knowledge process. Through the way in which the participants first united with the phenomena in observation and then formed questions, they were ble to gain a deeper insight into the nature of light as well as into their own process of knowing. The anthropology workshop demonstrated a way to lead young people to a consequential confrontation with reductionist Darwinism and the potential despair that follows from this meeting. One can develop a new

way of contemplating the facts of evolution that includes human experience in the field of cognition. In the afternoon there were artistic courses: copper work, watercolour painting, eurythmy, and bookbinding. These were followed by two more working groups on chemistry and mathematics. Dr. von Mackensen gave a dramatic workshop on iron, gold, and lead, working with experimental phenomena, geological processes, and cultural evolution, and involving the participants deeply in the qualities of substance. Georg Glckler offered a workshop in mathematics and led the participants into a challenging and stimulating way of working in the realm of pure idea and number. Following these workshops, spontaneous groups formed to discuss the implications of the various courses. These were usually groups of people who were actively involved in teaching a subject at high school level and wanted to deepen the content of their courses by going into pedagogical questions. These meetings were often small, intense, and practice-oriented, which provided a good supplementary activity to the workshops. The conference was impressive because so many of the participants were class teachers from the primary school who though they do not teach the subjects at high school level still found that it is essential to work with the existential questions that are tackled in the high school. This enthusiasm to know what the other is working with is something that could be learned by many schools. The evenings were devoted to lectures by the various course givers, as well as a slightly dampened festive evening, and the eurythmy performance. All this work was brilliantly translated by a team of very impressive translators. The courses had been followed with animated, active interest which naturally lead to a mood of expectancy for the future. Sonya Maria from Cali, Colombia brought a tone of active realism to the mood by saying approximately the following words: We have heard much over the last week. Let us go back to our schools and work with what we have been given. Through working with it we will prepare ourselves for the next time we come together, and the time for that coming together will also become clear. A word of thanks needs to be said to those people from the So Paulo School who initiated and organized such a fine conference and also to those, including Georg Glckler, who arranged the financial support for many of the visiting speakers. Peter Glasby, Australia
Extracts from a report

Anthroposophical Society
GENERAL ANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIETY Draft of Revised Constitution to Be Presented
As reported in Anthroposophy Worldwide Nr. 3/1999, a new group formed last year from the Goetheanum Councils and General Secretaries to continue the work on the Constitution. (Its members are Otfried Doerfler, Dr. Michaela Glckler, Rolf Kerler, Paul Mackay, Roel Munniks, Charlotte Roder, and Manfred Schmidt-Brabant.) With the help of a Swiss legal consultant, the group has now drafted a possible revision of the Societys Statutes. This draft was discussed on September 13, 1999, with the members of the previous Constitution Group, who made fruitful recommendations. Another meeting is planned for October 4, with several additional guests. Based on these discussions, the Group would like to present a draft to the members. The plan is to publish it in the November issue of Anthroposophy Worldwide and then to discuss it again on November 13 (afternoon) and 14 (morning) during the Branch and Group Leader Meeting. All members are warmly invited to attend this presentation, where the draft will be explained, questions will be answered, and possible further suggestions received. We then hope to publish a further revised version with the invitation to the regular General Meeting of April 15/16, 2000. For now, we ask those of you who are able to come to the presentation on November 13/14 to reserve For the Group these dates. Paul Mackay

Possible Changes to the Constitution

The exact wording of the suggested changes to the Constitution mentioned by Paul Mackay in his report is not quite ready for print. However, it is possible to indicate the intentions of the Constitution Group at this point: The Christmas Conference Statutes would form the basis of the Constitution of the General Anthroposophical Society, totally replacing the By-Laws. To do this, the suggestion is for the General Meeting to make a declaratory decision that describes the planned revision as the result of a historical development, also stating the deliberate continuation of the impulse from the 1923/24 Christmas Conference. The Statutes would stay as they are, with additions being made according to the intentions of the Anthroposophical Society that are recognizable today. In 7, which deals with Rudolf Steiners organization of a School of Spiritual Science and the naming of a possible successor, the suggestion is to add that the leadership of the School of Spiritual Science is independent of the General Anthroposophical Society. The Statutes would describe neither the leadership of the School of Spiritual Science nor how it is chosen. An addition to 8 would state that various other explanatory notes were used as time progressed. Most additions would be made to 10, which deals with the General Meeting. The right of the members to submit motions would revert to procedure set out in the Christmas Conference. Extraordinary general meetings would be possible at the request of 1/5 of the members (although other suggestsions are still under discussion). An essential addition to 10 would be to include the world Society in the General Meeting more by having a two-house system. The Assembly of General Secretaries, as representatives of the countries and regions, would vote on the same points that are to be raised in the General Meeting immediately afterwards. Decisions would have to be approved by both the Assembly of General Secretaries and the General Meeting. Justus Wittich, Germany
The briefly sketched intentions given here are nothing more than an attempt to inform the members by someone who has participated in parts of the process. The author represents only his own view. It is not the view of any committee, and the exact wording has not been checked with those who are responsible for the process at this point. Anthroposophy Worldwide 8/1999

SOCIT ANTHROPOSOPHIQUE Correction

In the previous issue of Anthroposophy Worldwide, a mistake was made in reporting the way in which I left my post as General Secretary. It has to be stressed that the Council of the Anthroposophical Society in France, on which I have served for eleven years as General Secretary, did not vote me out of office. In additon, there has been no Council since our general meeting of March 21, 1999. In 1998, the former Council had proposed that it expand to become a collegium. This group has been working to form a new Council. Initially I was part of this group. I left it on May 2, 1999 of my own free will,

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mainly to give my collegues the chance to work toward a way out of the crisis on their own. Nothing has changed regarding my fidelity to the Council of the General Anthroposophical Society, to the School of Spiritual Science, or to the General Secretaries. I will continue to support them in other ways. Attila Varnai, France

The Anthroposophical Society in France would welcome an exchange with neighboring country Societies regarding the sect problem mentioned in the previous issue. M.S. Socit Anthroposophique en France, 2 et 4, rue de la Grande Chaumire, FR75006 Paris, tel. +33/1/43 26 09 94, fax 43 54 93 15.

SCIENCE GROUP Science Group Website

The Science Group (Great Britain) has been on the Internet since April 1999 (http://www.anth.org.uk/Science). The site includes details of the Group and its affiliations, publications, a book list, articles, details of related organisations, etc. From March 2000 onwards, the full text of future newsletters will be published on the site. The Group already publishes a peer-review scientific journal, Archetype, of interest to Waldorf teachers, researchers, and people interested in the history and philosophy of science. The current issue (Nr. 5) includes arti10

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cles on the following: The projective lemniscate, The fruitfulness of Goethes approach to science at the present time, Participation, cooperation and adaptive mutations: complementing ecological and evolutionary paradigms, Foreword to The Natural Scientific Writings of Goethe, Karl Julius Schrer, teacher of Rudolf Steiner, Towards a history and sociology of the anthroposophical research institutes in the 1920s.
Archetype: 60 pages. Price: 4.00 British pounds (overseas postage: add 0.50 Europe, 1.00 elsewhere). UK bank checks or Eurochecks payable to Science Group, AS in GB. Contact: Dr. David Heaf, Hafan, Cae Llwyd, Llanystumdwy, Cricieth, GBGwynedd, LL52 0SG

ANTHROPOSOPHICAL GROUP Anthroposophical Group in Thailand Inaugurated

As the new millennium approaches, anthroposophy in Thailand is also moving to a new stage of development. A few years ago, Janpen and Dr. Porn Panosot started Panyotai, a Waldorf initiative in Bangkok, which has gained wide recognition. Last year the Anthroposophical Initiative Group was founded to host the third AsiaPacific Conference, a memorable experience for many. Since then the work in the group has helped to strengthen our individual work.

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The ceremony began with Thai classical music performed by a member of the group who is also the Chinese teacher at Panyotai Steiner Waldorf School. Then three rose candles in red, yellow, and blue gifts from one of the parents were lit by Dr. Panosot. Hans van Florenstein Mulder (General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in New Zealand) brought the warm greetings and wishes of the Goetheanum Council, whom he represented. Hans also brought some gifts from friends in New Zealand demonstrating their commitment to form a bridge between the two countries. Following the Foundation Stone Meditation, read by Janpen, the group worked with the Saturday Rhythm of the Foundation Stone in eurythmy, led by Tho and Lisi Ha Vinh, both eurythmists from Perceval in Switzerland. Rain was pouring down, which, according to Thai belief, will bring life and serenity. Yet the golden sunlight that came right after is generally regarded as a sign of hope. The inauguration of the Anthroposophical Group in Thailand was a moving ceremony among friends who have taken the same spiritual path and, in every respect, was an important step toward a new phase at the portal of the new millennium. Janpen Panosot, Thailand

The inauguration of the Anthroposophical Group in Thailand on August 7, 1999 can be compared to the moment of birth, in which a child takes physical form, while our previous activities resembled the period of conception. The picture of a child who is ready to become a full human being in the years to come, as Dr. Porn Panosot expressed it in his opening speech, is very appropriate for this special moment. Although still small at the moment, it holds the future within it.

The founding group

ANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIETY In the Hearts of the Members

Notes from the Summer Conference, July 2631, 1999 Meditation is Spiritual Research was the title of the Society Conference in July, 1999. Nine members from Norway, Switzerland, France, Germany, and Ireland joined 105 members from Great Britain at Emerson College to cultivate this work of our Society. The event proved to be a committed and encouraging affirmation of the spiritual reality that we have united with. The Foundation Stone Meditation was the heart of our work. There were lectures about its rhythms and about its structure and relevance to the School of Spiritual Science, and artistic and study groups that also took up these themes. At the beginning of each day we were shown the Rhythms in eurythmy; in the evening the eurythmists presented the mantram in its entirety in English. This gave the whole event a strong, organic, and beautiful form within which much could take place.
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were moments of disappointment and frustration that may have had to do with the encounter of spiritual streams or just of egos, but the overwhelming mood was one of recognition and acknowledgment of each other and of our chosen destiny together, and of the significance of our Anthroposophical Society. This was greatly helped by the livingly recreated substance of the Foundation Stone Meditation, in the thoughts of the opening and closing lectures, and in the eurythmy presentations of the Rhythms and the whole mantram every day. These eurythmy presentations raise the question of which translation to use and whether it is appropriate to do them in translation at all. Such questions can only be resolved in clarity of thought, but the necessary freeing of prejudices is greatly helped by the intense experience of the substance presented by a group of artists who have worked together for nearly two years consistently, and with integrity and fidelity that is both inspired and inspiring. Andrew Wolpert, Great Britain 11

Jostein Saether, known for his past life investigations, was the guest lecturer. His engaging, honest, and artistic approach appealed to many who might be overawed by the notion of spiritual research, though his methods, epistemology, and specific claims gave rise to doubts in others. In addition to several other artistic and study groups, and guided plenary conversations on the conference theme, there were daily sessions on the composition and restructuring of the Council of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain, and artistic performances, including a glimpse of the Mystery Drama Groups new piece, Black Earth. The quality of the conference was greatly enhanced by three hours of free time in the afternoons for spontaneous meetings and individual initiatives (which in this conference included a request for additional eurythmy). The whole event had a mood of sober celebration. Certainly there

Feature
Seventh Anniversary of the Anthroposophical Center in Kassel
It had not been easy to bring together station. People feel comfortable in the biography work, a natural science potential supporters to discuss build- building, doubtless because of its gen- group working with Quantum ing an anthroposophical center in erous architectural forms, its colors, Physics, Life and the Cosmos, and Kassel, Germany. And it had been and not least the people who look study groups on Rudolf Steiners even harder to get definite commit- after the visitors. The center has a Mystery Dramas, the Apocalypse, and ments towards financing the 16 mil- reputation for openness and liberality. Occult Science. All classes are open to lion mark project. Before this could There are only a few employees. the public. There are also public lechappen, the partners (Anthroposophi- Various branch members volunteer tures and weekend workshops. cal Society in Germany, Kassel their help and thereby get to know the Of course there is the branch Branch, International Kinderwork as well. The branch garten Association, and a meets in five thematic groups training community) discussed after a shared beginning, jointheir ideas for the new building sometimes for plenum ing at length. More than once discussions, lectures, and fesit had seemed that the effort tivals. There is also contact would fail. with nearby anthroposophical Now that the center has institutions, for example in completed its first seven years connection with the School of of activity, it is time to ask Spiritual Science. The center whether the original intenprovides meeting space for tions of the project have been professionals from the region. realized. The original idea of encourWhat did the project aging contact between the originally aim to achieve? For Anthroposophical Society one thing, to create conferand anthroposophical instituence premises at a central tions is thus developing well. location in Germany. The The Building Committee (from left to right): Front: Ursula Krause, The Kassel Branch had Hnel, Rosemarie Bnsow, Walter Hempel; back: long list of anthroposophical Wolfgang realized that an opening to Werner Tetzlaff, Reinhard Bielefeldt, Helga Steiner, Raphael organizers who have used the Steiner, Johannes Wolter, Liane-Heide Niederhoff. the world such as this would center for meetings and cononly succeed if openness were ferences shows that this goal has been guests. Public outreach by the branch practiced continually within the reached. Also, the builders wanted to has thus increased naturally. There is branch as well. This is the only way to own suitable premises for annual gen- space for all kinds of classes, especial- develop strength for the outer work. eral meetings, instead of having to ly art classes and eurythmy. Hardly a However, the exchange with many rent them. The large hall of the center, day goes by now that does not have different people from the periphery with its excellent acoustics reaching its eurythmy class. The spectrum of has also lent new perspectives to their even the farthest row of listeners, cre- other classes is broad: voice lessons, own work. One can only admire what ates a special atmosphere. the members of the Kassel Many other organizers have Branch have achieved in these recognized this, among them seven years. the Goethe Society, the None of the Kassel members Chamber Music Association, will misunderstand me if I and concert agencies. The raise an additional question: anthroposophical center has How might the original thus become one of the culimpulse be intensified still tural institutions of the city. further? Perhaps through the This, too, had been intended: efforts of people who would interaction between very difuse the created framework to ferent partners. The rooms develop their own initiatives. were hired 350 times last year, There is still space for addisometimes by groups that tional initiatives. It would be one would not necessarily ideal if the center provided expect: a banking and insurstart-up financing for them. ance union, an education and The finances are well orgascience union, the works nized. The costs of building council of the German airline, and employees are covered. the metal industry union, the The anxiety over whether media industry union, the such an ambitious project Bavarian Ministry of Agriculcould be financed at all is a ture and Forestry, the Gerthing of the past. However, man Union of Environmental the centers income is still Protection, Doctors Against being used to pay back the Nuclear War, etc. For them, building loans. If they were too, the central location is paid off, the money could be important, along with its used to intensify the work. proximity to a major train Erhard Fucke, Germany 12
Anthroposophy Worldwide 8/1999