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Steiner's American Verse

Rudolf Steiner, 1923
a verse sent to America

EASTER DINNER ON APRIL 12

WE MUST HAVE ALL BEEN WATCHING THE PERFORMANCE

DAVID & DOROTHY AFTER THEIR PERFORMANCE

LONG LAST - ACCESS TO THE FOOD:

IS THAT CYNTHIA & GEORGE KNITTING?

PHOEBE – OUR HOSPITALITY LEADER:

IS THAT JOYCE & DOUG EATING?

PENNY CARTER ART OPENING, APRIL 24

DOROTHY & PENNY

MIRIAM & MARIANNA & WALTER

DOUG & CYNTHIA

JOYCE & JONATHAN

In Centerpoint Gallery: Penny Carter: NEW ART - ACRYLIC ON PAPER

Rudolf Steiner Bookstore JUNE HOURS: Wed 3-6pm, Sat 1-6pm

Jun 15 – Linda Larson
EURYTHMY WORKSHOP

Jun 15 – Group
READING TO THE DEAD

Jun 16 – Group
HANDWORK CIRCLE

Jun 17 – Group
CURRENT EVENTS

Jun 24 – Festival
ST JOHN’S TIDE

July 1 – Sept 8
Summer Break
NY Branch & Rudolf Steiner Bookstore Closed

Sep 11 – Anthroposophical Society Members
MEMBERS EVENING

Sep 16 – David Anderson
GOETHEAN SCIENCE – Series Begins

Sep 19 – TBD
ART EXHIBIT OPENING

Sep 20 – Hospitality Committee
MICHAELMAS DINNER

Sep 21 – Linda Larson
EURYTHMY

Sep 27 – Gertrude Reif Hughes
GEORG KUHLEWIND MEMORIAL LECTURE

Oct 2-4 – at Spring Valley NY
Anthroposophical Society in America: Annual General Meeting

Oct 15 – Stephen Usher
LECTURE

International Study Theme for the Year 2009/2010:
Thinking of the Heart
As an Organ of Perception
For Evolution and Metamorphosis

[Partial Description; full PDF here]

There is hardly a subject in Anthroposophy that does not include the theme of evolution, from the development towards a free human being in the great presentation about the evolution of man and the world to Rudolf Steiner’s last great work, the founding of the Free School of Spiritual Science. Ultimately it is all about evolution and self development, one cannot exist without the other! For that reason it is noteworthy that the modern idea of evolution only came about in the late 18th century through Johann Gottfried Herder, Johann Wolfgang Goethe and others.
In recent years the themes of the year were connected with the thinking of the heart. When you try to observe how you take in and think about evolution or metamorphosis, you can discover that much of what Rudolf Steiner describes about the thinking of the heart (March 30, 1910, GA 119, Macrocosm and Microcosm) relates to it. Thinking about evolution is not a logical cause and effect but a sculptural participation that ends with insight into the relationships under consideration. You can experience this in a simple sequence of leaves. In this way we are able to connect with the larger question of evolution.
A theme clearly comes to light that penetrates the whole of anthroposophy regarding the concept of evolution. The future of evolution depends on how human beings give it form out of freedom! This thought about evolution is worthwhile when it finds entrance into our present culture.

For the Collegium of the School of Spiritual Science in Dornach:
Johannes Kühl

May 31 is Pentecost. Pentecost is the event that inflames the gesture of universal understanding, the awakening of the ability to speak the language of another soul’s individuality. This is the yearly festival of true social interest and caring. It fills the heart with love for others.

Rudolf Steiner often wrote and spoke that the ultimate goal of humanity is the expression of love. He closes a lecture on the four temperaments with these words:

“Anthroposophy does not work by means of sermons, exhortations or moral dogmas, but by creating an underlying social foundation through which people can perceive and understand each other. Spiritual science is the ground of life and love is the blossom and fruit of a life awoken and stimulated by it. Thus spiritual science may claim to lay the foundation for humanity’s most beautiful goal - the true and authentic love of others.”

How are you moving toward the expression of love? How does anthroposophy help you evolve your individuality to be a greater expression of love?

Ultimately, a branch is a place where we come to meet each other through anthroposophy. The branch is not a place where we come to meet anthroposophy and disregard each other. Yet sadly, we often forget to engage with one another to the same degree we engage with anthroposophy.
If we are merely students of anthroposophy and not anthroposophists, then the branch is an enriching class room. If we are anthroposophists then the branch is a center where we practice loving one another.
Over the last year, I have made it a practice when ever I am speaking at the branch to ask everyone to pair up with another person, and gaze at that person for one minute. This is done in silence. When we gaze at one another, we begin to unconditionally love one another.

During the gazing exercises, the room energy becomes amazingly still. The stillness is not deathlike, rather it is a vibrant, balanced harmony. Everyone in the room is loving someone else. Self-consciousness, awkwardness, superficiality and weariness disappear. Initially, gazing not easy for the participants, for many it is a new experience that takes them beyond cultural, and therefore comfortable, boundaries. Gazing does not fall into sentimentality and ordinary sympathy. It is not staring.

I have read personal accounts from those who knew Rudolf Steiner saying that in his presence they felt loved. Imagine if people said this about you.

As anthroposophists evolving our fullest humanity, can we awake everyday willing to love? When we review our day before going to sleep, can we feel the love we gave and received?

With loving interest,

Lynn Jericho

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