General Anthroposophical Society 2005/2006 Goetheanum Content 3 Editorial The Anthroposophical Society 4 Theme of the year 2006/2007 4 Anthroposophical Society in Romania 5 Membership development School of Spiritual Science 6 General Anthroposophical Section 7 Natural Science Section 7 Section for Mathematics and Astronomy 8 Medical Section 8 Pedagogical Section 9 Section for the Art of Eurythmy, Speech, Drama and Music 9 Section for the Literary Arts and Humanities 9 Section for Agriculture 10 Youth Section 11 Section for the Social Sciences 11 Art Section The Goetheanum 12 Eurythmy Ensemble at the Goetheanum 12 Developments at the Goetheanum 13 Financial report 2005/2006 16 Contacts and addresses Publishing details Publisher: General Anthroposophical Society. Text and interviews: Wolfgang Held (General Anthroposophical Section: Bodo v. Plato, Robin Schmidt, Heinz Zimmermann; Section for Mathematics and Astronomy: Oliver Conradt; Section for the Literary Arts and Humanities: Martina Maria Sam; Financial report 2005/06: Cornelius Pietzner). Editorial: Wolfgang Held, Cornelius Pietzner, Bodo v. Plato. Layout: Christian Peter, Parzifal Verlag (CH). Printer: Kooperative Dürnau (DE). Editorial Editorial Dear members and friends of the Anthroposophical Society, The Anthroposophical Society is growing. By that we do not primarily mean the membership numbers which have remained largely steady in recent years – with the exception of countries outside Europe – but rather the char- acter of the Society. It is the human diversity, the spiritual yearnings and abil- ities of the members which have grown in dimension. It is because everyone who is active in the Anthroposophical Society today contributes their expe- rience and opportunities from varied cultural perspectives and different parts of the world to the Anthroposophical Society so that the life and way of work- ing within the Society is becoming more open and diverse. Although this development may produce a sometimes unsettling transfor- mation in the life of our Society, it seems to us that these changes represent the pulse of current anthroposophical life. Given this situation, it is our inten- tion in the Executive Council and the Collegium of the School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum to strengthen the core of anthroposophical activity in such a way that the present, which affects us all in different ways, can be fertilized with anthroposophical ideas and initiatives: in the School of Spiritual Science, the numerous groups and branches of the global Society as well as in the institutions and in public life. In this sense we feel a conti- nuity with Rudolf Steiner because just as he created anthroposophy from a perception of the period in which he lived, from understanding of and empa- thy with his time, there is much of contemporary anthroposophy that can come to fruition in the Society and the world today. Perhaps the question of anthroposophy today culminates in our willingness and ability to create a balance between two directions: on the one hand, to carry into the ambiguity of our present time the spirit arising from our work with anthroposophy and, on the other hand, to discover and strengthen a spirit in which is committed to human dignity. Both directions require that we know where we stand, wherever we are. In this way each individual person will be able to contribute something unique to the life of the Anthroposophical Society and to enrich the diversity among the member- ship. In our travels and visits we have become aware of an increasing wish neither to turn this diversity within our Society, so rich in contrasts, into a cause for conflict nor to use it for the exercise of some vague tolerance, but to affirm it and to seek a fruitful common perspective – each attempt, each success in this respect, be it ever so small, noticeably enhances the appeal of the Anthroposophical Society. For the first time, this report by the General Anthroposophical Society appears in 17 languages so that we can do justice to the reality in our Society and enable as many members as possible to participate, at least on this annual occasion, in the events of the global Society, the Sections of the School of Spiritual Science and at the Goetheanum. On behalf of the Executive Council at the Goetheanum, Bodo v. Plato 3 The Anthroposophical Society THE ANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIETY This is significant not only for our own experience but also for Theme of the year 2006/2007 the earth, from our intervention in ecological matters right up to a connection to the Christ being united with the surround- Understanding otherness – ings of the earth, to the spirit of the earth. It is worth under- relationship to Christ standing in a way related to our lives how heart thinking can be stimulated and deepened through inner participation in the The world and our fellow human beings have become alien to course of the year. The Calendar of the Soul forms the basis us to such a degree today that without shared understanding for an attempt of this kind, as do the lectures Michaelmas – a real meeting is hardly possible anymore. Understanding that The Festivals and Their Meaning (GA 229), which are read in which is other than ourselves requires empathy and acuity as many places at festival times. well as effort. It requires that we engage our whole person. We can add a further aspect from the lectures in The Cycle of Last year we turned our attention from the larger outer aspect the Year as Breathing Process of the Earth (GA 223): Rudolf of thinking (theme of the year 2004/2005: cosmic intelligence) Steiner characterizes the movement for social threefolding, to the inner expansion of thinking, when the life of feeling and which failed in terms of its original intention, as a test of thinking unite in such a way that “hearts begin to have whether “the Michael thought is strong enough in a number of thoughts”. people […] to be felt truly in its full time-forming strength…”. The experience of thought content is first and foremost a spiri- An aspect of this Michael thought is experiencing the course tual experience within the human being. This acquires a new of the year, to which is tied the formation of social relations. In dimension when it unites with the other aspect of reality: with connecting these themes we are right at the heart of today’s the sense world. In this context, Rudolf Steiner forms a con- tasks relating to social and ecological issues. We are at the cept that refers to the human rhythmic system – ‘light-breath- heart of major public issues as well as of inner anthroposoph- ing’: We can be attentive not only to the physiological after- ical concerns. image of a sense phenomenon, but, in a further sense, also to Just as there is a reason that the Calendar of the Soul was what is called forth in us as the soul and spiritual after-image published in the year when the Anthroposophical Society was of a sense phenomenon (“The Mission of the Archangel founded, so it is no coincidence either that Rudolf Steiner set Michael”, lecture of November 30, 1919, GA 194). It is interest- out the festivals and their meaning as a central theme in 1923, ing to see this process as a breathing process, particularly in a year concerned with the consolidation of the connection with heart thinking. Anthroposophical Society and with preparation for the If one follows up on this, one is led to the discovery that the Christmas Conference great breathing process of the earth, the course of the year, presents an exact picture of what takes place as a spiritual On behalf of the Collegium of the School breathing within the soul. In this way, the experience of the of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum, rhythm of nature takes on meditative, cosmically human Johannes Kühl significance. We bring our human existence into relationship to the earth and its cosmic surroundings. Anthroposophical Society in Romania anthroposophical work was banned and it is an interesting fact Torches and bridge building that the Anthroposophical Society was banned a second time in 1980. The Society which had already been banned was banned again. That speaks for itself. In the annual report for 2004/2005, Ron Dunselman, The Romanian dictatorship was particularly abysmal compared General Secretary of the Anthro- to Hungary or Poland. Are the consequences still evident posophical Society in the today? Netherlands, reported on anthro- We did indeed experience abysses in communist times. But posophical activities in western we also experience abysses today long after the so-called col- Europe. In this report Gheorghe lapse of communism in 1989. I am thinking of political threats, Paxino, National Representative the excesses of corruption or the social and economic insecu- of the Anthroposophical Society rity. When we refounded the Anthroposophical Society in the in Romania, responds to ques- changed political situation of 1990, we felt that many things tions about his country in the had only changed outwardly and that in essence the past was eastern part of Europe and the still there. At the same time younger people joined the Society Dr. Gheorghe Paxino, National development of anthroposophy. when it was refounded who alongside the study of spiritual Representative of the Anthropo- sophical Society in Romania. science also wanted to make anthroposophy part of their work and social practice. The result was numerous educational, cur- What is the current situation of the Anthroposophical Society ative educational and agricultural initiatives in which friends in Romania? from Germany and Switzerland played such a magnificent It has become part of Romanian society. Under communism, part. 4 The Anthroposophical Society Romania is situated on the eastern rim of Europe, what does Membership development that mean for the country? Taking reality seriously Well, today Romania comprises three cultural areas: in the west – in the arc of the Carpathians – there is Transsylvania What is the membership of the General Anthroposophical where German and Hungarian culture, where central European Society? It currently (February 2006) stands at approximately influences are very strong.