January/February 2003 CAMPHILL CORRESPONDENCE

True Freedom . . , we are today living in a society that creates alienation . Many people do not realize this . We are offered many superficial choices, which engender the delusion that we are free. But actually we are pushed around a great deal by the media and by other people's expectations and demands . This produces the psychological condition of alienation, in which we are never allowed to be fully ourselves ; we do not belong to ourselves . The real personal meaning of our lives is not allowed to emerge . We are dominated by someone else's ideas, tastes, desires : speak this way, act this way, see these things, do these things, have these things . And we are reaping the results of this lack of true freedom, this self alienation, for deep down it breeds a profound resentment toward the persons and the society that does not allow us to be our true selves. This smouldering resentment suddenly erupts in terrible acts of hatred and violence . Tom [Thomas Merton] went on to speak of the answer to this . It lies in coming to understand the full dignity of the person, above all in Christ, and attaining to that contemplative attitude that opens us to the true reality of ourselves, of others, and of everything in this creation . In a talk he gave to his community in January 1966, Tom made a penetrating analysis of the concept of freedom in the work of Jean Paul Sartre, the French atheist existentialist who certainly has had a great influence on the thinking of our times. For Sartre, we are free because we have chosen to be here, and we have to keep choosing, choosing ourselves . This is our very existence. If we would be truly free, we must choose to be our authentic self, but only for ourselves as the subject of this being. All others are to us objects, nonselves, not the self. Each person is enclosed within himself or herself and is willing himself or herself to be over and against all others-which is ultimately the morality of hell . Tom considered himself an existentialist, but not in this dark, atheistic way. He rather drew his inspiration from Gabriel Marcel, the Catholic existentialist. Marcel saw that the only way to be free and to be authentically a person is to be wide open to what is, and therefore to be open to other persons as subjects and to be open to relationships . It is in relationships that each one discovers himself or herself more and more . In the mutual gift of respect and love, we come to know ourselves more fully, to enjoy ourselves more completely, and are able to be more totally and freely gifts to others . From 'Letters from Skokholm', C . F. Tunnicliffe From Thomas Merton Brother Monk by Basil M . Pennington The story of the three crosses Irma Röhling, Hermanns, South Africa

t all began in 1952 when Camphill started to reach Especially a little place on the other side of the moun- out from Scotland, in the north, to the furthest south tain - a sand quarry was there which contained moun- of Africa . The need of a handicapped boy was the 'call' tain crystals among the stones and sand . The crystals and, as soon as possible, Camphill responded to this were small but pure and always beautifully shaped . need . A house in the valley 'Hemel en Aarde' waited We named this place 'Crystal Mountain' . for them and gave the first shelter for this work . Ascension Day 1975, all the school children and Hemel en Aarde is a beautiful place on Earth and has teachers went up to search for stones . The day was so its right name . Mountains form a beautiful bowl from beautiful and, during our picnic, we decided that each which, night and day, one looks up to the wide open one of us would take a rock from Crystal Mountain sky, at times bright blue, at other times hidden by mist and carry it over to our side, and so we did . There and clouds, but I know that at all times one is aware of were big people and big stones and small people with the starlit heavens or the bright glow of the sun above . small stones but in all these stones was the beauty of In the east the mountains are soft and gentle, in the crystals. All these stones waited in the garden at Dawn west they are high and rocky, but the highest moun- House, who knows what for. tain in the north, 'Babylon's Tower', seems to close In January 1976, one year later, there was a big fire on off the valley. The river comes from there and flows our side of the mountain . The mountain became bare to the wooded opening in the south leading to the and black and often we walked up into this scar. When Atlantic Ocean . Ascension Day came in 1976, we wanted to do some- The Hemel en Aarde valley has sheltered a commu- thing for the mountain . So we took the stones waiting nity of people before who were brought together for us at Dawn House and carried them to a place called through suffering, illness and need . It was a commu- 'Castle Rock', which is an outcrop of rocks on the west nity of all kinds of people . Illness made people the side of the valley. We laid out a big circle of stones with same . When things fell apart, no colour, no creed was a cross inside . This cross was given a circle in its centre a protection from the illness - leprosy. like the sun crosses of Ireland . There it lay. At the centre of this community stood a chapel with The plants started to grow, the mountain became a steeple and a cross . I am sure that it was so, because green . 'Fynbos' began to beautify it . The cross became this chapel belonged to the Moravian Brothers . We do part of the mountain, always there . know where it stood ; ruins are still there . It was on the Not long after, lower down the mountain, Ingrid and east side of the river called 'Onrust' . People travelling Anna stood and looked down into the valley below . through the valley always hurried past for fear of meet- There was a lot of growth alongside the river. Suddenly ing one of the lepers . This was the past . they saw, in all this unbridled vegetation, a different With Dawn House a special school began which colour of green . They went down and discovered oak expanded and grew. I was allowed to join this work in trees, a grove of oak trees . 1968 . Destiny had led me here from America and I The Farm Community had started . This land was ours . know how much we love this valley . At that time Oupa Tucker, the father of one of our co- workers, was with us . He knew that soon he would die We have heard of the deaths and expressed the wish to find his resting place among of the following friends : the oaks . He did not realize that this wish would save our place . Peter Elsholtz, died unexpectedly and peacefully on All our oldest pupils, now trainees, started to work the morning of Sunday, 10th November at his home with strength and determination and freed the oak grove in Hermanus, South Africa . for Oupa Tucker's grave . We were standing there at the Marie Korach died peacefully after a short illness, open grave when we saw a fire approaching, this time in Aberdeen, on Monday, 28th October. in the river bed . It was a fierce fire driven by the wind . Lotte Sahlmann died peacefully in the early morning Miraculously the fire slowed down at the oak grove of Saturday 7th December. because we had cleared it of the alien growth . This gave us the possibility of making fire breaks elsewhere . Contents The story of the three crosses Irma Röhling News from the Movement The Rhythms of the Foundation Michaelmas and Ofsted Almut ffrench 13 /'Ways Stone Meditation Andrew Hoy 2 to Quality' Rudolf Kirst 13 / Mercury Hall Irma Colombia U'wa, Camphill, and the Röhling 14 / Impressions from the opening of practice of idealism Margit Engel 3 Mercury Hall, Michael Lauppe 15 / Medical Marga goes to No .10 4 Section Conference, June 2002, Stroud, England Review Edeline LeFevre 15 / Kate Roth Seminar Veronika Bewegung, Sprache, Denkkraft Georg von Arnim . . . 4 van Duin 17 / In praise of the Adult Communities letters 5 Course Scot Lusk 17 / Life as a Building Dan Obituaries McKanan 18 / Zenta Maurinas House, Rozkalni Eva Sachs 6 / Robert Margolis 10 / Donald Henry Anne Langeland 19 / Curative Education in Thai- Stewart 10 / Marion Jamieson 12 land Anchana Soontornpitag 20 Later we became aware that we had space in our valley for a graveyard, peaceful, a place of contemplation . Here we erected the second cross with its strong beams guard- ing those graves that later gathered around . Then came the time of the first international Camph i I I conference to be hosted in South Africa, the Agricul- tural Conference, bringing Camphill people from the movement all over the world . Our farmer at that time, Tim Christiensen, had asked our neighbour if we could erect a cross at the top of the mountain where wind and sun, rain and mist meet first before they come down into the valley. At daybreak we watched the cross being erected . The moon setting there in the west and, opposite, the sun's rays illuminating all the surrounding mountain tops . Now, in the morning, the cross is lit up by the rising sun before it lights up the valley. In the evening the last rays of the sun come from behind and shine on to the cross, and the clouds at times glow with a gentle pink before it gets dark . The two wooden crosses were also given circles in the centre, this time of iron . We all looked on when these circles were fashioned . The first one was made by one of the last blacksmiths working in this country, Hans . The second one was made by a man from Scandinavia, a craft teacher from the Constantia Waldorf School in Cape Town . On both occasions we all gathered in the barn and, with amaze- ment, saw how the bright hot fire softened the hard iron into an almost liquid substance which could be bent into a circle, round and perfect . The hammer sounded on the anvil and, with a hiss, the water extin- guished the fire, but the circle remained . On the mountain, the cross was too weak for the heavy iron circle and broke in a storm . Stronger poles were carried up and rooted deep into the rocky ground . There it still stands in the midst of the fynbos . Nowhere do the flowers grow more beautifully . A second mountain fire burned everything away except the flowers round Polyptych of the Last Judgement, (detail), the cross . Roger van der Weyden,1443 Every Ascension Day, we go and see those crosses on See: Obituary of Eva Sachs, p . 9 the mountain . The cross in the graveyard is surrounded by beautiful roses which blossom every springtime . With We human beings are fourfold too . We think, we feel, these three crosses it is as if our valley was christened : we will . But what would we be without our ego, our I, The cross in the heights is near the clouds and mist . our self-which can turn to the heavens and to the Earth? Water is the element which plays around this cross . It We think, and our thoughts reach up into the wide needs an effort to get there, but what a gift when one reaches of the cosmos . We feel, with love in our hearts arrives; the whole world opens up right to the Atlantic for all that surrounds us . But we only become true men Ocean on the horizon, the fields, part of Hermanus and with our will - we become active, we reach out to all the wide open sky. the elements, the Earth . We till the ground in which the The cross below Castle Rock is not easily visible at plants grow, the earth and what is in our care : the cows, once; one must search and suddenly it is there . It lies chickens, birds and beasts, the houses which give us amongst the rocky ground where the earth is crystal- shelter and the workshops in which we create . lized . Even the flowers on the fynbos are stars and mir- But especially our fellow men must be our concern . ror the multitude of heavenly stars above . We become brothers and sisters and with this a con- The third cross points to the earth, the graves are around tinual flow of warmth and love will stream through this and this is the element of ash, out of which springs new valley -'Hemel En Aarde' . life. Every Easter Saturday we bring our lights to the I think this is what the crosses proclaim . graves . Some candles burn right through the night until I stood with Dr. Thomas Weihs on the stoep of Dawn the Easter Sun rises over the mountains above . House and watched a beautiful sunset. The clouds were These are the three crosses we have in our valley now, like feathers, red and orange, so penetrated through with but there will be a fourth cross as soon as Mercury Hall light. He suddenly said to me, 'This Hemel en Aarde is fully completed . Where the altar stands will be a cross valley must become a Valley of Tolerance' . which is in line with the cross on the mountain . We We are on the way . could see it when the roof was still open . Now, having Irma is an elder Cam philler, seen it, an awareness is created for all times . a pioneer of our work in South Africa .

1 One possible introduction to the Rhythms of the Foundation Stone Meditation Andrew Hoy, Svetlana Village, Russia

o many it may come as a surprise to discover that the The importance of this contribution began to grow dur- Foundation Stone Meditation has two forms . The more ing the ensuing gathering, as the Foundation Stone familiarT was first presented by Rudolf Steiner on Christ- Meditation was presented with a Rhythmic character. mas Day 1923, with its three calls to the human soul, Here, we might observe, it is within the realm of the and its four parts . It is in this form that it is presented at night, in which memory imprints itself, and the follow- common gatherings and festivals. It is so complete in ingday, that the Rhythm of that day imprints itself upon itself, as it first calls upon the human soul before turning the preceding Rhythm-an unconscious activity begins to a cosmic response, that more seems unnecessary. It to awaken . However, it will be remembered that a Foun- would require a lifetime of inner activity to enter into it dation Stone had already been laid into the ground for fully, as it contains a kind of Summa Anthroposophia. the first Goetheanum in September 1913 that had a It was only following this presentation that Rudolf crystalline form and that this stone still lay in the ground . Steiner was to return to the Foundation Stone on each of In a sense it could be considered as a memorial . This the subsequent seven days of the Christmas Gathering, Foundation Stone in the form of a meditation was to be to lead the participants through the Foundation Stone laid into the hearts of the members of the newly to be with a series of extracts that he called 'Rhythms' . The formed Anthroposophical Society-and into our 'rhyth- first Rhythm began on Wednesday, December 26, and mic memory' . the series concluded on the following Tuesday . How- I believe that we could sense that the members were ever, this sequence is also different in character, as well to become servants or servers of this meditation, and as form, with the three times call 'to practice spirit-re- that it might thereby have an influence far beyond the calling, practice spirit-sensing, and to practice spirit be- limits of this simple introduction to describe . These are holding' in its centre. related to those thoughts described in the lecture The One immediate response to such a discovery might be Etherisation of the Blood in which the moral character that these Rhythms do not appear to be rhythmic in the and climate of our present culture is to be renewed . It is normal sense of the word . The following remarks may there that the aspect of the night working upon our moral help towards an understanding of this, for Steiner had life is more adequately described . offered to the 800 people gathered for this event, a se- It may be noted that each of the first six Rhythms con- ries of lectures in preparation for, and to accompany, tains both a microcosmic aspect, as well as a macrocos- this Foundation Stone laying . In English these are known mic response-an in- and ex-haling, though this has a as World History in the Light of Anthroposophy . different character from what we have come to under- On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day-the first and stand as yoga . We learn to sense that an inversion is second lectures-in what he called 'the evening hours occurring-as when we remove a piece of clothing that of our Christmas gathering,' he introduced his theme by fits very snugly, and when inner becomes outer. speaking about the development of human memory. This Asecond question that is quick to surface when con- included what we might call memory aids, though it sidering this sequence is, as to why it begins with evoked, in its original form, another kind of conscious- Wednesday. I can think of a number of responses to this ness, with the erecting of memorials, monuments and question, and yet none of these would serve as a clear standing stones . This period of 'local memory' extended answer. If I turn once again to the accompanying lec- until we 'developed a need to live within rhythms' . The tures, World History in the Light ofAnthroposophy I can period in which the sagas and epics originated occurred find one response. Here, Steiner drew parallels between during this period of what he called 'rhythmic memory' . the burning of the Goetheanum and the burning of the Today, with greater intellectual faculties we are able to Temple of Artemis at Ephesus . In the fifth lecture Steiner recall events and thoughts at will . It may occur to many spoke of the particular character of the Mysteries of of us, as we grow older, that we still depend upon these Ephesus-how there had been retained there a strong earlier forms. relationship to nature, and the spirit of nature : a charac- teristic of earlier oriental mysteries . He described the Convening relationship that the pupils there found to the plant world-the feeling that plants were created by ourselves I will at an earlier phase of evolution and that they were still Be Grail-bearer close to us-while, with the animals, we could feel that For you . we were liberated from them . Such an attitude called I accept forth in the pupil a feeling of the deepest reverence The crippling wound one that could be likened to the attitude of 'The Wash- Of love : ing of the Feet'that becomes a precondition for any inner That I may not path . It was within this mood that those present at Assert my will Ephesus came into contact with the God Mercury. In your unfurling Something of this earlier connection is re-awoken when Life and knowing. we observe that the Rhythms begin with Wednesday For you Mercury day. A similar mood might have been awoken I will only within the first Goetheanum when we were encouraged Be Grail-bearer. to experience the coloured windows in the sequence of JOHN RALPH a Mercury path that traversed from one side to the other

2

between thinking and willing that we might retain our day when we are called upon to 'practice spirit-recall- inner balance, and again a rhythmic process ensues, as ing, spirit-sensing and spirit-beholding' . These three days it would within human encounters . also mark the three days of the Mystery of Golgotha I have passed over the more obvious response to such the 'turning-point of time'. It is from these three Rhythms a question regarding Wednesday, as that Mercury marks that there may arise what has not been outwardly ex- our present stage of evolution, which receives its mark pressed, namely, the image of the cross that has been from the Mystery of Golgotha . Another such response entwined by roses . We begin to divine that such an ex- might be that of the sign of Mercury in which the two perience once again relates to the lecture The Etherisation blood systems might be found . It is following such indi- of the Blood. We receive further confirmation with Mon- cations that we begin to enter the inner mysteries . On day's Rhythm : Wednesday, December 26, the inner mysteries that Light Divine, Christ-Sun . might unfold were united with the outer reality . Perhaps I have passed beyond the limits of an intro- It is with such questioning that we might approach the duction, to an experience-by not recognizing any three central Rhythms for Friday, Saturday and Sun- boundary. Andrew is a regular contributor to these pages .

Colombia U'wa, Camphill, and the practice of idealism Margit Engel, Vidaräsen, Norway

olombia U'wa have their prayers answered. of Camphill Correspondence the words of Ingmar This was the headline of a stirring report by John Bergman : 'We walk in circles so limited by our own VdalC in The Guardian Weekly, May 23-29, 2002 . When anxieties that we can no longer distinguish between true the Los Angeles company Oxy discovered oil in Colom- and false, between the gangster's whim and the purest bia's Samare Field and expected 1 .4 billion barrels of ideal' . precious oil, a surprise happened . Drilling to a depth of Today each one of us has to find his rules and his inner more than 3,600 metres Oxy only found faint traces of life, his spiritual life . But, as König put it: 'Democracy in gas and water. What had happened? The spiritual lead- spiritual matters is detrimental' . Only in the sphere of ers of the U'wa tribe, chanting 'The money king is only rights can we discover our equality and, last but not illusion . Capitalism is blind and barbaric', had been pray- least, in economic brotherhood we may sense our abil- ing and fasting for many months . In the cosmology of ity to grow beyond our own needs and live for our fel- U'wa, the world above the ground is mirrored by one low man . below, and oil is the blood of the earth, the element that Maybe one can put three images for this threefoldness, sustains the land and prevents earthquakes and so on . which König put as an aim for our villages in the Camphill Oxy were troubled by the negative results after earlier Movement : In the spiritual life, through exercising, we clear investigations . have to become open to the flame of Whitsun - to im- What can we discern from such a true story? By 1950, agination, inspiration and intuition . In the middle sphere when I came to Camphill, we knew that Hitler as well the words of the Foundation Stone Meditation may sound as Lenin and Stalin had received money for their crimi- 'In Christ death becomes life' . We have to recede, nal tasks from international sources . Today we are again our egoistic view point has to die . Maybe the washing in a world of criminality and wars . Where does human of the feet is an image for this field . And in economic brotherhood still exist? life the Russian saying 'What you give you keep, what Coming to Camphill 52 years ago as a doctor of medi- you keep you lose', may become an ideal . cine it was really an experience of a special kind to re- Every crisis is positive, if we start to walk into it, and if ceive 10 shillings a month pocket money and to join a we really courageously make the effort to step out of it . strict economic brotherhood . At the same time we were Maybe some of you could contribute to these ques- asked to join a morning meeting at 7 a .m . before the tions in Camphill Correspondence? I would be most real work started and where a reading of How to obtain grateful . And maybe a word of Peter Roth could con- knowledge of higher worlds by Rudolf Steiner was of- clude my stammering thoughts : fered to us . We were also introduced to inner exercises Today every man is developing more and more the and meditation . It was a real turn over of many lives urge towards individual responsibility for his deeds ; which needed a complete redirection of one's will . How but there the danger of egoism rises in a new form is Camphill today? Could we achieve something like because individual responsibility depends on being those Colombian tribes? convinced that the thoughts out of which one acts Today we are told of an individualisation, which sets are true. And as they are one's own thoughts, they every person free . Rudolf Steiner's book The Philosophy must be imbued with a certain self-righteousness and of Freedom speaks of a different freedom than the one the actions originating from them must be, to a cer- we sense in our time . That we feel our freedom in a new tain extent, tinged with selfishness. With this impasse way is good because only then, facing the events of the every modern man is faced with what Rudolf Steiner world, each of us has to find the freedom of exercising calls the task of 'selfless self-consciousness' . himself. However, do we still have spiritual leaders? Has This Christian morality is therefore something extremely not each one of us to become a spiritual leader - of his difficult to approach . Let us try anew! own thinking, feeling and willing? But the temptations Margit is a regular contributor to these are immense . As we could read in the May/June edition pages and, no, she's not starting a village in Colombia .

3 Marga goes to No .10

We present the following item about Marga unbeknown to her-not only by way of congratulation, but also as an illustration of how virtues and practices developed in Camphill can find a response and appreciation in the wider world, and help to build bridges. We'd love to hear many other peoples' stories too . . . ecently, Marga Schnell, of Camphill Schools, Aber- deen, was selected as one of three people from the region to accompany the local MP on an art tour of the Cabinet Room and Main State Rooms of Nos . 10 and 11 Downing Street, which are well endowed with im- portant works of art . The following is from the letter proposing Marga :

I would like to nominate Marga Schnell, who has attended a number of arts workshops over the years here at White Space, as part of the programme of arts activities organised by the Arts Development team, here at Aberdeen City Council . What makes Marga special is that, despite her age, (she is in her mid 60s) she has just, as a result of taking part in our workshops, got a place to study fine art at Grays School of Art, part of the Robert Gordon University-an excellent example of lifelong learning! She is extremely excited at the thought of this op- portunity, and knowing her levels of enthusiasm and her ability to inspire others, this would be a very valuable experience . Lesley Thomson, Community Arts Manager

Review

Bewegung, Sprache, Denkkraft and relevant for a deeper insight and practical Der geistige Impuls der Heilpaedagogik application . 'Movement, speech, thought-power ; the spiritual It is deeply satisfying to follow Georgs crystal clear trend impulse of curative education .' of thoughts. The sub-title 'The spiritual impulse of cura- tive education and social therapy', although specifically By Georg von Arnim addressed in the first of six sub-divisions, is evident Edited by Richard Steel, Verlag am Goetheanum throughout. The other main topics are: Gestalt and Move- Johannes Michael Surkamp, Ochil Tower School, ment, Speech and Destiny, Power of Thought, Social As- Scotland pects and The Being of the Child - a tribute to Janusz Korczak on the occasion of the centenary of his birth . eorg von Amim died at the age of 80 years, just a Georg draws on his rich professional experience, en- few weeks before this book was published . A col- riched by the work of Rudolf Stei ner and Karl Kön ig, lectionG of essays and lectures which were written or held and endows his words with warmth and love for hu- duringthe author's busy life atthe Camphill school com- manity, which so often reveals itself in the imperfect in- munity Föhrenbühl in the South of Germany, the book carnation process . is a veritable treasure trove for anyone working in cura- It will go beyond the limits of the possible to translate tive education or social therapy. Reading it was for me the whole book into English, but summaries of particu- like attending another training-course . lar sections would be very worthwhile to publish . Georgs phenomenological perception and intuitive Particular thanks should be expressed to Richard Steel thinking are of the highest order. His concentration for collecting and editing this valuable literary work of throughout the 25 `chapters', 465 pages, is directed to Georg von Arnim, thereby making it available to present making Rudolf Steiner's indications in the 'Curative and future generations of curative educators and social Course' and the results of Karl Königs work available therapists.

4 Letters

Urgent need in Thornbury and which might be ready to give us strength, nourish- ment, inspiration and courage to create new forms? ear friends throughout the Camphill Movement, Would König himself, if he were alive, insist that eve- D This letter is to let you know of our desperate rything from the past must be preserved? need at the Shelling School, Thornbury to find a single What does all this have to do with Michael's ques- houseparent or couple with Camphi I I experience to take tion? on one of the children's houses . I will try to explain . I see it in connection with our We already have one of the six houses closed at social life, with our daily encounters and with our atti- present because there is no-one here in a position to tudes to each other . It reminds me of uncomfortable take this on and we are now forced to contemplate the feelings I have had after some memorial evenings we closure of a second house due to unforeseen circum- have held for someone who has just died . The general stances . As you can imagine, this would be a disas- tendency seems to be to paint a positive picture, to call trous situation, preventing us from admitting any new up strengths, virtues and achievements . This is of course children and putting extra pressure on the existing right, but not always real . Everybody also makes mis- households . takes and is unpleasant from time to time-this belongs Please circulate this letter throughout your centre and! to an honest picture! I sometimes wonder what the per- or make our need known as quickly as possible . We son who we talk about experiences when we only lift are desperately hoping that someone will be able to out the good deeds? What if this person longs for for- come forward to help as soon as possible . giveness for pain and hurt caused to others? Are we Please let us know immediately if you know of any- escaping our real responsibility, the challenge to love one who might be able to help us . and forgive if we do not acknowledge the mistakes of With our warm greetings, that person as well-openly and honestly? Why does Peter Bateson someone who had not one good word to spare when for all of us at the Shelling School, Thornbury . the person in question was still alive suddenly have only wonderful memories to share? Is it dishonest or Peter Bateson, Copper Beech, has the speaker simply missed the opportunity to say Park Road, Thornbury, Bristol BS351 HW these things during all the years they lived together? Tel: +44 (0) 1454 281988 Fax : +44 (0) 870 137 1763 My answer to Michael's question is : One way to live E-mail : psb@silverbirch .org.uk every day as if it was my last is to be honest with each other, to talk with each other and not only about each other. And most importantly : express praise and grati- How do I live every day in the knowledge tude to each other before we gather at a memorial evening! I have been made aware of a strange and piti- that it could be my last? ful lack of courtesy, politeness and gratitude in our deal- ichael Bruhn asks this question at the end of his ings with each other by some of our so-called 'outside' thoughts about the plain crash at the Bodensee friends and supporters . I was even told that the way we (CamphillM Correspondence, Sept/Oct 2002) . Probably act would be considered as unacceptable social be- many people wonder about this at different moments haviour in other settings! i n their lives . Meeting this question i n the context of A small but significant example brought this home to the Karl König Centenary Issue gave it a new urgency me the other day : Robin Jackson, Training Co-ordinator and relevance and I could see it in a new light . for Camphill Scotland, had worked hard on behalf of Many new questions arose in me after reading all the all of us to make Camphill's voice heard in develop- different contributions about, and memories of, Karl ments regarding acceptable professional qualifications König. The most immediate one was : Why do I feel so in the care sector. Because of his efforts some of us uncomfortable about many of the things said here? were invited to meet with the relevant, influential top Maybe some of the items were too personal and inti- people and could enter a fruitful, positive dialogue with mate for publication ; some were so closely imbedded them . The following day we received a letter from in past attitudes and circumstances that they might call Robin, thanking us for attending the meeting! None of up a critical, even negative response in a modern reader us had thought to thank him in a similar way . . . rather than the intended respect and admiration? How is it possible that the community life we are so More questions come in quick succession : Maybe the proud of has fallen so far from our ideals? Are we even whole issue is too much about the past and too little aware of it? Are we aware that every day could be our about the present and future? Maybe we need a fol- last day? Michael points to our responsibility to the low-up issue in which we try to explore and under- spiritual world as to what we make out of our lives . I stand how the outer forms, traditions and attitudes Karl would like to add to that our responsibility to each other : König built around his visions and intentions in the to be honest in praising and in confronting each other context of his time can be developed and transformed now! in order to answer the needs of our time? Are new vi- My thoughts and questions are of course based on sions and intentions needed? my own experiences and are maybe not relevant to Why do we so often feel anxious and sad when we others? It would be good and interesting to share with see the old forms crumble and forget to look for the each other. seed that has grown inside, sheltered by these forms, Angelika Monteux, Camphill Schools, Aberdeen

5 Obituaries Eva Sachs 18th May 1929 -13th September 2002

Childhood and Youth Ursel Pie tzner, Beaver Run Special School, Pennsylvania

va was born on May 18, 1929 in and other friends, Eva kept up con- E Weissenfels/Saale, in eastern Ger- tact all her life . One of them wrote many. The parents of our mother lived to me recently, after Eva's death, and here and we spent some happy vaca- shared the following memories : tions in the house of these dear grand- For me Ev (her nickname) in the parents . Odenwald School, was a very, very Eva's birth horoscope was very har- important friend. She was tall and monious; it said that she would be a strong and sporty. Through her l joy-filled person, especially in her ac- learned to climb trees, which was dif tions . ficult because of my stiffness. Ev had Eva grew up in a boarding school much patience and helped me to where our parents were teachers and, overcome my fear, so we often sat from 1934-45, our father was head- high up in the oak trees at the 'na- master. This 'Odenwaldschule', at the ture theatre'. By night and moonshine edge of the Odenwald between she taught me bicycling on the sports Darmstadt and Heidelberg was, and field-which was about 150m up in still is, an internationally known co- the woods. She also taught me swim- ed school, situated in beautiful, un- ming. Friendship with her meant for dulating countryside of woods, fields me a physical and soul strengthen- and farms . ing, and a help in incarnation . She Eva was a tender child, easily fright- was also my protector in class, as she ened by insects or other horrifying was the strongest and all boys re- creatures. Early on, when she was spected her greatly. about two years old, she had two severe ear operations In our house much went on by night. We went on due to a middle ear infection, which nearly cost her life . excursions at night to the Wol wal i-a woody outcrop of Probably this was the cause of her hearing disability, rock in a field, about a mile away-when one of us had which gave her pain and trouble in later life . received a package of sweets . When the air raids howled, Her childhood and youth were surrounded by warmth we had to run back very fast, via the cellar door, in or- and protection, beauty of nature, the seasonal festivals der to be back in the house before your father noticed. and the stable rhythm of loving family life-she was very Ev was always fully with us and often had the most dar- close to her parents and sisters-and the clear structure of ing ideas, which none of the adults would have thought school life . She was not particularly interested in academ- came from her. It was our adolescent time, full of tricks . ics, but always in people, their joys and sorrows and needs . Evand l also had very serious talks, for instance about She was able to feel herself into the souls of others . reincarnation, in the evening in bed . I had a deep rela- The most important aspect of all these years was mu- tionship to Ev. She was my first friend in my life . sic. Music was all around . Our mother was a violin It is important for me to describe this side of her child- teacher and our aunt, who was also the school nurse, hood, because she was 'many sided'and later her liveli- was a cello and piano teacher. Eva learned to play the ness maybe did not come so much to the fore . Her violin playing with a soulful tone in the school orchestra physical strength, her winning at the sports festivals, her and chamber music. baseball hit further than 50m, were impressive . And The war years of 1940-45 were exciting. Teachers and besides this, her tender, loving, devotion to nature, plants older classmates were drafted, some died in battle . Air and animals. But also her sense of humour! bombings in the big cities not too far away made the night I must confess I do not remember these escapades of skies glow with fire . Air raid sirens forced us many a night Ev and her friends . Being two years older, our circle of into the cellar and, by day into the woods-where we friends, life, classmates, interests, were different . But had dug ditches . Food was scarce and we were always we had one important family friend in common : R. hungry. But school went on, music sounded, festivals were Ki I I ian had been a Waldorf teacher i n Stuttgart, and celebrated . Our houses and school stayed unharmed . with the closing of that school at the beginning of the Much could be told of those years ; also about the very war, his family joined our school . Mrs . Killian became difficult time of the war's end, when Eva had to suffer like a second mother to us ; she introduced us to an- deeply the fate of her beloved father and his death in 1946. throposophy-and she played the piano. Young Christof Eva lived in one of the large houses, sharing a room learned to play the cello, and many Camphill places with another girl . She belonged to a family of 10-12 have heard him and his playing partner giving con- girls, with a 'mother.' Being older, she had moved out of certs during the last twenty years . He was a special our family's apartment. With some of these roommates, friend to Eva since childhood .

6 I n 1945 the Ki I I ians moved back to Stuttgart and Eva about 'a small man but a great king' . When she asked joined them . Now she experienced city life for the first Mrs. Killian later who this was, she was told about Dr . time, with concerts, theatre, streetcars, shops and all the König and his work in Scotland . This was a destiny mo- social/cultural aspects a city has to offer. She went to ment in her life . She decided to go to Scotland and asked the original Waldorf school and had as teachers many me to join her. But before we came to Scotland, at the of those who had started under Rudolf Steiner. What a end of August 1949, Eva went to Switzerland, to a cura- joy learning was now! Also music continued for her in tive home, where she spent some time. There she had the large wonderful school orchestra and choir . Her acute powerful experiences of very disabled children and her observation of people's soul configuration had ample intuitive feeling of how to approach and deal with indi- opportunity to develop, and her interest, warmth and viduals with severe handicaps, became apparent . love was experienced by all around her . Anthro- Eva was artistic, sensitive, tender and creative, with a posophical thoughts and also what she heard in The rich inner soul and spiritual life, searching for the essen- Christian Community religion lessons became her spir- tials and for truth . She lived her moral values . In her quiet itual home . way these gifts came to the fore in her listening capacity At the end of school for the final prom a young gentle- and social outgoing, her music, poetry, writing, painting man from the class above, took pity on her as she had which matured in later years . In her joyful, loving nature no partner for the dancing : this was Friedwart Bock! she often expressed her gratitude to life. In 1948 she overheard a conversation between Mrs . When she arrived in Camphill, a new chapter in her Killian and Dr. Schickler, a lifelong friend of Karl König, biography began . She was twenty years old .

The truly wise one Adola McWilliam, I to Wegman Association of British Columbia, Vancouver

he truly wise one, o ye monks, Eva possessed true equanimity . I never works in such a way that each of his heard her raise her voice once, no mat- deedsT is permeated with the right ter what the circumstances . Anger or thoughts. If he is in the garden, then he irritation with another person, child or is like a gardener. And if he talks to the adult, seemed non-existent . She spread multitude, then he is like a teacher-his a quiet loving peace around her. If a attitude is that of a teacher. If he works child - and we had many very difficult in the community, then he works in such and ill children - could not come to a way that no orders issue from his peace while we waited in the hallway mouth, but his doing in itself will be or- to go into the dining room for a meal dered, so that it spreads order around or into the music room, she would gen- itself in all things . He will be more of a tly remove the child, never in anger or servant than a leader. Asilent one, rather as punishment, but with infinite love . than a loud one . A receiving one, rather Later, when the child was calm she than one who is sharing out. would guide him or her back, held by Thus he will create through his non- the hand, to the right place . ordering: order. Through his receiving, During that first summer, we had lyre he will be a healer. Through his silence, music and singing daily before supper . he will make the World-Spirit audible . It was a highlight!-days were long and But this is what is needful . demanding. Eva played the lyre, hay- Karl König, Michaelmas 1940 ing tuned it first over the phone, mostly with Mark Gartner. Looking back, I now When I arrived i n Camphill House it realize that Eva's playing and singing must have been the summer of 1954 Eva had been had the same effect on the children and us young co- there seven years. She was then assistant housemother, workers as David's harp playing must have had on the Alix Roth being the official housemother. disturbed soul of King Saul . Looking back over nearly 50 years, I am taking stock Subconsciously we all tried to emulate Eva . She led us of the seeds laid in my soul by these two personalities, on the path of learning true curative education . Many of so different from each other. In this little eulogy for Eva I us young ones had come to Camphill out of an impulse want to concentrate on the seeds she gave me to de- to seek community and do the good ; the war years were velop in my life . still very recent. But it was Eva, surrounded by the great Eva was a gentle person among us seminarists . She circle around Karl König, who led us to a recognition of guided and taught us by example . Connecting my the higher being and the being of Christ in each child thoughts now with Eva, I clearly see i n retrospect that and in every human being, and to the question, 'Friend, she lived the life of the 'truly wise one', the 'silent one' . what ails thee?' We experienced Eva among us as an angelic being. Her Often on Sunday afternoons Eva helped to quickly set curly hair stood around her head, and when the sun up a puppet theatre between the music room and the shone through it, it was a halo . But even in the dark she library, where there were double doors . These shows not seemed to have a halo . only left their therapeutic mark on the children, but also

7 on us 'dormitory parents' . Love of puppetry was another Camph i I l Estate, it was held i n the chapel above the seed Eva gave me . Cottage, i n front of the altar . Setting foot i n there was, Most of us lived in Camphill House, under the same for me, to enter the holiest of holes. It never occurred roof as Dr. König and Alix . But Eva lived across in the to me that someone had to prepare it and set it up, attic of Camph i I I Cottage . When I had a free afternoon then clear away and get the chapel ready for the Sun- - a rare occurrence at that time - I was allowed to sleep day service . I almost assumed this was all done by the my tiredness off in Eva's neat and tidy room . Eva herself angels. Imagine my shock and sudden awakening when never took a rest . She had so many other responsibili- one Saturday night after Bible Evening, I was standing ties we were not even aware of-Community Mem- outside the Cottage kitchen window and saw Eva pick- bers' meetings, Youth Group meetings, etc, etc . ing up the pitcher, putting it to her lips and drinking Sometimes Eva would confide in me and say, 'When the rest of the juice . This gave me a jolt - holy Eva? - I wake up in the morning, I wish I had died in the night holy juice? From that day on I too helped in the clear- and then I would not need to get up'-she was so very ing and washing up . tired, but it never showed . And this is indeed how Eva During the end of my first year in Camphill, Eva de- has now died : she went to sleep one night and remained veloped very serious ear trouble and had to have an in the spiritual world . operation . On her return she was legally deaf but we Once, we heard that when Eva went home to Ger- never noticed, although she now had to remind us fre- many for a much-needed holiday, her mother had come quently to face her when speaking . It was after this that to the station to pick her up . But Eva was not there - Eva decided to leave Camphill for a while . She refers she was blissfully sleeping in her train compartment to this in her article on her conversation with Dr . König and only woke up at the last station! Eva passed on to in the recent Centenary edition of Camphill Correspond- us a tremendous sense of responsibility for the chil- ence. One day I took a short walk with her and she dren during their sleep . I had one child, Georgina, who told me something slightly different from the way she suffered from epileptic seizures and who was very expressed it in her article : she said that Dr. König told loosely connected to her body. Eva told me she could her that to leave would be tantamount to 'escape' and take leave of her body any time during the night, never thus she decided not to escape but go to the Shelling . to return . That is when I learned to sleep in such a way This conversation too had a deep impact on me, deeper that I could wake up anytime, when needed . than I realized at the time. In those days when the Bible Evening had only re- Eva, dear Eva, I wish you a good sojourn on your cently been set free into the world, it was a great joy ways in the realm of the spirit-which is so close to us . and honour for us to be allowed to participate . In Much love to you and thank you .

The Shelling Dorette Schwabe, The Shelling School, Ringwood, England

first met Eva in 1967 in Arlesheim, one out into the 'nothing' . We de- when she and her mother stayed in signed a programme based on the my house, during the time her sister Waldorf curriculum and all the prac- Renate was ill in the hospital in Basel . tical subjects which could help a They spent a year with me, and Eva was young person on their path into life . the one who told me about the Shei I i ng There was a great deal of outside work School and that they were looking for a on the forty-acre estate . gardener to tackle the difficult ground . During the thirteen years in the I visited Ringwood with Eva the same Shelling House, 142 young people year and fell in love with the pure soil . joined us in working outside and for I knew I could help there . So I came to further education . The work on the the Shelling in Spring 1968 and started Shelling estate, the development of my work on the land . As soon as Renate heathland into parkland, was sheer joy . was settled in Brachenreuthe Eva came We all became strong and healthy. We back to the Shei I i ng. all gave the very best ; it was astound- It was quite clear to Eva that her work ing to experience Eva's enthusiasm for with the children had come to an end this challenging project . She learned after so many years . At that time the what it meant to plant trees and older children had to leave the Shelling bushes, to clear and shape a particu- when they reached the age of sixteen, to go home or larly difficult part and make it beautiful . The surround- into uncertain situations . Eva and I came to the decision ings of the newly built houses and halls was part of our to start a training for adolescent people based in the work. Eva became strong, never tiring, always pulling Shelling House . This much needed course started in 1969 along a group of trainees . She learnt in the truest sense with nine pupils, all of them having grown up at the to become a garden expert on a large estate, knowl- Shelling School . It was always terrible for us to sort out edgeable and interested in all that grew . She kindled which children would benefit mostfrom such a training self-assurance in our friends and gave them confidence and which children needed to leave . We took this very that they could learn and do the impossible . Wonder seriously and it almost broke our hearts to send some- and devotion towards the kingdoms of nature occupied

8 us fully. We both talked often about this outstanding garden and on the estate. The only meeting she went to time and agreed that these years were the most impor- was the land and estate group where she contributed tant and happiest in our life. out of her rich experience . Her spiritual studies were in 1982 and new friends join us to take over the work the realms of her tasks as a service holder and class with the Shelling trainees . Eva moved to Sunny Oak with reader. We spent many wonderful holidays together, her mother, Elisabeth . A new epoch started for Eva as sometimes with Ursel, her sister, or my sister when she well as for me . Eva cared for her beloved mother in a came over from Switzerland . When Lotte Salhmann wonderful way. Music entered the house ; playing quar- reached 80 years of age, she was invited once more to tets with two friends from Ringwood town every so of- South Africa . Eva accompanied her on this outstanding ten . Sunny Oak became a house where young trip. She enjoyed meeting so many people, nature and co-workers would go for a chat or even for help in a the animal life . As soon as she came back from a holi- difficult situation . Eva always had time to listen and give day she started to plan anew, saying 'we do not have advice. She served also as a very experienced tutor for much time anymore .' the Curative Course students, as well as teaching in the Our last holiday was in August 2002, to Burgundy. It course out of her long experience . Her subjects were was a deep wish of Eva's to see once more the painting Child Development, the Human Soul and Fairytales . We of St . Michael and the Last Judgement by Rogier van der often went for outings with Elisabeth, took our holidays Weyden, in Beaun . This picture was a healing picture together in Devon or by the sea . We visited places of for the sick people in the hospice in Beaun . We went interest and beautiful gardens . Elisabeth loved Eva's gar- with a tour company, which was well organised and we den and took every opportunity to sit in her chair, in the saw many outstanding cathedrals as well . Eva was so sunshine with her knitting . Ten happy years together with happy to spend two hours in front of this marvelous pic- mother! Elisabeth died in 1992 ; her death was followed ture and I am so glad that she took along this impression by the death of Renate, Eva's younger sister in 1993 . A when she went on her last journey, on September 13th very difficult time for Eva but she did not despair, she 2002 early in the morning . took the situation as a fact of life, although she missed Dear Eva, we had an outstanding time together with both of them tremendously. Her attitude towards those all that we experienced, explored, planned and dis- who crossed the threshold was remarkable . At that time cussed . Thank you that you were such a wonderful friend her hearing became bad and she withdrew from many to me in good and bad times and helped me so much in meetings, working instead and enjoying herself i n the my struggle on this earth . I often feel you very near and that gives me much strength to go on .

Eva and the Waldorf School Christine Polyblank (nee Weihs), Folly Farm School, Ringwood

was six years old when Eva came to Camphill and, you have decided to come . . . .' This was unexpectedly although I never knew her intimately, she seemed to decisive indeed! And come I did ; I was not able to say hover round the edges of my life for as long as I can 'no' to Eva. remember. Did she simply misunderstand me or had she sensed In the Remembrance Evening after the funeral, I spoke something else? . . .perhaps that I had indeed decided to of her involvement in the founding of the Waldorf School . come but was unable to make that ultimate step of com- But it was only when I got home and was telling my mitment by saying 'yes' ? . . .or had she sensed that my husband what I had said, that the real extent of this in- destiny lay at Ringwood? Whatever it was that happened volvement came back to me . between Eva and me in that exchange of letters has had Early in 1974 Alex Baum had written to ask if I would lasting effects . I went . Or came. Twenty-eight years later consider coming to start a little school for the Shelling I am still here . I write this to show that Eva's role i n the staff children and for others in the surrounding area . Of founding of the present thriving Waldorf School was all the community members who were supporting this decisive . She also continued to give her support in those initiative, it was Eva who put her weight behind Alex by early years by forming, with other community members taking up her pen and writing to me to describe the great such as Dr Lotte, Marianne Gorge, Monica Dorrington, need of the Shei I i ng for such a school . I had, and still Sheila (now Whitwell) and several others, a 'College' have, extreme difficulty in coming to decisions : this was around the young school, which met for a while in the a major one and I seemed quite unable to complete the tiny front room of Folly Farm Cottage-the elusive prop- weighing-up process . There was some vagueness on the erty found, in good time, at the bottom of Sticklebirch part of the Shelling too : I might start in a playroom at- wood . tached to one of the houses or perhaps in a little prop- There were years in between when the two schools, erty rumoured to exist somewhere on the periphery of Shelling and Waldorf, for so many reasons seemed to the estate . Eva must have written to me about these two grow apart . So too did Eva and I . But the last time I saw possibilities because in my response I wrote that I would her, barely two weeks before her death, was when she not come to start a school in someone's playroom ; that came to the opening ceremony of our three new kinder- would certainly come to nothing. But I would if the prop- gartens. This was a sunny, joyful event and Eva was both erty-on-the-periphery that both Alex and Eva had writ- generous and warm in the delight she expressed at this ten about were to materialize . To my astonishment Eva's great achievement of the school . Any and all rifts had reply was a prompt and joyful 'we are overjoyed that certainly been healed .

9 Robert Margolis Hartmut von Jeetze, Triform, New York State

ince its beginning, Camphill has always depended Its service reaches from assisting the children in Beaver on the presence of personalities who, like pillars, Run, some of whom are severely disabled, including his stoodS for its impulse . Like the pillars of a Greek tem- son, to the realization of the goals of the Triform com- ple, their mere presence vouchsafes the necessary link munity aiding young people to find their place in life ; to the bedrock of the common ground on which we the goals of Camphill Village in Copake ; the establish- stand, as well as forming the link to the timeless aspi- ing of Camphill Village in Minnesota and many other rations that the impulses and spiritual aims of Camph ill places in and beyond the American continent. embrace . Another of Bob's initiatives was the creation of the In- Bob Margolis, who died 26'" June 2002, was one of ternational Camphill Board Member Meetings, together these pillars . Like some of his colleagues and predeces- with Ursula Gleed . The result of this effort has grown sors, Bob's personal destiny was deeply linked to the into a forum of Camphill board members from around aims of Camphill . His goal : to bring about the practical the world, who meet on a tri-annual basis to review realization of true brotherliness, beyond personal, fam- Camphill's work . These meetings have become known ily, ethnic and other limitations that would inhibit their as Camphill Dialogue . being able to become a cosmopolitan impulse . The his- Much more of Bob's work could be mentioned . What tory of Camphill on the American continent is unthink- remains to be said is that we owe Bob enormous grati- able without him . tude for his part in helping the life and work of Camphill Bob initiated the creation of the Camphill Foundation . become a worldwide movement for social renewal . We The aim of its work : to create a tangible financial tool to thank you for this accomplishment and for your part in aid the welfare of human beings in need of special care . the building up of Camphill .

Donald Henry Stewart 24'h December 1942 - 24th April 2002

Faith Brosse, Clanabogan, Northern Ireland

onald was born in Co. Cork on Christ- ticed that he responded when his left hand mas Eve 1942 . His father was a Meth- was squeezed . On Christmas Eve, his odistD minister and the family lived in birthday, he seemed to be listening to vis- Clonakilty for his first two years, till they iting musicians . On an impulse the doc- moved north to Fintona where his father be- tor suddenly said to him, Donald, point came ill and subsequently died . Elsie, his to your mother' . Very slowly his left hand mother, and Donald moved into the family moved in Elsie's direction . He also pointed home Brookfield, near Omagh, where he to his aunts Mattie and Jean . There was joined an all-female group with Elsie'stwo great excitement as word spread through sisters and her mother . He later went to the the hospital! Royal School Armagh, eventually becom- That was the beginning of about four ing a Head Boy who succeeded in chang- years of rehabilitation-months to get rid ing the rather brutal ethos, out of sheer of the tubes for breathing and feeding, and goodness and strength of character. several journeys to London to the Wolfson Outstanding in mathematics, he went on Rehabilitation Centre to learn to stand, to to achieve a double first at Cambridge, then dress and finally to walk and regain ordi- moved to Bristol to study mathematical nary life skills. While he was there a very logic . There he took the opportunity to go understanding sister in charge of his treat- to Los Angeles to a worldwide conference ment suggested that, since it would not be of mathematicians and stayed on there to complete his possible for Donald to have an independent life, his doctorate. He had completed his thesis and had it ready mother should explore the possibility of his living in a for submission, so went with a group of friends to the Camphill community. Elsie had never heard of Camphill, beach . On his return he must have slipped on the stone although Glencraig had been established in 1954 . But staircase to his flat and was found by another student . eventually she managed to arrange for him to go for a He had always been very thorough and had taken out trial for what was going to open up such wonderful pos- good insurance so was able to receive excellent medical sibilities for his future . care. After eight weeks, during which time he lapsed into When Donald first arrived in Glencraig in 1974, we a deep coma, he was transferred to the UK where he was were immediately struck by his good looks and striking admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast and later personality. His severe memory problems gave him rather transferred to the Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh . a gentle, vague impression which he strongly counter- Having had everything possible done surgically, his acted by being very precise in small things . He dressed survival now depended on the skill and care of dedi- meticulously as a gentleman, always wearing a tie, car- cated medical staff . His fall had occurred in May and it digan and jacket . A table set by Donald was a miracle of was only in December that nurse Peggy McGrath no- precision, even with the cups turned upside down, and

10 we saw how the mathematician was metamorphosed became known and beloved by lots of people in into everything he did . Camphill . But the sisters were getting older and in the His family were warm, loving and welcoming, these 1980's they decided they should move into Omagh . qualities all clearly evident in Donald too . For him, peo- Camphi I I eventually bought Brookfield and its accom- ple were people first and foremost so he didn't differen- panying land and so, in August 1984, Camphill tiate between villager and co-worker but just got on with Clanabogan began in Donald's old home with some extra the job of living together. Thus in spite of his lack of land purchased from a neighbour . memory he settled in well to community life in the most Whilst in Mourne Grange, Donald quite suddenly lost friendly and outgoing manner. Sometimes things were a great deal of his sight . Fortunately, it did return after too outgoing : we were not aware at first of his early ris- some while but was never so good again . His ability to ing until the farmers told us how he had arrived at milk- read began to fade so he took less notice of our notes ing-time, long before breakfast . And sometimes he would and this made it harder to hold on to him in free time . get up early and help his less capable roommate to dress, As his mother was getting older and frailer it seemed to then out they would go! Fortunately his roommate knew be a good idea that he would move to Clanabogan . So the way home. We were able to surmount some of in September 1994 he moved in, living for the first year Donald's memory problems by writing signs and notes, in his old home, Brookfield, and even having his old which he mostly read and heeded . By his bed, for in- bedroom . stance, was one saying, 'Please do not get up till 7 .30 I had moved to Clanabogan a few years previously . am' . This made life more comfortable for everyone, but Now I was able to repay him and his family and with joy evenings and weekends were nevertheless a time of alert- could invite them 'to come home for Christmas', also ness as to where Donald was . for family birthdays and festivals . Somehow Clanabogan He entered readily into all aspects of Camphill life, became an extension of the Stewart-Faux's and any new both work and leisure . At first he worked in the Glencraig developments were like much beloved grandchildren . Printery but when it closed down, he began to learn to Summer 1998 was a hard one . In July Donald had a weave. Here his mathematical precision and strong work fall and further damaged his head, spending some time ethic proved ideal qualities, and over the years he must in hospital and convalescence . When he returned he have woven a mile or two of cloth . But even though he was much less independent, having lost more speech wove in Glencraig, Mourne Grange and Clanabogan and needing considerably more care . In order to weaveries, so severe was his memory loss that he would strengthen him, he and I began to walk every morning. always dispute that this was his work . For nearly four years we continued all through the year, Outwardly friendly and cheerful, it was possible to up and down the country roads, watching the changing experience in Donald's life a grey, colourless quality seasons and gently enjoying the sky-scapes . Often we which underlay his being . This was intensified by his would meet old friends and neighbours, stopping to chat lack of taste and lack of feeling in his limbs . Since tea to people who had known him as a boy. had no taste it didn't matter to Donald if it had milk or That same summer of 1998 saw the bomb in Omagh sugar in it . And after a good two-hour walk, everyone where thirty-five people lost their lives . Donald and his else would be sitting down gratefully while Donald aunt Jean had a narrow escape, being warned in time to would ask, 'Anyone for a walk?' turn back as they walked into town . And five weeks later, He could still read, although he promptly forgot what Elsie died of a stroke . Donald knew in his heart that she he had read . Over a period of time he learnt St Francis' had died; they were very close and had a delightful con- prayer by heart, and other prayers and songs which were nection . But he could never feel quite sure and would part of our everyday life . After a year, I helped him to ask over and over again if she had died . hold the Bible Evening, Donald reading the graces and In January 2001 he took part in a tableau vivant for St. John's gospel, Chapter 15 . This passage is particu- Three Kings Day as the old king . He stood still, bent and larly beloved by Camphillers so it was somehow spe- dignified, holding his gift. Then he must have experi- cially remarkable that this was the reading that he gave . enced the grandeur of the moment and very gently drew To take someone into the community who previously himself up as straight as he could, the handicapped body had had the potential to be a leading, strong personality disappeared and he stood there utterly regal . in the world, but who now was severely handicapped, Now began a period of gentle decline, work was some- was quite a challenge . Donald's uprightness and strength times too much for him, and he often had to rest from of character meant that he wouldn't stand for some peo- weaving. Our daily walks had to become shorter and in ple's quirks of behaviour, and then suddenly he would many ways he prepared us for his death on the morning display his own inability to cope . To help him with very of 24th April . basic needs but at the same time recognise his particu- In Camphill we often turn to the Parsifal legend, and to lar dignity was an ongoing task . Amfortas, the Fisher King of the Castle of the Holy Grail, In 1979 I moved to Mourne Grange and Donald stated who lies sick of a mysterious wound which never heals . quite clearly that he wanted to come with me . By now This lance-wound was given to him by a piercing ray of he remembered my name and considered me part of his the sun, representing Christ . In his wounded state family, so was quite upset when I didn't 'come home for Amfortas is at once regal and vulnerable . Donald had Christmas'with him . He settled well in Mourne Grange, much of Amfortas within him ; out of his 'wound' he too with work in the weavery. Elsie, his mother, made friends was vulnerable, drawing out of those people around him with many of the co-workers and their families just as a steady stream of selfless love . So it was that at last she had in Glencraig . Indeed by now, Brookfield, Donald lay in Heron Hall, his old home, surrounded by Donald's home, was a frequent stop for tired co-work- flowers and candles, revealing to us his royal persona, ers. The family of Elsie Stewart and Jean and Martha Faux grand and yet infinitely humble .

11 Marion Jamieson 28th April 1952 - June 2002 Gisela Schlegel, Camphill School, Aberdeen

anion Jamieson died unexpectedly at hospital, had times living on the streets and the beginning of June . She had been a even a short prison sentence . Once, Marion pupilM of the Camphill Schools in the 60's visited me in Murtle and refused to leave so when she had made an impression on many that I was obliged to call the police . She ran with her challenging behaviour, but some away from them, jumped into the River Dee of us had also discovered a beautiful soul and was brought back cold and muddy. While hidden behind a very difficult destiny . the police waited to escort her, I had to pre- Marion died alone in her flat in Aberdeen . pare a bath and provide dry clothes for her Just a few weeks before, she had celebrated to wear. This was a typical success for Marion . her 50th birthday with a few friends in She lived between extremes, knowing mis- Murtle. She had asked to come for a Bible ery and misfortune but also joy, friendship Evening but, being unreliable in keeping ar- and achievement . In her twenties Marion rangements, it was not unusual that she did learned to read and write with the help of a not turn up . Some days later the police came boyfriend . At thirty she married, taking up to report her death . craftwork at home with her husband's en- Marion first came to Murtle Estate of the couragement . Although the marriage broke Camphill Schools at the age of thirteen . She up after three years it ended amicably . From came from an adult psychiatric hospital and then on Marion lived alone . She always kept it was only through the insistence of a sup- her flat meticulously clean and tidy. How- portive education office that we hesitatingly accepted ever there were twice fires i n her home from which she her. After many sad and terrifying experiences-being miraculously escaped . removed from her family at an early age and experienc- Over the past ten years Marion found new friendships ing a succession of children's homes and foster place- and a lasting relationship . She accompanied Eric on ments-Marion did not trust anyone . On her first day at many holidays and had the opportunity to experience school she asked her teacher if he used a cane or belt . different parts of Europe. She was never able to keep a Not trusting his negative reply she went early the next regular job but did various voluntary work, caring for morning to the classroom and was astonished to find the disabled and also helping in the psychiatric hospital nothing . She tested everyone and, if she felt affection, in which she had been a patient . could not trust herself and tried to hurt those she loved . Living in a rough area of Aberdeen, Marion witnessed Marion's positive side was that she could be helpful the worst of drugs and alcohol . She always said she could with less able children . In Murtle House, Marion devel- find peace when she came to Murtle . She visited me oped a special relationship with Julia Rosenthal who regularly and also Kahren and Bernd, sometimes join- had severe cerebral palsy and who was unable to com- ing community events . Recently she asked many ques- municate with words . Marion realised that Julia was very tions about Rudolf Steiner. perceptive and felt recognised and accepted by her. She In her last years Marion had aged and her health dete- learned to wash, dress and feed Julia and was able to do riorated, but inwardly she had matured . There was a deep this with supervision . humanity in her sense of gratitude and the way she never When life was not exciting enough for her Marion cre- judged anyone harshly but herself . A recent story was of ated new dramas . Yet despite her many misdemeanours her broken nose which had been badly set in hospital . Marion recognised what really mattered in life . Her Someone had told her she could sue the doctor . Marion's Christmas wish was to have her two brothers stay with reply was 'How could I! I've been forgiven so often . He her in Murtle House for the festival . Later in life she still was trying his best and still needs to learn' . remembered the awe and wonder as they carried their Marion's friends always received gifts that she had made candles from the Christmas tree. herself. Most recently she gave us her oil painting of a Again and again Marion would speak about her mother, river, with dead and living trees on both banks, flowing whom she had never known, and after she had been from the distance where the horizon meets the blueness with us for two years she ran away in search of her. The of the sky. The sun is shining from above . Marion called police were alerted countrywide and for an agonising this picture 'Journey to the light' . week her whereabouts were unknown . After some time Marion often spoke about her guardian angel . Through Marion managed to find her mother but was not well the dramatic and difficult stages of her life there was received . When I was eventually able to fetch her back also much light and she was loved by many . She had a from Luton she was more impossible than ever . great width of life experiences but the home she related Three years after she came, Marion left the Camph ill to was Camphill . Her brothers and closest friends knew Schools . It was a relatively short time but Marion con- this . They agreed that her ashes be laid in Maryculter tinued to speak about Camphill as her home, the place graveyard where many of her friends are buried, whose where she had known love and forgiveness . graves we often visited together . More than once she Her turbulent life continued . After a brief time in Glas- said, 'Oh Gisela I wish I could die before you' . Her wish gow she returned to Aberdeen, so I continued to be in was granted . Marion found peace after a very stormy contact with her. She was again admitted to a psychiatric life. She has done well .

12 News from the Movement Michaelmas and 'Ofsted' Almut ffrench, William Morris House, Gloucestershire

very community will to some extent dread the pros- self-conscious, nervous and might even have suffered a pect of an inspection . They will resign themselves to bout of stage fright! But our inspectors never made any theE inevitable and will set about feverishly filling the observation without immediate feedback, and as the tick-boxes, brush the cobwebs, weed the paths, wash inspection intensified, and conversations likewise, words the curtains and buy new furniture! were spoken that seemed to come out of the autumn I would like to share with you my impressions of our sky of Michaelmas : Michaelmas here in William Morris House, a training You do wonderful things but you don't know you are college in the Southwest of England . Having prepared a doing them; it's intuitive. We want you to discipline your- humble rendering of the 'Origin of Iron' from the selves and do them consciously, in utter wakefulness. A Kalevala, the great Finnish epic, in music, song and true Michaelic call . mime, we presented it to the board of five 'Ofsted' in- The intensity of this encounter, of the meetings with spectors and the assembly of our community on Mon- these five highly professional, highly motivated and com- day 30th September, the first day of our four-day passionate human beings, had a powerful impact, like a inspection . clear, loud trumpet sound, on our community and rat- The inspectors went about their task of inspecting very tled us awake into the call of Michael . This was a time discreetly, very thoroughly and for long hours . Some- Michaelmas celebration . Our inspectors just did their one described it as if a very bright spotlight was point- job, oblivious, I suspect, of who was working through ing at us, into every corner of our life . It was like being them . on stage all day. With so much intense observation of Almut is an experienced co-worker, every area of our community life, people became very an artist and art therapist.

'Ways to Quality'- An anthroposophical scheme for organisational development is coming to the UK Rudolf Kirst, Kings Langley, England

ollowing a number of enquiries, the foundation 'Ways institution . In doing so, it recognises how freedom of to Quality'from Switzerland held its inaugural intro- individuals to take initiatives and develop their knowl- ductoryF weekend in Rudolf Steiner House in August edge and skills is paired with responsibility towards the 2002 . Interested parties from many parts of the country work in hand and with having due regard for collegial including Northern Ireland came to attend the two-day and other human relationships within a web of destiny . seminar. They represented special and ordinary Rudolf A clear vision of the institution's tasks will guide the Steiner Schools and Camphill communities. Addition- working community, which itself will identify and for- ally, independent professionals joined . mulate these tasks within the context of the wider com- 'Ways to Quality' is a foundation, which promotes munity in which it operates . The institution provides quality development in organisations . It is firmly rooted support and protection also in financial terms within an in anthroposophy. Hence the seminar proceedings were atmosphere of trust where everyone's abilities are val- closely linked to Rudolf Steiner's meditative thought proc- ued . The best that institutions have already achieved in esses as contained in the 'Universal Social Law', the their organisational development will be incorporated 'Motto of Social Ethics', the 'Foundation Stone' and the in the procedure. 'Twelve Moods' . 'Ways to Quality' combines a quality assurance Udo Herrmannstorfer, the co-ordinator of the scheme, scheme with the need to recognise the human unique- assisted by J u rgen H i nderer, highlighted the twelve as- ness of a community and its educational and caring pects of 'Ways to Quality' and made the subtle connec- tasks . It therefore stands out as something special in tions with the Twelve Moods, which underlie it . We heard the world of business and insurance orientated quality how educators from Swiss special schools and homes systems which local government increasingly demand for children with special needs formed an ongoing work- in these settings . The scheme has found official recog- ing group in Switzerland, which over the years formu- nition in Switzerland and qualifies under the technical lated 'Ways to Quality', with the help of Udo term of 'Total Quality Management' . It therefore has a Herrmannstorfer's expertise in organisational develop- certification number . This status gives the scheme rec- ment. This resulted in a substantial and well presented ognition in other European countries . handbook, negotiations with local authorities and train- Following the recent introductory seminar, a founda- ing courses leading to a certification process . tion course of one week is planned in February 2003 . 'Ways to Quality' focuses on the collaborative work- This will enable participants to receive initial training to ing of staff who between them take responsibility for an begin the implementation of the scheme in their institu-

13 tions . A further week's training later in the year will fol- ready do in Austria, France and Germany. After training, low this . the exchange of experience becomes important on a na- Andrew Thompson of Oaklands Park Camphill Com- tional as well as on an international level . This ensures munity, Simon Blaxland de Lange of Philpots Manor further development and refinement of the scheme. School and Rudolf Kirst will act as liaison with the of- Anybody who wishes to know about this initiative, or fice in Switzerland, Rudolf being responsible for the wishes to join it, is invited to contact: correspondence and negotiations . Graham Rickett kindly Rudolf Kirst, assists with the translation of letters and documents into 5 Chipperfield Road, Kings Langley, Herts . WD4 9JB. the English language . Tel/fax 0845 458 4780 Eventually, a mutually supportive professional network Rudolf Kirst is a retired special schools headmaster, is envisaged to emerge which will collaboratively and now active in the bind ynamic movement as well as co-responsibly work with the Swiss centre as others al- with the above initiative .

Mercury Hall Irma Röhling, Hermanns, South Africa

he idea for our hall in the ment was brought into the hall . valley of Hemel en Aarde The weather had cleared, the lived with us for years, but it had sky a deep blue, when we took such difficulties to materialize, the dodecahedron to its resting to come to earth! place, sealed it and lowered it The need was there for count- into the central spot . Carlo less years . Every festival, every Pietzner's Epiphany Play was service, every meeting attended performed . Towards the end it by the Farm and School Com- rained, but what did it matter munities made us aware that the stage had proved itself, there was simply not enough many songs and spoken words space for all of us . So we met had sounded . outside for plays and gatherings, Barbara, one of ourvillagers, in wind, sunshine and even rain. had her 40th birthday on 20th We went to the barn, where the July. Again, the builders al- soft sounds of the cows chew- lowed us to celebrate in the ing the cud and their occasional unfinished building and we satisfied mooing told us that it filled the hall with joy and was their space in which we contemplation . Little did we were meeting . know that Lawrence Adler had Then, at last, Farm and School died during that time! In the began to plan together. night we brought him home . Wilfrid Bohm from Camphill His funeral was the first sacra- Village, Alpha became our ar- ment celebrated in the hall, chitect; a new site was chosen with the choir singing from the suitable for all . A common will Laying the foundation stone balcony. It was a rich and awoke, financial help was on Three Kings Day 2002 powerful experience for us all . forthcoming, the miracle was Many of the builders stood brought about and we began to build at the end of 200l! reverently in the back, having laid down their tools for Our sympathetic builder allowed us to use the embry- this short time . onic hall space for celebrations : for the Advent garden It took another two months of intense labour to bring we used straw bales for seats-all of us fitted in and us to the opening of Mercury Hall . The mercury form is I more could have come, what a relief! At this early stage woven' into the hall : walking into the foyer you face a one could already see the future threefoldness emerg- curved wall with seven niches for the seven metals and ing: auditorium, stage and altar space . two foyer entrances ; enter the right one and you come We will never forget those Holy Nights . Every morn- face to face with the auditorium and stage, the cultural ing we met around the foundation stone-a copper do- center; entering the left door you face the altar, the decahedron made by one of our young co-workers, Sunday entrance . Michael . From every house and workshop gifts were Friends from all over the movement could be with us . brought for insertion . On Three Kings Day we filled the We are very grateful for all the support and love we re- foundation stone to the brim . Gifts and letters had come ceived and continue to receive from all over the world . from all over Camphill and with this the whole move- A very special space has been created for us here in the Valley of Hemel en Aarde .

14 Impressions from the opening of Mercury Hall, Michaelmas Day 2002 Michael Lauppe, William Morris House, Gloucestershire From a letter sent to some friends on that day.

oday the festivities are drawing to a close with a Plays were performed : Königs 'Michaelmas Play' and eurythmy performance of friends from Cape Town . Lawrence Adler's 'The Beggars of God' about the his- EventsT were spread over two weeks starting with the of- tory of the leper community. The pupils of the Khanyisa ficial opening on September 20th . As I arrived on the School, Cape Town, showed us their skills in eurythmy ; 10th, I witnessed the feverish activity of the builders, the these children travel daily from the townships to their architect and the farm team in getting the hall and the special school, founded by Veronica Jackson . landscaping ready for the day! It was an amazing com- The two days following the opening were filled with a munity effort. Camphill community retreat in the hall . Friends spoke The Hall, which can seat 300 at a squeeze, was filled of the different spiritual streams that have contributed to with over 200 for the Opening . The parents of children the substance of the Camphill community. Julian Sleigh and villagers, friends from Camphill overseas, villagers conducted a Hall Blessing . In silence, we watched Julian from Camphill Village Alpha, and the dignitaries of and Wilfrid going through all the rooms and spaces of course . Gaynor Young, an actress, who rebuilt her life the hall with the incense . A blessing was spoken and the after a near fatal fall into a lift-shaft, related some of her elemental and angelic beings were asked for their as- experiences . A local Cape government minister spoke sistance in the unfolding life within this hall . well and was able to relate to our Christian ideals . The The Act of Consecration of Man was held today, the children sung, the villagers rang hand-bells, the choir Festival of Offering last week, and a communal Bible sung the 'mercury song' composed for the occasion by Evening last night . Christof-Andreas Lindenberg, and the Zwelihle Choir For South Africans of any colour the appearance of a boomed their powerful voices into the hall . building of flowing forms inside and out must be a won- The following days had their highlights : talks by der! It has taken enormous courage to pursue this vision Michael Luxford on the Mercury theme, Irma Roehling which began in the 1960s and which was finally brought on the three crosses in the valley, and reflections on Karl to fulfillment today. It will enrich the community who Königs 100th birthday. There were two excursions, to have the enthusiasm to fill this sacred space with beauty, the Moravian mission station of Genadendaal and to the art and music . A wave of thanks goes out to all who botanical garden of Kirstenbosch in Cape Town . helped to bring it about.

Medical Section Conference, 13-16t" June 2002, in Stroud, England Edeline LeFevre, Camphill Community Glencraig, Northern Ireland

he town of Stroud again hosted the annual Medical final result . He compared this to the co-operation of Section Conference . A good number of people took Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman in the coming about of partT and moved from venue to coffee-shop to next venue Anthroposophical Medicine . for the duration of the conference . The Old Town Hall On the second evening we heard about the life of Marie was the place where we heard a number of talks, and Steiner, with the help of John Browning and Sybille many a hexameter, and were introduced to the next stage Eichstaedt. Marie Steiner's life was quite a revelation to of the work on Self Regulation . The various rooms in me! A beautiful painting of her portrait, with a golden 'Hibernia' and 'Painswick' were used for some of the halo around her fair hair and showing her bright blue artistic activities and discussion groups, while Dieter von eyes stood out as part of the revelation . Bon i n, who was the guest speaker gave two talks i n 'The In the mornings we heard two talks by Dietrich von Space', a local theatre . 'Mills'and 'Woodruffs', became Bonin on the elements of diagnosis through speech . very familiar names, as this is where we received our He is a very lively speaker and brought many clear ex- sustenance and had our social encounters . The organi- amples of his work, especially in relation to the heart sation of all this was very impressive and I think Andrew and the rhythms of the heart . In the second talk he Beard had a lot to do with this! showed us some scientific proof of this with the help Frank Mulder gave two talks about Ephesos . He de- of Sybi I le Eichstaedt who spoke hexameters attached scribed the various connections of Ephesos with Alex- to an ECG, while we were privileged to look at the ander, St John, St Luke and St Paul and also Homer . He rhythms of her heart at the same time! introduced the Iliad and the Odyssey, the one being an In the artistic groups we all had a chance to explore expression of the sentient soul, the other of the intel- the rhythms of the heart through eurythmy, form draw- lectual soul . Odysseus was a very clever man! Every ing and speech . I found the workshops excellent and evening we heard a (large) part of the Odyssey in Eng- great examples of the value of art in relation to under- lish . You could gauge the therapeutic value of the way standing concepts . The one criticism I would have was the hexameters were spoken by the soundness of your that too much was crammed into a short space of time . sleep! In the final talk Frank spoke aboutthe discovery The evenings, unfortunately, became much too long, of the original temple of Ephesos and how it took the which was not fair to the contributors, who had put a co-operation of a man and a woman to come to the great deal of thought and effort into what they brought .

15 to consist of lay members ; an associative membership is also very important-friends, parents, ex-patients, etc . There should be agreed levels of training Minimum levels of competence Independent validation Accreditation Continuous further education Insurance, indemnity Guidelines for fitness to practice Publications The council would have various committees, e .g. Edu- cation Committee, Health Committee, Communication Committee, Investigation Committee, Professional Com- petence and Conduct Committee etc . It would not be necessary to seek statutory powers . Great Britain has 'Common Law', you can do anything unless the law says no . (France has 'Napoleonic' law : you cannot do any- thing unless the law says you can!) . British education looks at 'learning outcomes', on the continent one looks more at hours and quantity. The council should estab- lish contact with the new government body : the Health Professionals Council . Professional group : Curative Educators and Social Therapists We had two sessions in professional groups . Our group Ploughing, C . F. TunnicIIffe consisted of thirteen people, an interesting mixture of backgrounds representing Camphill, both in Britain and Ireland, and the rest of the curative movement . There was also a person working independently, a representa- In spite of this the event was rich and very rewarding tion-Jack Reed and Piet Hoogenboom-of the indeed, and the experience of Stroud one of a vibrant Anthroposophical Medical Trust and the Association of cultural life! Curative Communities in Scotland and of the Steiner Special Education Committee-Paul Bradford . Also the Self-Regulation and the proposed 'Overarching Curative Education Council of the Medical Section in Council' Dornach was represented-Maria van den Berg, Paul The main reason why I had come to Stroud, was to be Bradford, Edeline LeFevre and Jack Reed . In the meeting part of the continuing process of self-regulation and the of the previous year a working group had been formed proposed 'overarching council' . David McGavin de- towards forming an association but nothing concrete had scribed the new steps, which had been made, including come about yet, although the 'idea' had become more a new name for the proposed body : widespread . The need for an association of profession- 'Anthroposophical Health Professions Council' (AHPC) . als working in curative education and social therapy is It was clear that each professional association would becoming ever more urgent, if we want to be able to need to have 'their house in order' before such a coun- continue to do our work! The remit of the association cil could be formed . It was also clear that the time to would need to be : form an Association for those working in curative edu- Recognition of the profession cation and social therapy is becoming an urgent matter, Protection not only for the sake of the curative movement, but also Setting up and maintaining a register to give considerable weight to the proposed council . Complaints procedure Frank Mulder and James Dyson described the work on Training a core-training which would underpin all the other spe- Three grades of membership cialised forms of training . A pilot project will begin in : full, associate, honorary Statutes 2003 . Also the financial aspects were addressed of both regulation and training, because this is all going to cost We have to learn to formulate our aims, to make visible quite a bit! There was the conviction that if the thing is what is already there . A new working group was set up, right the money will be found for it! consisting of Maria van den Berg, Piet Blok-who will On Saturday afternoon Simon Fielding, the new Chair- be the link with the Anthroposophical Health Profes- man of the Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated sionals Council-and Edeline LeFevre (secretarial du- Health, gave a very inspiring and encouraging talk, out- ties) . Anyone who wishes to join this group would be lining the importance of setting up the proposed Coun- very welcome . cil and of making ourselves known . He gave an outline of what the Council could look like . The first thing is to make sure as many people as pos- Apart from representatives from all the professional asso- sible fill in the questionnaire for the proposed Coun- ciations, at least a third part of the association would need cil of Anthroposophical Health Professionals . We urge

16

everyone to take this questionnaire very seriously and 'Konferenz') and anyone else who feels strongly about hope that we will be able to gauge how many people these matters . In this meeting the working group will wish to become members of an association . report on its findings and hopes to take the next step in the forming of the proposed association . A meeting will take place in February of the British and Irish representation of the Curative Education and So- Edeline is an experienced co-worker cial Therapy Council (previously known as the and homemaker, musician and administrator.

Kate Roth Seminar Veronika van Duin, Glencraig, Northern Ireland

he tutors of the Kate Roth Seminar for homemakers To date, the tutors group has been joined by someone are very happy to offer a new course, starting in Oc- from the group of participants, and we hope to continue tober/NovemberT 2003 . this practice so that we can keep up with relevant is- The seminar has been both a delight and a challenge . sues. The aims of the seminar are as follows : Working on the subject and task of homemaking in the • research the social art of homemaking through light of the seven life processes has led to exciting and spiritual science in such a way that the forms, structures new ways of looking at our daily life . Two books have and standards of therapeutic community living will be : The Art of Liv- been published as a result of the course revitalised. ingwhich deals with the seven life processes, and a col- • create a platform where the art of homemaking can lection of excellent essays written by the participants on be explored and developed by means of an under- aspects of homemaki ng, entitled The Heart of the Home. standing of the seven life processes . Contacts have been made between working house- • deepen knowledge and understanding of the human parents across nationalities, therapeutic centres and com- being through all phases of existence . munities . The last course also included mothers who wanted to renew their task of building a social home . The course comprises seven workshops taking place This has widened our field of research to areas outside a three times a year, plus introductory and concluding purely therapeutic one . However, there are still aspects weekends. The venues will be in various communities that need more research, notably the role of the father/ and centres so that we can get to know each other's housefather, something which we all know is very es- places, homes and striving . We are currently open to sential to a happy home . One or two men have joined new participants and welcome applications . the previous courses, but we could do with more of them Please write to : to help us on our path of development . Veronika van Duin, Burning questions are still a major part of the course, Camphill Community, Craigavad, Holywood especially as new legislation comes towards us, bring- BT 18 0DB, Northern Ireland ing more administrative tasks and threatening to deaden Tel: 028 90423396, 028 90422497 our enthusiasm on a day-to-day basis . Fax: 028 90428199

In praise of the Adult Communities Course Scot Lusk, Vidaräsen Landsby, Norway

e all met for the first time at Loch Arthur in No- struggles we had all had in the various different places vember of 1999 . The price of admission to the we lived. It was also surprising to learn that many of our courseW was the telling of one's biography. I think for many strivings were the same . It is unbelievable the strength of us this was a rather daunting task . However, each one one gains through sharing and listening to each other . of us survived the exercise and as a result we quickly The coffee breaks, the meal times and the wonderful became a group of people at ease with each other . outings were as important as the sessions on the themes . We met eight times over two and a half years and It was during these moments that the real exchanging of studied many different themes which deepened our un- ideas occurred . derstanding for anthroposophy . We were all required For me, it was just wonderful to be able to express to do our reading before each session which I was ex- myself in my mother tongue - English . Norway and tremely grateful for as Rudolf Steiner tends to gather Vidaräsen are both beautiful and great places to live . . .if dust on my bookshelf . It is always worth the effort and only they could do something about the language . gathering as a group and working on the same theme I want to say thanks to the Adult Communities Course helped the digestion of Steiner much better. I feel a for helping me on the way and to all the wonderful richer person for it . people I have had the privilege to meet and share my The best however was meeting these people whom I life with . knew so well through the biography we each told . It Scot is a father and house father was great to share our problems, frustrations and the in Vidaräsen, and is originally from Canada .

17 Life as a Building Camphill Association of North America meets Camphill Minnesota's new Village Center Dan McKanan

and Missouri who are just beginning the process of bringing initiatives to birth . As host community, Cam phill Village Minnesota shared both its past and its future with the visitors, and was thrilled to show off the new Village Center, which is still under construction but already a beautiful, bright red addition to the local landscape . For many participants, the high point of the meeting was a festive presentation in which members of the Min- nesota community shared the history of the new build- ing, from long before its conception to the present . Laura Briggs told some of the geological history of the site, highlighting its location near the very center of the con- tinent and atop an unusually large number of different rock layers . Laura also described the many uses the site has served over the years, from a cow pasture to a star- gazing location, to the place where a large maypole was erected . She told of the many festivals celebrated there since its selection as a building site, and of the chal- lenge of keeping candles lit on a windy Candlemas . (Eve- ryone had many chances to experience the prairie wind over the course of the weekend!) Bill Briggs described the history of the Village Center itself. Itwas conceived by the village parents'group, who had long dreamed of a village recreation center. But, in a gesture that would be repeated over the course of the building's history, they insisted that it also be made avail- able for other purposes and initiatives . As the village dreamed about the building, these initiatives came to include a theater, meeting space for local organizations, an expanded bakery, and a processing kitchen that could be used not only by the village but by local farm- n May 31 St)une 1 st, about fifty Camphill Commu- ers seeking new ways to market their products . In a nity members, board members and guests gath- real sense, the village sees this building as a gift to the eredO at Camphill Village Minnesota for the annual meet- surrounding area, an important new step in Camphill ing of the Camphill Association of North America . Minnesota's mission of social, cultural, and agricultural In a new tradition that many are finding valuable, the renewal . This mission is aptly symbolized by the build- event began with a day and a half of conversations ing's barnlike structure and bright red color-a re- among the Camphill Community members who were minder, Bill said, that originally barns were shelters for present. The Association meeting itself began with the people and animals together . Bill explained that the announcement that in October Bernard Murphy will new building also has a special link to the personality step down as Camphill Association president in order of George Washington Carver, a child of slaves who to assume the leadership of the Camphill Foundation . devoted his life to the social and agricultural renewal The first two working sessions, therefore, were devoted of the American South . to the selection of a transition team, led by Coleman The presentation concluded with two gestures of Lyles, and the identification of tasksforthecomingyear thanks from Camphill Minnesota to the Camphill As- of transition . The Board then turned to the many diffi- sociation, Camphill Foundation, and others who had cult issues raised by Copake's recent IRS audit . In a shepherded the new building both spiritually and fi- thoughtful and honest discussion, participants explored nancially. The first of these gestures was a ceremony in ways of making Camphill's structure more comprehen- which representatives of each Camphill place were sible to the tax authorities without compromising any asked to sign a wooden plaque attached to a rock, to essential ideals . Many people expressed strong support be placed outside the building's entrance, around a for Copake, and a willingness to work together to find linden 'gathering'tree . This was especially meaningful strategies that work for everyone . The meeting then took for representatives of new initiatives, who had stones a happier turn as we learned about five communities to sign alongside the established communities . 'To find in various stages of birth . The Board reaffirmed the ini- that stone with our name on it,' said Mike Green of the tiative status of the Cascadia Society in Vancouver, wel- Colorado group, 'meant a great deal .' comed the Ita Wegman Association as a new initiative, The second gesture was a poem entitled, Life as a Build- and heard reports from people in Colorado, San Diego ingwritten collectively at a Monday morning meeting

18 and recited by the entire community . Since this poem ‚ encapsulates the spirit of the new building so well, it is 4CIilftI • fitting to present it here in its entirety : ~ n Lommuni1/ Ah life! Life as a building wide and strong l/eronilza (/arc aLJuin Full of fire £9 .99 $16 .00 Full of sun Paperback, 288 pages Red as blackbird wings Sailing above the plains . About the Book Like life you grew out of our hearts Delightful and inspirational, From generous gifts Veronika van Duin's story From many people's dreams is strangely familiar-famil- iar because we've all been And hard toil and labor through the toils of school, From Daryl Bacon's digging machine friendships, struggling with We bid you welcome. studies and adolescent You came in small pieces longings, and trying to sort And large ones too out our identities . . . Rising up from the earth Strange too, because the Out of a big hole in the winter author, a perfectly normal But look how tall you are now little girl, was brought up in Answering a call from the future. Camphill communities all over Britain, where she And where are you going now? lived alongside disabled children and people with special And where are we going with you? needs . The idea came from the educational philosophy of To the moon? Rudolf Steiner, administered in the author's case by the No, we'll launch dreams from within illustrious Dr. Karl König . Expanding our circle of friendship Institutions can be a mixed blessing . Did she sometimes To connect with the world outside . yearn for an `ordinary' life in the world outside? Did she Ah life! sometimes despair of the drabness and inwardness of her Life dancing on your stage surroundings, and lose patience with her `odd' parents? Playing the innkeeper and saying the words Did she long to become part of the increasingly affluent Sitting at the fire and playing games society beyond Camphill? Keeping the kitchen spic and span Upfront Publishing Where someone can do the can-can! Courtyards Business Centre, High Street, K/b worth Beauchamp, Leicestershire, LE8 OQD Dan McKanan teaches at Saint John's University in tel : 0845 3559355 Collegeville, Minnesota, and spends one month each www. upfrontpublishing . corn year living and working at Camphill Village Minnesota . He is researching a book on communities in the For Booksellers : Available from Bertrams Camphill and Catholic Worker movements . For individuals : Available from Amazon .co .u k

Zenta Maurinas House, Camphill Village Rozkalni, Latvia Anne Langeland

ork in Camphill Rozkalni started in summer 1999 prejudice could stop this extraordinary woman . She in the old house on the little farm two hours north- never stopped writing, lecturing, inspiring and provok- eastW of Riga and four hours south of Pahkla Village in ing. One of her books is titled, My roots are in heaven. Estonia . In September this year we could open the first We felt that the name of this woman would be a fitting new family house and with this we have entered a new one for the new house in Rozkalni . She writes, 'I seek phase in the development of our little community . It was the language which can unite all of mankind .' This is also a great joy to realise that the opening coincided also our striving and longing in our daily encounters, to with the month of celebrating Dr . Königs centenary. seek that language which unites us from heart to heart, The house carries the name of Zenta Maurina, a Latvian from I to I . We hope that this longing and this search woman of literature and philosophy who, although will always be present among those who will live in Zenta fettered to a wheelchair all her life, was unbelievably Maurinas House . free. She was first disliked by the Latvians themselves At the opening of the house we placed a pentagon- for being too international, then later hated by the So- dodecahedron at the threshold . It contained three sub- viet regime for being too nationalistic . The University of stances, symbols for our future work in Rozkalni . The Riga did all they could to prevent her from taking her first was some grains of our harvest of wheat, symbolis- doctorate because she was a woman and also because ing our common work and our wish to strive towards she had to sit in a wheelchair! But neither stairs nor brotherliness . The second was a piece of gold, once the

19 Zenta Maurinas House will give room to twelve peo- ple . It has been built with the help of many hands and through generous donations . It was the first project for the Bridge-building school in Solborg and many young people from Norway came in the sum- mers of 2000 and 2001 . They lived in tents and lifted straw bales, built log walls and plastered the walls with clay. In between, a Latvian building firm worked and learned about ecological house building . Some of the floors are made of clay and on the roof there are wood shingles in traditional Latvian style . The central heating is wood-fired which creates a lot of work during winter to prepare wood for the next season . A biological sewage-system with ponds, reedbeds and f lowforms takes care of our wastewater . During the more than two years building period, Zenta Maurinas house has been 'warmed'every Sun- day morning with singing and eurythmy. At every fes- tival of the year some celebration has taken place in the house, even if the participants had to wear gloves symbol of kings . Today we are all kings and individuals and woollen hats . Now the large dining-sitting room can with possibilities to search for the spirit . And the third easily be transformed into a space where plays can be was a piece of amber from the Baltic Sea . Like the waves performed, concerts given or for social occasions to hap- and sand polish the amber, we can, by living together in pen . Today five villagers live in Rozkalni . With the new community, rub and polish each other so that we may house we are ready to take in more and also hope that become transparent for the sun-being . many visitors will come . Be welcome!

Curative Education in Thailand Anchana Soontornpitag, Camphill Eurythmy School, Botton Village

Anchana Soontornpitag is a first-year student in the new but have a strong will to work . One is an independ- Camphill Eurythmy School . She is one of fiveAsian peo- ent group of parents and teachers called Duang Jan, ple in the training at the moment, one third of our total 'Moon' . This group offers a half-day class on Saturday student number! for children with special needs aged 7-14 . The children We are very aware that the East is approaching us and of this group used to join a Waldorf kindergarten in Bang- many other Camphill and anthroposophical entities, with kok when they were younger. Though they now study in open hands, open heart and a powerful will to do the public schools, their parents would like them to have an good. Can we offer the right tools to those hands, strike opportunity to 'breathe out artistically' . This group was the right resonance in that heart and help those will- founded two years ago and we have plays, concerts and forces find the direction that is right for them? artistic performances for them . There have been profound There is such a wealth of experience in Camphill, and changes in each child . it is significant that in Thailand, as elsewhere in Asia, The other group is of parents and teachers at Thorak although the ideals of Waldorfeducation are being picked School, 'Weaving Love', where the owner has become up, children and adults with special needs are falling more interested in curative education . Since there are out of the loop . There must be someone out there wait- not many schools where children with special needs are ing for this challenge. accepted, Thorak opens its door to them and aims to Jonathan Reid, Botton Eurythmy School help them unfold in a sustainable and creative way. Parenting Workshop discussions on various topics have here has been an increasing number of teachers and been held and the parents are actively involved in help- parents who have a deep interest in curative educa- ing to run a primary class for their children . tionT in Thailand, and some seeds have been sowed . We So-it would be wonderful for our dear children if we would like very much to deepen our understanding in could build bridges and help sow the seeds in Asia . We the curative field and to broaden our perception of could help with air tickets and accommodation and we schools based on community life . are looking forward to sharing thoughts and ideas with It would be very helpful if we could find help from everyone who is willing to help . experienced curative teachers who could kindly come over to our country, observe our work, share experiences and conduct workshops or foundation courses for teach- ers and parents . Anchana can be contacted : There are now two groups in Bangkok who are working +44 (0)1287 661236 in curative fields based on anthroposophy. Both are quite or via the Eurythmy School +44 (0) 1287 661257

20 You are warmly invited Building to help celebrate the launch of the Ballinran Mourne Centre Inclusive Communities Anthroposophical Health Professions Council A Conference on Social Renewal At Nutley Hall, Nutley, East Sussex at New Lanark, Scotland, Saturday 1st February 2003 10 .30-2.30 8-11 May 2003 Presentation of Aims; Meet the new 'A celebration, in the spirit of Council; Buffet lunch; Eurythmy per- formance interdependence The Anthroposophical Health Professions and commitment to community.' Council was conceived with the help of the House of Lords . It is required to give greater In the spirit of building inclusive com- transparency to the whole medical therapeu- A holiday and conference centre munities this conference is an exciting tic and social therapeutic movements . It will owned by phab, a charity promoting opportunity to come together in a won- inform and assure the general public of the the integration of people with derful setting at the site of Robert high standards that we already aspire to in disabilities . Owen's pioneering community, New education and training of personnel and de- The centre is situated between the livery of all services . It is seen as a major op- Lanark. For all connected with Camphill Mourne Mountains and the fishing portunity at this time to gather ourselves, put and others engaged with similar ide- port of Kilkeel, ten minutes drive Anthroposophy and its special relationship away from the Camphill Community als-with residents and villagers, parents, to healing on the map and thereby secure the Mourne Grange in an area of sisters and brothers, friends and co- new funding, manpower and job opportuni- outstanding natural beauty . workers, council mem-tiers and profes- ties that are long overdue . There is an abundance of outdoor sionals. All who would like to share this Join us on this birthday not to miss! pursuit possibilities and places to rich experience and path of explora- RSVP! Pauline Marksteiner, Blackthorn visit . We offer full conference tion and discovery . Medical Centre, St . Andrew's Rd, facilities . The centre is wheelchair Maidstone, ME16 9AN, UK accessible throughout . The conference will aim to invigorate and inspire individuals and communi- Urgent need at The Shelling School We will accommodate Camphill ties alike, with empathy and interde- Dear friends throughout the Camphill Movement, groups at the rate of phab's own This letter is to let you know of our desperate groups, i .e. 10 pounds per person for pendence at its heart . need at the moment to find a single houseparent bed and breakfast . Self-catering See Camphill Correspondence Jul/Aug or couple with Camphill experience to take on negotiable . one of the children's houses . 2002, for the background to this ini- We already have one of the six houses closed Group sizes from 10 to 22 people . tiative . at present because there is no-one here in a po- Ballinran Mourne Centre sition to take this on and we are now forced to Application packs are now contemplate the closure of a second house due 42 Ballinran Road available from : to unforeseen circumstances . As you can imag- Kilkeel Co. Down Northern Ireland, BT34 11 Simon Beckett, ine, this would be a disastrous situation, prevent- ,4 ing us from admitting any new children and Tel: 028417 65727 Newton Dee, Bieldside, putting extra pressure on the existing households . Aberdeen, ABJS 90X, UK Please circulate this letter throughout your cen- The Helpful Conversation tre and/or make our need known as quickly as The Biography and Social Development Trust Fax. 01224 869398 possible. We are desperately hoping that some- offers a series of training workshops on 'The Farming opportunity in Minnesota one will be able to come forward to help as soon Helpful Conversation' for those active in the so- We are a 500 acre biodynamic farm in the di- as possible. cial professions and those who wish to develop verse landscape of central Minnesota, a glacial Please let us know immediately if you know of their skills in dialogue. anyone who might be able to help us. moraine with hills, forest, wetlands, and prairie . Taking place over 4 weekends, held fortnightly, With our warm greetings, [Fri evening to Sunday mid-day] and 3 separate We are looking for a farmer to steward our land Peter Bateson with its herd of beef cattle and gardeners to grow evenings. for all of us at the Shelling School, Thornbury. STARTING 21ST FEB. TO 6T" APRIL 2003 . vegetables-summer and for processing for win- Peter Bateson, Copper Beech, Park Road, ter storage-and to share life with us in our com- Course Carriers : Krista Braun and Gil McHattie Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 1 HW, UK with contributing colleagues. munity of 50 people, some of whom have spe- Tel : +44 (0)1454 281 988 Fax : +44 (0) 8701371763 cial needs . Venue : Arc Hall, Hoathl y Hill, West Sussex . Farm management includes rotational grazing E -mail : psb@silverbirch .org .u k For further information contact : The Secretary, Biography and Social Develop- and herd management, small grain planting and Openings in Portugal hay making, machinery maintenance, and spe- ment Trust, First Floor North, Hillside House, cial needs crew supervision . We have been a We are looking for colleagues who can join us at Lewes Road, Forest Row, RH18 SES, UK CSA in the past, would love to be again, and are the end of August 2003 : Tel/Fax : +44 [011342 822907 open to creative ideas with a long-term land Co-workers who want to do a practical year e-mail : Biogsoctru@aol .co m 2 curative educators worker. Life here includes living with and caring Camphill Craft Circle Meeting for people with special needs as well as being 2 social therapists part of a community which celebrates festivals, 1 biodynamic gardener This year's Craft Circle Meeting will be at Botton Village, Feb 22nd_26th The themes are metal makes decisions together, and much more . We willing to contribute to the life and the work in our life-sharing community. working and the life process of maintaining . The have a large garden, a new food processing workshops will be iron age smelting and pit- kitchen and bakery, as well as a wood workshop At present we are about 110 children, adoles- . forge work, casting of metals, bell casting, cop- and wea very. cents and adults, with and 'without' handicap Single people and a family are welcome. We The quality of our curative educational and per work and jewellery. This meeting is sup- offer complete living expenses, including medi- social-therapeutical work in the residential set- ported by the Hieram Trust and by tutors from cal and dental, a three week paid vacation, and tings and the workshops, as well as the artistic Ruskin Mill in Nailsworth . By reflecting on our experiences we hope we will be able to see use of cars and equipment. endeavours with the people in our care, are spe- cial concerns . more clearly the realm of maintaining . Informa- If you are interested, please contact : We are looking forward to your letter with CV. tion has been sent to the craft workers in com- Laura Briggs, 15136 Celtic Drive, Sauk Casa de Santa Isabel, Apart .537, Säo Romäo munities with craft workshops . Information can Centre, MN 56378, USA (320) 732-1954 6270-956 Seia, Portugal . also be obtained by contacting Andrew Mordey, e-mail : cvmn@Tea-alp .co m Tel . 351-238-390012, Fax 351-239-390075, Camphill Milton Keynes, Japonica Lane, Milton web : wwwcamphillvillage-minnesota .org e-mail . casa .isabel@clix .pt Keynes, MK15 9JY; UK, tel : 01908 674856

Self Catering Holiday Apartments Old Tuscan biologically-run olive oil farm peacefully situated on a hilltop with stunning views and all amenities close by, offers comfortable accommodation, spectacular walks and excellent local Tuscan and international food . Arcobaleno is f perched on a neighbouring hill to Cortona, a famous old Botton Bookshop Etruscan town steeped in Italian history and well positioned Camphill Village, Botton, nr. Whitby to offer day excursions by car to many places of interest ; for N. Yorks. Y021 2NJ ENGLAND example, within ca . one hour you can reach : Florence, Siena, Tel: (44)1287 661295 Fax: (44)1287 6612 Perugia, Assisi, Arezzo and within about two hours : Rome & Pisa . Additionally, the famous wine growing areas of Chianti, Mail order service: £, Euro, SFr, US$ Montepulciano and Montalcino are all within an hours' drive Anthroposophy, Visual & Performing Arts of Arcobaleno . Human & Natural Sciences, Children's, For further details, you can access our homepage in the Internet : Religion, Art Prints, Cards & Calendars . www.agriturismo.com/arcobaleno or e-mail or call me personally Located in a beautiful National Park, within at following: Lucas Weites, San Pietro a Cegliolo CS 59, 1-52044 a Camp/u!! Community with biodynamic farms, Cortona AR Tuscany, Italy craft workshops, a Waldorfand a Eurythmy School. e-mail: arcobalenoC~technet.it tel: + 39 0575 612777 9taiaQ The picture is a painting ofArcobaleno's olive groves by Elizabeth Cochrane .

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Art Therapy Training Experience medical treatment in the context of a Rhythmical Massage Training healing, social environment and in the beautiful Anthroposophical Health Studies Worcester countryside. Orthodox and anthroposophical medicine are combined to provide the best residential and out- Short courses for everyone, patient treatment for a wide range of conditions . and for health professionals Art, sculpture, eurythmy and massage are integral to residential treatment and available as out- Baptism R Hibernia patient therapies . I)ece,,,ber 2002-hebrtrartf 2()03 Te101453 751685 • Fax 01453 757565 Individual financial discussions and funding Centre for Science and Art advice are offered . Perspectives, the Magazine of Park Attwood Clinic The Christian Community Lansdown, Stroud GL5 1BB Trimp ley, Bewdley, Worcs DY121RE Issue : £3 .50, yearly subscription hibernia@Iansdownstroud .co.uk Tel. 01299 861444 Fax : 01299 861375 (4 issues) £14 .00; Free trial copies on website : www.anth .org .uk/hibernia e-mail: park. attwood@btinternet .corn request from : Perspectives, 8 Spademill Internet: http : //www. parkattwood. corn Road, Aberdeen AB15 4XW, UK

The Dove Logo of the Camphill Movement is a symbol of the pure, spiritual principle which underlies the physical human form . Uniting soon after conception with the hereditary body, it lives on unimpaired in each human individual . It is the aim of the Camphill Movement to stand for this 'Image of Man' as expounded in Rudolf Steiner's work, so that contemporary knowledge of the human being may be enflamed by the power of love . Camphill Correspondence tries to facilitate this work through free exchange within and beyond the Camphill Movement . Therefore, the Staff of Mercury, the sign of communication which binds the parts of the organism into the whole, is combined with the Dove in the logo of Camphill Correspondence .

Editors : Peter Howe, 79 Granville Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE21TR, UK, Tel/Fax : (0191) 281 7861, e -mail : peterh l @beeb .net Maria Mountain (Subscriptions), Whitecliff, Hall Grounds, Loftus, Saltburn, UK, TS13 4HJ, Tel/Fax : (01287) 643 553 e -mail : mail@mmountain .plus .co m Elizabeth Howe, Camphill Community California, Marimi House, 4096 Fairway Drive, Soquel, CA 95073, USA Tel : (1) 831 476 6805, Fax : (1) 831 477 1299, e-mail : eorcpghowe@yahoo .co m Advertisements : Suggested contribution of £20 per announcement/advert . Cheques can be sent to the Subscriptions Editor (address above), made out to Camphill Correspondence .

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Lay-up by Christoph Hänni, Produced by Room for Design, Published by TWT Publications on behalf of the Camphill Movement