No. 10 • December 2002

Cross-Cultural Waldorf Programs in Northern Europe and Working Meditatively

with Texts Photo by Steffi Graenitz

Meditation on a Mince Pie

Goetheanum Christmas Appeal 2 around the World 3 Portrait: Khinganskiys 6 8 School of Spiritual Science 8 Svetlana Forum: Star-Children, Gunman 10 Khinganskaia Feature: Meditation on a Pie 12 (Portrait – THE NEXT ISSUE WILL APPEAR F EBRUARY 2003 – on page 6)

The Christmas Conference as a Reversed Whitsun Festival The Foundation Stone Meditation forms the way of working begins with rhythmic work: esoteric center of the 1923/24 Christmas through weekly encounters in groups or Conference. When renewing the constitution- through celebrating seasonal festivals. Shared al foundations of the Anthroposophical Soci- study or “mindfulness” of ’s ety we should not forget the spiritual source spiritual science forms the basis. Then human from which this renewal should flow. beings can awaken through each other’s soul Just as the human being is connected to and spirit. Through the path of the mantras of the world around him through his physical the First Class of the School of Spiritual Sci- body, so does the Anthroposophical Society ence, finally, one begins to “behold” the spiri- accomplish its full and conclusive incarnation tual reality behind the mantras. on the earth through the juristic form of an Rudolf Steiner described how Christ can officially registered association. This implies enter the human “I” without his power extin- penetrating its administrative aspects with guishing its “free will” only if this happens the new spiritual impulse. However, the with the Holy Spirit as intermediary. Spirit administration of the Society should serve always works individually in human beings, as spiritual goals only; it should ensure the con- Rudolf Steiner indicates in his Whitsun imagi- ditions necessary for approaching the spiritu- nation. From this point of view, the renewal of al world. the New Mysteries during the Christmas Con- Ongoing “remembrance” of the content ference can be considered the beginning of a of the Statutes is part of being a member of “reversed Whitsun.” In the New Mysteries, for the Anthroposophical Society. It is the start- the first time in the history of Earth develop- ing point. In the Society itself, the word of ment, the ground is prepared for shared work Christ must be considered the most impor- between human beings and the gods. From tant social power: “Where two or three are today onwards human beings must collaborate gathered together in my name, there I am in with the gods, with Michael himself.* the midst of them” (Matthew, 18,20). Christ’s Sergei Prokofieff, *Lecture of July 19, 1924, in Esoterische Betrachtungen karmischer Zusammenhänge, vol. 6, Rudolf Steiner Verlag 1992, GA 240. Note: The above text consists of excerpts drawn together from book planned for 2003, “The Foundation Stone Meditation and the Spiritual Hierarchies.”

1 Photo by S.J.

Goetheanum Christmas Appeal

Dear Friends and Members, Diverse Goetheanum to unfold its manifold activities. Events that take place throughout Commitments Simply to cover core costs the the world belong to the concerns and I am writing to you for the first time Goetheanum needs 1.5 million dol- activities of the General Anthropo- in my capacity as Treasurer of the lars in gifts for 2002. This does not sophical Society at the Goetheanum. General Anthroposophical Society include funds to renovate buildings Indeed, as a worldwide Society we in regard to the financial situation such as Rudolf Steiner Halde, the are connected in many different ways and needs of the General Anthropo- Carpentry Building or continue the to innumerable practical and innova- sophical Society, the Goetheanum restoration of the outer face of the tive initiatives. The Goetheanum is a and the School of Spiritual Science. Goetheanum itself. These major place not only for conferences where Having joined this work in the last efforts require significant additional individuals meet and inspire each months I have been impressed to see funding. Thus for this Christmas other and where working method- how much is accomplished in all appeal we ask you to give what you ologies and insights are deepened, it these areas, particularly with insuffi- can towards these substantial needs. is a center which extends to every cient means. This embraces the Your financial generosity is an initiative where anthroposophical intensive work of the School of Spir- expression of your will that unites insights and striving interact, influ- itual Science, the stage and its two with the intentions of the Anthro- ence and engage with the world. The ensembles with the artistic work that posophical Society and the Goethe- General Anthroposophical Society flows like a steady stream into the anum to unfold the tasks that fosters individual transformation, world, and the staff at the Goethe- belong to the School of Spiritual community and civic engagement, anum who are deeply committed to Science, the worldwide Anthro- and participation and creativity in the work – whether tending gardens posophical Society and the Goethe- contemporary issues on the basis of and grounds, doing maintenance and anum. Your gift, in whatever Spiritual Science. Already in 1924 cleaning, handling administrative amount, joins with many others Rudolf Steiner spoke of how impor- work or tending the archives, and from around the world to confirm tant it is for the Goetheanum to con- all the rest of the services that are and support this work in all its nect with and know about different performed throughout the year. dimensions. anthroposophical initiatives around These and other functions also Thank you very much in the world. belong to the tasks of the General advance for your donation and gen- Anthroposophical Society at Dor- erosity, and we wish you a peaceful Anthroposophy Connects Us nach. All this needs to be nourished and joyous festive season. Today, even with the tremendous and developed! Sincerely, growth of activities, the Goetheanum is a center that actively nurtures Core Funding and Capital Costs transformation and engagement in all The General Anthroposophical So- three realms – individual, community ciety is not supported by govern- and world. It has a particular and ment funds. It relies on the gifts essential role to play as a place where and legacies of members and friends Cornelius M. Pietzner, Treasurer this activity can be reflected, under- stood, and further developed. Indeed, it seeks to find effective ways for the Ways to Donate Anthroposophical Society to live in Please mark your donation: “The Goetheanum Christmas Appeal.” the present time with its demands and pressures, and prepare for the 1) Checks: Make out to General Anthroposophical Society and send to: Goetheanum, Finance future in a manner that one can Department, Postfach, CH–4143 1, . develop and apply spiritual knowl- 2) Credit card: telephone +41/61/706 43 40 or fax your card name and number, expiration date edge to each of these tasks. With pro- and the amount you wish to donate. found questions about the nature of 3) Deposits: – Switzerland: General Anthroposophical Society, acct. no. 10060.71 at Raiffeisenbank in the human being, the direction of CH–4143 Dornach, Switzerland. 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2 Anthroposophy Worldwide 8/2002 Anthroposophy around the World

A Cross-Cultural Arab/Jewish Waldorf School political situation? These are only Galilee Project Responds to Violence in Israel some of the questions facing us. Living with fear and the potential loss of relatives, friends or one’s own life Four Levels of Preparation affects children. Teachers and parents in Galilee are planning an Arab/Jewish In order to transform our aims into Waldorf school to help set change in motion. action, we are working in the follow- ing areas: Israel is a country at war. For more A Waldorf teacher training course than two years the people of this for Arab teachers and kindergarten ancient area have been engaged in a teachers. In October 2002 a group of terrible war between brothers. Prob- 15 teachers from Arab schools and lems that haven’t been solved through kindergartens began a three-year part- dialogue, conversation and trust time training course. emerge instead each day as bloodshed. Photo supplied by author Kindergartens. We are of the Everyone is involved, ordinary people opinion that this project very much most of all – precisely the people who depends on cultivating work with want to live their lives for their chil- small children right away, in order to dren and themselves, without politics, prepare a basic stock for the future opinions, religion, etc. These people school. To do this, we have contacted can be found in the occupied territo- some Arab kindergartens in our area. ries, in the cities of Israel, in buses, We are trying – with great enthusiasm trains, markets and actually every- Will an Arab/Jewish school on the part of the kindergarten teach- where. develop at ? ers – to introduce Waldorf elements into the daily work. Some of the Daily Images of Violence injured inner moods? How can we kindergarten teachers are also taking The children – on both sides – are help foster forces of salvation, trust the teacher training course. The intent unfortunately (as always) the worst and dialogue? Where do we begin? is to assist the development of Arab affected. They must experience an kindergartens that work in the spirit ongoing situation of war that affects Shared Schools for of . their whole constitutions, without Arab and Jewish Children Parents. In order to create an pity or pause, and that continues on After long reflection and considera- Arab/Jewish Waldorf school we need and on like blows of a hammer. How tion, we – a group of Arab and Jewish to find parents of Arab and Jewish do you explain a “human bomb,” a teachers and parents at Harduf Wal- ancestry who want such a school. This suicide bomber who blows himself up dorf school in Galilee – are convinced presupposes fundamental work with in a restaurant (one they have seen that a true impulse can only be parents in our area. Working with and may even have visited)? What do brought into our society through edu- Arab parents is not the same as work- you do with the images that are to be cational deeds that bring Arab and ing with Jewish ones. The problems seen nearly every day in newspapers Jewish children together in the same are different, the soul and spiritual and on television? schools and kindergartens. basis is different and the motives are Teachers, parents and the older Therefore we plan to create an very different. So we are organizing Waldorf school students in Israel Arab/Jewish Waldorf school in lectures, conversations and demon- grapple intensively with such ques- Galilee. Many questions remain. Can strations to introduce our project and tions. Even before the situation culmi- we develop the school within or next Waldorf education. nated in October 2000 we sought out to the Harduf school (a Jewish Wal- Circle of friends. We are trying to Arab schools and groups, each school dorf school that has a few mainly old- convey our idea to as big a circle of in its own region, to collaborate on er Arab children)? Would it be better friends as possible. We feel that a large various projects together. However, to situate the school in an Arab and important project of this kind some of us feel that now, when per- region? Will parents (both Arab and needs many good people to accompa- spectives for the future have become Jewish) want to send their children to ny and support it. rare, we need to undertake something a “mixed” school? How should we Gilad Goldshmidt, Israel bigger and quite new. teach religion? What should we do on Contact: Das Israeli Forum für Waldorfpäda- How can one intervene to enable Israeli (Jewish) holidays? Or the vari- gogik, Harduf, D.N. Hamovil, 17930, Israel; tel. another spirit to enter this injured ous festivals? Is such a school a thing +972/4/9059246; fax +972/4/9059328; e-mail country, these injured people and these of possibility at all in the current [email protected].

Anthroposophy Worldwide Anthroposophy Worldwide – Life in the Anthroposophical Society is published Correspondents / News Agency: Jürgen Vater (Sweden), monthly. It is distributed by the regional Anthroposophical Societies – in News Network Anthroposophy (NNA) some cases augmented by independently edited news and articles. It also We expressly wish for active support and collaboration. appears as a supplement to the weekly paper Das Goetheanum. To receive Anthroposophy Worldwide, please apply to the Anthropo- Publisher: sophical Society in your country. If questions with the distribution General Anthroposophical Society, represented by Paul Mackay. arise, only the subscribers to Das Goetheanum should contact the address below. For all others the address is the address of the Editors: Anthroposophical Society in your country. Carol Brousseau (responsible for the English-Language Edition), Sebastian Jüngel, (responsible for this issue), Axel Mannigel, Dietrich Rapp, Ursula Address: Weekly Paper “Das Goetheanum,” Remund Fink and Michaela Spaar, in collaboration with Justus Wittich and Box, CH–4143 Dornach 1, Switzerland; fax +41 (0)61 706 44 65; Falk Zientz. e-mail [email protected] © Copyright 2002 General Anthroposophical Society, Dornach, Switzerland. Printing by J.W. Arrowsmith Ltd. Bristol

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2002 3 Cross-Cultural Bilingual Waldorf Education A Dutch/German School Begins It

Parents in Meppen, Germany, actually wanted to found a authorities, however, do not acknowledge this as a way of Waldorf school. However, they could not obtain a permit. meeting the obligatory schooling requirement. Neverthe- A good solution was to send their children to a nearby Wal- less, bilingual schooling seems to have a future in border dorf school in Emmen, the Netherlands. The German regions.

In the Meppen region, the nearest Dutch and German Waldorf school Waldorf schools on the German side associations gathered to hear the of the border are 75 to 100 kilometers results of (so far) one and a half years away. They are too far away even for of work, gain a personal impression Waldorf children, who often travel and discuss further steps. long distances. However, when we We sought contact with a regional applied for a school permit in European project, the Ems-Dollart- Meppen, it was refused two days Region project, early on. Its managers before school begin. visited the school and decided that the Some of the German parents then project is worthy of support. An enrolled their children in local legal status continues to keep many event for schools in the region helped schools. Others sought another solu- interested parents away. forge contacts with universities in tion. Since the school association had In the meantime the group of Ger- Groningen (the Netherlands) and already decided on Dutch as the man children in Emmen has increased Oldenburg (Germany). school’s primary foreign language and to eleven. Because of lack of real estate A Waldorf School in Winterswijk, it already had good contacts with a in the Netherlands, more and more the Netherlands, reported on its expe- Waldorf school in Emmen, the Dutch now live in Ger- Netherlands, it made sense to enroll many and commute to The German children at Vrije School Michael the children there. Emmen is only 30 work in the Nether- in Meppen quickly became bilingual kilometers away from Meppen. The lands. There is a big children and parents were accepted demand for bilingual heartily into the school community. education here. After just a few weeks it did not feel In order to clarify foreign anymore. All of the children the legal situation, the learned the language quickly and they German parents decid- cannot be distinguished from native ed to apply for reim- speakers today. bursement of travel School Michael Photos: Vrije expenses from the rural Does this Meet district of Emsland. It Schooling Requirements? was refused on the It was possible to make an arrange- grounds that the chil- ment with the Meppen public bus dren failed to attend company Levelink to drive the chil- school in Germany. dren back to Meppen every afternoon. This is being contested Extra stops were added just for the in an Osnabruck court children. In the mornings they go of law. According to lawyers, this case riences with German children, and with their school bus. The costs are is potentially an exemplary case. Regu- expressed great interest in coopera- shared by the parents, the school asso- lations are wanted that would be the tion. We found that the Netherlands ciation and the bus company. same for all children throughout the has 15 schools near the borders to Of course education authorities European Community. Germany and Belgium. We also found raised objections, although only on German, French and Austrian schools the German side of the border. The European Waldorf School Vision near the borders. We are thinking of Weser-Ems district government is of The legal uncertainties play a central establishing a committee on bilingual the opinion that the children aren’t role in our vision of a European Wal- European Waldorf education. To fulfilling their compulsory school dorf school. We have given up the idea begin with, we need to develop an attendance by attending school in the of establishing our own Waldorf educational concept and clarify the Netherlands. The initiative’s shaky school in Meppen now that we have legal situation. this cooperation with the Emmen A more distant goal is to include Waldorf school. We already have a vocational training in our twelve or Waldorf school up to class six. More- thirteen-year program. We have over, the local parents and teachers already explored the steps that this have long fostered a wish to enable would require in a conversation with their children to attend a Waldorf the European Community adviser of school through high school. the Lingen union of craftsmen. This is how we arrived at the plan Anette Domning and of creating a joint bilingual Waldorf Heike Stoll-Würtenberger, school. Since summer 2001 the execu- Germany tive of the school association in Emmen has collaborated with the Contact: Waldorfschulverein Emsland, Feld- executive of the Emsland Waldorf kamp 16, DE–49716 Meppen, Germany; tel. school association to launch a Bi- +49/5931/40 96 84; fax +49/561/95 62 17; [email protected] or Vrije School Michael, Henk lingual European Waldorf School pro- Klinkhamer, tel. +31/591/67 61 20; fax 67 65 10; ject. In January, representatives of the [email protected].

4 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2002 The I N B RIEF What Can Be More Satisfying? London, Great Britain. A Working Trip to the Philippines Gore Vidal now at Clairview. Horst Hellmann, a Waldorf teacher who lives in Germany, has been connected Clairview, an imprint of anthropo- with the Waldorf school since its founding in 1996. He describes a few sophical Temple Lodge Publishing, encouraging impressions from his most recent visit. will publish the British edition of U.S. best-selling author Gore When I was met at the airport the also organizes a teacher-training Vidal’s book, Perpetual War for weather was tropically warm. We had course. The aim is to create a full-time Perpetual Peace. The book takes a thunderstorm nearly every evening – teacher-training program that could an individualistic stance to politi- with remarkably long streaks of light- serve people from all of Southeast cally explosive topics such as a ening, deep rolling thunder and exces- Asia. Manila has a good central loca- perceived systematic destruction sive cloud breaks that transformed tion and the flights are not expensive. of small farms by agro-conglomer- many streets into rivers. ates and a loss of civil liberties A few hours after my arrival I Openness Bears Fruit generally in the U.S. – which Gore experienced a monthly assembly at I return to Manila, where I visit class- says began well before September the Manila Waldorf school. It was es and advise teachers. It is gratifying 11. In the U.S. over 100,000 copies held outside. The children were all to experience the inviting openness of of the book have been sold. dressed festively in white. We heard the teachers and their willingness to songs (German songs, too) and learn. It has born good fruit; they Heliopolis, . Sekem’s 25th poems. Classes two and three per- teach well. It is amazing how quiet the Anniversary. Sekem celebrated its formed a Michael play. The school has children are. The whole time I did not 25th anniversary with a festive grown a lot. The classes have up to 30 observe a single fight. Rather, all week October 26-31, 2002. The students and it is necessary to think played happily together. Parents have desert farm founded by Ibrahim about how to continue. contributed actively since the school Abouleish in 1977 has grown into was founded in 1996. an affiliation of companies that do Television Station Owner Finally, we began the final block everything from producing crops Supports Waldorf Education of the three-year teacher-training to making medicines, food prod- On my first day Bella Tan and I gave a course. We focussed on classroom ucts and clothing. Company poli- workshop on the stages of human management and discipline. This has cy includes comprehensive pro- development and the twelve senses, in to do with the teacher’s encounter grams for staff, and research. the building of the country’s largest with the third hierarchy at night and television company. The participants with how to open the souls of the Hong Kong, China. General were staff members of a national net- children for these impulses or teach Secretary Lectures on Education. work for mistreated children called them “proper sleep.” It led to ques- In September Hans van Floren- Banya Bata, which is maintained by tions about the relationship between stein Mulder (General Secretary of the owner of this company. Her chil- students and each aspect of the the Anthroposophical Society in dren go to the Waldorf school and she teacher’s being, the inner development New Zealand) visited a Waldorf is very keen to have Banya Bata’s of teachers, the mission of human oriented kindergarten project with homes run according to Waldorf prin- beings as the tenth hierarchy, insights about 100 children and 26 teachers ciples. This is why she provides train- into the laws of one’s own biography, in The Peak and Repulse Bay. In ing to staff. At every opportunity she and quite practical considerations public courses van Florenstein says publicly that television is not about the educational value that can Mulder spoke with parents and good for children. be gained when children break the educators about creative parenting The next day I visited a home in rules if it is handled properly. and the human senses. He gave a Manila and I was very taken with the Gabriele Niemann from Siegen, workshop for teachers on “The atmosphere, the attitude of staff and Germany, joined us. We both used Inner Preparation of the Teacher.” their efforts to put as much Waldorf genuine problems to demonstrate the education into practice as they could. topic of school management: chairing Vietnam. Waldorf Education in A large organically designed center discussions, giving presentations, doc- Vietnamese. The first book on Wal- for needy children is already being umentation, assigning mandates, team dorf education is now available in built on the outskirts of Manila. Par- building, arriving at decisions, dealing Vietnamese: Toward Creativity and ents receive free consultations until with conflicts, learning processes and Humanity by Joan Almon. The they are able to bring their child the inner development of the teacher. publisher, Thanh Nien (“Young home again. Then the families are Practical teaching experience Generation”) hopes to publish fur- accompanied for another two to needs more attention. Unfortunately, ther books on Waldorf education three years. it is only now being introduced. and anthroposophy. S. J. Farmers now work biodynami- Our work led to two practical cally in many places in this land of steps: the decision was taken to start 7000 islands. They incorporate ideas preparing a high school, and a group of trisecting the social organism; has been given a mandate to look at is incessantly active as the question of building. an advisor. Jake Tan informs them My days were quite full with about anthroposophical medicine and teacher training, consultations and my other topics. It is only natural that the preparations for the following day. farmers are wondering about the pos- However, what can be more satisfying sibility of Waldorf education for their than working together to understand, children. deepen and meditate on the funda- Bella Tan is ceaselessly active in mentals of Waldorf education! training kindergarten teachers and she Horst Hellmann, Germany

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2002 5 Portrait

Movement Is Joy A Visit to Svetlana and Wladimir Khinganskiy She was able to continue her training because her husband found work in Germany. Svetlana and Wladimir Khinganskiy left Odessa, Ukraine, in the ear- ly 1990s and have been the directors of a small private theater in Esslingen, Ger- many, since 1999. Here they present both their own productions and those of guest artists. They both also teach ballet and dance. In Sebastian Jüngel’s encounter with

Photos by S. J. them he asked particularly about the relationship between dance and eurythmy.

Friday evening, November 1. substituted for him, offering an intro- vious phase the cinema had been Dim light. It is quite dark in this old duction to anthroposophy. This was known for its sex films and Westerns cinema. The wall covering, lighting Khinganskaia’s first conscious en- among other things. fixtures and neoclassicist ornamenta- counter with anthroposophy. She tion seem old-fashioned. This is sought contact with anthroposophists Rhythm and Song Germany’s oldest preserved cinema. in Odessa, read works by Rudolf Saturday morning. The workshop My memories stray back to the Steiner, attended courses and work- with Khinganskaia begins. The partic- 2002 theater festival at the Goethe- shops, and met eurythmy through ipants (including two men) automati- anum, where Svetlana Khinganskaia Hedi Kaltenegger, Ulla Hess, Ruth cally form a circle. Khinganskaia and Wladimir Khinganskiy presented Balala and later Isolda Sagrestano. begins to sing a Siberian sun dance part of their folk dance program, Visiting anthroposophists from Ger- with a strong, somewhat husky voice, “Fire and Ice.” I was irritated. Why many and Switzerland stayed with the “Hey-dya. Hey-ey-dya!” And away had I not yet heard of these two Khinganskiys. we go! Beginning at a leisurely pace, artists whose movement was incredi- With the help of Erika Leiste, we all walk to the right, holding bly transparent – very different from Khinganskaia managed to start her hands. Soon the pace gets faster. what you’d expect from trained ballet eurythmy training in Munich and finish Our feet gallop along until, suddenly dancers? I wanted to ask them about in Stuttgart, Germany. In 1998, the quieted, they return to the easy their path to anthroposophy and they Khinganskiys rented a former cinema rhythm of the beginning. invited me to visit Central Theater. in Esslingen, Germany. They trans- Khinganskaia would be unthink- Now the moment had arrived. formed it into a small theater for able without rhythm and song. Not I do not have much time to take eurythmy, dance, music, cabaret, magic even during stretching exercises. in the slightly disreputable charm of shows, theater and recitations. A few While every conceivable and newly past decades before Khinganskaia prejudices had to be overcome. Not discovered muscle and sinew that I comes out to welcome the audience. just because of the novelty of using a have stretches and tears, Khinganskaia With charm she invites us to enjoy a public theater for eurythmy – in its pre- sings a Russian song. Like a children’s eurythmy performance from St. song it distracts me from the pain. Petersburg, Russia, which has been Her song remains clear and quieting added to the program at the last in spite of her gymnastic movements, moment. Tonight’s gala evening will even when, sitting on the floor, she include an impromptu by three moves her upper body lithely forward eurythmists, Carina Schmid, Donna or sidewise to the floor. Meanwhile Corboy and Svetlana Khinganskaia. she encourages us to “breathe The three, united here for the first through” the tense places. And she time on stage in an experiment, are as shows us how we can gently caress different from one another as one can our legs as we do so. imagine. They begin the eurythmy weekend by describing their different Inexhaustible Joy approaches. The lives of the two Khinganskiys consist of movement and hospitality. Looking for Spirituality Both of them radiate inexhaustible, It was during the early 1990s directly SVETLANA KHINGANSKAIA, born in encouraging joy, whether before a after her ballet training in Moscow, 1956 near the Russian city of performance, during a dance or in Russia, that Khinganskaia felt the Irkutsk, studied folk dance, classical their courses. Only once do I see a need of a break. She was looking for ballet, choreography and dance edu- slight shadow flit across Khinganska- spirituality. One cannot picture the cation. She has worked as a dancer, ia’s face. It is when I ask about the dif- Russian book market chaotic enough. an actress and academically. After ference between moving in eurythmy After perestroika it was flooded with studying eurythmy in Munich and or dance (an ongoing topic for me as all kinds of books and leaflets on Stuttgart (Germany) she joined the an editor). Buddhism, Christianity and various Ensemble from 1996 to Khinganskaia does not say much sects. All this was now openly avail- 1999. Today she teaches eurythmy about it. She takes my hands and I able after having been illegal, so it’s and dance at the Khinganskiy-Sheikh find myself dancing an anapestic not surprising that, after moving to ballet school as well as at a drama rhythm with her in front of the other Odessa, Khinganskaia’s search includ- school in Stuttgart (Pu©K). She also participants. “Movement is joy, and ed learning to heal with her hands, for co-directs Central Theater in Ess- eurythmists also experience joy in example. lingen, Germany. She is a member of movement,” she pronounces. This One day in 1991, the teacher of a the international collegium of the authentic reaction makes me think but community college course was unable Ukrainian Waldorf association. I don’t feel that my question has been to teach his class. Igor Fishman answered.

6 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2002 That evening, during a conversa- tells how the mechanical character of tion, I understand her better. Asked movement in ballet was overcome by about the transparency of her move- Frenchman Marius Petipa and by a ment (and her husband’s), she refers new way of handling music. “Breath to what they learned in their Russian entered ballet through the change in ballet trainings. They work with “the music, whereby Peter Tschaikovsky’s breath in the movement,” they music played in important role.” “breathe through their hands, through Khinganskaia adds, “Entirely new walls.” In addition, they trained the spaces developed along with the soul force. I sense an answer to my development of music.” question – what else but this happens Now the words fly back and in eurythmy? forth between them. She, “The argu- ment about what is or isn’t eurythmy Eurythmy is Everywhere is ‘old,’ because it really concerns a Sunday morning. We are all still some- WLADIMIR KHINGANSKIY, born further question, namely, what do you what tired. Khinganskaia undertakes a 1959 in Aginskoje, Russia, studied do to touch the audience?” He, “This third attempt to provide an answer. classical ballet, dance, ballet educa- argument is not just a problem of Beforehand we had been working on tion, ballet directing and choreogra- eurythmy. We had this in ballet, too, a series of sounds called the “evolu- phy. He worked as a ballet director, at the beginning of the last century. tionary sequence.” Our task is to choreographer and ballet dancer, in Then Isadora Duncan arrived – a rev- ascertain whether this has anything to film, on stage and in television. He olution, a new impulse.” She, “When do with what follows. The various has worked in Germany since 1994 Duncan appeared barefoot on stage animals of land, sea and air speak as a ballet master, choreographer for the first time, dancers of the peri- noisily from Khinganskaia’s mouth. and dance teacher, first in Stuttgart od still only performed in tights and No – her entire body speaks, now and then at the Khinganskiy-Sheikh lace.” He, “In ballet the costumes jerkily from the shoulders, now wave- ballet school and a drama school in became shorter and shorter. Why? like with her arms. She gracefully Stuttgart (Pu©K). In 1999 he Because although the artists were fit, takes her whole body with her always. became co-director of Central The- they were trained to express a differ- Now I understand. Khinganskaia ater in Esslingen, Germany, which ent aesthetics. They couldn’t lift their discovers or “sees” eurythmy in all has its own dance company. legs more than 45 degrees, for exam- the dances that she learned to know in ple. The better they became at doing the course of her training and work. that, the shorter became their cos- To make this more clear, we form the in which my main impulse of synthesis tumes. They also developed their sounds of the evolutionary sequence prevails and develops.” technique, of course.” not just with our feet, legs and arms Khinganskiy is not concerned but also with our hips or from the Never without Soul with technique alone. “Instead of 32 shoulders. And if we want, Khingan- I’m still not satisfied; I want to under- fouettés they can now do 64 – but this skaia suggests smilingly, we can try it stand what she thinks about dance as achieves nothing. When certain chore- with out ears or eyes, because euryth- personal expression as opposed to ographers have the dancers undress or my is everywhere in the human being. eurythmy as something that irradiates urinate and defecate and such things – Perhaps the sound “G” would be a the human being from the cosmos. “I without a goal, without a message or little challenging (when both eyes can understand that,” she says briefly. an idea behind it – this is mechanic, would have to be pushed outward) “There are,” – however – “Different it’s not art. In art, I need an idea, and I she adds impishly. ways of moving in eurythmy. Dra- do something to achieve it. Otherwise During our conversation the pre- matic eurythmy expresses a great deal the movement remains just formal.” vious evening I had learned that Khin- of the personal element; it comes from ganskaia uses exactly the same forces your flesh and blood. If you enter Sunday afternoon. The tables with in eurythmy as she does in a folk into epic or lyric eurythmy, in con- lunch for the participants are cleared dance, a dramatic scene or a dance trast, you enter quite a different plane. away. This room has changed during composition. “Does this mean you did And it is exactly the same with dance. the past two days. The theater has not learn anything new at all during Even without soul training or spiritu- become a kind of living room for me, your eurythmy training?” I ask. Khin- ality you are not merely bound to a place where I experienced and ganskaia answers gravely, “I learned a your body – you have to enliven vari- enjoyed a great deal of hospitality. I great deal about how to handle these ous different spaces with it. Dancers will never forget the pot of steaming forces more consciously.” “So you work with the same forces, with the chicken soup next to the lighting tech- didn’t get to know any new or differ- same space, as eurythmists but they nology, or the breadbasket and the ent forces?” I insist. Khinganskaia have a different instrument.” thermos of hot tea for the women emphasizes, “They aren’t new forces, She does not accept my objection from St. Petersburg. they are my own forces that I have that there is a difference between the The dim hall from two century always had in my nature. Anthropo- portrayal of an emotion depending on transitions ago has become a place of sophical insights and eurythmy have whether one is taking a personal bright, encouraging strength. It is given me the wonderful gift of being approach or whether one is showing strength that conveys joy in move- able to take hold of these forces more an impersonal aspect that is mirrored ment through course work and per- consciously. My anthroposophical and in the artist. Whatever form of por- formances, even if the miserable lamps eurythmy training liberated, sharpened trayal you choose, she says, – acting, (historical monuments) still glow and refined my ability to perceive life, singing, or dance – in each the same somewhat meagerly. S. J. nature, poetry, music and color. Dur- emotion flows through the artist Contact: Svetlana and Wladimir Khinganskiy, ing the period of development that fol- (naturally according to his or her per- centraltheater, Am Roßmarkt 9, DE–73728 lowed I experienced again how my sonal capacities). Esslingen, Germany; tel./fax +49/711/26 17 46; work and my life’s path are very close- www.centraltheater-es.de. Donations: Kulturtreff im centraltheater am ly connected. Out of these two ele- Art Requires Ideas Roßmarkt, acct, no. 7 023 901, Kreissparkasse ments,” she concludes, “A space arises Wladimir Khinganskiy joins us. He Esslingen, BLZ 611 500 20.

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2002 7 Anthroposophical Society

A NTROPOSOFISKA S ÄLLSKAPET I S VERIGE E XCLUSIONS In Switzerland. Just before this Visions for the Future went to print we learned that the Swedish Anthroposophical Society Highlights Collaboration Council of the Anthroposophical September 6 to 8, 2002, in Järna, Sweden Society in Switzerland excluded 26 members of the former Christian Nearly 200 Swedish anthroposophists met in September for a carefully prepared Morgenstern and Hans-und-Sophie- “Vision Meeting.” Inspired by the strong Michaelmas Conference at the Scholl groups from the Swiss Soci- Goetheanum in 2000 (Anthroposophy Worldwide no. 9/2000), the aim was to ety on October 31, 2002. Accord- discuss ways of collaborating within the anthroposophical movement. Some ing to a press release by the Swiss members did not take part, however, because of the way the invitation had been media center for anthroposophy, the formulated. reasons were the perpetual agitatori- al activity of these members and The three-day conference had no lec- Open Plenary Session their repetitive putting forward of tures. It was based instead on discussion One afternoon was reserved for an special interests during the past groups covering twelve different topics open plenary session. Anyone who years. The decision to exclude them such as “The Relationships between wanted to could use it to speak for a had been endorsed by delegates the Anthroposophical Movement and few minutes about his or her con- from 50 groups in a consultative Society in General” and “What Can cerns. One participant spoke about an vote during an October meeting of Anthroposophy Contribute Today?” artistic project for youth, amateurs delegates in Geneva. This exclusion and senior citizens; another suggested from the Anthroposophical Society Wider Discussion Impulse offering individual help to biodynam- in Switzerland does not affect their The goal of the meeting could not be ic farms; a third called for a well- membership in the General Anthro- to arrive at finalized decisions. Rather, conceived marketing strategy for the posophical Society. the idea was to document and publish Anthroposophical Society; and a the content of the discussions in order fourth put forward the idea of orga- From the General Anthroposophi- to make them available for wider dis- nizing courses in anthroposophical cal Society. In Nachrichtenblatt no. cussion. This might lead to concrete meditation. 44/2002, the Board of Directors action in the future. The most important thing was announced the exclusion of a mem- Naturally people did not all have that the event took place at all, many ber from the General Anthropo- the same views on things. There were participants agreed. A continuation is sophical Society. The reason for this repeated suggestions for creating an planned for next fall. By then the exclusion was that he is active on information office, for example, which results of this meeting will have been the board of a right-wing extremist would involve placing the anthropo- published. Hopefully it will then also group, the Party of Nationally Ori- sophical movement somewhat in the be possible to present initial assess- ented Swiss. Bodo von Plato and public eye. Other participants warned ments of concrete initiatives that can Heinz Zimmermann met with him against doing this, preferring to take arise out of the Vision Meeting. before the decision was taken. S. J. the oppositional character of anthro- Jürgen Vater, Sweden posophy as their starting point.

School of Spiritual Science

S ECTION FOR THE S PIRITUAL S TRIVING OF Y OUTH nation of recent events being ‘global fear’, but also fear on a day-to-day What Do We Bring to the World? level, pressure on the environment, First Youth Section Conference in New Zealand living in an age where life options and decisions seem to be increasing. There The Youth Section in New Zealand, launched last July, met for an initial confer- can be a lot to overcome with rapidly ence October 25 to 27 in Hastings, New Zealand. The 22 participants discussed changing technologies and the poten- burning questions of our time such as globalisation, fear and drugs, and consid- tially irreversible changes to our nat- ered ways of contributing to change. ural food sources. Where is this all heading and how can we influence We catch the breath of life. We speak. began by organising a small conference change? And, to open the way to the deepest knowledge, we listen. (Maori proverb) to coincide with Elizabeth Wirshing’s Over the past 30 years there has visit to New Zealand in October. been a rapid increase in the use of The Youth Section in New Zealand is Heinz Zimmerman’s lectures at recreational drugs and alcohol. in its infancy. For many decades there the Social Art Conference gave fresh Designer drugs give the user a feeling has been an Anthroposophical Society, inspiration for the group dynamic. of complete euphoria followed by but until recently no section for youth. There was a warmth at these early depression. How will this effect the The Youth Section began at the meetings and many ideas about the world population and our generation? Social Art Conference held in Hast- task of the Youth Section have been Chronic use of cannabis and alcohol ings, New Zealand, in July, 2002, explored. may lead to psychosis and social and where there was a meeting of youth As young people of this age we mental health problems. This is evi- for the first time. Since then a group are faced with a multitude of denced by the overloading crisis of has met weekly in Hawkes Bay. It “modern” issues. Primarily the culmi- mental health facilities.

8 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2002 resenting all We strive to form a group that continents, works with renewal and is open to and half were change, to try new things and explore not originally new ideas. We ask ourselves “when does from New philosophy become dogma?” How can Zealand. A we work with Anthroposophy in our

Photo by Valentin Vollmer Photo by Valentin truly global daily lives and not lose the ideal or ini- conference. tial impulse in the midst of process, The theme practice and confusion that can occur for the con- when a group of people work together? ference was This Youth Section will have a “Youth, transient nature in that many of the what do we members are only in Hawkes Bay for bring to the a year or two, working at curative world?” In homes or studying. So in essence the workshops Youth Section will be influenced by a What do we bring to the world? Twenty-two young people and and lectures diverse number of people who will Youth Section leader during the youth conference in Hastings we explored bring fresh ideas and energy. what the We hope that these pioneering days In New Zealand we have one of youth impulse is and how we can form a platform for many years to the highest rates of youth suicide in bring the inner and outer pictures come and that a Youth Section the world. What can we as youth do together in what we carry. There was becomes well established in New to change this, to nourish and recog- also a drama workshop which Zealand. We will communicate with nise the youth spirit, without losing it worked with life situations in which other Youth Sections around the to turmoil and confusion? a strong drive to do something is met world and hope to soon have some- I am happy to report that the with opposition. Does one persevere thing to share with the general Society October conference was definitely a or back down in the face of opposi- and other Sections. Tim Durrant, great success. We had 22 people, rep- tion? New Zealand

M EDICAL S ECTION professions were identified, each with their own particular needs. What An Enriching Experience quickly became apparent was the practical impossibility of providing 12 New Developments in Anthroposophical Health Studies independent trainings, each providing Innovations and research successes in the field of medicine are not uncommon in sufficient medical and general anthro- the news. Many examples show that anthroposophical institutions are also finding posophical teaching. There are rela- innovative ways of meeting the challenges. As one example, Michael Evans reports tively few anthroposophical doctors on developments in Britain, especially innovations in anthroposophically oriented and others available to teach. training programs. Resourceful Collaboration Anthroposophical medicine includes ing the doctors, nurses, and the whole It was decided rather to ask one of the not only the work of anthroposophi- spectrum of therapists, and possibly two artistic therapy trainings, Hiber- cal doctors but also the therapists they including social therapists and cura- nia in Stroud, to open aspects of its work with. These include anthro- tive teachers. training to anyone needing to train in posophical art therapists, eurythmy any of the anthroposophical health therapists, rhythmical masseurs, A Mixed Picture professions. Hibernia already pro- anthroposophically trained nurses and In the meetings to review the trainings vides medical teaching over four years others. Over the last year there have available for these various professions, as well as an extensive introduction to been a series of meetings to look at the first step was to take stock of what general anthroposophy alongside the what trainings are available for these was available in this country. A very artistic and art therapy subjects. various professions. The meetings mixed picture quickly emerged. Some Tutors from Hibernia have met were partly spurred by a House of professions, such as art therapy, have with colleagues from the other profes- Lords Report on Alternative and two training colleges in Britain; both sions and have designed an Anthropo- Complementary Therapies. This of which are virtually full-time and sophical Health Studies Programme Report highlighted the need for ade- last four to five years. Other profes- that will open officially in September quate training for all complementary sional groups had only very embryon- of this year. It can be accessed in a and alternative therapists. Specifically ic, almost do-it-yourself training variety of ways from one day a week it recommended that anthroposophi- opportunities. It also became clear over one or more years to blocks of cal doctors and therapists should be that one group of professions already several weeks at the beginning of each organised as a single organisation and had conventional trainings and their term, or classes on a full-time basis. that along with other alternative com- need was to supplement this with a These developments have en- plementary therapists they should be specifically anthroposophical ap- couraged the rhythmical masseurs to adequately regulated. There are two proach. Examples from this group launch a first professional training in main methods of regulation: one is include nurses, pharmacists and doc- rhythmical massage in Britain. They voluntary self-regulation and the oth- tors. However, there is another group plan to make use of the Anthropo- er more complicated one is to achieve for whom their whole professional sophical Health Studies programme state regulation. At the meeting in the training is anthroposophical in nature, and add rhythmical massage training summer of 2001, it was decided to such as the anthroposophical art ther- sessions. This training will also com- work towards voluntary self-regula- apists and eurythmy therapists. In mence in September this year and tion in a unified structure encompass- surveying the field, over 12 different run over two years, in blocks of four

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2002 9 or five weeks at the beginning of tors has started at St. Luke’s each term. Medical Centre, Stroud, with- There have also been important in the last 12 months and developments in the training pro- Park Attwood has begun grammes for a number of the other offering one-month introduc- Photo: Hibernia professions. For many years there has tory courses for doctors and been a eurythmy therapy training for has established two full-time individuals who have already com- trainee doctor posts. pleted the general eurythmy training. It takes place in Peredur, near East Fruitful Grinstead, under the leadership of Interdisciplinary Work Christine Hebert. It has been At Hibernia in Stroud, during announced that the last intake for this this educationally eventful particular training course will be this year, five students from other summer. Two eurythmy therapists professions had already Hibernia will be a key training location from Park Attwood Clinic and anoth- joined the art therapy stu- er from St. Luke’s Medical Centre in dents before the Anthroposophical illness itself, to discovering the range Stroud have been asked to develop a Health Studies Programme had even of therapeutic possibilities. new training when the present one been announced. Their backgrounds Although there is still very much comes to an end. They have just include rhythmical massage, remedial work to do, we felt that we would like begun meeting to plan this project. education, nursing, creative speech to publish these very exciting devel- The training in anthroposophical and a form of gymnastics called spatial opments in the field of anthroposoph- pharmacy is being pioneered at dynamics. It has been a very enriching ical medical and therapy studies. (Great Britain) in parallel with experience to see how students from Michael Evans, Great Britain the recent development of the British different disciplines can bring a great Note: Reprinted from New View, Summer 2002. Association of Anthroposophical deal to the training. For example, Programmes are available for the Anthropo- Pharmacists, which has laid down a when looking at particular illnesses, sophical Health Studies and the new Rhythmical very comprehensive training frame- hearing how different therapists have Massage Training as well as the Anthroposophi- cal art therapy training from: Hibernia, Centre work. A new series of five introducto- worked with such patients adds a for Science and Art, Lansdown, GB-Stroud GL5 ry seminars for anthroposophical doc- great deal to the understanding of the IBB, Great Britain; tel. 01453 7516785.

Forum Danger of False Pictures again drew the image of the teacher Response to Letter about the Erfurt Gunman who faced the killer, addressed him as a human being, and thereby “may Roland Halfen responds once more to the topic of how to respond to a young have stopped” him. Heise, the teacher, gunman. In Anthroposophy Worldwide no. 6/2002 he had warned against sim- encountered Steinhauser twice! The ply confronting such a person in the midst of a shooting spree, which seemed to first time was in the schoolyard, when have happened in Erfurt, Germany (Anthroposophy Worldwide no. 5/2002). Heise was helping students escape Elke-Maria Rischke then stressed the importance of human encounter in this over the school wall. Neither Heise’s situation (Anthroposophy Worldwide no. 8/2002). mere presence or anything else he did prevented Steinhauser from shooting Dear Mrs. Rischke, Mortal Danger at students and teachers there. I can well understand that one would How we act in a specific situation is prefer to forget the details of the quite another thing. Certainly no one Not a Deliberate Deed Erfurt event rather than raising the can know how he will act in such a The second encounter, inside the issue over and over again. However, case. In spite of this fact, we neverthe- building on the first floor, occurred since nothing essential has changed in less still find instructions on the doors when Heise cracked open the door of education or the media since then, we of hotel rooms and ship cabins for a supply room to peer out into the must unfortunately expect similar what to do in the case of fire or other hall, which had been quiet for awhile. incidents in the future. emergency. In my estimation it would The perpetrator was standing right therefore be foolhardy to merely there and had already taken off his Student Teacher Relationship point to the wonderful deeds of mask. Only now was Heise able to This is why I think it important to human presence of mind while ignor- recognize him and say, “Robert. You?” distinguish two things as clearly as ing (especially on pages read by teach- Thus Heise by no means actually possible. One is the human relation- ers who are responsible for students) confronted Steinhauser or addressed ship between each teacher and stu- results found by researchers such as him as a human being [to stop him]. dent, which is very essentially deter- Lothar Adler. Adler researched 200 Heise himself repeatedly repudiated mined by the teacher’s personality. cases of mass murder and came to the this version of events (see Spiegel- This concerns what you call the unambiguous conclusion that people Online, October 18, 2002). The “ego power” of the teachers, every- usually pay with their lives when they courage for which Heise recently thing that happens within the medium attempt to stop someone by con- received an award refers to his deci- of the most varied imponderables fronting him before his frenzy of sion not to flee after his encounter in between human beings. Here it is pos- killing has ended. the schoolyard but to go back inside sible to take concrete action and I would like to mention a few the building without knowing what improve a situation, as through self- things about what actually happened would happen. responsibility and personal develop- in Erfurt because the [editorial] intro- Cordially yours, ment on the part of the teacher. duction to your letter unfortunately Roland Halfen, Germany

10 Working Meditatively with Texts A Further Word on the Star-Children Debate

Laszlo Böszörmenyi, here taking his starting point from points in Georg Kühlewind’s work: Reincarnation, atten- Frank Linde’s objections to the idea of Star-Children in tion training for teachers and especially the question of how Anthroposophy Worldwide no. 7/2002, addresses several to work with meditative texts.

Meditative texts are alive. They come tation leads in a direction totally dif- outer world? We may not, ever. This from living experiences within the ferent from the anthroposophical path we can only hope for from knowledge timeless and signless present. They die of spiritual training. An essential that can go entirely out of itself and into the words and letters of a text aspect is missing as Kühlewind takes totally immerse itself in the being of when being formulated. The original, into account neither reincarnation nor what lives and exists.”5 Knowledge vibrant meaning can resurrect when the Christ Mystery (they are not men- “that can go entirely out of itself” is the text is read. This is not merely a tioned at all in Sternkinder).”3 clearly not self-understood. The kind comparison but experience. Linde would only be able to of knowledge that can enter the super- judge Kühlewind’s meditation method sensible world, regaining the unity Meditative Reading Practice if he tried it. Hardly anyone has gone between heaven and earth, is monistic The resurrection of the text can some- as far on the anthroposophical path of knowledge. It is meditative knowledge. times seem to happen by grace, with- schooling as Kühlewind. Hardly any- Teacher training without attention out preparation. However, if we want one has done as much to make this training is like piano training without to work with meditative texts regular- path accessible to others. If Mr. Linde piano exercises. Why does Waldorf ly we need to practice this kind of doesn’t notice this it can only mean education call itself an “art” of educa- reading. If we don’t we can be sure that he did not succeed in meditating tion if it does not face up to the prac- that we will misunderstand the text. on these texts. Only he knows tice of an artistic use of attention? Rudolf Steiner once expressed this in whether he tried at all. How else should teachers approach the following way: “Every idea that Kühlewind actually does refer to “the mystery of the child” or gain does not become an ideal for you kills reincarnation and especially to the “spiritual answers” to this mystery? a force in your soul, but every idea Christ Mystery in many publications.4 (which Linde quite rightly calls for). that becomes an ideal for you creates He “takes it into account” in How else should educators live up to forces of life within you.”1 We have to Sternkinder as well; one only has to the following demand: “Anthroposo- make meditative texts living reality notice it. Is not the knowledge of phy must arise each time afresh when within us, otherwise they remain humanity’s spiritual origin the first the human heart turns to the book to dead and they foster a subtle kind of step toward knowledge of repeated find out about it.”6 materialism.2 earth lives? Kühlewind refers to this I dare use this comparison at the repeatedly, e.g., “The small child has Self-Renewing Teachings risk of being misunderstood. The dif- always been a stranger in the world of The teachings must be able to renew ference between meditative and “ordi- adults because it comes from a world themselves, otherwise they will die. nary” reading resembles the difference in which being is communication – They must pass through repeated between whether we love someone or communication without signs, direct pralayas in order to continue breathing not. Everything about a loved person archetypal communication of the . . . between forming and dissolving. . . . is significant and we discover hidden beings that human spirits are before The human being is told: You must virtues that we would otherwise never birth.” (p.68). “What we call hope . . . change your life (Rainer Maria Rilke). notice. Not a single moment is boring. is based on the fact that we do not Not once, not twice: always. . . . Then Even shortcomings become forgiv- separate from each other forever. . . . we will become a servant of the living able. A text becomes ever more alive The meditation for this insight is ‘God Logos: ready to suffer and expecting and significant through repeated deep- is love.’ (I. Joh. 4,8)” (p. 31). I am real- no wage, because we know: We are ening during meditative reading. ly very sorry that Mr. Linde cannot born and we come into the world to When we don’t understand some- make the connection. bear witness to the truth.7 thing, this doesn’t spark criticism but Laszlo Böszörmenyi, Austria questioning wonder. When we do No Teacher without understand we usually grow silent. Attention Training The way that Frank Linde Linde is indignant about Kühlewind’s 1 R. Steiner: How to Know Higher Worlds, Anthroposophic Press 1994, GA 10. criticizes Georg Kühlewind’s book on recommendation of consciousness and 2 See G. Kühlewind: Working with Anthroposo- Star-Children betrays that he did not awareness training as one of the main phy, Anthroposophic Press 1992. read it meditatively. I dare to assert this subjects of teacher training. Linde even 3 Anthroposophy Worldwide no. 7/2002. 4 “Do Truth,” “Perceiving the Logos,” “The because I have endeavored very inten- writes that Kühlewind demands that Kingdom of God,” “The Renewal of the Holy sively to work meditatively with many his own training be used. This is quite Spirit.” The list of titles is much longer but texts by Kühlewind and also Steiner. I simply untrue (see Sternkinder, p. 77). there is not room for them all here. 5 R. Steiner: Spiritual Ground of Education, have a sense, at least, of the depths of Rudolf Steiner repeatedly stressed the Garber Communications 1989, GA 305. these texts and I am also aware of how need for training educators: “May we 6 R. Steiner: Letter of Jan. 27, 1924, in The little I understand to this very day. believe that our intellectualistic knowl- Foundation Stone and The Life, Nature and Does Frank Linde understand Steiner edge will ever approach an under- Cultivation of Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner Press 1996, GA 260a. so well? He can only ask this question standing of what the child, which is 7 G. Kühlewind: Das Reich Gottes, Verlag of himself. However, his misunder- totally sense organ, experiences in the Freies Geistesleben 1994. standings are typical for those who attempt to interpret meditative texts in a speculative way. Working with Anthroposophy Evaluation Requires Experience What I have to say about the attacks on me can be read (substantiated by texts For example, Linde writes, “We must by Steiner) in my small book, Working with Anthroposophy (Anthroposophic clearly note that his method of medi- Press 1992). Georg Kühlewind, Hungary

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2002 11 Feature

Currents, Peels and Spices for all Seasons A Meditation on a Mince Pie A group that meets regularly to study anthroposophy in traditional menu item during the Christmas season. This Britain nearly found itself without an object for its weekly turned out to be remarkably apt for a group so versed in observation exercise. Then someone suggested mince pie, a the subtleties of human soul life.

In our Tuesday morning group we try hard to understand the sometimes mind-boggling detailed descriptions of the human soul outlined by Rudolf Steiner. Being practical people we are sometimes sceptical if we can’t relate these descriptions to our own experience. ‘Well, let’s put it on the back- burner,’ says Mary, who knows from experience that what seems incompre- Amazing – you can hensible in the moment may well even meditate on mince pie if you know reveal its message next week, next what you’re doing! year or next lifetime. Back, from left: After coffee and social chit-chat – Peter Hyatt, Jacqueline Evans, meaningful of course – we light a Marian Maskel, candle, share a meditative verse Mary Sutherland. together, at which point Mary looks Front: Russell Evans, into her mystery bag and brings forth Jean Blythe Evans some object of nature (usually!) for our profound concentration and icon to be revered over the twelve you will say, all the activity of the observation for all of five minutes. holy nights: ‘Surely we aren’t meant intellectual (or mind) soul, and you Then we slowly share our observa- to eat it?’ would of course be ‘on the ball.’ tions, make many new discoveries, Ah, but you should have heard But this object, whose origin lies and experience moments of wonder at the serious review of the exercise... in the mysteries of antiquity connect- the ingenuity and beauty of nature. Did not our mouths water at the first ed with the rhythms of the seasons, as Then we share our feelings about the glimpse, the first feel, the first smell? well as man’s metabolic system, has object, which tells us something about We didn’t have to think about it. So yet more treasures to reveal regarding ourselves, and our soul. Finally, before that is what Steiner meant when he the human soul in the fifth Post- our study period, we ask what mes- described our sentient body, which Atlantean epoch. sage does this object have for us now? both humans and animals possess. What metaphor for our life’s strug- Were Others Exploited for This? gles? Sometimes this exercise is so Signs of the Sentient Soul As the Ego, the Self, the I, or in my fruitful that we don’t get round to the What is this warm round thing that case the ME, working in the mind study, and when we do, not unusually, tickles my taste buds before I have soul, ranges over the vast repercus- there it is – an exact description of our bitten it? It’s one of those things I’ve sions the mince pie has had on west- experience – which leads me on to the had before, in fact many times before, ern culture, there awakens the nagging mince pies. Hardly the most profound almost always when the season is cold question: ‘Where have all these ingre- object for a meditative observational and the days are short. dients come from?’ Many of them practice you may think. These memories of past mince from distant lands – third world coun- Indeed, but for Mary’s absence, pies which well up in the mind’s eye tries? I bet the people who plucked and a dilemma about what to choose, reverberate in the sentient soul. the oranges, the currents, etc. have and it being Christmas, it would never ‘Mince pies are quite a thing,’ said never tasted a mince pie. Indeed, they have occurred to me. Indeed, it never Caroline, who never buys her mince may be living in poverty, or at least did. It was Jacqueline, either in a pies at Tesco, but makes her own. have a subsistence living. Are they moment of desperation or sporadic ‘There’s the pastry – flour, water, exploited, I wonder – does Tesco’s humour, who came up with the idea. pinch of salt, rolled out flat, cut into care? Do I care? circles, etc. etc.’ Is this the stirring of conscious- Surely We Aren’t Meant to Eat It The mind went into overdrive; ness soul qualities? ‘Give them each a hot mince pie,’ she ‘oven temperature, timing, Oh and the And as the mind turns full circle said. ‘At the very least they will expe- ingredients – there’s a thing – all those and we realise the mince pie is a social rience delayed gratification.’ currants, peels, sugar, spices... who tradition of sharing with friends at Indeed, the warm, succulent smell invented them, I wonder – it was well Christmas – a small opening to awak- of ten mince pies being observed before Delia Smith.’* Curious that en gratitude for friends, and to objectively by aspirants on the path of they mostly emerge at Christmas remember the significance of the event knowledge of higher worlds made time, as though they have been hiber- that is, for all mankind’s failings, each of us experience the five minutes nating and maturing all over the sum- changing the world. as stretching towards eternity. mer (it so happened that a few of Russell Evans, Great Britain ‘I wondered if I would ever be Mary’s home-made ones, secreted allowed to eat it,’ said Joan. Linda away from a Christmas party nearly * Television presenter for a favourite cooking thought it was meant to be kept as an lasted a whole year in the freezer). Ah, program.

12 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2002