Society Anthroposophy Worldwide 4/14
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Position: linke obere Papierkante, Größe 100% General Anthroposophical Society Anthroposophy Worldwide 4/14 ■ Annual Report 2013/14 Liberating Roots 28 March 2014 No 4 Annual Report 2013/2014 1 ‹The I knows itself› 2 Motifs from 2013/2014 3 Goetheanum Leadership: Looking back over 2013/2014 4 Visual Art Section: New section leader Marianne Schubert 6 Goetheanum Stage: From the Mys- tery Plays to Faust 7 Finance Report Anthroposophical Society 11 Addendum to the Annual General “The I Knows Itself” – seal to Rudolf Steiner’s First Mystery Drama “The Soul’s Awakening” Meeting: Concern and motion received too late 15 Membership he I knows itself – a surprising motto Again, this motto will be at the centre Tthat is not easy to grasp. It expresses of the Anthroposophical Society and its Anthroposophy Worldwide activity. It reflects the identity of anthro- life – in this year (2014/2015) as the foun- 11 Russia: 120th anniversary of the posophy, of the Anthroposophical Society, dation stone of a world affirmation, just ‹Philo¬sophy of Freedom› and of any anthroposophically inspired work, as, in the past year, it was the affirmation the conference ‹Freedom as in fact. Activity, cognizing activity, activ- of the foundation stone laying. A hundred a way of keeping the human ity that leads to knowing the I as the true years ago, Rudolf Steiner laid the foun- identity › being of a spiritual movement, of a soci- dation stone for the Goetheanum – the 13 Australia: Little Yarra Steiner School ety and of manifold initiatives all over the home of the wrestling for the knowledge world? A self-knowledge, which is not easy of the human being, for becoming active School of Spiritual Science to grasp, as the unifying task of people who in the world out of knowledge. World af- 11 Medical Section: The History of research, teach and take on responsibility, firmation in an ever more complex world Curative Education and Social who are connected throughout the world of questions, insecurities and man-made Therapy in their active spiritual practice; as the mo- disasters needs strong spiritual and in- tif, that is, of the School of Spiritual Science? terpersonal roots. As the meditative prac- Forum But this is not all. Does this enigmatic tice of self- and world-knowledge, these 14 On Rudolf Steiner’s identity – reply phrase not describe what makes us hu- liberating roots are the living heart of 14 Thoughts on the Critical Steiner man, does it not designate humanity as all anthroposophical work. They connect Edition such? Understanding oneself and being people across professions, interests and able to act in the world out of under- orientations, they bridge continents and Feature standing; being understood and finding contrasts. The annual report gives insight 16 Argentina: Fire at the House of the meaning in one’s own and other people’s into this commitment and speaks of the Anthroposophical Society actions – that is a desire that increasingly trust in the ongoing development of this rises to consciousness in us today – with endeavour. | Bodo von Plato, Executive ever greater urgency. Council at the Goetheanum 2 | Anthroposophy Worldwide No. 4/14 ■ Editorial ■ Annual Report 2013/14 Dear reader, Motifs from 2013/2014 n mid-March more than 800 members in ISpain, Argentina and other Latin-Amer- The expansive gesture and its counterweight ican countries received the first Spanish Rudolf Steiner’s statement that we can only be individualities to the extent that we issue of Anthroposophy Worldwide. This carry humanity within us becomes living experience project of the Anthroposophical Society in Spain makes it possible for the General Anthroposophical Society and the Latin- t the 2013 World Teachers’ Confer- within the Anthroposophical Society. As American world to communicate more Aence at the Goetheanum, thirty shown in a number of opinions expressed directly. teachers came together in a work group in Anthroposophy Worldwide – for in- The willingness to communicate is on the future of Waldorf Education. These stance by Paul Mackay and Marc Desaules like the opening of a market where peo- teachers had come from China, South in issue 6/2013 – this process needs a cul- ple come together, meet each other and America, India and various European ture of individual and communal forming share their experiences. Mutual percep- countries. They sat in a circle, a geometri- of judgements. In November a Members’ tion and participation can be enhanced. cal form that aptly expressed the way the Day was newly introduced as a forum And this is what happened. Thanks to conversation unfolded. Peter Röh of the without the need to take positions. Jus- the contact established through the Pedagogical Section described it as “a tus Wittich introduced the gathering by editor Michael Kranawetvogl we already circle of cultures in which we, together, speaking out the wonderful wish that “it received contributions from Argentina asked questions regarding the future of may be possible for all to turn their stand- (page 16). And Paul Mackay had hardly education and found answers.” With Ben points into points of view”. But as pleas- announced that the members should be Cherry, coordinator of Waldorf schools ant as the atmosphere was at that Mem- included in the considerations regarding in China, Röh moderated this small but bers’ Day, which was attended by around changes to the exterior stairs in the west global cultural circle. 300 people: it showed again that it is not of the Goetheanum, when the first con- easy, in the Anthroposophical Society, to tribution on that topic arrived. Once the Global topics keep to factual discourse or ‘constructive plans have been presented at the AGM, Until around ten years ago, anthropos- dispute’. Either the views put forward this “conversation” will take place at vari- ophy was exported from Europe into the harden and become positions or deter- ous levels: in the media, in an exhibition world: people in Chengdu or the Brazilian minations of truth or they lose their clear at the Goetheanum and at membership city of Botucatu were keen to hear how outlines in the attempt to bring about days: the members will be included, at this or that could be done anthroposophi- harmony. every step on the way, in the forming of cally. Today, the picture has changed. The judgements.| Sebastian Jüngel formerly Eurocentric explanations have The tension between balance and contour turned into conversations on anthropos- Rudolf Steiner’s sculpture depicts these ophy. Anthroposophy does not only indi- two opposite sides of the soul – in last vidualize itself in people; it also manifests year’s conflicts with their hardening and in specific ways with specific answers in dissolving tendencies they appeared as a Anthroposophy Worldwide appears ten the various cultures. A global field of time phenomenon. As in Rudolf Steiner’s times a year, is distributed by the national conversation, a mutual learning process, wooden sculpture, both forces seem to be Anthroposophical Societies, and appears as a supplement to the weekly Das Goethea- emerges and Rudolf Steiner’s statement necessary. Standing up for what is seen num • Publisher: General Anthroposophical that we can only be individualities to the as the truth gives the Anthroposophical Society, represented by Justus Wittich • Ed- extent that we carry humanity within us, Society spiritual form while taking away itors: Sebastian Jüngel (responsible for this becomes living experience. With the first warmth and even its life. Making an effort edition), Michael Kranawetvogl (responsible completed eurythmy training course in to achieve balance and tolerance brings for the Spanish edition), Margot M. Saar (re- sponsible for this English edition). Chile, the first anthroposophic hospital diversity and vibrancy, but at the cost of Address: Wochenschrift ‹Das Goetheanum›, in India and the Asian Pedagogical Con- clear spiritual contours. Postfach, 4143 Dornach, Switzerland, Fax ference attended by 400 teachers in the The monthly meetings of General Sec- +41 61 706 44 65, info@dasgoetheanum. summer of 2013, new topics come to the retaries and the Executive Council, the ch • Correspondents/news agency: Jürgen surface and new agents join in the con- new concept of the Annual Conference Vater (Schweden), News Network Anthro- posophy (NNA). • We expressly wish for versation. and the specialist meetings that aim at active support and collaboration. • Subscrip- We could look at last year’s conflicts, exchange are stages on the journey. The tions: To receive ‹Anthroposophy Worldwide› which culminated in Sergei Prokofieff’s success of these and other steps will please apply to the Anthroposophical Society withdrawal from the Executive Council, determine whether truth and life – two in your country. Alternatively, individual sub- as the shadow cast by this expansive sides of the same coin – are the hallmarks scriptions are available at CHF 30.- (EUR/US$ 20.-) per year. An e-mail version is available gesture within anthroposophy. But we of the Anthroposophical Society. They to members of the Anthroposophical Society could also see these conflicts, which con- form the counterweight in the process of only at www.goetheanum.org/630.html?L=1. cern basic questions of anthroposophy expansion of anthroposophy.| Wolfgang © 2014 General Anthroposophical Society, and the relationship with Rudolf Steiner, Held Dornach, Switzerland as a necessary process of self-assurance Anthroposophy Worldwide No. 4/14 | 3 ■ Annual Report 2013/14 Goetheanum Leadership: Looking back on the working year 2013/2014 September to December were dedicated to Goethe’s Faust to give us a foundation for Living harmony as an organizational task our decision-making with regard to a new of the Anthroposophical Society, the School of Spiritual Science and the practice fields. production. The idea is that the production Since September 2013, the Goetheanum Leadership has worked intensely with the foun- ought to be intimately connected with the dation stone laying of 1913, preparing a new step that can serve as a foundation for the questions of the Sections and of the School 2014 Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting.