Winter 2019-20 £6.00 New View 1 ISSUE 94 January - March 2019 New View is a journal supporting spiritual renewal in our times, Editor: Tom Raines based on the quest for a new wisdom of the whole human being, Mail and Editorial: New View inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy and related approaches. 198/15 Lindsay Road, Edinburgh EH6 6ND ANTHROPOSOPHY or ‘awareness of one’s humanity’ is a path of Tel: ++44 (0)20 7317 8302 knowledge and self development which encompasses the realms of [email protected] religion, philosophy, art and science. Founded in what is universally Administrator/ human, it offers a cohesive interpretation of human and world evolution, the reality of spiritual worlds (of which this material world is Copy Editor: Rosemary Usselman a part), practical methods of developing an objective consciousness Subscriptions: [email protected] of these realms, and deep insights into Christianity and the world’s ++44 (0)20 7431 1608 religions and philosophies. Retail Enquiries: [email protected] Anthroposophy was established by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) Adverts: [email protected] through books, lectures and other practical initiatives. He wanted no Website: www.newview.org.uk one to accept what was presented through blind faith and asked that everyone objectively test what was offered. He also insisted that Printed by: MBM Print SCS Ltd individuals were able to work in complete freedom with what he I Tennant Avenue presented. College Milton South (For information about the Anthroposophical Society East Kilbride G74 5NA in Great Britain, contact www.anthroposophy.org.uk). SCOTLAND The views of the authors and contributors expressed in Regular illustrator ~ David Newbatt New View magazine may not necessarily be those of New View Publications Limited. Published quarterly by New View Publications Limited a not for profit organisation ~ ISSN: 1365‑3687 Front & Back Cover: Detail from the Nativity panels of the Isenheim Altar, Musée Unterlinden, Colmar, Alsace, France. (Painted by Matthias Grünewald between 1516-18) SHARED LIVES PROVIDERS Do you want to transform the lives of young peoples? Ruskin Mill Trust, an educational charity supporting young people with complex needs including autism, is seeking households to provide warm and caring environments for our students to live in while they learn. 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This latter aspect is founded on the unique Practical Skills Therapeutic Education method developed by Ruskin Mill Trust. BIODYNAMIC TRAINEES (CHARITY VOLUNTEERS) RMT offers a number of trainee placements in its provisions, which provides voluntary work in a Biodynamic or aspiring Biodynamic setting working alongside the students. In return trainees will receive RMT training, accommodation (if required), subsistence and expenses, and will have the opportunity to undertake the Ruskin Mill Biodynamic Training programme. Open to EU citizens. COURSE INFORMATION AND APPLICATION e: [email protected] w: biodynamictraining.org New View Contents Inner Fire Arwen Kitson’s Poem for Peace Beatrice Birch 3 Heloise Saunders 34 The Biography of Holy Sophia What is the truth about Global Warming? Harrie Salman 8 Richard Phethean 36 The Virgin of Guadalupe Herald for a New Age Bridging the Gulf – Anthroposophy in a Material Stephanie Georgieff 16 World Richard Bunzl 46 Reader’s Letter Thomas Meyer 19 There is something rotten … British politics seen from a Continental perspective The Isenheim Altar and the Wholeness of Saint Harrie Salman 51 Anthony Maarten Ekama 20 NATO’s 70th Birthday and the UN COP 25 Climate Conference in Madrid Rudolf Steiner School, Mbagathi, Nairobi, Kenya Terry Boardman 56 A Special Kindergarten Appeal Judith Brown 29 Leonardo – Five Hundred Years On 64 Trevor Dance New School Canterbury, Our Story Beth Cuenco 31 Book Reviews 68 New View 1 Holy Nights Editorial Dear Reader, Stephanie Georgieff, an Albanian American, briefly relates the remarkable story of the appearance of an Welcome to the Holy Nights issue of New View aspect of Sophia in Mexico, South America. magazine. This is the issue which enters the New Year. We then have a reader’s letter from Thomas Meyer, Although one day always follows the next, there is who lives in Switzerland, writing to us on the subject of something about beginning a new cycle, a new phase in Otto Weininger and Norbert Glas. life, that gives pause for thought and the possibility to The front cover theme returns with The Isenheim create new initiatives, personal and otherwise. Altar and the Wholeness of Saint Anthony where The people of Britain are now coming to terms Maarten Ekama, a Dutchman living in England, shares with a new step, because, as I write this editorial in his insights and thoughts on the history of Grünewald’s the early hours of Friday 13th December, the news is altar paintings with particular reference to two of them that, following the general election the day before, the depicting St Anthony. Conservative party have a majority sufficient to take There follows an appeal from Kenya, with Rudolf Britain out of the EU next month, in January, after three Steiner School, Mbagathi, Nairobi, Kenya: A Special and a half years of indecision, uncertainty and no little Kindergarten Appeal by Judith Brown who lives and turmoil. Whatever one’s personal view, it is surely a teaches at the school. Here in England we hear the story time for the people of these Isles to build bridges to one of a school community that has arisen, Phoenix-like, another. Having said that, the Scottish National Party from the ashes of an older Steiner school initiative with have fared strongly in this election and will certainly New School Canterbury, Our Story by Beth Cuenco. call for a further referendum to seek independence. So Still on a schooling theme, we then hear from Heloise Britain will leave the EU and Scotland may leave the Saunders of a Steiner School pupil, aged 11, who won a UK, in time. There seems to be a significant gesture national poetry competition in Arwen Kitson’s Poem for there; similar but for different reasons, of seeking more Peace. Then we publish a piece by Richard Phethean, self determination. As ever, time will tell and how who died in 2014, concerning one of the great issues people respond will make the difference. And certainly of our present time with What is the truth about Global it ought to be about bridges, not walls. Warming? Although written by Richard in 2008, it is This Christmas I decided, in a certain sense, to offer relevant to the ongoing concerns surrounding climate the reader a ‘Christmas Card’. The cover of New View and points into the space where a real meeting and is like no other I ever published. On the front cover debate ought to be taking place, but isn’t. is a detail from a scene of the Nativity, by Matthias Richard Bunzl also looks into potential meeting Grünewald, being part of a sequence of altar panels he spaces with Bridging the Gulf – Anthroposophy in a painted that can be seen today at the Musée Unterlinden Material World . in Colmar, in the Alsace, France. What is different is It remains to be seen if the title of the next contribution that this front cover image extends onto the back cover can be seen to improve in time to come. Harrie Salman of this issue, showing a whole community of spiritual appears with a second piece, looking to Britain from beings witnessing the nativity scene. If the reader so continental Europe with There is something rotten … wishes he or she can open out the magazine and see British politics seen from a Continental perspective. these two panels together as the artist intended. Painted Terry Boardman raises questions and concerns about in the 16th century, this art work only begins to reveal current events with NATO’s 70th Birthday and the the deeper wealth of the insights and understanding UN COP 25 Climate Conference in Madrid, enabling available from it with the help of anthroposophy. It may readers to think through vital issues of our time. not be an exaggeration to say that encompassed within it Finally, Trevor Dance writes a piece on the fifth may be a doorway to the whole of Esoteric Christianity. centenary anniversary of a very special renaissance At any rate, the cover of this issue comes to you in a artist with Leonardo – Five Hundred Years On. contemplative mood for the Holy Nights and beyond! At the end of the year I would also like to thank all the And so to this New View issue entering 2020. It readers who made extra financial contributions during begins with Inner Fire by Beatrice Birch; a heartfelt and the year, without which we would find it impossible compassionate sharing of an initiative in the USA about to continue. The readership support has been a little helping people with serious soul conditions to find a miracle for the life of this magazine.