Newsletter September 2020

Anxiety and the World Soul

by Dennis Klocek

Esoterically an aspect of the unfolding health crisis is the question of why is there a return of some sort of virus for which there is no remedy? A spiritually oriented person

could ask many questions about the world karma of such events. Is human error to blame for the suffering caused by pandemics? What are the global implications of the power of natural pathogens when combined with human lack of foresight regarding health policies? Deeper questions would be why does the spiritual world allow such things to happen? Are suffering and death retribution for culpability or a nudge by the spirit to something better?

Whether it was the onset of personal illness or national catastrophe such as war, Rudolf Steiner consistently took the broadest view possible in describing the mysterious windings of human karma in the context of cosmic evolution. It was not a version of the ancient Mosaic law of an eye for an eye law that he presented to his audiences. His view was that Christ was the new Lord of Karma. As such, it was not searching for retribution or guilt that was the key to understanding human suffering and trials. The Christ centered karmic impulse comes from a higher place of free sacrifice of self for a common good. This not only applies to individuals but also to nations as well, when seen in the context of catastrophic events. Going further, we could make a case that natural catastrophic events highlight the hubris of human technology that obscures the spiritual intent of challenges. The world soul currently is filled with anxiety over feelings that something has gone terribly wrong, and that the danger is unsolvable by technology.

In Steiner’s worldview illness and suffering can actually be a hidden blessing for the development of spiritual consciousness in an individual. Expanded to a national level what is to be said of suffering of people that are tied to the health threat now being faced in countries worldwide? Is this event natural or unnatural? Is this an act of God or a human technical/magical drama akin to the sorcerer’s apprentice? Will the people who will have to adjust to a shattered economic system be considered as victims, martyrs, prophets or weaklings? In the large scale flow of karmic forces in the cosmos are the events taking place in the world paying a debt, or enacting a deed of sacrifice for the purpose of awakening a global consciousness towards a better world?

In other areas of the world stage today the firestorm of racial conflicts and upheavals was instigated by the death of a single individual at the callous inhuman hands of another single individual. That single deed when seen as an image to millions proved to be the straw that broke the political camel’s back for a large body of human souls who have been oppressed under egregious social systems. The firestorm of reaction was fanned by contemporary media that gives the world access to the cell-phone-on-the-street viewpoint of such events. At face value this level of reportage has a neutral journalistic scruple. It is both positive stimulus for social change but also, when repeated again and again over the world on the internet, the sheer repetition enhances the inflammatory nature of this kind of news programming. Further, the avalanche of coverage prompts a constant flow of conflicting accounts out of independent sources that expand in an unsettling confusion

of opinions. In biblical times, the role of ancestor Adam in Paradise was to give names to the un-named. Today, lacking an opportunity for reaching the truth about most things, humans satisfy that fundamental naming urge by forming an opinion. Today powerful unconscious forces spread out from the daily conflict of public opinion between consciously informed and proudly un-informed minds. When coupled to repeated graphic

Painting by Dennis Klocek

sensationalism of on-the-spot imagery of tragedies the result is general unconscious emotional instability. These unconscious forces run counter to what could become reasoned interaction among the people who karmically must experience the challenge. The social chaos that ensues from the combination of incessant imagery and incessant opinion without experience blocks the development of true compassion for the plight of others.

Paradoxically, through those same media channels, oppressed and challenged minorities are revealing to the world media remarkable self restraint, resilience and self sacrifice in the face of their trials. Their actions show that even in terrible trials; human ideals can be manifested. Human history reveals that when populations are faced with powerful trials what generally emerges is the brightness of the human spirit. Controlled emotion in trials of oppression gives strength and resolve to the will. However, the emotional challenges of those who are just spectators of the actual struggle require a different kind of will. The lack of immediacy in the face of the absorption of relentless imagery of the sufferings of others can lead to a deep sense of helplessness and futility. We take in the terror of the imagery but are powerless to do anything constructive about the reality of the situation. This is destabilizing and dangerous and leads to a broader spread of unconsciousness. Is there anything that can be done to help this situation? Rudolf Steiner has pointed to several approaches to the inner life that can be of use to souls stressed by the implications of these contemporary challenges. Steiner addressed these approaches by reference to three spiritual beings, Archangel Michael, the Black Madonna or Pistis Sophia and the Etheric Christ.

The Michaelic impulse centers on the capacity of humans to realize that demands for diversity that result in exclusionary language, blaming, and retribution, backfire into hindrances that restrict resolution. Transforming these separatist, divisive impulses is the mission of Archangel Michael. Michael acts as the liaison between the whole of humanity and the spirit of the Human Individuality that Rudolf Steiner recognized as Christ in the Etheric realm. The Archangel Michael is, among high spiritual beings, an advocate for the collective struggles of all human beings who are learning to deal with the the conflicting impulses of freedom of the individual that must be transformed to love for the collective. Michael’s mission is to eventually evolve a collective humanity that is dedicated to the total freedom of each individual. We are in the first initial steps in this direction and the path forward is a torturous one since the realization of the new humanity would jeopardize the dark future envisioned by the cosmic adversaries of humans. To collaborate with Michael it is necessary for each individual human being to strive to become master of the inner pictures that instigate feelings

that are experienced unconsciously with each sense impression. Achieving this is admittedly a goal for the far future but human beings are just at the beginning of the work and so Michael is resolute and reserved and makes no judgments. Michael has great patience with our failings if we make the effort to become conscious of sensory inputs that cascade into opinions that are just amplified personal feelings.

A Michaelic exercise related to world events would be to form as clear a picture of an event as possible in the mind’s eye. Then form another picture of the same event along with what took place a bit later. Then repeat those two images again but add the next developments that arose even a bit later. The whole exercise would be to form three consecutive inner images of a sequence of events as clearly as possible without allowing emotional content

such as anxiety, fear or anger color the images. This is a Michaelic deed on the inner planes. In this deed of self control of inner pictures in response to outer stimuli we make the soul or astral body conform to objective reality. This draws our soul closer to world phenomena that are free of prejudice and anxiety. This level of will is the realm of karma. Through such an exercise

the soul is gradually led to ask can the event just prior to the first picture be known? Will an insight into that event move the mind towards more certainty? Sequencing exercises are a first step and Michael is our advocate in this work to deal with pictures that come to us from the world and the struggle to make our emotional responses to them conscious.

The second step is to enlist the attention of the great source of inspiration for the alchemical adepts of the past, the Black Madonna or the Pistis Sophia. This is done by thinking the sequence of images formed during the Michaelic objectivity exercise backwards into a state of silence. If there is a strong emotional content in the images used in the first exercise it generally takes several attempts of trying to imagine them backwards, since the soul wants them to emotionally unfold forwards. Thinking backwards in image sequences helps to dissolve the emotions connected with the images making it possible to attain a state of inner balance and understanding about the actual events. Once silence is achieved the being of the Black Madonna can be experienced in the astral planes as the capacity to accept and in that way understand circumstances that are clearly out of one’s control and yet clearly are part of the world karma of the situation. The Black Madonna watches over humans who are facing the darkness and terror of the unknown. She is an intercessor and mentor about the hidden karmic wisdom of the cosmos at play in widespread human challenges. The Black Madonna is a source of wisdom that allows a human soul to realize that an individual life is actually lived to advance all other human beings. We could say that the Black Madonna allows an anxious human to realize

2

The Michaelic impulse centers on the capacity of humans to realize that demands for diversity that result in exclusionary language, blaming, and retribution, backfire into hindrances that restrict resolution.

that forces are at work in world events that are beyond human understanding but are very wise and caring. The integrity of the inner life of images in the human soul is the pearl of great price in the battle between the progressive and retarding forces in the spiritual world. The Black Madonna teaches patience in the anxious darkness of unknowing. These two exercises that draw the attention of these two great spiritual beings provide a wealth of support for an anxious humanity. It is most effective to do the Michaelic c o n c e n t r a t i o n exercise and the Black Madonna backwards into silence exercise together in sequence just before sleep.

This is a summons of these two beings to that between sleep and another awakening. These two great beings guide the individual human soul to interact with the souls of the “so-called-dead” who dwell in the dream dimension that is the source of world karmic events. This dimension formerly known as the realm of the ancestors can be the source of much healing and understanding to those whose souls are fraught with anxiety over world events. Humans benefit from having Michael and the Black Madonna as benefactors and guides in these domains. They just have to be asked to help.

In the morning a period of silence based on listening to one’s heartbeat is useful to gather the dewdrops of any insights that have come out of the sleep/dream realms from the evening exercises. This is best developed by attention devoted to listening into the heartbeat followed by a period of silence. This is done to see if the mood of dreaming has left any feeling impressions in the soul. Other exercises such as repeating mantras or praying a rosary are also useful additions at this time for absorbing dream moods from across the threshold. The esoteric techniques needed for an understanding of the karma of these large events require that humans return again and again in their imaginations to the controlled formation of conscious inner representation of symptoms they individually perceive of world karma. These images must be controlled by the individual and not simply be reruns of past sensory or media inputs. Self-controlled sequences of moving images that are given over in sleep and retrieved again in the morning are highly beneficial and stabilizing.

The first step is the evening meditational flow of the forming and backward dissolving of self selected inner pictures of world events. The second step in the morning is less meditational and more devotional. Listening to your heart and establishing a devotional prayer practice allows for deeper insights to arise in the soul regarding the true karmic implications of world events.

The use of the evening and the morning as a rhythmic counterpoint in the inner planes followed by a devotional practice puts us into contact with the Christ impulse in the life body of the

3

Earth. A key symptom in the mind that the life body of the Earth is being entered is the arising of an interest in understanding planetary rhythms and cycles both in natural seasonal phenomena and in the life of the soul. Esotericists understand that the background to human evolution can be explored through a higher perception of the rhythmic nature of world phenomena seen against a backdrop of planetary events. To find my True

Self I must enter consciously into the rhythmic becoming of the world and to understand the world I must enter consciously into the rhythmic becoming of my True Self. The task is to unite these two rhythms through some sort of practice. Steiner has suggested that, in this regard, a consciousness of

festival life in community is a productive and creative path.

According to Rudolf Steiner the Christ being works particularly through the morning and evening forces to rhythmically regulate chaotic astral realms. Chaos threatens human souls when they obsess about pictures that result in feelings of powerlessness. When such pictures are accompanied with information that oscillates wildly between truth, half-truth and actual lying the stage is set for psychic aberrations on a mass scale. From an esoteric point of view, these kinds of mass feelings of chaos and powerlessness enter the life body of the Earth and further irritate or reverberate anomalous natural events including pathogens. To prevent this, Christ as the Spirit of the Earth, uses human attention that is free of anxiety and prejudice to harmoniously link the destiny of the Earth to the great demands of cosmic evolution. By enlisting the help of these three great beings, humans gain powerful advocates in the struggle against the dark forces that threaten to engulf human souls in paralyzing anxiety during times of crisis and uncertainty.

According to Rudolf Steiner the Christ being works particularly through the morning and evening forces to rhythmically regulate chaotic astral realms. Chaos threatens human souls when they obsess about pictures that result in feelings of powerlessness.

Dennis Klocek is an artist, scientist, teacher, researcher, gardener, and alchemist.

Dennis’ work focuses on soul work, meditation, conscious-ness and physiology, biody-namic gardening, weather, and teaching.

He has a new and revised website at:dennisklocek.com.

4

The First Ever Online Art DispersalWilling the Good: Love, Action, Healing

by Patricia Lynch

An art dispersal is a form that addresses two serious problems in our culture. Number one, people are not able to live with original art in their homes and workplaces. The enlivening healing power

of original art is not available. Original art is too expensive for most people to purchase. With galleries doing the pricing and taking 50 to 60%, the prices are just too high for most people to afford. But there is also an elitism around galleries, many people feel that it is not a place for them and so they never even enter. Number two, artists are not supported. Artists need financial support but they also need our interest and appreciation. One artist said after participating in an art dispersal, “I had a gallery show recently with the same pieces and although people were polite, I took home all my 20 paintings after the month. I felt like giving up painting. In the art dispersal most of my paintings found homes and people’s enthusiasm for living with my art was inspiring. I am going home to create. The money I received was not as much as my paintings were priced at the gallery but because so many of them were taken it was significant to me”.

This is the way our culture could be. There could be art in people’s spaces and artists could be appreciated and financially supported. But we need new forms. One of these is an art dispersal. Art dispersal is an event where we hang up original works of art and invite people to become their stewards. They can take a piece home, keep it for as long as they like, return it to the artist if they no longer want to keep it or pass it on to someone else who wants it. Stewards are encouraged to make a contribution that is possible for them.

Free Columbia has run 15 Art Dispersals over the past 8 years, with over 640 paintings (as well as other works of art) dispersed to stewards in Hudson, Philmont, Spring Valley, and Manhattan, NY; Eugene and

“Finding the Circle“ 11x11” egg tempera P.Homan Lynch

Regional Celebration

for 100 Years of Anthroposophic Medicine

by Dr. John Takas DO

The Medical Section at Dornach, lead by Methias Girke, with speakers like Michaela Gloeckler are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Anthroposophic medicine, and requesting

worldwide regional meetings to occur on Saturday, September 19 at local times between 10am - 3pm Pacific Time.

Honoring that request, Bothmer Hall (5915 SE Division St. in Portland, OR) will host a meeting in accordance with the Governor’s most recent decree allowing indoor gymnasium cultural meetings with masks and social spacing.

The event will begin at 10am, and include a presentation by Dr. John Takacs on the vital forces underlying the Anthroposophically inspired therapeutic modalities, ranging from the vital processes of remedy manufacturing, to the curative forces mobilized by Eurythmy, Haushka rhythmical massage and Spacial Dynamics, and the healing benefits of Artistic, Music and Voice therapies that have been augmented by Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy.

Local Anthroposophic therapeutic practitioners will lead participants in activities such as those listed above in ways respectful of governmental pandemic restrictions, and additional Anthroposophic therapeutic speakers will bring contributions alternating with the activities. The event is anticipated to end about noon. This is not considered a drop in anytime event, please come at 10am.

Please RSVP by Wednesday 9/17/20 to DrJohn@Anthroclinic.com so we can arrange the meeting space in compliance with regulations.

“ Venerate four characters: the sanguine who has checked volatility and the rage for plea-sure; the choleric who has subdued passion and pride; the phlegmatic emerged from indolence; and the melancholic who has dismissed avarice, suspicion and asperity. ”

~ Johann Kasper Lavate

Swiss poet, writer, philosopher, physiognomist and theologian. (1741-1801)

5

Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; and Jarna, Sweden and at the past two Annual General Meetings of the Anthroposophical Society in New Orleans and Atlanta.

When the Anthroposophical Society decided that the AGM in October 2020 would be held online, Laura Summer and Patricia Lynch decided to take the dispersal online too. The form we will use is to solicit paintings and other arts from interested artists and make a Flickr album so people can see them. During the days of the AGM Laura and Patricia will be on Zoom to disperse the paintings to people who wish to become their stewards. Artwork will be shipped at the steward’s expense or picked up by the steward if they are local. Stewards will be provided with the suggested donation range that begins at zero and ends at what the artist would price the painting at if they sold it privately, (gallery price would be double). In this way everyone can find an amount that works for them and at the same time provides support for the artist. All donations will be pooled and distributed to the artists whose work was dispersed. A small portion of the money realized will support the project and the Anthroposophical Society.

Join in the very first digital art dispersalat the Anthroposophical Society’s Annual Conference

• October 9, 10 & 11, 2020• Willing the Good:Love, Action, Healing• Paintings by many local artists!!!! • Register at: anthroposophy.org/willingthegood

More information can be found on the websites of the Anthroposophical Society https://anthroposophy.organd Free Columbia https://www.freecolumbia.org/art-dispersal

“Cleverness, then, has been furnished us in abun-dance by the last few centuries; but what we need today is warmth of Gemüt, and this anthroposophy can provide. When someone studying anthroposo-phy says it leaves him cold, he reminds me of one who keeps piling wood in the stove and then com-plains that the room doesn’t get warm. Yet all he needs to do is to kindle the wood, then it will get warm. Anthroposophy can be presented, and it is the good wood of the soul; but it can be enkindled only by each within himself. Whatw everyone must find in his Gemüt is the match wherewith to light anthroposophy. Anthroposophy is in truth warm and ardent: it is the very soul of the Gemüt; and he who finds this anthroposophy cold and intellectual and matter-of-fact just lacks the means of kindling it so it may pervade him with its fire. And just as only a little match is needed to light ordinary wood, so an-throposophy, too, needs only a little match. But this will enkindle the force of Michael in man.”

September 28, 1923 (GA 223)

The Portland Branchof the Anthroposophical Society

Invites You to

Save The Dates!

Saturday, September 12, 10am-12pm

Conversation with the Portland Branch CouncilThe Hopes’ Garden2606 SE 58th Ave., Portland (see article in this newsletter)

September 19, 10am-3pm

Regional Celebrationfor 100 Years of Anthroposophic Medicine (see article in this newsletter)

On the Human Gemüt:

“So the content of the human Gemüt can be this: The power of the Dragon is working within me, trying to drag me down. I do not see it — I feel it as something that would drag me down below myself. But in the spirit I see the luminous Angel whose cosmic task has always been the vanquishing of the Dragon. I concentrate my Gemüt upon this glowing figure, I let its light stream into my Gemüt, and thus my il-lumined and warmed Gemüt will bear within it the strength of Michael. And out of a free resolution I shall be able, through my alliance with Michael, to conquer the Dragon’s might in my own lower nature.”

September 27, 1923 (GA 223)

Seasonal Words from Rudolf Steiner

6

An Embarrassment of Riches – the Branch has in its possession more than 3,000 Anthroposophical books and periodicals which have been donated over time.

Please join the Council for conversation and problem solving as to how we may best, as a community, address our responsibilities to Anthroposophy in this matter. Saturday, September 1210 am-12pm

The Hopes’ Garden2606 SE 58th Ave., Portland

Please contact Valerie Hope if you intend to attend. valerieannhpdx@aol.com

Dear Friends - members of the Portland Branch Community, The Council needs your engagement and creativity as we seek to determine what can and should be done with our treasure trove of Anthroposophical books. Please join the Council for conversation and problem solving as to how we may best, as a community, address our responsibilities to Anthroposophy in this matter. In structured conversation the Council, and some interested Branch members, began our thinking about the books as follows: A value was expressed that the books be in circulation, accessible and usable, not stored away somewhere. We considered what the purpose(s) of the books are, (about half of the total) that are currently housed in our ‘library’ at the Portland Waldorf school, the other half are housed in a trailer. • To provide the opportunity for people to encounter Anthroposophy• To allow people to continue learning about Anthroposophy• To support study group members who may not have their own copy of a book We then discussed some alternative ways that these purposes might be served: • The Kamaloka Café – This is an ideal which would require resources to create. It would be a place that would not only house the library, it would provide gathering space for the community. One idea was that it could possibly be a shared space with an income producing activity.

• Consideration was given to what might be done with the books

From the

PortlandBranch Council

if this ideal were not realized, given the value of keeping them in circulation.

• All or some of the books could be sold, giving community members first choice of them with a local sale. Some might be sold through the internet or Powell’s bookstore.

• Donate books. Find out whether other Branches/Groups, the Prison Outreach Program, or the national Anthroposophical Library might want them. • Status quo with our library at PWS; come up with a system to loan them given that PWS no longer has a librarian, and access at PWS is currently uncertain.

These ideas are intended as a beginning to get your own creative juices flowing. We look forward to creating together around this question of how best to serve Anthroposophy. Warmly, Council members Sara Genta, Valerie Hope, James Knight, Walter Rice, Jerry Soloway

Sharing Eurythmy with the Broader Community

In these quickly changing and challenging times we are all looking for ways to bring us joy, community, and centering. Eurythmy can bring all of these together. Sarah Rem and Carrie Mass are looking for ways to bring Eurythmy to our broader community. If you are a part of a small group or a home schooling group and would like to have eurythmy for yourself or your children please contact them at:Carecare0@gmail.com or Sannerem@gmail.com.

We look forward to sharing this healing art of movement with those who seek it!

Now, you can start to think of making lasagna: with three main ingredients: dry leaves, manure, and kitchen scraps. Think of soil as the ‘ricotta’ layer. Keep your garden hose handy and moisten each dry layer.

Start with dried leaves (not oak or walnut) or straw, then a bit of soil. Each layer can be quite thin - 2” or so. Next layer, cow manure. In case you want to see how particular you can get: the ideal cow manure is from a lactating cow. But, for us, just try to get cow manure. Any manure can work, if that is all you can get. I have even used chicken manure - gasp, once! Next a thin layer of soil, then dried leaves again, then kitchen scraps (or grass clippings, anything green), another thin layer of soil and continue alternating the three components with soil in between each layer.. Keep going until all your kitchen greens are used up. Put another layer of soil all over the sides and top (if gravity

works with you on this, otherwise, just put soil on top). Then cover the whole mound with straw or dried leaves. Breathe a large sigh of relief and get ready for the interesting part. Now you get to make your pile into a Biodynamic pile by adding the compost preps. Set out the little baggies of #502 - Yarrow, #503 - Chamomile, #504 - Stinging Nettle, #505 - Oak Bark, #506 - Dandelion. And last but not least: #507 - Valerian, which comes in a small vial. You will need some filtered water and a wooden spoon in a quart mason jar, for...you guessed it, a little stirring). Next month I will write about these compost preps and what they each give to the pile in terms of soil fertility. Because really, in western Oregon it can be just right to build your compost pile in early October. But, do not take this as an excuse to let go of the intention to get the pile built at Michaelmas. It is best to plan early and then if something gets in the way, well, you still have time left to get the project done right on time.

Now, grab a broom handle or stout dowel and poke five separate holes around the upper sides of the pile, keeping them about equidistant from each other. Just do your best at this, no micrometer needed. Try to go quite deep into the pile, angling in toward the center. Take each prep and put one type of prep per hole, pushing it in as deeply as you can with the broom handle. Some people combine each prep with damp soil and make a little ball that can roll into the hole. Close up each opening after you have inserted each prep. And now you can empty the bit of #507 - valerian juice - into the mason jar, with about a pint of water and stir it for 8 - 10 minutes.

Urban Biodynamic Gardening:

Let’s Build the Compost Pile

with Sandra Burch

The time is coming: time to build a biodynamic compost pile. I never even thought of doing this, until I was ordering preps from Josephine Porter Institute one summer and the gal on

the phone said, “We have to get you to build a compost heap. It’s easy. The compost is the best you will ever find. You really ought to try it.” And as with most things, I ordered the set of compost preps and then set about reading someone else’s directions on what to do. In my next life I want to be the child of (wise and kind) biodynamic farmers! For this time around, I basically have to wing it.

While you are getting up the nerve to build a pile, start thinking about a location. Maybe in a place in your yard that has always had poor or unhappy soil. Try not to build it on the roots of a tree, especially not a tree that grows like a weed. I have done this, and it’s amazing how much the compost helps the weed (I mean tree) thrive. Some tree roots also love to grow into the compost, making it difficult to dig.

As with any recipe, it is best to understand the basics, and then work with what you have on hand. This can make for some pretty creative looking compost piles. It is better to build a quirky or not quite perfect compost heap, than to build no pile at all. Give it a try and then take notes, you are a researcher after all. There are lots of ways to get very fancy (I mean specific) about where to locate and how to build a BD compost pile. However, for simplicity’s sake (and for sanity in general), I suggest you say a blanket ‘prayer’ to the elemental beings that goes something like this: “I have basically no idea what I am doing. You know how foolish I actually am. If you would be willing to help me set this up right, I would be truly grateful. I will remember you. And thanks for all you do to help my garden grow.” Okay, now you have a sense of where you will build your pile. If you are short on space, you can dig a hole, about a foot deep, (keeping the soil to use to build the pile), and build your pile in the ground. Either way, loosen the dirt and dig down a couple of inches. Put some dried stalks or very thin branches down as the base layer. Add some water if the stalks are very dry - go for moistening, not drenching.

6 7

Editor: A compost pile of the simplest means at hand. The cows have made their contribution as well as some old toilets! What a marvelous sight to see.

8

Stir first one way and then the other, alternating vortices. Then sprinkle the mixture over the pile. This is from Beth Wieting: “Some people drive a 6th hole from the top of the pile into the center, pour one half the valerian in, and then sprinkle the rest over the pile. The valerian helps all the other preparations work together in the right way. Earthworms love it.”

I have never had to turn a small BD compost pile. When the layers are quite thin, most everything decomposes easily. Sometimes I put a tarp over the pile as the weather turns rainy and wet in the winter. By spring time you can uncover your pile and dig in to crumbly amazing compost. It just might feel like you turned dross into gold.

If it is still not possible to build an actual compost pile, you might make a connection with the compost preps while waiting for the right time and place to make your own compost heap. One way anyone can explore the compost preps is to sketch or paint the plant used in making each prep.

Some big news happened in the BD world this June. Hugh Courtney, who has mentored so many, made his way across the threshold on June 15. Now, instead of having to figure out how to get to the east coast to attend a workshop, we can just ask Hugh our questions anytime and anywhere we want. I bet he will still offer energetic answers. We might have to learn how to listen in a new way though. See: https://www.biodynamics.com/blog/honoring-hugh-courtney

From Hugh’s introduction in “What is Biodynamics?” writing about the preps: “It matters not whether we use them on the acreage of a huge farm or on a small backyard garden. What matters most is that all nine are used. Implant the sword of Micha-el in the earth through the preparations. Use them to summon the elementals to serve the Christ. Take up our human task of spiritualizing the Earth.” As we enter Autumn and turn clearly toward Micha-el, doesn’t building a mucky pile of waste, with special substances, present a fitting picture of what our tasks boil down to in these days of fake news, conspiracy theories and division?

Introspection by Pablo Feliz

Introduction: I created this print based on what I would roughly describe as a mood of our conscious-ness epoch. The feeling of still being at-tached in so many ways to the past with blood, race, gender ties - but how in certain ways we are already moving into the future and away from those traditional ties.

Media & Dimensions: Woodblock print on paper (16"x16")

For these bitter times:

“Beekeeping advances civilization because it makes man strong. Nothing is better for man than to add a little honey, in right measure, to his food. The bees, in a wonderful way, give man what he needs for the work of his soul. When he adds honey to his food he prepares his soul to work properly in his body. Bees ensure that man recieves what is right for him. When one sees a hive of bees, one should say to oneself with awe and reverence, “By way of the beehive the whole universe flows into man and makes us good, capable people.” ~ Rudolf Steiner

Barefoot and black,The boy kicked and splashed The white water,Polluting it. Everyone had to be evacuated. They had told him:Do Not Touch the Water. But he was too young and playfulTo see the water’s edge as a wall. He crashed into it,Breaking his bones -For they needed to be setInto the casteTo be straightened;To keep everyone safe and clean.

The Indian bone-settersUsed their bare handsIn the desert. They had no caste,No fear of feeling Broken bones in a person.It wasn’t bones that brokeLike shattered glass,They said,Only scattered people,Alone and scared:That was their pollution.But that was long ago,When the waters were clean and pure.

And though the boy can swim and play now,With his caste on,Everyone tries to ignore it;But they can’t anymore. The water is contaminated,And the boy can’t take the fall again. The pollution is deeper than skin and bones,It is in the air between us,We all have to breathe it in,It’s even in our schools: It has spread around the world. They tell us:Do Not Touch Each Other. But the children are too young and playful To see the wall between them. So they mark it with colored tape,And they make them wear their casteOn their faces,To set them straight;To keep everyone safe and healthy;To love one anotherBy protecting each other From each other’s pollutionAnd brokenness: Solved by a new casteOf All against All. Yet this is only a shadow, casteAnd not the lightThat can be seen and feltEven in the bones.

Caste

by Michael Givens

On the Duty of Clear, Sound Thinkingby Rudolf Steiner

Editor: The following is an excerpt from a lecture by Rudolf Steiner dated January 1, 1916 (GA 165) that has been titled, “On the Duty of Clear, Sound Thinking.” The whole lecture can be found on the Rudolf Steiner Archive: https://wn.rsarchive.org/GA/GA0165/19160101p01.html

Clever such a man might be

who believes that because Goethe had to express his whole genius by means of twenty-three letters, A.B.C. and so on, — we could learn nothing of his genius or of his ideas, — clever he might be who used such an excuse and still maintained that he had before him nothing but the twenty-three chance letters grouped in various ways! ‘Away with your explanations,’ he would say, ‘they are but fancy, I see nothing before me but letters!’

Clever, in the same way, is he who says: The world beyond is infinite, we cannot learn anything of it, for we know only what comes to us through our chance-senses.

The fact is that such inaccurate thinking does not only exist in the domain of which I am speaking, where it comes very crudely into evidence, it is present everywhere. It is active in the profoundly unhappy events of the present day, for these would not be what they are if the thinking of all humanity was not permeated with what has been pointed out in a somewhat crude form.

People will never be able to take the right interest in such things, I mean the things concerned with the true efforts of man for his real progress — true effort in the, sense of Spiritual Science — if they have not the will really to enter into such matters, if they have not the desire to recognise the things of which man stands in need. Objections are ever being raised from this side and from that, to the teaching of Spiritual Science, that it is only accessible to those who have clairvoyant perception of the spiritual worlds. People will not believe that this is not true, that what is required is, that by thought they should really be able to attain understanding of that which the seer is able to bring forth out of the spiritual world. It is not to be wondered at that people cannot to-day grasp with their thought what the seer derives from the spiritual world, when thought is built up in this way I have described. This kind of thought is ‘trumps’ and rules life in every department.

It is not because man is unable to understand with his thoughts all that Spiritual Science teaches, that it fails to be understood, but because he permits himself to be infected with the slip-shod thinking of the present day. Spiritual Science should stimulate us to intensive, c o u r a g e o u s thinking; that is what matters: and it is well able to do this.

Of course, as long as we take Spiritual Science in such a way that we only talk about the things with which it is concerned, we shall not advance very much in the establishing of the thought for the future of humanity, which is exactly the mission of our movement to establish. When, however, we take the trouble really to understand — really to grasp the things, the matter taught, — we shall certainly make progress.

It is not because man is unable to understand with his thoughts all that Spiritual Science teaches, that it fails to be understood, but because he permits himself to be infected with the slip-shod thinking of the present day. Spiritual Science should

stimulate us to intensive, courageous thinking; that is what matters: and it is well able to do this.

9

Calendar of the SoulWeek 22

The light from world-wide spacesLives powerfully on within.It turns to light of soulAnd shines into the Spirit depthsThe fruits to liberate, which letThe Self of man from Self of worldsMature in time’s continuing flow.

Week 23

Autumnal haze now dampens downThe senses’ animating zest.In radiant glory of the lightDull veils of mist are woven.My Self in width of space beholdsThe autumn’s winter sleep.The summer has on me,Its very self bestowed.

Week 24

Ever anew itself creating,Soul life of itself becomes aware.The spirit of the world strives on,New-quickened in self knowledge;And from soul darkness it createsThe selfhood’s will-born fruits.

Week 25

I to myself may now belong,And radiantly shed inner lightInto the dark of time and spaceAll natural being inclines to sleepThe depths of soul shall be awakeAnd, waking, bear the Sun’s warm glowInto the winter’s surging cold.

Michaelmas Mood

Nature! Your soul of motherhoodI bear within the being of my will;And this will’s fiery mightSteels my Spirit’s impulses,That self-awareness they beget,To bear my Self in me.

Calendar translationby Liselotte and William Mann

The Portland Branch Newsletter is published monthly to serve Branch members and friends. To learn more about the Portland Branch of the Anthroposophical Society, contactDiane Rumage at 971-271-7479.

To submit an article or a calendar item email it to Christopher Guilfoil: c.guilfoil@gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Items selected for publication may be edited for style, content and length. To sign up for our newsletter/email list go to: http://www.portlandbranch.org and click on the button at the top of the right hand column on the home page.

The newsletter and calendar are posted on the Branch website, www.portlandanthroposophy.org. Paper copies are available at the Pohala and Healthbridge Clinics; and the Cedarwood, Micha-el,Portland and Swallowtail Waldorf Schools.

Our current newsletter team: Editor, design, layout, and illustra-tions: Christopher Guilfoil; Editing and proofreading: Valerie Hope & Wes Burch; Calendar: Jeremy Davis; Printing and distribution: Jerry Soloway; Webmaster Angelica Hesse; Treasurer: James Knight

The Portland Branch thanks the following Members & Friends for their Dues and Generous Donations in 2020:

Christine Badura, Virginia Berg, Diane Bolduc, Wes Burch, Sandra Burch, Jeremy Davis, Stacy Durych, Amanda Eastman, Sara Genta, Deborah Ham, Mark Hope,Valerie Hope, Marsha Johnson, Lauren Johnson, Tish Johnson, Lisa Jones, Donna Patterson Kellum, Bob Kellum, Tom Klein, Ruth Klein, Timothy Kennedy, James Knight, Anne Kollender, Martin Levin, Judith Levin, Robin Lieberman, Michele Limas, Regina Loos, Patricia Lynch, Lisa Masterson, Brian McClure, Jennifer McNeal, Cheri Munske, Padeen Quinn, Robin O’Brien, Nancy Peirce, Jeff Rice, Walter Rice, Susan Rice, Diane Rumage, Rebecca Soloway, Jerry Soloway, Elizabeth Webber, Brian Wickert

Your 2020 dues will be gratefully received:Thank you for helping to make our lively community life possible. A typical contribution is $50, but no amount is too large or too small. You can send a check to The Portland Branch, c/o Valerie Hope 2606 SE 58th Ave.,Portland, OR 97206. Or you can donate online at portlandbranch.org.

You can also make your contribution online, by clicking ‘pay here’ toward the bottom of the right-hand column on the home page of our website, portlandbranch.org.

We would like to gratefully acknowledge the following who

generously provide spaces for our many activities: Dr. Joan and John Takacs for their long-standing donation of Bothmer Hall;

Another Way to Donate to the Portland BranchIf you shop at Amazon and use the following link, a small dona-tion, .5% of the price of your eligible purchases will be donated to the Portland Branch. smile.amazon.com/ch/93-1269233

10

Primary Care Infused with the Aloha Spiritintegrating Anthroposophic Medicine.

Julie E. Foster, MSN, FNP

7477 SE 52nd Ave.Portland, OR 97206 contact@pohalaclinic.com (503) 572-4196

HEALTHBRIDGE INC.3046 NE 33RD AVE.PORTLAND 97212503-331-7393donnapk@comcast.netDONNA PATTERSON KELLUM LMT

Donna provides adjunctive therapy for acute and chronic conditions including anxiety and depression, headache,TMJ and musculoskeletal problems re-lated to trauma, also circulatory, respiratory, hormonal and digestive prob-

lems, diabetes, immune disorders and allergies. As a life-long learner with intense interest in the human body, soul and spirit, Donna has taken extensive professional continuing education courses over the past 30 years. She now integrates over a dozen manual therapies with emphasis on advanced craniosacral therapy, lymph drainage, and visceral massage, all of which is further informed by anthroposophic trainings in rhythmical massage, chirophonetics and psychology. While her inter-face is light with a strong energetic component, she does not consider this “energy work”. Familiarity with anatomical details, bio-mechanics and physiology makes her work feel warm and nurturing in a way akin to what Steiner calls “re-membering” (umformung), awakening the body to its own restorative processes of rhythm and breathing, its inner kinship with the Light, and facilitating then its own healing powers which can be profoundly transformative.

“The possibility of illness is due to the possibility of becoming human beings…”--Rudolf Steiner

First Class of the School of Spiritual Science Sunday, September 13, 9:30am • Lesson I • Bothmer Hall, 5919 SE Division St, Portland, 97206 • Blue card required. • Contact Cheri Munske, cherimunske@gmail.com, Diane Rumage, drumage@comcast.net, or Rebecca Soloway, rrsoloway1@gmail.com

Portland Branch Council Meeting Monday, September 14, 7pm • Conducted via Zoom • Contact Valerie Hope, valerieannhpdx@aol.com All Branch members are welcome to attend, and/or call us with agenda items, proposals, suggestions, or to observe. Please contact Valerie to let her know you’d like to attend. Meetings are normally held on the second Monday of the month.

The Foundation Stone and Eurythmy September 2 through October 10 • Contact Carrie Mass, carecare0@gmail.com Classes offered with Carrie Mass and Daniel Stokes. Come experience the Foundation Stone Meditation in a whole new way - through movement, with the art of eurythmy. Imagine hearing the words of this enlivening meditation spoken aloud while learning simple eurythmy. Daniel brings artistry and playfulness to the spoken word. Carrie practiced and performed Foundation Stone with Lemniscate Arts for 12 years. Six sessions - you may choose between Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8 or Saturday mornings 9:00 to 10:30, starting September 2nd running through the week of October 10th. $120 for the series of six. Please do not let the cost keep you away, contact Carrie Mass about a sliding scale/donation. Space is limited. Please register by going to Pacific Eurythmy's website: PacificEurythmy.com, where up to date information can be found or contact Carrie Mass at carecare0@gmail.com.

Community Conversation: Creating a Place for the Branch Library, Donated Books Saturday, September 12, 10am-12pm • 2606 SE 58th Ave, Portland, 97206 • Contact Valerie Hope, valerieannhpdx@aol.com The Council needs your engagement and creativity as we seek to determine what can and should be done with our treasure trove of 3,000 Anthroposophical books and periodicals. Please join the Council for conversation and problem solving as to how we may best, as a community, address our responsibilities to Anthroposophy in this matter. Hosted in the Hope’s garden. Please contact Valerie Hope if you plan to attend: valerieannhpdx@aol.com

During this time of physical distancing, please contact the group organizer for each ongoing activity to confirm if the group is still meeting and what protocols they might require.

First Class of the School of Spiritual Science • Second Sunday of the Month 9:30am sharp • Bothmer Hall, 5919 SE Division St, Portland, 97206 • Blue card required. Contact Cheri Munske: cherimunske@gmail.com, Diane Rumage: drumage@comcast.net, or Rebecca Soloway: rrsoloway1@gmail.com Council Meetings of the Portland Branch • Second Monday of the month 7-9pm • 2606 SE 58th Ave., Portland • Contact Valerie Hope, valerieannhpdx@aol.com All Branch members are welcome to attend, and/or to call us with agenda items, proposals, suggestions, or to observe. School of Spiritual Science Study • Second Thursday of the Month The First Class of the Michael School and its Christological Foundations by S. Prokofieff • For Members of the School of Spiritual Science 7:30-9:00 pm • Contact Rebecca Soloway, 516-850-1027, rrsoloway1@gmail.com

Manifestations of Karma Study Group • First Monday of the Month 7:45-9pm • Temporarily conducted via Zoom • Contact Jerry Soloway 503-908-7615, jrsoloway@hotmail.com Please join us in lively discussions centered on Rudolf Steiner’s Manifestations of Karma. Adult Eurythmy Class with Jolanda Frischknecht Tuesdays 6:30-8pm • Bothmer Hall, 5919 SE Division St., Portland 97206 • Cost: $20/session; paid monthly, sliding scale on request • Contact Jolanda, jolandamf44@gmail.com, or 503-896-3345 Feel free to drop in, invite friends.

Eurythmy for Waldorf Alumni: Wednesdays Study, 6:30-7:30pm; Eurythmy; 7:30-8:30 pm • Eurythmy Room, Portland Waldorf School, 2300 Harrison St., Milwaukie • Contact Carrie Mass, Carrie.mass@portlandwaldorf.org If you’ve ever attended a Waldorf High School, this is for you!

Ongoing Local Activities and Study Groups

Portland Branch Calendar September 2020

Eurythmy, Portland Waldorf School Community: Thursday Mornings 8:45-9:30am, Eurythmy Room, Portland Waldorf School, 2300 Harrison St., Milwaukie • Free - All are welcome. Contact Sarah Rem, sannerem@gmail.com 503-729-1740

Pacific Eurythmy, Open Classes for the Community in Anthroposophy and the Arts: Monday Evenings For details please see our website, www.PacificEurythmy.com or call Jolanda, 503-896-3345 or Carrie, 415-686-3791

Festivals Study Group: First and Third Friday Mornings The Festivals Group will be on hiatus until September. If you are interested in joining us then, or would like a conversation to find out more, please contact Valerie Hope, valerieannhpdx@aol.com Art as Spiritual Activity by Michael Howard • Friday Mornings 9:15-11am • Study group in NE Portland. The group starts each meeting with a short artistic activity and at this time we are singing led by Diane Rowley. All are welcome. • Contact Patricia Lynch at patriciahomanlynch@gmail.com Singing Circle at the Portland Waldorf School • Friday Mornings 8:45-10:15am • Portland Waldorf School, 2300 SE Harrison St., Milwaukie, in the Orchard Room • all voices are welcomed. Contact Julianne Renzema at momartist@yahoo.com. No practice during school breaks.

Speech Formation and Mystery Drama Group • Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday 7:25-8:55pm • 8654 NE Boehmer St, Portland, OR 97220 • Free. New participants accepted. No experience necessary, just enthusiasm and a love of the Word. • Contact Diane Rumage 971 271-7479 drumage@comcast.net Beginning Astrosophy Class • Every Tuesday 7-8:30pm • 8654 NE Boehmer St, Portland, OR 97220 • Free. This class will introduce participants to the basic principles of Astrosophy in a study of the works of Willi Sucher and Diane Rumage’s work with the stars, with indications that Rudolf Steiner gave for those interested in the cosmos. No previous knowledge necessary. Please bring blank paper and colored pencils to the class in case we need to use them. If you are just curious if you’d be interested, please feel free to come and check us out. • Contact Diane Rumage 971 271-7479 drumage@comcast.net Friday Book Study in Corvallis 5:15-6:15pm at the home of Renate Joy • 1020 NW 25th Street, Corvallis • Our new study is Rudolf Steiner's "Occult Science: An Outline" (If you are planning to buy this book, we suggest the classic translation by George and Mary Adams.) This is a great way to study anthroposophy in community with others, where different perspectives are shared, and understanding can deepen. Study of Gospel Lectures • Every Sunday 9-10:30am • Please call for venue • Free. Long established group of researchers reading and discussing Steiner lectures on the Gospels. • Contact Cliff W, 360-750-4858 or Suzanne W, 503-208-2426 Waldorf Education and Teacher Training Lectures and Courses Conducted throughout the year by the Micha-el Institute. Contact Jen Davis, 503-449-7387 jennifer@micha-elinstitute.com Waldorf Teacher Education, Eugene Two and Three year Career Training and Artistic Development Learn more at www.WTEE.org or call (541) 514-7905

Foundation StoneMeditation and

EurythmyMovement led by Carrie Mass

Speech by Daniel Stokes

Choose 6 sessions

Saturday mornings 9:30 -11or

Wednesday evenings 6:30- 8September 2nd through

October 10th

$120 for 6 sessions Do not let the cost keep you away.Contact Carrie Mass about a sliding

scale/donation atPacificEurythmy@gmail.com

Visit PacificEurythmy.com for up to dateinformation and registration or email Carrie

at PacificEurythmy@gmail.com

Pacific Eurythmy