Dear friends,I have a special invitation/request: I'm writing to ask whether you would join a circle of people around the country (and world) who would be willing to serve as an anthroposophical mentor to our Sound Circle Eurythmy Training students (currently nine women, in two groups, now in their 2nd and 4th years of the Training). This would simply require you to agree to interact with a student who would contact you by email, Skype, or phone (whichever you say you would prefer, and whichever you choose to provide!) if and when they feel the need for help when they are struggling with understanding an idea they have met when working with anthroposophy, and most specifically in this year's study of Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path (The Philosophy of Freedom/Spiritual Activity) . This idea has come out of a very concrete situation in which we have been unable to find a person to lead the students' study of Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path. Last year both groups worked their way through An Outline of Esoteric Science (Occult Science) and, in the two years before that, the 4th Years worked through Theosophy and How to Know Higher Worlds (How to Attain Knowledge of Higher Worlds). In addition, of course, other readings and studies are continually brought to bear on their eurythmy training by us and the SCE adjunct faculty. Last year I led the students in their study of An Outline of Esoteric Science, however, we feel is is imperative that the students experience as many different voices in this Training, and not just ours, their main teachers'. We have been quite successful in gathering a wonderful circle of experienced local people to serve as Adjunct Faculty, bringing their expertise to the students in the array of 'special subjects' with which we have enhanced our SCE Training. And now, we hope to take this a step further, in two directions:1) by asking the students to be more independent from us, on the one hand, and run their own self-directed study; and2) by deepening their connection to the wider anthroposophical world through this initiative. Practically, it could turn out that you don't receive a communication from anyone this year. Or, you might get a desperate message, asking for help to shed some light on a difficult paragraph in Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path. Honestly, we have no idea how the students will take up this offer! Please respond to me just as soon as you possibly can to let me know whether you are willing to join this little circle. And, should you choose to do so, please let me know how I should list your name and how you'd like a student to contact you, giving your phone number(s), email address, Skype address, mailing address (for questions of a less urgent nature!), etc. I sincerely hope a number of you will find this idea of great interest, and that you will be excited about the possibility of connecting with a future eurythmist or two to share some of your own experience with anthroposophy. And, whether or not you become a mentor in this way, I would be most grateful for suggestions of any other anthroposophists you think might be interested in joining this initiative. With warmest regards for your own work, and my thanks for your open-hearted consideration of this request, David-Michael Monasch for Sound Circle Eurythmy
True Botanica - Reminder -- This Week - A Webinar Presentation - A New Line of Anthroposophical Remedies! September 11, 2013, 7 PM CDT. After many years of hard work we are launching a unique line of anthroposophic/homeopathic remedies that are Verified to contain active potencies! The webinar will discuss in detail the products, how to use them, how to find them on our website(!) and more. Thanks to the wonders of modern electronics you will be able to ask questions, get live answers, etc. This is meant to be an interactive session for both professionals and interested lay people. Click here to register for the webinar. The Kolisko Validation article that we have posted online may be a good preparation/background material for the webinar. Click here to view full article pdf Questions? Let us know at webinar@truebotanica.com
Goethe's Theory of Colors: The Treatise that Inspired Kandinsky and Early Abstract Painting9/5/2013
I doubt I need to list for you the many titles of the 18th century German savant and polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, but allow me to add one or two that were new to me, at least: color theorist (or phenomenologist of color) and progenitor of abstract expressionism. As a fascinating Booktryst post informs us, Goethe’s book on color, Zur Farbenlehre (Theory of Colors), written in 1810, disputed the Newtonian view of the subject and formulated a psychological and philosophical account of the way we actually experience color as a phenomenon. In his account, Goethe describes how he came by his views: Along with the rest of the world I was convinced that all the colors are contained in the light; no one had ever told me anything different, and I had never found the least cause to doubt it, because I had no further interest in the subject. But how I was astonished, as I looked at a white wall through the prism, that it stayed white! That only where it came upon some darkened area, it showed some color, then at last, around the window sill all the colors shone… It didn’t take long before I knew here was something significant about color to be brought forth, and I spoke as through an instinct out loud, that the Newtonian teachings were false. Schopenhauer would later write that “[Goethe] delivered in full measure what was promised by the title of his excellent work: data toward a theory of colour. They are important, complete, and significant data, rich material for a future theory of colour.” It was a theory, Schopenhauer admits, that does not “[furnish] us with a real explanation of the essential nature of colour, but really postulates it as a phenomenon, and merely tells us how it originates, not what it is.” |
Sophia Institute offers a variety of programs, courses, publications and other resources to anyone interested in Anthroposophy and Waldorf/Steiner inspired education. Currently there are students from all over the world enrolled in the Sophia Institute online courses. Sophia Institute publications are available worldwide. The Sophia Institute newsletter and blog provide insights and information concerning the work of Anthroposophical initiatives, Waldorf/Steiner Schools, the Camphill Movement, and related endeavors. More ...
|