The Moon forces remain silent on these twelve Holy Nights, because the Moon year has ended, and the pure Sun Being is wanting to stream out into the universe to the waiting cosmos of stars...Instead of our usual imagination of the spiritual forces streaming down upon the Earth from the Zodiac, let us see it during these twelve nights as the inner spiritual Sun of the Earth streaming forth into the universe to illuminate one constellation each night in turn. We must take into account certain differences of the calendar year. The ancient calendar was Ptolemaic and based on the orbit of the Sun, the solar year taking 365½ days for the Sun to complete its orbit. Since that time, the Moon phases have been observed for their yearly calendar, for the Moon was easier to observe...the Moon calendar does not fit into the solar year, and thus the two rhythms are different, though the solar calendar is important for the observations of the seasons. What is called the sidereal month of the Moon is about 27½ days. This is the time that it takes the Moon to make a complete orbit through the Zodiac and return to the same place. The synodical month is the time that it takes for the Moon to meet with the Sun from one time to the next, which takes about 29½ days, or New Moon to New Moon, or from Full Moon to Full Moon, when the Moon is opposite the Sun and takes its full reflection. Because the rhythms of the Moon and the Sun are different, they cannot coincide on the calendar. Therefore, to the ancient peoples the Full Moon represented a rhythm of 29½ days, which made a lunar month and that does not coincide with our solar year, thought the Hebrews still use that calendar. Thus to these ancient peoples, their whole year contained twelve Full Moons. This must become more the Festival Birth of a Being experienced during those twelve Holy Nights, the Birth of an invisible Spiritual Being, of etheric and astral nature and reality. To experience this Birth is the great comfort that a real experience of the deep truths of Christianity can bring to humanity. In the future, we have to experience this as a reality, of a purely etheric or astral nature, connected with the starry world and yet shining forth from the Earth as well. It is connected with that spiritual stream which brings down the forces of the cosmos and reawakening them in the thinking, feeling, and willing of all people, so that the star may become a radiating star; for this Earth is still the dark planet of the universe. This new realization of human beings can bring into being this star world for the sake of the universe, for the Earth shall no longer receive, but the cosmos awaits that Sun-force streaming out from the cave and the crib in the midnight hour, out into the far spaces of the universe. The real Being that is born can be experienced by us on these twelve nights, and He lives on into the future, as He accompanies humanity as their silent Brother, deeply concerned with human destiny. The twelve Holy Nights throw open the gate of necessity into the realm of the real, for the Moon is slipping back and the Sun forces are temporarily unopposed. - From a lecture by Willi Sucher (date unknown). The full lecture in which each day is associated with a constellation can be found here, titled The Twelve Holy Nights. All of Willi Sucher's works are available for free download on the website, www.astrosophycenter.com.
By Richard Freed Time magazine’s November 7, 2016 cover story, “The Kids Are Not All Right,” reveals that our children and teens are tormented by dangerously high rates of depression, self-injurious cutting, and other serious emotional problems. Author Susanna Schrobsdorff connects this generation’s suffering to the often hopeless and menacing cyberworld they inhabit: elementary schoolers are cyberbullied on social media, teens scroll through grisly photos of self-mutilation online, and—pouring salt into the wounds—kids’ digital immersion cuts them off from needed family connections.
From Loving Learning, The Waldorf School of Philadelphia What does it truly mean for a child to be ready for first grade academic instruction? It goes far beyond a child’s 6th birthday. It is about the whole child and their development — physical, social and cognitive — which is not defined by a child’s IQ or their early reading and math skills. This can be counter intuitive to those used to mainstream education, which often fast tracks gifted children to prevent boredom. At Philly Waldorf we recognize that while many of our students have gifted range IQ’s, we like to assure parents. It is not the grade level of academic instruction that bores bright children, but the way in which, and at what depth, any level of academics are taught.Consider what and how a child will learn long before they are evaluated for first grade. Ideally, children during the ages of 0-7 will spend as much time as possible learning to master the use their bodies, their emotions and their imaginations. Bodies are engaged first in large motor skills mastered by crawling, walking, running, balancing, and climbing, to name a few. Then children begin to add the work of small motor skills by weaving, baking, painting, coloring and drawing. When they enter playgroups, pre-school and then kindergarten, children must learn the often difficult task of managing their unbound will and desire with the wills and desires of others. Taking time to master these social skills is vital to the whole health of a young academic mind.
Please join friends and colleagues for the 2017 Alliance Annual National Conference, an event at which teachers, administrators, parents, and board members from Public Waldorf schools, independent Waldorf schools and new initiatives from across the nation gather together for practical and renewing work. The conference will take place on the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, January 13–15, at Rudolf Steiner College, Fair Oaks, CA.
In addition to welcoming our esteemed Keynote presenter, Dr. Linda Williams, we’re pleased to announce that Jack Petrash, last year’s keynote speaker, is returning to lead a Pre-Conference Workshop and a Saturday workshop. Those of you who experienced Jack last year know we are in for a deep exploration of Waldorf teaching. Alice Stamm returns with morning eurythmy and a workshop on integrative movement. Thom Schaefer will share his experience on how to launch a Public Waldorf High School, and both Mary Goral, Ph.D. and Ida Oberman, Ph.D. will offer a workshop on Literacy Instruction with Underserved Populations. Orland Bishop with the ShadeTree Multicultural Foundation will offer the Rudi Talk this year. Our other Conference workshops and breakout sessions will continue to offer inspiration for teachers, administrators and parents. Join us for a dynamic weekend rich with practical workshops, artistic opportunities, inspirational content and a chance to meet and share with teachers and board members from around the country. See what the Alliance has planned for your winter recharge by clicking here for conference details Each week the Charlottesville Waldorf School Podcast will explore a different wonder of Waldorf education in order to shine a light upon the many beautiful depths and reaches of such a rich and nourishing educational methodology.
You can look forward to: - Presentations/Lectures - Expert Interviews - Community event recordings - Readings of articles & excerpts - …and so much more! Please join us on our journey through The Watershed! More ... A tradition in Germany and Sweden, these simple, all-natural straw ornaments are beautiful, affordable and fairly easy to make. Make some to grace your Christmas tree, then make some to give away as gifts. This is a good craft to do with children over the age of 5.
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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 ...
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