Monthly Newsletter
Welcome to the Sophia Institute Newsletter for July 2025
The Sophia Institute's mission and purpose is to support and enhance the work of schools, non-profit organizations, small businesses, educators, therapists, parents and others working out of the impulse of Anthroposophy. The Sophia Institute provides Waldorf inspired Teacher Training, adult education courses, Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy and the Arts, online courses, workshops and retreats, renewal courses, consulting services, administrative services, newsletters, puppet theater, puppetry courses, counseling and publications.
Angel Thinking: Consciousness, Meditation and Human Destiny
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Now available at SteinerBooks
Angel Thinking Consciousness, Meditation and Human Destiny by Steffen Hartmann Over the course of the last decades, there has been an increasing demand by people for spiritual experience – whether it involves elemental beings, past incarnations or encounters with angels. But how should we distinguish between reality and illusion in such perceptions, particularly when efforts are often focused on instantaneous experience? Is it really possible to build a scientific foundation for metaphysics today? And what role might thinking play in such a truly contemporary spirituality? There is a tradition, traceable to Aristotle and leading to Rudolf Steiner, that seeks to establish metaphysics as a science. Connecting with this noetic practise, Steffen Hartmann argues that the sure path of personal development begins with pure thought and meditation. Only then, under the right conditions, does it lead to spiritual experience. More ... |
Academy for Waldorf Education in Serbia
In the midst of the socio-political upheaval in Serbia, the independent Academy for Waldorf Education ‘Sun’ was founded in Belgrade on 1 February 2025. It offers 25 students the opportunity to train as Waldorf teachers or educators in a three-year course.
The foundation marks a new step towards more publicity for an anthroposophical life that has so far been cultivated more discreetly. After the founding of the Anthroposophical Society in Belgrade, then Yugoslavia, on 8 February 1928, there were public lectures and medical practices and the journal Know Yourself existed for twelve years, but a painful disruption occurred after 1945, when due to the communist/socialist regime, the anthroposophical life had to remain invisible for many decades and limit itself to private study groups. Even in the 1980s and 1990s, the spiritual-scientific impulses were unable to thrive in Belgrade, Serbia’s cultural centre.
The foundation of the Anthroposophical Cultural Centre in 1994 was an exception. It offered a place for study under the leadership of Vojislav Kecman, as well as the opportunity to publish and systematically record Rudolf Steiner’s work. Since then, the Centre has been discreetly providing an openly accessible platform for anyone interested in anthroposophy.
Based on earlier initiatives
The initiative to start an Academy by Maja, Gordana and Bojana Mirković now makes it possible for the seed of a comprehensive spiritual impulse to break through to the light of day and into the dramatic stream of our time. The soil for this has been prepared over many years by earlier pedagogical initiatives, such as the first Waldorf kindergarten by Olivera Todorović, the current kindergarten Svitac (glow worm), and most recently the deepening kindergarten teacher courses offered by Claudia and Samo Simčič (CH). The endeavours of Miša Petrović and others to establish a first Waldorf School are also part of this spiritual and social network in Belgrade. More ...
The foundation marks a new step towards more publicity for an anthroposophical life that has so far been cultivated more discreetly. After the founding of the Anthroposophical Society in Belgrade, then Yugoslavia, on 8 February 1928, there were public lectures and medical practices and the journal Know Yourself existed for twelve years, but a painful disruption occurred after 1945, when due to the communist/socialist regime, the anthroposophical life had to remain invisible for many decades and limit itself to private study groups. Even in the 1980s and 1990s, the spiritual-scientific impulses were unable to thrive in Belgrade, Serbia’s cultural centre.
The foundation of the Anthroposophical Cultural Centre in 1994 was an exception. It offered a place for study under the leadership of Vojislav Kecman, as well as the opportunity to publish and systematically record Rudolf Steiner’s work. Since then, the Centre has been discreetly providing an openly accessible platform for anyone interested in anthroposophy.
Based on earlier initiatives
The initiative to start an Academy by Maja, Gordana and Bojana Mirković now makes it possible for the seed of a comprehensive spiritual impulse to break through to the light of day and into the dramatic stream of our time. The soil for this has been prepared over many years by earlier pedagogical initiatives, such as the first Waldorf kindergarten by Olivera Todorović, the current kindergarten Svitac (glow worm), and most recently the deepening kindergarten teacher courses offered by Claudia and Samo Simčič (CH). The endeavours of Miša Petrović and others to establish a first Waldorf School are also part of this spiritual and social network in Belgrade. More ...
Meadowlark Hearth 2025 Events
Meadowlark Hearth Farm events: more ...
The Healing Plant: A Journey from Nature to Medicine
The Healing Plant: A Journey from Nature to Medicine --- Saturday, August 2, 2025 --- 10:00 am - 4:00 pm ET at Camphill Village Copake, Copake, New York --- With Marc Blachere and Dr. Steven Johnson
Set in a beautiful, diverse medicinal plant garden at Camphill Village Copake, this day-long participatory workshop will bring human beings and plants into intimate relationships and conversation. In the morning we will work with plants to “read" in the book of nature, exploring exemplary plants through Goethean observation. Insights from anthroposophic medicine will be offered as entry points to illuminate the plants' healing potentials. The afternoon brings experiences with different processes for enhancing the plants' gifts and the reasoning behind them, including hands-on work and tastings. More ...
Set in a beautiful, diverse medicinal plant garden at Camphill Village Copake, this day-long participatory workshop will bring human beings and plants into intimate relationships and conversation. In the morning we will work with plants to “read" in the book of nature, exploring exemplary plants through Goethean observation. Insights from anthroposophic medicine will be offered as entry points to illuminate the plants' healing potentials. The afternoon brings experiences with different processes for enhancing the plants' gifts and the reasoning behind them, including hands-on work and tastings. More ...
World Association of Puppetry and Storytelling Arts July 2025 News
Dear Friends of Puppetry and Storytelling, The abundance of wonders in the world is sometimes staggering. As we watch the students dance their puppets through the air, at Sophia’s Hearth, we can feel the doorway of awe opening into new and unlimited explorations. What is unfolding in your life through this doorway? Read on to see what is happening with WAPASA members and friends this month! More ...
Waldorf/Steiner Community Courses and Programs
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Check out our Waldorf/Steiner Community Courses and Programs. These courses and programs include offerings from Waldorf Handwork Educators, Awakening Arts, Puppetry and Storytelling, Curriculum Resources, Eurhythmy and more ...
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Support Others - Donate to Our Scholarship Fund
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Support Others - Donate to Our Scholarship Fund. Many people from around the world contact the Sophia Institute to enroll in our courses but are unable to pay full tuition. Partial and full scholarship funding is needed to help those that would benefit from studying at the Sophia Institute but are unable to pay full or in some cases even partial tuition. Donations to our scholarship fund benefit Sophia Institute students in the form of tuition assistance and scholarships. Students applying for tuition assistance and scholarships need to qualify for financial assistance. Applications for financial assistance are subject to review and approval by the Sophia Institute Scholarship/Tuition Assistance Committee. Please consider contributing to our scholarship fund with your contribution/donation here. Enter the amount of your scholarship fund contribution/donation and pay online with a debit or credit card via the Donate Now button below. Donate Now.
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Promotions and Discounts
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Promotions and discounts are available for a limited time and might be specific, have certain conditions and/or limitations. Please find current promotions and discounts available exclusively at Sophia Institute here.
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Announcements and Links
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Waldorf Teacher Training and online Foundation Courses
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Sophia Institute offers a wide spectrum of online courses including the following: Foundation Courses in Anthroposophy and the Arts / Waldorf Teacher Training / Introduction to Anthroposophy / Anthroposophy in Everyday Life / Group Leader/Mentor Certification Program. 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. More ...
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Steiner Books
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Rudolf Steiner was an Austrian social reformer, architect, and esotericist who founded Anthroposophy. He is considered the father of Waldorf education, biodynamic agriculture, anthroposophical medicine, and spiritual science. SteinerBooks publishes the complete Collected Works of Rudolf Steiner, as well as the work of contemporary authors expanding upon his thinking. SteinerBooks and Lindisfarne Books are imprints of Anthroposophic Press, Inc., a 501(c)3, not-for-profit organization and the primary publisher of Rudolf Steiner’s works since 1927. More ...
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World Association of Puppetry and Storytelling Arts
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Become a member of WAPASA or renew your annual membership! Membership in the World Association of Puppetry and Storytelling Arts will give you access to: video archives, ongoing research, annual journals, networking possibilities with other puppeteers and storytellers from around the world, discounts for annual conferences and festivals, a calendar of events, etc.. More ...
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Filana Organic Beeswax Crayons
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Our crayons are safe and natural. We use only the best ingredients. We use natural organic beeswax in all of our crayons. We never use paraffin and petroleum waxes in our crayons. Filana™ crayons are made with organic beeswax. All of our ingredients are GMO-free. Filana™ crayons contain FDA-approved pigments. Our crayons conform to ASTM D-4236 standard, which means our crayons are certified non-toxic and meet or exceed specific quality standards. Filana crayons have been tested by an independent laboratory and are certified to be compliant with the the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act). For ages 3 and up. More ...
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Biodynamic Association
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Are you a member of the Biodynamic Association? With BDA membership now available on a sliding scale and more member benefits offered than ever before, we hope you will join or renew today! Membership benefits include our Biodynamics journal, discounts on BDA webinars, courses and events, opportunities for connection, special invitations to experience our work. Check out a full invitation to join or renew. Are you interested in biodynamic garden seeds? Check out Meadowlark Hearth as a source of biodynamic garden seed from the midwest and their educational activities.
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Eurythmy4you
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Our step-by-step, two-year Eurythmy Certificate Course (ECC) equips you to share Eurythmy knowledgeably and confidently. Features training groups, extensive study materials, practical exercises, presentation weeks, and live Q&As. Ideal for those wanting to delve deeper into the secrets of eurythmy and help others grow. Plus, enhance your health and joy of life with our free 'Eurythmy' app (Android/iOS) – daily inspiration and exercises right on your smartphone! More …
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The Ultimate Meeting Notebook
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The Ultimate Meeting Notebook is a publication by Sophia Institute. This notebook features sections with plenty of room for taking notes and recording other essential data during meetings including name of meeting, attendance list, absentee list, date, to-do-list/action items section and date of next meeting. The Ultimate Meeting Notebook was designed and created by the director of the Sophia Institute, Conrad Rehbach. Feedback: "I am the faculty chair at a Waldorf School and I am attending and leading a lot of meetings. This meeting notebook has been a valuable and extremely helpful tool to me. I have all my notes and action items in one place. I feel confident and organized thanks to this notebook. Best meeting notebook ever!" More ...
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Publications
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Germans are Funny by Conrad Rehbach. A Guide to Teaching Foreign Languages. More ...
A Maypole Dream by Marjorie Rehbach and Christine Nietert. More ... The Threefold Diary. A Daily Journal and Workbook. More ... Three Tales by Conrad Rehbach. More ... Foundation Courses in Anthroposophy. A Workbook. More ... In addition the Sophia Institute Bookstore offers most books related to Waldorf Education, Anthroposophical studies, Bio-dynamics, Anthroposophical Medicine, etc. For pricing and ordering information please contact us. |
online Biography Course
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Sophia Institute offers an online Biography Course. The Sophia Institute online Biography Course leads the student through sequentially structured lessons that will help to process, help to heal and help to clarify the student's life story and at the same time introduce and deepen the understanding of Anthroposophical biography work. As part of the studies the student creates a beautiful booklet that includes all the assignments and visual artwork to form a sort of chronicle of the student's life story and the deeper meaning of the biography. More ...
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Newsletter Sponsors and Advertisers
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Sophia Institute is looking for Newsletter Sponsors/Advertisers. If you are interested in placing a sponsorship message, ad, paid announcement, job posting, event, etc., please contact Sophia Institute here.
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Editor: Conrad Rehbach, M.A.
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Editor: Conrad Rehbach, M.A.
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