Rudolf Steiner's Vision for the Future - Anthroposophical Society in ...

Dear Members & Friends
After the “year of Darwin” and tributes to Chopin,
Mahler, and other significant individuals recently, it is
fitting that people around the world will be recognizing
2011 as the 150th anniversary of Rudolf Steiner, the leading
esotericist of our time. His life accomplishments
continue to amaze both young and old; his work has
unfolded in a variety of practical ways, from Waldorf
education to biodynamic agriculture, Camphill communities
to the arts. Yet one also has a sense that the full
potential of anthroposophy is yet to be realized, that much
remains in seed form, waiting for a more general awaking
in human consciousness.
As part of my preparation for the year ahead, I have
been re-reading several biographies of Rudolf Steiner.
There are many accounts from people who knew him.
Even those outside of anthroposophical circles were deeply
impressed by this extraordinary individual. For example,
Jules Sauerwein, an esteemed journalist for Le Matin, said:
“I have known almost all monarchs on earth, almost all
prime ministers and military leaders. But nobody made
such a lasting impression on me as the Austrian philosopher
and occultist Rudolf Steiner. He was the most interesting
man I ever met... However powerful the statesmen
were they always struck me as actors not quite sure of their
parts. But what delight to talk politics with Steiner. Only
so great and all-embracing an intellect is able to penetrate
individual problems so correctly.” (Rudi Lissau, Rudolf
Steiner, p. 48)
Lisa Monges, a founding member of the School of
Eurythmy in Spring Valley and the person who sponsored
me for membership in the Anthroposophical Society (after
years of mowing her lawn!) often told me stories of sitting
at the dinner table with Rudolf Steiner: his warmth,
humor, insight and deep interest in every human being.
Thus it is particularly fitting for this time that the General
Council has been working with three guiding principles:
Connecting – with other human beings, members, friends,
groups and branches, and spirit seekers working often
From the General Secretary
unseen alongside us.
Serving – through the initiatives of the Society (such
as the library, prison outreach, publications, etc.) but also
more generally in terms of servant leadership and trying to
perceive the needs of the time.
Deepening – the inner work without which all the
above would not be sustainable. For this we are grateful for
the path of personal development, specific meditative
exercises, and above all, the School for Spiritual Science
which stands as a foundation for renewing spiritual
research.
I would like to invite our readers to take up these three
aspects, connecting, serving, and deepening as part of the
work ahead for 2011. In my meetings with members,
branches and groups in the next months, I intend to also
ask the question: What is your relationship to the being
of Rudolf Steiner? I hope that this opening question will
spur good conversation and help us take the next steps
together.
It is also particularly fitting, given what has been
shared in this letter, that the Council has enthusiastically
endorsed a name change for our newsletter. Upon the
recommendation of our talented editor, John Beck, and
after a good period of reader and member consultation, we
have taken the bold step to put our ideals front and center:
being human. This header goes to the core of anthroposophy
yet is accessible to a variety of readers. It is also a
statement of our ongoing search for the universal human
in a world so often divided by politics and strife. May the
ideal of being truly human spur us on to overcome our
imperfections and find unity in our common striving.
With best wishes for a commemorative year 2011,
Torin M Finser
General Secretary, Anthroposophical Society in America
first issue 2011 • 3