From Ioana Viscrianu Dornach, September 2016 Dear friends of the Youth Section worldwide! It is the Middle of September and at the Goetheanum there is suddenly much more activity than three weeks ago. After a month’s break one can sense the new atmosphere on the hill. It is elusive what changes people bring to a place with their thoughts, deeds and intentions. The Goetheanum becomes a new “cloth” that expresses the inner life of those people who connect with it in their very different ways. „What does my particular way look like?“ is one question which is often present in the context of Youth Section. And still further questions reveal Upcoming Events YOUTH SECTION at the Goetheanum 2016 Dezember 17. Kolloquim Zeifragen - Questions of our time More information at [email protected](DE, EN) 2017
Transcript
From Ioana ViscrianuDornach, September 2016
Dear friends of the Youth Section worldwide!
It is the Middle of September and at the
Goetheanum there is suddenly much more
activity than three weeks ago. After a month’s
break one can sense the new atmosphere on the
hill. It is elusive what changes people bring to a
place with their thoughts, deeds and intentions.
The Goetheanum becomes a new “cloth” that
expresses the inner life of those people who
connect with it in their very different ways. „What
Since last time we sent the e-news so many things happened around the world. In all the surroundings:nearby and also in far distances, there, where I can only be in thoughts.
It was a great joy to welcome so many young people during the summer at the Goetheanum for the ‘Faust’to experience the depths and the beauty of life, the challenges of knowledge and love through the artisticexperience of the whole universe in this drama.
It was also a great joy to experience so many meetings happening all around, people in active, creativeengagement– you will read more about this in the reports.
Now in the Youth Section team at the Goetheanum we are grateful to greet Maxine Fowé and SophieTeske as new co-workers. Together we will expand our networking and hopefully be able to develop morepossibilities for young people to be active. We are planning the ‘February Days’ of 2017, about the virtualcontexts that are part of our daily life. And in April we will have the International Students Meeting ‘Voicesof our time’. Soon you will see more about the meetings in our website.
I wish you all the best for the coming spring in the south, for the beginning autumn, in the north. All thebest for your initiatives. As Wendell Berry says in a wonderful way, we all face the fact of being able to actfor the wholeness of reality out of the place where we are, with those, who are with us: “No matter howmuch one may love the world as a whole, one can live fully in it only by living responsibly in some smallpart of it. Where we live and who we live there with define the terms of our relationship to the world and to
humanity.”1
It is wonderful to share the hope that these actions will be a contribution for the present times.
With warmest wishesConstanza Kaliks
German
Liebe Freunde,
Seitdem Ihr die letzte e-news bekommen habt hat sich wieder so vieles in der Welt ereignet. In jedemUmfeld: im unmittelbar nahen und auch im fernen, in dem ich erst nur mit Gedanken sein kann.
Es war eine grosse Freude so viele junge Menschen im Sommer am Goetheanum zu begrüssen fürGoethes ‘Faust’ und gemeinsam an diesem Drama vieles erleben und befragen zu können.
Es war auch eine Freude die vielen Begegnungen und die kreative Initiativen an verschiedenen Ortenwahrzunehmen – dazu mehr in den Berichten.
Bald begrüssen wir im Jugendsektions-Team am Goetheanum Maxine Fowé and Sophie Teske als neueMitarbeiterinnen. Gemeinsam möchten wir unser Netzwerk und die Möglichkeiten für Initiativen erweitern.Wir planen die ‘Februartage 2017’ zu Fragen zu den virtuellen Zusammenhängen, die mehr und mehralltäglich werden. Und im April findet die Internationale Schülertagung ‘Voices of our time’ amGoetheanum statt – bald steht weiteres zu den Tagungen auf unsere Webseite.
Ich wünsche Euch alles Gute für Eure initiative im kommenden Herbst oder im beginnenden Frühling - jenachdem, wo Ihr Euch jetzt befindet.
In sehr schöner Art bringt Wendell Berry die Tatsache zum Ausdruck dass wir uns für die Ganzheit derWirklichkeit genau da einsetzen können, wo wir sind und mit den Menschen, mit denen wir uns umgeben:”Wie sehr man die Welt als Ganze lieben mag, man kann nur voll und ganz in ihr leben, indem man einenkleinen Teil der Welt bewohnt. Wo wir leben und mit wem wir dort leben, legt die Bedingungen unserer
Beziehung mit der Welt und der Menschheit fest”.2
Es ist wunderbar wenn man die Hoffnung teilen kann dass diese Taten ein Beitrag für die Gegenwart sind.
To begin with, we shared our initiatives, our struggles, challenges and ideals, a colourful picture
arose and the diversity of Youth Section activity in meeting this task became apparent. One could
sense a common element in each of the reports, despite their great individual differences, so the
next step was to try and find this common element, thereby trying to figure out what exactly the task
of a Section for Spiritual Striving of Youth is. To address this, Constanza Kaliks gave a contribution
on the relation to the School for Spiritual Science founded by Rudolf Steiner in the year 1924 and
we read a text given by him at that time. Becoming a member of this school arose as a subject.
What does this mean and what are the conditions? A few people in the circle were already
committed, a few were about to take that step, while others got to hear about it for the first time. It
was a very open exchange.
The openness within the context of the School is something significant, the space which we want to
create out of our own inner search in the world is at the same time the space we want to offer
others. It is a longing for connection, a longing to belong, belonging to our time and its challenges.
How can we find the inner certainty that leads us here and that determines our relationship to
ourselves and to the other?
During these days of intensive work, we could experience the strength and trust of a common
striving, a support in the possibility of realising the freedom within each of us.
Resulting from the meeting we can look towards the next meeting in The Hague/Netherlands and
the idea of organising a summer conference together in July 2018. Beside the inner development
and personal changes, the support and encouragement of each for the others in out further work
was central to what we could fortunately experience during these wonderful and important days.
From Ioana ViscrianuDornach, August 2016
The Faust Youth Festival
„Am I Faust“ was the central question of the youth conference which took place from the 25th to the 29th ofJuly at the Goetheanum. 542 young people from 30 countries had the opportunity to deal with thisquestion during the Faust 1 and 2 performances (18 hours long) but also through the different lecturesand workshops. The free evenings and night cafes created a perfect space to encounter each other and todeepen this question from different angles.
All events which took place during the five days led to a wonderful atmosphere and an enrichingengagement with Goethe's masterpiece, “Faust”: the five lectures, which took place daily at the beginningof the programme offered an introduction to what was to be seen on the stage that day; the workshopscould choose between many different subjects; an opportunity to deal with “Faust” from anotherperspective. The plenum on Thursday evening, at which the participants could hold a conversation withthe lecturers, some actors and Eurythmists involved in the “Faust” performance, was the highlight of thefestival. It rounded off the event, underlining the importance and uniqueness of this conference. It wastouching to hear the feedback from the youth, the resulting connection to Goethe's literary work and to thefestival at the Goetheanum.
Our heartfelt thanks to all young participants, those who helped us spread the word, the foundations whohelped with their donations, the Goetheanum stage and all those involved in the preparation andrealisation of the conference. All of us together contributed to bring everything onto the stage
German
Das Faustjugendfestival
„Bin ich Faust?“ stand als Frage im Zentrum der Jugendtagung, die vom 25. bis zum 29. Juli amGoetheanum stattfand. Dabei haben 542 junge Menschen aus 30 Ländern die Chance gehabt, durch die18-stündige Aufführung von Faust 1 und 2 aber auch durch die Vorträge und Arbeitsgruppen, sich mitdieser Frage auseinanderzusetzen. Die freien Abende und das Nachtcafé haben dazu den Raumgebildet, um sich zu begegnen und sich in diesem informellen Rahmen mit der Frage aus einer anderenPerspektive zu beschäftigen.
Alle Ereignisse, die in den fünf Tagen stattfanden, haben zu einer wunderschönen Atmosphäre und einerbereichernden Auseinandersetzung mit Goethes Werk, „Faust“, geführt: die fünf Vorträge, die am Anfangdes Programms jeden Tag stattgefunden haben, haben einen Einblick in dem gegeben, was auf derBühne am selben Tag zu sehen war; die Arbeitsgruppen haben den Teilnehmern eine Vielfalt von Themenzum Wahl gestellt, als Möglichkeit, sich vertieft mit „Faust“ zu beschäftigen. Das Plenum am DonnerstagAbend war der Höhepunkt des Festivals, da die Teilnehmern mit den Vortragsrednern, einigenSchauspielern und Eurythmisten aus der Faust-Ensemble direkt ins Gespräch kommen konnten. DieseBegegnung hat das Ganze abgerundet und im Vordergrund die Wichtigkeit und Besonderheit dieserVeranstaltung gebracht. Die Feedback von den jungen Menschen waren sehr berührend und dieentstandene Verbindung mit Goethes Werk und dem Geschehen am Goetheanum, während der Tagung,sichtbar und erfüllend.
Die Teilnahme so vieler jungen Menschen, die Unterstützung zur Bekanntmachung der Tagung, die
Zuwendung der Stiftungen, die Goetheanum-Bühne sowie allen Beteiligten für die Vorbereitung undDurchführung der Tagung bedanken wir ganz herzlich. Denn alle gemeinsam haben beigetragen, dasGanze auf die Bühne zu bringen.
Impressions from the participants
From Lisa-Marie NussbaumerDornach, August 2016
Goethe's Faust was a refreshing experience and full of phantasy, to encounter young people that had thesame questions to life and who wish to create the world of tomorrow - a beautiful, important experience.
Goethes Faust erfrischend wie phantasievoll zu erleben, jungen Menschen zu begegnen, die ähnlicheFragen an das Leben stellen und die Welt von morgen mitgestalten möchten - ein schönes, ein wichtigesErlebnis.
From Anna Sophia MillasGermany, August 2016
I was great fun to play for all these active people. It was a really beautiful experience. So great that youbrought this committed audience at the Goetheanum.
Es hat riesig Spass gemacht für all die dynamischen Menschen zu spielen, es war ein richtig schönesErlebnis. Toll, dass ihr dieses engagierte Publikum ins Goetheanum gebracht habt!
From Erik MilasGermany, August 2016
The Faust youth conference was not only 18 hours of spectacular theatre, but also a time of fascinatingencounters with young people from all over the world. Healthy and tasty food, dancing in the night caféand lying in the grass with lots of people from different countries made me feel happy and full of bliss.Playing improvisation theatre with participants from Taiwan and making music with other participantsshaped friendships which will hopefully last a lifetime. The main aspect of Faust was delivered through theplay, the workshops and the different lectures every day.
Exceptional performances were shaped by a cast of excellent actors. With an estimated 100 roles peractor you did never know whether you were enjoying a musical, a comedy or a tragedy. Especially Faust IItouched me and sometimes lured me into an enchanted dreamland. I was overwhelmed with theimpressive pictures and confusing content and it took me some time to handle the amount of impressions.Sadly the non-German- speaking participants were at a great disadvantage. Of course the whole play butalso the lectures were offered only in German. Although translations into English and Spanish wereoffered, some visitors weren’t able to follow the discussions. I hope that the next international youthconference in April 2017 will provide more linguistic diversity and include everyone equally in this kind ofoutstanding event.
From Roos NavesThe Netherlands, August 2016
Memoires of the Youth Conference “Faust” in Dornach
“Spain, America, Israel, the Netherlands, France, Germany” and 28 other countries were present at theYouth Conference in Dornach. With so many cultural communities represented, it could have meant thatpeople would have been acting as little islands on their own – the opposite happened. After theConference one girl thanked the group publicly for everyone’s openness. She described her experience
as being, feeling and thinking on a similar level as the rest - a feeling she hasn’t had before, outside of theGoetheanum. It was the way in which people showed their interest in each other, which made the whole“Faust” experience feel so warm and welcome.
It wasn’t only the group of participants, though, who created this warm feeling together, but also the actorsand the “Faust”-team, which strongly contributed to this welcome-feeling as well. We got the chance tospeak to the actors personally or in bigger groups. They wanted to get to know us better, as we wanted toget to know them. On a morning walk I met Urs Bihler, who acted as the older Mephisto in the play. Hetold me that we were the best audience they had had until then – we strongly reacted to their playing andgave voice to our enthusiasm in such a direct way, that the actors got even more motivated. To be honestthough, I would have found it hard to act with less enthusiasm. The play surpassed my wildestexpectations!
Before I went to Dornach I had read the text to prepare myself a bit. It was only after the Conference that Irealised that I had read an “empty” text. “Faust” hadn’t spoken to my heart – only the words remainedmeaninglessly in my head. During the Conference I met several people, who added feeling and meaningto the text. The way they talked about Goethe’s masterpiece, the way they explained anthroposophicaltheories about the text and added their own opinion and wisdom to it, made me feel so rich. Isn’t itwonderful to understand more about such an important and famous text?
“Faust” has come to life for me. It’s no longer a scary text consisting of hundreds of pages filled withunreadable German sentences. Now the reverse is true – the text became full of feeling, thoughts andideas. To have had the chance to experience this richness in such a warm environment made me realisehow unique the “Faust” Youth Conference was. In every aspect it fulfilled my wildest dreams and evenmore. It’s as Goethe wrote in his last verse of the second part: “Das Unbeschreibliche/Hier ist es getan”1– “The indescribable – Here it happened” [own translation].
1 Goehte: Faust. Frankfurt am Main: Deutscher Klassiker Verlag 1999, S. 464 (II. Teil, fünfter Akt).
German
Erinnerungen an eine aufklärende Jugendtagung “Faust”
Als „Euphorion“ kam die Gruppe aus Holland am 24. August mit dem Bus in Dornach an. Wir gaukelten
um das Goetheanum herum – “Dorthin! Ich muß! ich muß! Gönn’t mir den Flug!”1 Wir freuten uns riesigauf die fünf Tage der Jugendtagung – eine Zeit voller Freude, Entdeckungen und Inspiration. Am nächstenMorgen liefen wir auf den Hügel zum Goetheanum während uns die Morgensonne und dieanthroposophische Gegend willkommen hießen. Vom Anfang an fühlte ich mich wohl und lieb gehabt –ein Gefühl, das sich während der Tagung nicht geändert hat. Die Offenheit und das Interesse, welche injeder Begegnung lebten, machte es leicht neue Freundschaften zu knüpfen. Es fühlte sich an, als wennalle Teilnehmer gleich dachten und fühlten, oder sich einer gleichen Stimmung annäherten. DiesesGleichsein, dieses Interesse an einander fehlt mir manchmal Zuhause und das machte deshalb dasGeschehnis am Goetheanum noch besonderer.
Die Woche vor der Jugendtagung habe ich den “Faust” gelesen und versucht ihn zu verstehen. Der Textblieb mir aber “leer” – ich verstand die Worte, aber die Ideen, Gefühle und Philosophie des Textes bliebenhinter den Worten versteckt. Das Schauspiel, zusammen mit den Interviews, Workshops und Gesprächenbrachten mir einen “vollen” “Faust”. Der Chor im zweiten Teil, dritter Akt beschreibt, meiner Meinung nach,diesen Prozess der Aufklärung auf eine schöne Art und Weise: “Heilige Poesie,/Himmel an steigesie,/Glänze, der schönste Stern,/Fern und so weiter fern,/Und sie erreicht uns doch/Immer, man hört sie
noch,/Vernimmt sie gern.”2 Es war die Glänze in der Ferne, die ich vor der Jugendtagung sah, aber dieStimmen der Poesie im Ohr konnte ich nicht hören, bis die Jugendtagung anfing. Das Schauspiel fügteEmotionen zu, die Workshops Philosophie und die Gespräche Kenntnisse zu einen zuerst “leeren” Text.Der Tod Euphorions wurde auf der Goetheanum-Bühne so stimmungsvoll gespielt, dass es mich tiefberührt hat. Es war in diesem Moment, dass ich die Textstelle verstand und mitfühlen konnte. Wieunglaublich reich fühlt man sich dann, wenn man ein weltberühmten Text von Goethe ein bisschen besser
Am letzten Tag in Dornach begegnete ich dem Schauspieler Urs Bihler (der alte Mephisto), der mit seinemHund Gemüse einkaufen ging. In dem kurzen Treffen sprachen wir über das Schauspiel und seine Rolle.Er erzählte mir, dass wir bis dahin das beste Publikum gewesen wären. Mit großer Begeisterung habenwir auf das Schauspiel reagiert, weshalb die Schauspieler mit noch größerem Enthusiasmus gespielthaben. Wir konnten aber auch nichts anderes machen als begeistert reagieren – das ganze Spiel, dieSchauspieler, die Musik, die Eurythmisten, das Bühnenbild hat jegliche Erwartungen übertroffen!
Bei dem Abfahrt zurück in die Niederlanden wurde mir der Reichtum bewusst, den ich mit mir ausDornach zurück nahm. Ich hatte eine hervorragende Aufführung von Goethes “Faust” gesehen, mitsolchen interessanten Menschen gesprochen und solche tiefgehenden Kenntnisse gesammelt. “Das
Unbeschreibliche/Hier ist es getan”3 passt zu allen Aspekten der Jugendtagung am Goetheanum inDornach.
1 Goethe: Faust. Frankfurt am Main: Deutscher Klassiker Verlag 1999, S. 383 (II. Teil, dritter Akt).
2 Goethe: Faust. Frankfurt am Main: Deutscher Klassiker Verlag 1999, S. 382 (II. Teil, dritter Akt).
3 Goehte: Faust. Frankfurt am Main: Deutscher Klassiker Verlag 1999, S. 464 (II. Teil, fünfter Akt).
From Janna de VriesThe Netherlands, August 2016 Youth Section Holland – Midsummer conference - I & the world in the light of thesummer solstice
The long-lasting light of the first days of July shone upon a unique bio-organic farm where 60 youngpeople gathered to celebrate St John over a period of four days. Together we investigated the theme ofmidsummer; What is the meaning of St John and the sun? How can you stay close to yourself when allthe forces of summer are pulling you outwards?
We explored these questions through conversation and connecting, activities like working groups andlectures on broad range of subjects. The conference started with a lecture by Li An Phoa, who took us onan interactive walk through the surroundings of the farm, close to the River Rhine. During this hike shetaught us about nature and our fading connection with it.
The next day, while standing in the summer sun, Faucon de Klyn told beautifully about the meaning of StJohn and the high sun spirit of Christ, which brought real meaning to the summer celebration. At twilight,Karel Post-Uiterweer taught us with amazing clarity of mind about the star statues and their connectionwith different qualities of the countries of Europe. On the last day, in a cosy storytelling atmosphere, Frans
Lutters shared his insights about the spiritual meaning and reality/topicality of Harry Potter, the Lord of theRings and Narnia.
Besides the lectures, the days were colored by rituals, storytelling, helping around the farm and a thrillingcello concert. We were blessed to be supported by a lot of different organic(-dynamic) companies, whichdonated food. There was a special guest from Sicily - Andrea, a pioneer on the Italian island, who donated3000 oranges and even came to the celebration to provide us a wonderful Sicilian lunch with three mouth-watering courses.
In these intense days we saw the light that developed through the meeting and connecting of youngpeople through a common spiritual search. Because of this we feel motivated to organise furtherweekends twice a year in oder to support the youth in their search for spirituality.
46 people, from 1,7 years to 70 were on the Island of Iona and the Isle of Mull for the Summer School todo etheric "archeology" during the conference in 2016, to connect with what nature has to offer in this richplace. Also to bring some human movement with songs and stories, listening and sharing.
All generations mixed beautifully, younger ones, new to Anthroposophy, old scholars of spiritual science,young and old at heart, some wise old druids, and lots of talent in many ways – so, really, everyone wasthere (with at least one representative).
With the support of some foundations (CHF 6 000 in total) and participation fees of everyone it was able torun the conference smoothly. Last but not least I want to mention, that Jonathan, our host generouslycontributed quite a lot of investment that we could use without a bill.
Impressions from the participants
I had a life changing understanding on the iona trip (GM)
I still feel blessed to have been on that journey with you. (CA)
I am still wondering about the real meaning of what took place - I think it was full of meaning. (JK)
Meeting Iona and Scotland was one of the most powerful experiences of my life so far. Both awakeningand full of love. Each place helped mirror and transform parts of me that were waiting to be seen,accepted, forgiven and embraced. I discovered a different way of meeeting myself, the people and thelandscape, a precious journey inside and outside. I received so much that my soul needed to adapt andmy I to get stronger, just to be able to take in all that was around me. It was a gift for the path that liesbefore me and I am very grateful to the people that made this conference possible.(RN)
People and landscapes, stones and deepblue water, smiles and hugs, songs and worldcafe... are all in myheart! (VV)
You leave your imprints in meBecause I choose them to belongThey do not leave me hollowOr fill me to the brim
My steps now bare your presenceWherever I go,You are from now onYou dance within the silenceYour breath's within the lightYou are. I am. And we become again.(SS)
From Nana WooEngland, August 2016
Conscious Be-In 2016: Becoming Agents of Change
This August, Emerson College welcomed twenty young people to take part in the Youth Section’s
annual gathering.
Some events, such as Dr Tho Ha Vinh’s morning lectures, were shared with the Anthroposophical
Society Conference that was taking place at the same time. The youth gathering took place in the
biodynamic building, with clusters of tents dotted about the beautiful grounds. This year the Youth
Section core group had decided to develop a more sustained focus across the five days as
opposed to a mixture of sessions on different topics. To this end, Shelley Sacks, Professor of Social
Sculpture at Oxford Brookes University, whose work has been inspired by Rudolf Steiner and the
artist and anthroposophist Joseph Beuys, led us on a social process she has developed as part of
her work with the University of Trees.
We were each given a large square of cloth to work on using mediums such as wax crayons, pens,
plant juices and sewing thread. As the days progressed, the cloths became physical manifestations
of the work that we carried out alone and in groups, where we mapped out the different spheres of
influence in our lives. These spheres ranged outwards from ourselves to important personal
relationships and influences, to systems such as those of education and economics, and to our
connection with the elements and the cosmos.
The themes of connections and relationships were particularly important, not only in relation to
people we know or work with, but also to the way in which our everyday actions affect people and
landscapes in other parts of the world. Shelley used the example of electronic goods such as
mobile phones whose production often involves a heavy human and environmental cost. This
theme was also reflected in Shelley’s afternoon talk that was shared with the Anthroposophical
Society Conference. She described an artwork she had created that involved dried banana skins
sewn into newspaper-shaped rectangles and situated alongside headphones where one could hear
the voices of the people who had grown the bananas. As part of the same talk, Shelley invited
members of audience onto the stage to take part in an improvised and impromptu choir of ‘unheard
voices’. The result was a powerful, haunting and uncomfortable performance of some of the ‘voices’
that go unheard in the dominant discourse of our time.
The theme of global interconnections was also reflected in Tho’s morning lectures, in which he
discussed his work with the Gross National Happiness Institute in Bhutan and other initiatives that
he is involved in in Thailand and Vietnam. Sharing the venue and the morning lectures with the
Anthroposophical Society Conference meant there were opportunities to connect after the lectures,
around the campfire or over a cup of tea in Pixton.
On one evening, Tho and his wife Lislie joined the youth gathering for a question and answer
session, with topics ranging from communal living to feminism. Felipe Viveros, the European
Coordinator for the Gross National Happiness Institute, also joined us to discuss his work, and on
one evening he led us in a beautiful mindfulness session that involved both words and song. Within
the structure that she had brought with her, Shelley generously allowed us the freedom to work with
the issues that the process raised in our own particular way and even to develop new structures as
they arose.
The result of this was that when we looked at each other’s cloths at the end of the event, each
person had brought something unique, from images and sewn pockets to poetry. The final session
involved the creation of a communal cloth that mapped out some of the many different areas in
which members of the group wished to work for change in the world.
From Frank Aleph AgramaUSA, September 2016
Our Humanity, found in Canada
drawing by Johannes KronenbergTo experience the others, and to experience myself, amongst us. The Youth Section shared a rollingstream of meals, words, melodies, meetings, in Ottawa, Canada this August. The AnthroposophicalSociety of Canada hosted us at their conference "Encountering Our Humanity".
Humanity did show up, and so we had to encounter one another. The conference organizers created avery strong and full form, arriving on a Sunday, working through a full week of programming, and closingagain on the following Sunday. As the title infers, each day brings an aspect of the humanities to life. Tobegin, Arie van Ameringen, General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in Canada and theconference’s lead planner, gave a keynote lecture on the individual’s evolving spiritual relationship with theuniverse. He revealed a progression of the I (each of us) and the it ( the universe) following the trajectoryof a U. THE IT - TO IT - IN IT - I - FROM ME - OUT OF ME - I INTO IT. This broad gesture foreshadowedour ensuing launch into a dynamic week of anthoposophisticated presenters, including five of the sixmembers of the Executive Council (Vorstand) of the General Anthroposophical Society at theGoetheanum and several outstanding representatives of anthroposophical work in Canada. Topicsincluded: Biography and Karma - Education - Medicine - Science and Agriculture - the Arts - CommunityBuilding and the Social Arts. Each day's theme seemed to flow into the next, building and bringing us indeeper, while a program of evening performances sweetened and stirred our dreams. (reviews of lecturesand performances at end of article)
Each day we also heard from conference participants, regarding their individual streams of research, be itan offering on how to connect with loved ones who have crossed the threshold, to community centeredinitiatives and explorations. Mediating between these morning and afternoon presentations, weparticipated in smaller discussion groups and artistic workshops. The youth section specifically met as itsown discussion group, where we shared with one another about our own youth section work, and the workof other spiritually striving youths world-wide. Constanza Kaliks, working on behalf of the youth section atthe Goetheanum, also shed light on why the youth section exists and how it works. Paul Zebhauser, ayouth at present, working with Constanza at the Goetheanum, shared his work overseeing the youthhostel and study groups around Dornach. Johannes Kronenberg, organizer of youth section work in theNetherlands, announced a forthcoming Youth Section International Gathering 3, taking place in Den Haag,Netherlands next summer.
Artistic workshops were held after lunch, and ranged from poetry, to sculpture, painting, to acting, music,to drawing, Eurythmy to storytelling, as clowning and water based consciousness rounded out the flood ofcreativity. I participated in Julie Le Gal’s offering based in Michael Chekhov’s acting method, finding theexercises liberating, challenging, and bewildering. Our mornings began in one of two ways forparticipants. Members of the School for Spiritual Science shared a Class Lesson given each day by adifferent Class Holder. Meanwhile Constanza and youth section veteran Nathaniel Williams hosted anintroductory exploration of anthroposophic meditation practices.
We made meals for one another, which led to many interesting combinations. For example, the openingday of the conference was themed "Biography, Karma"..."and Pasta". The youth members of the EurythmyEnsemble from Spring Valley offered us breakfast that day with the question, "Where does your namecome from?"
As each day moved along, we swam deeper into unfamiliar waters both warm and cold. The sun waspounding us by day, leaving our nights hot enough to sit outside and speak under the stars. The flood ofcosmic wisdom meeting earth-bound initiatives, continued to build tremendous amounts of pressure withquestions and conviction. Thankfully thick clouds wafted in to soften us, and though they blocked ourmeteor shower gazing, they blessed us with gentle trickling raindrops showering. Much needed to bewashed and cleansed, so the rain grew stronger. It brought the youth and the elders together. We shareda couple conversations, directly addressing one another, and clarifying questions about the school forspiritual science.
The final Sunday of the conference was held open for a plenum about the School for Spiritual Science,where members of the North American Collegium for Spiritual Science and the Executive Councilanswered difficult questions from conference participants regarding the present practices of theGoetheanum. Christian Community Priest Jonah Evans also spoke. He told the story of his spiritualjourney, and drew a distinction between prayer and meditation.
It was a revelation to witness the flexibility and willingness of all members in the conversation. We allfound ourselves swimming together, moving forward in some sense, and it felt like a healing, really, as anew seed. May our motions continue, like water, onto these new seeds, these eternal seeds, of lovingkindness, trust in one another, forgiveness, and inspiration, growing out in 7 directions, as taught to us byNative American Architect Douglas Cardinal (presenter), as he led us through a ritual on the sacred Islandin the middle of Ottawa, considered the heart of North America, where many tribes would meet, and trade,where many rivers come together, generating beautiful power. North, East, South, West, the Earth, theSky, and our heart. We closed the conference by forming a circle stretching around the entire auditorium,with the words of the Foundation Stone resounding into the space. The final seal came as First NationsSquamish Elder Wendy Charbonneau once again put her walker aside, grabbed the drum, and strodeacross the stage singing a blessing for our circle to radiate on and out into the world.
From Paul ZebhauserDornach,September 2016
An Experience of North America Encountering Our Humanity – the theme of an international conference from 6 to 14 August in Ottawa towhich I was invited by the Anthroposophical Society in Canada, moved me to set off on an extendedjourney for four weeks through North America. What is our Humanity? It was a question I put to myself asI boarded the plane and was once more touched by how much human work and ingenuity comes to meetme in my carrying out my human actions. But are we human beings really free as we carry out all of theseactivities? The next question I have to reflect on myself, for I thought I could only experience this inactually meeting the people themselves. In any case, everything functions perfectly at every stage of theprocess, completely reliably, so as to induce trust. Trust because the people give me the impression thatthey are competent at that which they do. Perhaps less because of why they do it. But perhaps that too.They are simple, but at the same time enormous achievements at the same time. When I ask thesepeople something, or enter into an exchange, I experience humanity, human interaction. I ask myselfwhether this humanity reaches as far as the job itself, which is highly, highly technical? How should theworld look, should this be the case? For in the end, the human being that I meet on my journey, the onewho at the same time allows me to travel, also brings this human exchange about. Should I still wish totravel if everything were to function automatically, independent of anything human? I should rather thinknot. The world would become terribly lonely and cold. Anti-human. Technology and the systems that worktogether with and for the human being have something human about them. Is my journey’s destinationalso going to serve the human being and humanity as a whole? In the hope that it will, I have to leave thisto the future.On my arrival in Canada, I can see that I am not the only one that carries this hope. About 300 peoplehave come together in order to work at this task, to enter into conversation about this for the period of aweek. To be able to serve a future that corresponds to the dignity of the human being, that is able to dosomething for the Earth – the loving, infinitely kindly foundation of our humanity. It was wonderful to hearfrom people from all sorts of professions what their individual thoughts and initiatives are. It strengthens usso that we can strive on into the future, without the hesitation a hesitation that wants to settle down in thesoul, in facing the daily imminence, when no honesty of this high ideal prospered against this hesitation.With this impulse behind me, I set out on my way together with a friend from the Youth Section to discoverthe USA. Our first aim was to get to know Spring Valley in New York State. Eurythmy, Natural Science,Education and Special Education, Agriculture… the resounding of decades of anthroposophical work canbe perceived here. An hour’s journey by bus brings us into the vibrant international metropolis with apopulation in excess of 8 million and its famous skyline. The themes of our conversation continuously
changed to follow the wonder that presented itself to our eyes and ears, as well as the events of 9/11 thatdetermined much in the direction both foreign and internal politics were to take. We were welcomed inwarm friendship by Joshua Kleberman, a young and active member of the Anthroposophical Society in theUSA, co-responsible for the Group Room of the city and director of the bookshop there. For three days heled us through the concrete and steel jungle of New York, we held inspiring conversations to the questionof our modern life style and the conditions of our civilisation, for this place seems to provide a foundationon which the future is fashioned – only, in which direction? Can the human being still hold the reins of hisfuture in his hand? I hope so. It was here that I experienced most stronglythe certainty of the Spirit in the presence of the anti-Spirit. I sensed in a particular moment what it meansto unfold knowledge through suffering. Many people here live on the streets. This is perhaps only apremonition of what is to come. We set off on our way once more with a wealth of intense impressionsfrom these few days, such as I had never experienced before. From here on the East Coast on to thePacific Ocean and the West Coast. Our aim was Los Angeles in California, where we were to visit well-known, peace loving brothers in arms of the Youth Section. As we, however, continued in quest ofadventure, perhaps due to our youth, we decided on a road trip. In a small, over twenty-year-old truck, weset off on our trip of over 4600 kilometres right across the country. Four days filled with surprises, besidesthe Niagara Falls, the six-lane highways of Chicago, the countless American flags, we looked for hours atgenetically manipulated maize and soybean monocultures. In the desert of Colorado, we came uponfattening farms for bullocks that seemed to find no end. An agriculture without human beings or humanity.The wondrous nature of the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon and the landscapes beyond, the desertsat the same time showed us the glory of the earth. Torn away from all of this by Las Vegas, a singlecontinuous pleasure park and consumer paradise for the super rich, we found ourselves nearing our finaldestination after four days on the road. Hollywood welcomed us with its palm trees and coastalenvironment. Our hosts were already awaiting us with anticipation. The welcome late at night was heartyand just what we needed to be received once more into the sphere of human encounter after this rapidautomobile ride through the huge country. We got to know the wonderful social impulse of ElderberreisThreefold Café in Los Angeles. Through these young and young-at-heart people who are activelyengaged with Spiritual Science, there lives in this café a special mood of inspiration, and people from allsorts of different social settings are able to gain something from it. Many thanks for allowing us a glimpseinto this small, but nevertheless so manifold space that appeals to anyone and provides new perspectiveson life.Full of questions about the roll of the USA in the world and in the development of my own country, I setforth once more on the long journey by plane to Europe. Everything has been organised by the humanhand and spirit. An time and again the heart provides the Middle that lives in between, whereupon lightfalls onto a place where there are human beings. And in times of inhumanity, the human being movescloser to the other human beings around.
German
Ein Erlebnis von Nordamerika
„Encountering our humanity“, das Thema einer internationalen Tagung vom 6.-14. August in Ottawa,eingeladen von der Anthroposophischen Gesellschaft in Kanada gab mir den Anlass, mich auf denumfangreichen Weg für vier Wochen nach Nordamerika zu begeben. „What is our humanity?“ frage ichmich selbst während dem ich das Flugzeug betrete und wieder mal tief berührt bin, wie viel menschlicheArbeitskraft und Geist sich mit meiner Handlung nun zuwendet. Aber sind wir Menschen frei bei derAusführung all dieser Tätigkeiten? Die nächste Frage muss ich selbst hinterfragen, ich dachte mir, daskann ich nur erfahren wenn ich den Menschen selbst begegne. Auf jeden Fall funktioniert alles seinenAbläufen nach perfekt, äußerst Zuverlässig, so dass Vertrauen entsteht. Und dies weil ich den Eindruckhabe, die Menschen sind kompetent in dem was sie machen. Vielleicht weniger warum sie es machen.Vielleicht auch schon. Es sind schlichte und großartige Dienstleistungen zugleich. Wenn ich nunMenschen etwas Frage oder in einen Austausch komme erfahre ich Menschlichkeit. Ob diese auch schonden Arbeitsplatz, welcher meist hoch hochtechnisiert ist, erreicht hat? Wie würde sich dann diese Welt
gestalten? Letzten Endes, der Mensch dem ich begegne auf meiner Reise, der mir zugleich die Reiseermöglicht, bringt auch die Menschlichkeit. Würde ich noch reisen wollen wenn alles vom Menschenunabhängig automatisiert von statten geht? Ich denke "Nein". Diese Welt wäre furchtbar einsam und kalt,menschenfeindlich. Die Technik und das System mit und für den Menschen hat etwas von Menschlichkeit.Dient nun mein Reiseziel zudem auch dem Menschen und der Menschheit? In Hoffnung muss ich diesder Zukunft überlassen.
In Kanada angekommen kann ich feststellen, dass ich nicht alleine bin mit dieser Hoffnung, gegen 300Menschen haben sich zusammengefunden um an dieser Aufgabe zu arbeiten, darüber eine Woche langGespräch zu halten. Einer menschenwürdigen Zukunft zu Diensten stehen zu können, für die liebevolle,dem Menschen unendlich gutgesinnten Grundlage, die Erde etwas tun zu können. Es war wundervoll vonMenschen aus allerlei Berufen zu hören was eigene Gedanken und Initiativen sind, es gibt Kraft weiter indie Zukunft zu schreiten ohne Zaghaftigkeit welche sich Angesichts täglicher Bedrohungen im Innerensich einnisten möchte, wenn eine Ehrlichkeit diesem hohen Ziele entgegenwachsen möchte.
Mit diesem Impuls machte ich mich mit einem Jugendsektionsfreund aus Holland auf den Weg die USAetwas zu erkunden. Unser erstes Ziel war Spring Valley in New York State kennenzulernen, Eurythmie,Naturwissenschaft, Pädagogik und Heilpädagogik, Landwirtschaft, ein Klang von Jahrzehntelanger,anthroposophischer Arbeit ist hier wahrnehmbar. Eine Busstunde weiter, wir steigen aus, vibrierendeWeltmetropole mit über 8 Millionen Einwohnern und berühmtester Skyline. Unser Gesprächsthema folgtenun dem Staunen was uns durch Augen und Ohren zu kam ebenso das Ereignis um 9/11 welches inAußen-, wie Innenpolitik eine bestimmte Richtung einzunehmen im Stande war.
Zu Gast in warmer Freundschaft waren wir bei Joshua Kelberman, junges und aktives Mitglied derAnthroposophischen Gesellschaft in den USA, mitverantwortlich für die Zweigräume in der Großstadt undLeiter der Buchhandlung dort. Er führte uns drei Tage in dem Beton- und Stahljungle von New York, wirhatten sehr inspirierende Auseinandersetzungen zur Frage nach unseren modernen Lebensstilen undZivilisationszuständen, dieser Ort der Welt scheint ein Boden zu geben für Zukunftsgestaltung, nur inwelche Richtung? Kann der Mensch die Zügel halten in Zukunft? Ich hoffe es. Mir war es hier am meistenmöglich Vertrauen zu schöpfen aus der Gewissheit des Geistes in Anwesenheit des Ungeistes. Hier ahnteich in einem Augenblick was entfaltende Erkenntnis aus Leid bedeutet. Viele Menschen leben hier auf denStrassen, dies ist vielleicht nur ein Anklang von kommendem. Mit einer Vielzahl von intensivenEindrücken von diesen wenigen Tagen wie kaum zuvor ging es weiter.
Jetzt von der hiesigen Ostküste an den Pazifischen Ozean der Westküste. Los Angeles in Kalifornien wardas Ziel. Bekannte und friedensliebende Mitstreiter der Jugendsektion besuchen. Weil wir aber weiterhindas Abenteuer suchten, vielleicht weil wir noch jung sind, entschieden wir uns für den Roadtrip. Mit einemkleinen, über zwanzig Jahre alten Truck machten wir uns auf den Weg von 4600 Kilometer quer durch dasLand. Vier Tage Highway brachten uns erstaunliches, neben den Niagara Falls, den sechsspurigenFahrbahnen von Chicago, den unzähligen Amerika Flaggen sahen wir Stunden lang auf Genmais- undSojamonokulturen. In der Wüste von Colorado stießen wir auf Bullenmastbetriebe die nicht zu endenschienen. Eine Landwirtschaft ohne Menschen und Menschlichkeit. Die wundervolle Natur der RockyMountains, der Grand Canyon und die Landschaften jenseits, die Wüsten zeigten uns zugleich dieHerrlichkeit der Erde. Rausgerissen durch Las Vegas, ein einziger Vergnügungspark undKonsumparadies für Superreiche waren wir nach vier Tagen Autofahrt unserem Ziel schon nahe. Esbegrüßte uns Hollywood mit Palmen und Küstenathmosphäre. Unsere Gastgeber erwarteten uns schonmit Freude, der spät nächtliche Empfang war herzlich und genau was uns zurückholte in menschlicheBegegnung nach diesem schnellen Motorenritt durch das weite Land. Wir durften den großartigenSozialimpuls des Elderberries Threefold Cafe in Los Angeles kennenlernen. Durch junge und junggebliebene Menschen welche durch die Geisteswissenschaft aktiv sind lebt hier in einem kleinen Cafeeine besondere Stimmung der Inspiration und Menschen aus allen Gesellschaftszusammenhängenkönnen profitieren. Vielen Dank für diesen Einblick in einen kleinen aber so vielfältigen Ort der jedenMenschen ansprechen kann und neue Perspektive dem Leben schenkt.
Mit fragenden Gedanken über die Rolle der USA in der Welt und die Entwicklungen im eigenen Land
begebe ich mich wieder auf die weite Flugreise zurück nach Europa. Alles ist organisiert vonMenschenhand und -Geist. Und immer wieder zwischendurch vervollkommnet das Herz die Mitte, dannfällt Licht auf einen Ort von Menschen. Und in Zeiten der Unmenschlichkeit kommt der Mensch demMenschen näher.
