Holy Nights

7 PM Nightly

Dear Friends,

We would like to invite you all to our Holy Nights gatherings!We decided on reading World History and the Mysteries in the Light of Anthroposophy, lectures given by Rudolf Steiner from Dec.24th 1923 to January 1st 1924, exactly 100 years ago.

We will not meet on December 31st or January 6th.

On January 6th we will gather to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the re-founding of the Anthroposophical Society by Rudolf Steiner, from 1:30- 4:30 at Camphill (details will follow).We decided to practice the song “I Feel My Destiny” by Julie Courtney each night before the reading, because we will sing that song at the January 6th event. 
Recordings of the music (from Esther), can be downloaded here, along with the sheet music if you wish to practice at home:

• Soprano Audio File (mp3)
• Alto Audio File (mp3)
• Bartione Audio File (mp3)

On Sunday, December 10th we will have a one-time practice session for this song at Susan Cook’s house (directions below) at 11 am, led by Esther. We will provide the sheet music then. If you would like to join us, please let me know (wandabtaylor@msn.com ) so I can give Susan a head count.

We will have 10 nights (starting 12-26 and ending 1-5) to read the 9 lectures of World History and the Mysteries in the Light of Anthroposophy, so on January 5th we will read the first lecture from Christ and the Human Soul(GA155). I will provide copies! Details and directions are available on the community calendar page: https://proto.sfbbi.org/calendar/.

If you have any questions, please contact me wandabtaylor@msn.com.

Happy Holidays!

Wanda

Do you love to sing, or yearn to sing, or wish that you could sing? Singing is a precious expression of our humanity and our voice is the most essential tool that we have for living our lives.  

Singing unites people, creates community and can be a pure expression of our soul as well as a direct connection to the spiritual world.  It also provides a deeply nourishing opportunity to receive renewal and self-care.

You are warmly welcome to join the 8th Foundational Singing Training of the School of Uncovering the Voice that begins this February! Everyone is eligible to attend, regardless of singing abilities. It is a transformational experience; not only is it inherently beneficial for your whole being; you will also discover the potential of your own unique and beautiful voice.  More information can be found on our new website: https://www.werbecksinging.org/We would be grateful if you would please share this message with anyone in your greater community who might be interested. 

While the group sessions for the upcoming training are held for a handful of days twice a year in Northern CA, most, if not all of the included private singing lessons can be held over Zoom, which makes this training manageable for people who live outside of CA.

Special message for those of you who are connected to schools:

Waldorf schools are at the forefront of understanding the value of singing and its positive impact on the healthy growth of children.

In an ideal world, every school contains teachers who have free, natural singing voices and can lead and model beautiful singing for the children and the greater community. Even better; imagine a community where everyone feels confident and comfortable singing!
Although many Waldorf teacher trainings contain some elements of the anthroposophical singing method, Uncovering the Voice (also called Werbeck singing) we have found that most teachers benefit from additional training in Uncovering the Voice. 

We are offering a special discount for schools: if two or more staff members of the same school register together, they each get $50 off of the tuition per semester. 

In addition, as an experienced, credentialed Waldorf class teacher and choir leader, Shayndel is also available for private mentoring of teachers in developing their singing abilities and working with grade-specific songs, from early childhood through the grades. She also mentors sound healers and singing professionals.

The Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Branch is pleased to present:
Friday, December 15, 7:00 PM at the

Resource Center for Nonviolence, Santa Cruz

The Oberufer Shepherd’s play is a unique community Christmas event being performed one night only at the Resource Center for Nonviolence, December 15, at 7 PM. It has been performed every year since Medieval times by people around the world. It takes the Christmas story from the point of view of the Shepherds in a unique, humorous and warm-hearted way, with amateur local actors and musicians.

The cast this year is drawn from Hidden Meadow, the Santa Cruz Waldorf School, the Anthroposophical Branch, Blossom’s Farm, and Camphill Communities California. The special community feeling engendered by this event will be palpable to anyone. 

This traditional religious story can serve to kindle in any of us the soul-light  that can awaken in the depths of winter.

“City people today are hardly capable any longer of completely appreciating to its full depth what is connected with our annual festivals.  It is hardly possible to feel that magic which passed like a spiritual breath through the souls, through the minds of those who believed that they were carrying Christ in their heart during the great festive events at Christmas or Easter.   To feel this magic which passed through humanity in these periods like a spiritual breath has become really quite difficult …if we look at what ordinary people were able to feel when they were presented with the child in the manger … then we can say: such moods, such feelings should awaken in us when we look at what can be born in our soul… “

Rudolf Steiner, discussing the Oberufer play, Berlin, December 22 1910

Resource Center for Nonviolence

612 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Requested Donation: $30 for families (any size!) or$20 per adult
No one turned away.

Susan Cook, David Eyes, Douglas Wylie
The Core Group
Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Anthroposophical Society
a branch of 
The Anthroposophical Society in America
coregroup@anthroposophysantacruz.com

….It is the distinctiveness of the Christmas Impulse of the Anthroposophic Society, that this Anthroposophic Society has become imprinted with a full character of a public organization. With this deed nothing else is expected of a member of the Anthroposophic Society than what each member themself is expecting: to receive through the Anthroposophic Society what flows within the Anthroposophic Spirit-Movement. No other responsibility is requested if one becomes an Anthroposophist. The commitment to be a decent human being is probably obvious…..Rudolf Steiner

On December 28th, 1923 amidst the ruins of the first Goetheanum, that burned to the ground through arson the year before, about 800 Anthroposophists gathered around Rudolf Steiner in the Schreinerei  for a new beginning. During what is known as the Christmas Conference, he founded the new Society by laying a new foundation stone. This time it was given in the form of the Foundation Stone Meditation placed in the heart of each member of the society, to become a foundation to stand on and an anchor. He introduced the Vorstand of the organization and he himself became the president thereof – a spiritually significant deed! 

Worldwide there is an initiative of organizing celebrations commemorating the 100 year anniversary of this significant event, and I’m reaching out to hear your thoughts, ask for your participation, and contributions if you feel moved to.

Let’s strengthen and tune our organs of sense perception through stories, memories, lectures, inspiration, practice and artistic activities. Let us create a vision and inspiration for the future.

Ideally we will work rhythmically over several days to penetrate the Foundation Stone Meditation, through Willing, Feeling and Thinking, given in the time between December 26- January 1, 1923. A conclusion will follow on January 6th with presentations, as the echo of our work.

If you feel inspired to contribute with an activity, would like to host at your home or workshop, like to give a talk, guide us in meditation, have stories to share or ideas for the future, please respond to katja.wishart@me.com . All’s welcome and nothing too small to share!

There is a livestream every Monday at 11 am PST on Goetheanum.tv with various topics connected to the Christmas Conference

https://goetheanum.tv/categories/livestreams-en?locale=en_us

October Branch Meeting
Tuesday, October 24, 7:00 PM at 

Paloma Hall, Aptos

 “The Goetheanum World Conference during Michaelmas”
– Salon format –

presented by
Philip Jacob and Gaya Mezhlumyan

In connection with their work at Camphill California, Phillip Jacob and Gaya Mezhlumyan have recently returned from their attendence at the Conference at Dornach.

They will share their observations and highlights from the conference, and lead us into a “salon style” discussion circle where we take our start from the themes, insights, and updates they provide.  Continuing the Michael mood, from here we can jump off and look at and discuss how trends in the world-wide society reflect into our own branch activity. 

Paloma Hall

4096 Fairway Drive, Soquel, CA 95072

Requested Donation: $20 or $10 for paid-up branch members.
No one turned away.

Anthroposophy in the BayArea is inviting you to our

Michaelmas celebration

Saturday, October 7, 2023     3 – 5. 30 pm

Please arrive 2.45 pm 

at the San Francisco Waldorf High School – Eurythmy room –

470 West Portal Ave   San Francisco, CA 94127

We would be delighted if you share this invitation with others who have an interest in Anthroposophy.

Please note that this event is oriented for adults. 

In preparation you might want to read:  Anthroposophical  Leading Thoughts of the Michael Mystery 103 – 108.

Links are attached here:

For   The Pre-Michaelic Way (103 – 105)

https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA026/English/RSP1973/GA026_c03.html

For    Michael’s Task in the Sphere of Ahriman (106 – 108)

https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA026/English/RSP1973/GA026_c04.html

In German

https://steiner.wiki/GA_26#DER_VOR-MICHAELISCHE_UND_DER_MICHAELS-WEG

https://steiner.wiki/GA_26#MICHAELS_AUFGABE_IN_DER_AHRIMAN-SPHÄRE

hosted by Gloria Decater  

at Live Power Community Farm 

Covelo, CA      www.livepower.org

Friday, September 22nd 

4 pm:  Arrival and camping set up.

Saturday, September 23rd 

7:00 Honoring the Cow   

8:15 Catered Breakfast

9:00 Welcome –  Michaelmas with Harald Hoven

9:30 Introduction to preparation making: making preparations –  horn manure, chamomile, dandelion, oak bark led by Harald Hoven and others

12:30 Circle and Introductions – Potluck Lunch, please bring plates, bowls and mugs.

2:00 – 5:30 – Break-out Groups: Building and Prepping a Compost PIle  Making and Making and Spraying Barrel Compost  0r Gardening Teaching with Willow and Ronni   

6:00  Catered Dinner

7:00  Fire Ceremony and Invocation: with Orland Bishop – bring musical instruments

Sunday, September 24th

7:15  – Catered Breakfast

8:00 – John Bloom 

8:30  –   Orland Bishop with John Bloom –  Community Building Toward a Shared Future

Lunch: 12:30

1:30 – 3:30 – Orland Bishop – Community Building Toward a Shared Future

Clean up and socialization

COST:  Saturday: Members and apprentices are invited to attend the Saturday gathering at no cost.  Non-members pay $15 – $25 contribution for the Saturday gathering at the door.  You can join or renew at the meeting.  Sunday: This is a special event with extra costs to bring Orland, so we are suggesting a $20 – $50 contribution.  Meals are additional. 

MEALS

Lunch on Saturday is potluck so bring something to share and your own plate/utensils.  Saturday breakfast and dinner, Sunday breakfast and lunch will be catered.  Breakfasts $12, Dinner $20, Sunday Lunch $15, (apprentices get a $4 discount per meal.)  Meals are paid for at the door, but you must RESERVE MEALS BY SEPT. 19th at 5 pm.  Contact: livepower@livepower.org

CAMPING:  available at Live Power Farm Fri.- Sunday.

Golden Oaks Motel, 707-983-8000   –  www.golden-oaksmotel.com  – reserve early

DIRECTIONS

Live Power Community Farm is located at 25451 East Lane in Covelo.  707-983-8196.  Head North on 101 (the farm is about 3.5 hours north of San Francisco.) Visit www.livepower.org for directions. Please note we cannot accommodate pets at this event.  

Please DO NOT BRING DOGS onto the property. We also request that you do not smoke while on the farm.  Thank you.

A Day with Orland Bishop

Community Building

Toward a Shared Future

            How can we work together to develop a healthy future?   The process we will use is a consensus model of collective visioning towards a shared future. It allows a group to co-create the essential framework for agreement and a shared understanding of an imagined future. 

           We will use Live Power Community Farm as a model to work forward with into the future.

            We will come to steps, now, soon and later in the creative process of time and how things come into form. We will begin and see how far we get in the process

             Orland Bishop is the founder and director of ShadeTree Multicultural Foundation in Los Angeles, where he has pioneered approaches to urban truces and mentoring at-risk youth that combine new ideas with traditional ways of knowledge. ShadeTree serves as an intentional community of mentors, elders, teachers, artists, healers and advocates for the healthy development of children and youth. 

             Orland’s work in healing and human development is framed by an extensive study of medicine, naturopathy,  psychology and indigenous cosmologies, primarily those of South and West Africa.   He is a well-known speaker in Anthroposophical circles.

You are invited to join with a group of students and friends to create an online practice group to support personal transformation and world healing. Each weekday we meet for 15 minutes to practice the six “basic exercises” as described by Rudolf Steiner.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/266986103?pwd=bXU4a0EvMmJkMDZTR0Rqcm0xZ0pUZz09

We will practice each of the 6 exercises for one month. We begin the time every day with a 5-minute leading thought on one aspect of the practice. We follow that with a 5- minute period in which we turn off our cameras and practice or meditate individually. After the five-minute bell, we allot 2 minutes to journal about our experience,
and the end the call with a 3-minute closing thought.

We are a diverse group of newcomers and long-time practitioners; we welcome anyone interested in taking up these exercises.

On Thursday, September 21 & Friday, September 22, we will have 2 days of introduction for newcomers.

Regular Practice begins Monday, September 25, 2023 and ends on Friday, March 29, 2024.

This group will meet every weekday for 15 minutes each weekday. The schedule each day (ET):

12:00: Opening thought/reading
12:05: 5-minute individual practice space 12:10: Journal time
12:12 Closing thought/reading
12:15 Close the space

Everyone is invited to participate. Come when you can and will. Free of charge.

We intend to stay as close to time as possible.

Introductory sessions
Thursday, Sept 21 (the six basic exercises) Friday, Sept 22 (how we practice)

Concentration/Clear Thinking

September 25 – October 20

Focused Willing

October 23 – November 17 (no meetings week of Nov 20)

Equanimity

November 27 – December 22

~ Break for Holy Days ~ Positivity

January 8 – February 2, 2024

Open-Mindedness

February 5 – March 1

Harmony

March 4 – March 29, 2024
This is a practice group AND a research group.

Our resource page: https://padlet.com/angelaARC/6BEof2023and24

Why we journal: You are encouraged to bring a journal to make notes and keep track of your progress. We acknowledge that as students on the path we can become spiritual researchers. Our daily practice and our own biographies can become research when we are conscious of what we are working towards. When we write notes in our journals, we bring more focused will to our practice.

Co-creating the space: The intention is that we all co-create the container, with each other and the spiritual world. We need each other to participate so that our vessel will grow and evolve. All participants are invited to bring in a leading or closing thought. We have an online signup sheet and anyone can take a turn! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054DAFA72AAA8-6bepractice1

Short & Sweet: By keeping the entire call to only 15 minutes, we hope to make it accessible to everyone in the middle of daily life. Bringing leading thoughts that are limited to 5 minutes, allows us to hone “what is essential” and trust that valuable lessons can be revealed through rhythm and time.

Time: weekdays 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

PLEASE MUTE YOURSELF UPON ENTERING

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/266986103?pwd=bXU4a0EvMmJkMDZTR0Rqcm0xZ0pUZz09

Meeting ID: 266 986 103 Passcode: 345338. One tap mobile: +13126266799,,266986103#,,,,,,0#,,345338# US (Chicago)

+16465588656,,266986103#,,,,,,0#,,345338# US (New York)