The Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Branch
of the Anthroposophical Society
is pleased to present:

Anya Hobley     Gleice Paulino da Silva Natalia Paredes Lopez

An Evening on the Section for Inclusive Social Development 

Tuesday, May 26, 7:00 PM

Please join us for an evening on The Section for Inclusive Social Development, which is a faculty of the School of Spiritual Science (Goetheanum). 

Its core tasks are: 
– research, including through spiritual-scientific methods of inquiry
– personal and professional development, including through inner (esoteric, contemplative) pathways of practice
– building communities of practitioners to facilitate professional exchange
– peer consultation
– research and development in the various professional fields. 

The Section’s context is the interdisciplinary field of supportive education and inclusive social development, encompassing special needs education, early intervention, inclusive education, social work, social therapy, social pedagogy, inclusive community building (through intentional communities and through inclusive processes in the wider community) and related disciplines oriented towards supports for persons with disabilities or otherwise at risk of marginalization. 

We will hear how this work is currently taking place in our community, and in the wider world.

Anya Hobley is the Executive Co-Director of Camphill Communities California, where she has lived and worked for 16 years. She also serves as Director of Development & Outreach and as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors. She is a Waldorf graduate, with studies in Waldorf early childhood education, curative work, Social Therapy. She is a board member of the North American Council for Inclusive Social Development ( NAC), and has served for 8 years as the region’s international delegate to the work of inclusive social development in the world.

Gleice Paulino da Silva is a curative educator, a member of the Academy faculty at Camphill Communities California, and a teacher of professional adult education programs internationally. She particularly enjoys sharing the gift of healing stories and the power of storytelling and imagination to transform human situations. 

Natalia Paredes, originally from Puebla, Mexico, is a Physical Therapist with a degree from Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla. A graduate of Camphill Academy, she has lived and worked as part of the Camphill, CA community since 2019. She was part of the group, as were Anya and Gleice, who attended the opening of the new Section for Inclusive Social Development at the Goetheanum in Dornach.

We request our usual donation of $20
or $10 for current paid branch members.

Susan Cook, Jeanie Elliott, David Eyes, Douglas Wylie 
The Core Group

Visit the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Anthroposophical Society website for calendar of latest events

coregroup@anthroposophysantacruz.com 
www.anthroposophysantacruz.com

The Santa Cruz/Monterrey Bay Branch has provided a recording of Dr. Dyson’s talk in Santa Cruz:

James Dyson MD will be speaking from a deeply esoteric perspective to deepen our insight into the cosmic role of the Christ being.

More details here.

Requested Donation $15-$20 at the door. You can donate online.

Saturday, April 25, 2026 3 – 5 pm

SF Waldorf Grade School
2938 Washington St
San Francisco CA 94115

The Soul’s transformation across its eternal path

Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 PM

Resource Center for Nonviolence
612 Ocean St, Santa Cruz

Dr. Dyson will be speaking from a deeply esoteric perspective to enlarge our insight into the cosmic role of the Christ being.

This will be our first chance to hear Dr. Dyson speak in person since before the pandemic. Those of us who have had the opportunity to hear him speak before are excited to have him with us again.

His talk will explore these themes:

• The connection with Christ in the life between Death and Rebirth, where the karmic structure of our earth life is formed

• How we develop and transform the healing gifts of the hierarchies from our pre-earthly existence through encounter with the Christ in this life

• The possibility of dialogue with the Dead through a new etheric clairvoyance and a strengthening of the Christ power in our lives

The Santa Cruz Branch is coordinating a series of talks by Dr. Dyson, who will also speak in Fair Oaks, Santa Rosa, and San Francisco during the week of April 19. Dr. Dyson will speak extemporaneously to the themes within the overall context described at this detail page. Information about his other appearances in the greater Bay Area is also to be found on the detail page.

Please note that the date of this branch meeting is a week earlier than our usual rhythm of meetings.

The talk will also be webcast using Zoom, you may register for the Zoom meeting here.

James Dyson, MD, was a co-founder of one of the few English speaking anthroposophical medical clinics, Park Attwood in the UK, where he worked from 1979 to 2003. He has practiced as a doctor in Steiner Waldorf Schools and in centers for social therapy. His areas of special interest are developmental psychology and adult mental health, and he is a regular contributor to anthroposophic therapeutic trainings in the UK and the USA. More recently, Dr. Dyson has completed a Masters in Psychosynthesis Psychology and is a prolific lecturer of Rudolf Steiner’s body of work in the healing fields. Dr. Dyson is one of the founders of The Association for Anthroposophic Psychology (AAP), which has the following Mission Statement: Re-Membering Psychology Through Relational Anthroposophia, an image-rich statement describing its aim of bringing a psychology of soul and spirit both to professional counselors, and to the general public, that incorporates the spiritual science of Anthroposophy. It also endeavors to find ways in which Anthroposophic Psychology can be, shared, applied, and integrated with mainstream psychology according to the needs of our times. This mission honors Dr. Rudolf Steiner, founder of Anthroposophy.

We request our usual donation of $20 or
$10 for current paid branch members.

Susan Cook, Jeanie Elliott, David Eyes, Douglas Wylie 
The Core Group

Visit the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Anthroposophical Society website for calendar of latest events

coregroup@anthroposophysantacruz.com 
www.anthroposophysantacruz.com

Offering free group studies into the Mysteries of Technology and the future of Humanity.
Spring 2026 Program begins the week of April 5th. 12-week courses end in June.

MysTech intends to cultivate the ground both in the human soul and in industry whereby a healthy Man-Machine relationship can be realized. Toward that goal, MysTech intends to establish a research and development center. In support of our research goal, MysTech offers educational programs such as these study courses as well as a newsletter, periodic webinars, and an annual conference in addition to these study groups. 

Each study course intends to build a supportive environment for the study of key lectures given by Rudolf Steiner regarding the future interaction of mankind with machines. Each course has a study guidebook containing lectures by Steiner along with study questions.

Each course is formed around a group whose members can be from anywhere in the world. The courses listed here have a host and will meet weekly. Click on the “+” to see the day and time and host for that course. There is no cost except for the study guidebook. 

Consider forming a group! Reach out to Andrew Linnell at support@mystech.org

Check the Schedule

Sunday, April 5, 6:30 AM 

Capitola bluff (Jewelbox neighborhood), corner Prospect Ave and Opal St

We gather together to sing Easter/spring songs on the bluff overlooking Monterey Bay during Easter sunrise. All are welcome! Armand Ruby provides music and leading tones. Location: same as in recent years; aim your GPS for: 1375 Prospect Ave., Capitola, CA 95010 That spot has a nice southeasterly view, so weather permitting we will be able to see the sunrise, and there is plenty of free parking.

Jan-Willem Pieterse

Friday, April 10, 7:00PM  

Resource Center for Nonviolence
612 Ocean St, Santa Cruz

Hearing comments about reading Steiner’s texts: “it’s difficult”, “it can hit you”, “needs to be read again”, taking delight in reading it for the umpf time shows the variety of intentions and experiences. Here and there Steiner himself describes the challenges facing smithing words that represent the underlying ideas. So, it is no wonder this induces a remoteness on that path from ideas to words, to text, to a new pair of eyes, through milling it over with new percepts ever trying to reach for these original ideas. And once the idea is reached, there is more, it needs to be placed such that its perspective finds a satisfiable viewpoint among the omni presence of others. 

Steiner found a way such that each reader has the freedom to “read” original ideas again. Not so-much through facts, but let them move, puts them in perspective, addressing a listening individual. The original seed knows it has a future: to become a seed again be it after a full life. During this lecture we will work through a couple of examples by discovering geometry, inversions, enhancement and polarities. Just as a plant is composed of roots, leaves, flower and seed-power, the written text is re-created into a wholesome form. This active approach to find the original idea is then put in perspective. Every plant withers in the fall, likewise the newly discovered ideas find new life. It takes on a new form. Reading Steiner, can be difficult but never boring be it in the words, through the composition, from the ideas, fulfilling to the reader.

Jan-Willem grew up near Amsterdam. As a late bloomer he discovered his talent with fixing things, pursuing an EE degree which soon migrated into optical engineering. Balancing academic dryness, he explored esoteric interests and anthroposophy since ’78. Immigrated ‘temporarily’ to the US, San Jose in 1986. His current interests is in all kinds of transformations and inversion taking place around him.

We request our usual donation of $20 or $10 for current paid branch members.

The Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Branch
of the Anthroposophical Society
is pleased to present:

An Evening on Spiritual Scientific Research:

Presentations by Six Branch Members

Tuesday, March 24, 7:00 PM  

Resource Center for Nonviolence
612 Ocean St, Santa Cruz

It has occurred to Douglas Wylie and Jeanie Elliott that there may well be a lot more spiritual scientific research going on in our area than most of us are aware of, either in connection with specific Sections, or simply because individuals have been carrying questions and working with them. Many of us may not realize that we have been doing research because that sounds too high, too far beyond our capacities. But if we have learned anything from our studies of Rudolf Steiner, it is that each of us is a spiritual being with untapped capacities. Some of us have developed and followed exact, if changing and developing, research questions. Others of us have been quietly striving and living with questions we may not have considered as “research”. 

The following members will present on their research topics: 

Esther Centers: Intentional Movement And Children’s Learning

Delmar McComb: Bridging the Four Kingdoms and the Hierarchies: reflections on 35 years of Biodynamic gardening

Wanda Taylor:The Gospels

Steve Spitalny: The Sense of Life and the Modern World: a physiological basis for the lack of feeling of well-being

Carin Fortin:Understanding the Relationship Between Planets, Plants and the Human Body: farming with cosmic rhythms

Scott Olmsted:Meeting Children with an Open Question: the Waldorf approach.

Esther Centers recently finished a 24-year run as a Waldorf class teacher here in Santa Cruz and continues to support children as an educational support teacher.

Delmar McComb has been a student of Biodynamic Agriculture and Anthroposophy for over 30 years.
He is a co-owner of Blossom’s Farm, a Council Member of the Agriculture Section of North America, Delmar is an operatic tenor, having performed many leading roles with opera companies over the past 25 years.

Wanda Taylor is a mother and an anthroposophist. She loves spending time with her family, in nature, with her animals and her bees, playing volleyball and reading/studying books of many genres.

Stephen Spitalny has been part of the Santa Cruz Waldorf School since the mid ‘80’s and has been a practicing anthroposophist since then. He offers trainings, lectures, and workshops in many parts of the world.

Carin Fortin is an herb farmer, herbalist, teacher, and student of anthroposophy and biodynamics, and co-founder Blossom’s Farm. Carin currently serves as member of the circle of representatives of the AG Section at the Goetheanum and as the board president of the Biodynamic Association (BDA). Carin grew up in Switzerland and moved to the United States 28 years ago.

Scott Olmsted has been a student of Anthroposophy for over 35 years. He attended Rudolf Steiner College and earned a Waldorf Teaching Certificate in 1991. Currently a class teacher here in Santa Cruz, Scott is also able to eke out a little time for gardening and the wonderment of nature.

We request our usual donation of $20
or $10 for current paid branch members.

REMINDER – THIS WEEKEND
NOTE SATURDAY TIME CHANGES!

The Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Branch
of the Anthroposophical Society
is pleased to present:

Laurie Portocarrero

A Mystery Drama Workshop

Exploring “The Portal of Initiation” as Theater

Friday, March 6, 7:00 PM 

Paloma Hall
4096 Fairway Drive, Soquel

We are pleased to welcome Laurie back after last year’s exciting workshop! This weekend acting workshop explores the complete text of Steiner’s first mystery drama, The Portal of Initiation, through a variety of engagements and exercises that explore the art of the actor. Laurie will be using a variety of techniques, exercises, and formats that she has developed throughout her career as an actor.

Workshop will begin Friday night at 7PM and continue on Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (note changed time) and from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Sunday. If you are unable to attend the entire weekend, don’t worry – you will be welcome to come for whatever segments (Friday, Saturday Morning, Saturday Afternoon, or Sunday Morning) that you can arrange. Don’t miss this! While it does work with the entire play, the activities are sufficiently “non-linear” that you will experience benefit if you just “drop in” for part of it.

There will be a break for one hour and fifteen minutes for lunch.

It is suggested that you bring a bag lunch although it will be possible to leave for lunch.

Laurie Portocarrero is an actor, storyteller, teacher, and director living in upstate New York. Trained in the Chekhov method, Spatial Dynamics, and speech formation, she has performed internationally, notably playing Maria in Rudolf Steiner’s mystery dramas and Marie Steiner in Fire in the Temple. Laurie tours internationally with colleague Glen Williamson in original two-person pieces including Fire in the Temple. She also tours with Crossing the Veil, exploring five real near-death experiences. She teaches drama and storytelling to Waldorf teachers and special needs communities. Laurie leads a Mystery Drama exploration group and gives workshops nationally on the mystery dramas and community-building through the dramatic arts.

A donation of $125 is requested to cover workshop expenses, payment on site.No one is excluded due to financial considerations.

If you think you will coming, please send an email and let us know!