About

Harvard’s Program for the Evolution of Spirituality is delighted to host this special conference marking the centennial of the death of spiritual teacher Rudolf Steiner. The conference will be held at Harvard Divinity School on December 15 and 16,  with local and national anthroposophical organizations hosting related events nearby on December 14 and the morning of December 17. Register for the 100 Years Rudolf Steiner Conference below.

This conference marks the centenary anniversary of Rudolf Steiner’s death.The driving force behind the esoteric and social reform movement of anthroposophy, Steiner left behind a complicated and transregional legacy. Considering the small number of participants in the movement’s first decades, there are few spiritual currents of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries that have attracted as much public attention as anthroposophy—and few spiritual leaders who have been subject to as much scrutiny, both critical and sympathetic, especially in the German-language context. 

Following a twenty-year period that has seen a huge increase in the quality and the quantity of the scholarship on Steiner and anthroposophy, the centennial of Steiner’s death in 1925 offers a perfect opportunity for scholars, practitioners in areas of “applied anthroposophy,” such as Steiner education and biodynamic agriculture, and interested members of the public to come together to debate major issues. Our conference goal is to offer new perspectives on Steiner and critical approaches to his legacy, which has been extremely fruitful in multiple fields, from education and organic farming to modern art and architecture. By bringing together a diverse range of scholars and researchers, we hope to shed new light on this legacy and provide a forum to explore complex issues. The conference will feature three keynote addresses and a diverse mix of individual papers.

Conference Homepage

Register Here

September 28, 2025
3:00 sharp to about 5:00 p.m.
SF Waldorf School (Grade School Campus)
2938 Washington Street
San Francisco, California 94115 

Introducing the San Francisco Bay Branch Initiative!

In the spirit of continuing and renewing living anthroposophy in the Bay Area, a group of nine individuals who had participated in a Bay Area gathering sponsored by the Western Regional Council in 2024 formed the “San Francisco Bay Area Branch Initiative” this past springtime. 

The purpose of this initiative group is to serve as a provisional, caretaker body dedicated to promoting the work of Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy within the San Francisco Bay region. It exists to foster discovery, dialogue, and collaboration among those following a path of anthroposophical inquiry and/or contributing to anthroposophical initiatives in the region, and to explore the development of a more formal and enduring organizational structure. 

The association formed by the initiative group holds funds, enters into contracts, and sponsors activities in support of its purpose, and aims ultimately to contribute to a federation of regional allied anthroposophical members and entities.

The association is collectively carried by a Stewardship Group. The initial provisional members of this group are: Katja Wishart, Dale Robinson, Natalie Cargill, Jeremiah Turner, Cole Turner, John Bloom, Mark Zweifel, David Eyes (Santa Cruz), and Sandra Stoner (Sacramento). The role of the Stewardship Group is to ensure that the purposes of the association continue to be defined and evolved until such a time as there is a more formal organizational structure.

We will be present at the Michaelmas Celebration to introduce ourselves and to say more about the work we are taking up, and how we can encourage more initiative and deepen connections with the various fields of anthroposophy.

More about the Event

The event will begin with a brief introduction of the Initiative and its membership.

The Bay Area Eurthymy Ensemble will next present a performance set to the Michael Imagination (from the Last Address).

We will be led into a deeper conversation about the intentions of the initiative followed by breakout groups among the participants and reports back from those breakouts.

The artistic program will continue with Eurythmy, poetry, and music, closing with a reprise of the Michael Imagination presentation by the Eurythmy Ensemble.

A questionnaire eliciting input about the direction of the initiative will be circulated, which may be completed in paper or online.

We will conclude the event with refreshments and open conversation.

Your presence at this seminal event would be an important contribution to the future of anthroposophy in the Bay Area.

A suggested donation of $15 is requested to contribute to offsetting the costs of the program.
No one will be turned away for lack of payment

Any surplus will be added to the general funds of SFBBI for future events. 

John Bloom, Natalie Cargill, David Eyes, Dale Robinson, Sandra Stoner, 
Cole Turner, Jeremiah Turner, Katja Wishart, Mark Zweifel

The San Francisco Bay Branch Initiative

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Eurythmy with Cynthia Hoven

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Dietlind Kionke-Thoemmes

Saturday, August 2, 9:30 AM  

Paloma Hall
4096 Fairway Drive, Soquel

August 2: THE LOGIC OF THE WILL This class introduces a method to instill harmony and healing in social connections and contexts. It builds on the Logic of the Heart practice, introduced in July. The Logic of the Heart is a method for purifying perception, lifting our consciousness out of the astral body so that our awareness becomes objective and we can perceive what is true when looking at our soul life. To be able to purify our perception through the Logic of the Heart is the necessary first step for the Logic of the Will exercise. Through the Logic of the Will human relationships and conflicts can be healed, bringing harmony and well-being into community life. This fosters healing in the present and helps prepare for the future. October 4: WORKING WITH CHAINS OF REPEATED OCCURRENCES Working with both the Logic of the Heart and the Logic of the Will, this class introduces a method to foster healing for our life experiences, connecting us to the Grail stream. Participation in one of Dietlind’s previous classes is a prerequisite for this class. Dietlind Kionke-Thoemmes was born in Germany where she trained and practiced as a physician before moving permanently to Marin County in the U.S. in 1995. Her deeper impulse, rooted in Anthroposophy, was always to bring healing not only to the physical body but also to all the layers of the human being. In 2003, she became deeply inspired by the work of Armen Tougu, a Christian Community priest who was visiting San Francisco at that time. As she heard his descriptions of his work with a group of his congregants, she could see how Anthroposophical wisdom was able to illumine pressing social and destiny questions, leading to positive solutions and significant healing. Armen based his approach to inner and social healing on the exercises described by Rudolf Steiner and has, supported by an international group, developed a body of basic methods of concentration and meditation for inner and social healing in our time. Dietlind began her study and practice with Armen in 2003, pursuing this path intensively. In recent years she has been providing counseling and instruction in the basic methods and has also been teaching more comprehensive courses built on these methods. She recognizes that inner and social healing are what is needed if humanity is to evolve towards the tasks of the future.

The fee for first-time participants is $100 per day. The fee for participants who have taken the class previously is $60 per day. Commitment to the series is not required. Participation in the July 12 or August 2 classes is a prerequisite for the October 4 class.

Sunday, July 27th, 3:00–5:00 pm ET

In our last MysTech webinar, we explored the twelve senses. At our 2023 conference, we turned our attention to resonance. Now, we invite you to join us for a new conversation—one that listens deeply to the living qualities of music and the instruments that carry it.

What makes a musical instrument more than wood and strings? Why do certain instruments move us so deeply, while others remain silent to our inner life? How can the craft of instrument making become a path of consciousness and care?

These are questions that have accompanied master violin maker Arthur Bay for nearly fifty years. In this special webinar, Arthur will share his journey, his research into the original instruments of Franz Thomastik (1883–1951), and the living tradition of anthroposophical violin making that began in Vienna and continues in his Hamburg workshop today.

You’ll also meet our host, Aleodor Lazarescu, an engineer and Waldorf educator dedicated to deepening the practical and spiritual understanding of technology and education.

Whether you are a musician, a maker, or simply someone who listens with wonder, you are warmly invited to join us for this exploration. There will be time for questions and conversation.

Can’t attend live?
Register now and you’ll receive a link to the recording.

Click Here to Register

Monday 6 PM • July 28th, 2025

T h e H o p M o n k ‘ A b b e y ‘

230 Petaluma Ave. Sebastopol, CA

44-SBC-549-flyer-Handpan-Colin-

How much knowledge do you have about the founding and ideals of your own country – USA?

Methods of Concentration and Meditation Born out of Anthroposophy

Saturday, July 12, 9:30 AM  

Paloma Hall
4096 Fairway Drive, Soquel

This is a three-part series, based in the work of Rudolf Steiner, to take place on three separate Saturdays: July 12, August 2, and a September date to be determined. The first class introduces the practice of “The Logic of the Heart”. This is a method for finding inner peace and connection to the Higher Self. The second class introduces “The Logic of the Will”, a method to instill harmony and healing in social connections and contexts. The third class introduces “Working with Chains of Repeated Occurrences”and builds on the first two practices to introduce a method for healing our life experiences, connecting us to the Grail stream. Commitment to the series is not required. Participation in one of the first two classes is a prerequisite for the third class. Classes meet 9:30 – 6:30, with snack and lunch breaks.

Dietlind Kionke-Thoemmes was born in Germany where she trained and practiced as a physician before moving permanently to Marin County in the U.S. in 1995. Her deeper impulse, rooted in Anthroposophy, was always to bring healing not only to the physical body but also to all the layers of the human being. In 2003, she became deeply inspired by the work of Armen Tougu, a Christian Community priest who was visiting San Francisco at that time. As she heard his descriptions of his work with a group of his congregants, she could see how Anthroposophical wisdom was able to illumine pressing social and destiny questions, leading to positive solutions and significant healing. Armen based his approach to inner and social healing on the exercises described by Rudolf Steiner and has, supported by an international group, developed a body of basic methods of concentration and meditation for inner and social healing in our time.

Dietlind began her study and practice with Armen in 2003, pursuing this path intensively. In recent years she has been providing counseling and instruction in the basic methods and has also been teaching more comprehensive courses built on these methods. She recognizes that inner and social healing are what is needed if humanity is to evolve towards the tasks of the future.

As San Francisco Waldorf School students, we’ve had the immense privilege of being taught eurythmy by many incredible teachers, most recently during the inaugural Youth Eurythmy Conference hosted at our high school campus. After workshops taught by Virgnia Hermann and Sea-Anna Vasilas, we discussed the possibility of re-establishing a summer youth eurythmy intensive hosted by Eurythmy Spring Valley. Through this one-week intensive we hope to create a space for young eurythmists to engage deeply with the pedagogical and spiritual foundations of eurythmy.

 There are 6 of us: three graduating seniors whose last chance this may be to do eurythmy, and three rising seniors. We are hoping to raise a total of $7,500 to cover the costs of flights ($2250) and tuition ($5250)

 In supporting this initiative, you contribute not only to the cultivation of artistic excellence but to the continuity of a tradition that seeks to harmonize inner and outer life through conscious movement that will continue to live on through us and future generations of the SFWHS Youth Eurythmy Troupe.  

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-sfwhs-students-attend-eurythmy-intensive?attribution_id=sl:5e46d662-c3d8-455e-9b60-364341502ce4&utm_campaign=natman_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link