A big thank-you to the organizers of the Anthroposophy in the Bay Area & Beyond celebration of the 100^th anniversary of Rudolf Steiner’s death.  I am grateful that I could attend this important commemoration in person with other anthroposophists since my work with threefolding has anticipated this 100-year window for the last several years.

The speech and eurythmy (Jeremiah Turner and Karen Gallagher) beautifully expressed the flame within the human being and its larger context (thank you both for performing this twice to frame the celebration).  Daniel Polikoff gave the main commemoration presentation.  Although I had some difficulty hearing Daniel since I sat far away, I heard most of it, enough to appreciate that it was a sweeping, deep, and perceptive overview of Steiner’s life that was based on Daniel’s deep knowledge of his subject.

The grand finale of the program was a display of more pictures of Steiner than I had ever before seen (as well as a few other pictures such as the Representative of Humanity).  Most were accompanied by succinct and profound quotes that in themselves were worth study.  These pictures were in large format of several square feet each, most on canvas, created over many years by Steve Gersich.  This was a one-time exhibition that deserves permanent display in a museum, so we felt very privileged indeed to see them.

Thank you again to the organizers for such a meaningful event!

— Linda Lingane

Whitsun in the Year’s Festival Cycle 

Though the spiritual new year is said to begin at Easter, Karl König describes a mood of fulfillment at Whitsun, just 50 days later, followed by a seasonal pause before the cycle begins again at St. John’s. 

With this framing as our context, Mary Stewart Adams will lead us in a consideration of the year’s festival cycle, and how festival life works with real consequence in the destiny of a community, especially in challenging times, for it is here we may create the substance for the spiritual world to use where it is most needed in the world. More and more this requires our conscious and active participation, but what does this conscious, active participation look like?

Further, as the culminating moment of the sacred Easter Festival in this 100th anniversary year of Rudolf Steiner’s death, this year’s Whitsun is unique and potentially consequent for the next iteration of anthroposophy in the world. In order that the centenary celebrations and observances be more than a remembrance of things past, we are invited to consider Rudolf Steiner’s Leading Thoughts 168-170 (attached), and to prepare inwardly by reviewing our “festival life” from St. John’s 2024 to Easter 2025. This preparation is suggested so that it may serve as a foundation from which we can share ideas about what is needed for our going forward together

We appreciate your support of the ongoing work of The Faust Branch in making these offerings available.
Admission for lectures (no one excluded for lack of funds) :
Faust Branch members: $5, Non-members: $10, Supporting Members and Donors – No Fee.
Admission fees may be paid On-line at https://www.faustbranch.org/ or  By Check to Sacramento Faust Branch (mail to Treasurer, Carol Nordaas, 7620 Woodglen Dr, Fair Oaks, CA 95628)

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Since 2023, Mary Stewart Adams has been general secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in America. She serves as a spokesperson for the society and country representative in the international movement. She is also a Star Lore Historian and independent contractor working out of the initiative to safeguard the human imagination by protecting our access to the night sky and its stories.

Conference and evening talks with Owen A. Barfield and Crystal and David Downing

Jan 31 & Feb 1, 2025

This year we will study Rudolf Steiner‘s lecture cycle THE GOSPEL OF ST. LUKE, new title ACCORDING TO LUKE (10 lectures given in Basel, September 15th-26^th, 1909) – GA114
https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA114/English/RSP1964/GosLuk_index.html

Steiner addresses the genealogy and childhood of Jesus in the Matthew and Luke Gospels, unveiling for the first time the mystery of the two Jesus children. He also describes the workings of Zarathustra, and the relation between the Jesus child and Buddha.

All Evenings begin at 7 pm – In Person, (either at The Christian Community, 
10030 Fair Oaks Blvd., or in Homes, addresses below), or on Zoom.
There will be 2 special presentations – on New Year’s Eve, and on January 6.
All events are open to members and friends.

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The full schedule is attached below: