“association of people who would foster the life of the soul,
both in the individual and in human society,
on the basis of a true knowledge of the spiritual world.”
Ten lectures given in Basel
September 15-24, 1912, GA139
By Rudolf Steiner
“From one point of view the Mark Gospel may be
thought of as the most deeply esoteric of all,
concerned as it was so exclusively with the cosmic
Christ, Christ as a spiritual being who manifested
Himself on earth through the body of Jesus of
Nazareth…”
from the Introduction by Stewart C. Easton
Daytime gathering begins at 3:00 pm: Dec. 26
Daytime gatherings begin at 1:00 pm: Dec. 27-29, Jan. 1,2 & 4,5
Evening gatherings begin at 7:30 pm: Dec. 30, Jan. 3,6
Bring your Christmas caroling voices!
Please email contact@sandiegoanthroposophy.com if you need directions/contact information for any of the hosts/ study days.
| Thurs, December 26 | Lecture 1 | Jacqueline and Soleil | 3:00 pm | Fallbrook |
| Fri, December 27 | Lecture 2 | Johanna and Bruce | 1:00 pm | San Diego |
| Sat, December 28 | Lecture 3 | Andrea and Scott | 1:00 pm | La Mesa |
| Sun, December 29 | Lecture 4 | Mary | 1:00 pm | Poway |
| Mon, December 30 | Lecture 5 | Karen | 7:30 pm | Poway |
| Tue, December 31 | No reading | |||
| Weds, January 1 | Lecture 6 | Lori and Carlos | 1:00 pm | Escondido |
| Thurs, January 2 | Lecture 7 | John and Christy | 1:00 pm | Vista |
| Fri, January 3 | Lecture 8 | Joseph and Patricia | 7:30 pm | Oceanside |
| Sat, January 4 | Lecture 9 | Elizabeth | 1:00 pm | San Marcos |
| Sun, January 5 | Lecture 10 | Karen | 1:00 pm | Poway |
| Mon, January 6 | Leading Thoughts † | Lori and Carlos | 7:30 pm | Escondido |
These cycles are available in the Rudolf Steiner Archive:
Last December was the 100th anniversary of the founding of the General Anthroposophical Society and the "Laying of the Foundation Stone" on December 25th, 1923.
During that month, we invited folks to spend a short time daily with the Foundation Stone Meditation during the month of December. Although the centennial has passed, the questions of how to continue this work both personally and in community continue. With that in mind, and with the feedback of local members, we would like to renew this challenge again for 2024.
Whether you are new to anthroposophy, have been working with it for many years, or are simply curious about ways to practice meditation, the Foundation Stone Meditation is an excellent verse, available to all, for contemplation, and creating a sense of sacred inner rhythm to carry into the Christmas season.
This is an excellent way to engage the will and strengthen our intention as the year draws to a close.
The words: verse, poem, prayer, and mantra are different words to describe what is essentially the same: a tool we can use in our spiritual practice for the purpose of going inward; for the mind: as concentration and meditation; for feeling: as art, beauty, devotion and whatever may awaken; and for will: in how our personal resolve can be strengthened in practice.
Mantra (devanāgarī: मन्त्र) is a Sanskrit word coming from the root man- (manas, "to think" or "mind") and the suffix - tra, ("tool" or "instrument"), meaning the "instrument of thought".
From the Anthroposophy Wiki: ..the mantras given by Rudolf Steiner are primarily thought mantras, which can also have an effect when translated into other languages in meditation, as is also the case with the Lord's Prayer:
“The Lord's Prayer is a prayer that is not a mantram as such. It will still have its meaning after thousands and thousands of years have passed because it is a thought mantram. The effect of the Lord's Prayer was poured into the thoughts, and just as true as it is that people can digest quite well without having to ask a physiologist to tell them what the effect of the digestive process consists of, it is just as true that the person who prays the Lord's Prayer feels the effect of the Lord's Prayer, even if he does not allow it to be said to him. The effect of the Lord's Prayer is there because it lies in the power of the thoughts themselves." --GA 96
In addition to how the Foundation Stone can be used for individual practice, it goes without saying, in and of itself it is connected in a practical way with the impulse and outpouring of anthroposophy in the world.
Ideas for practice:
During our holy nights studies, which will last from 12/26 to 1/6, you will have the opportunity to share your experiences with the verse, as well as continue the practice with the group.
Time: 3:00 pm
Location:
Waldorf School of San Diego
3547 Altadena Drive
San Diego, California 92105
...As we gather in the candlelight to honor our friends and loved ones with readings and poetry, eurythmy and music we will enrich our sensing of our unseen companions.
A Candlelight Performance of Eurythmy: with Johanna Laurelin, Amy Schick, Chelaine Kokos-Ortiz
Music including works by Felix Mendelsohn, JS Bach, Philip Glass, Claude Debussy, Frederick Chopin, Paul Hindemith;
Piano Accompaniment by Karen Grant
Bassoon interlude by Blake Tereau
Verses and Meditations by Rudolf Steiner
You may bring a list of those you wish to remember and read their names aloud.
Feel how we gaze lovingly
Into heights that now
Call you to other work.
May your power reach out
From spirit-realms
To the friends you left behind.Hear our souls’ request
Sent to you in confidence:
We need here, for our earthly work,
Strong power from spirit landsWe thank you friends now dead for this.A hope that makes us happy,
A loss that pains us deeply,
Let us hope that you light our lives,
Far-and-near, unlost,
A soul-star in the spiritual firmament.Rudolf Steiner, 1915, GA 261
Time: 10:30 am to 4 pm
Potluck Lunch break 12:30 - 2:00
Bring your favorite dish to share
Place:
Sanderling Waldorf School
2585 Business Park Drive, Vista, CA 92081
Suggested Donation: $20
Introduction:
“Outer forces cannot create the space our inner being needs to grow. Only the inner calm we create in the soul can do so.”
“As esoteric students, we ourselves must give birth to a new, higher being within us.”
“Meditation is the way to knowing and beholding the eternal, indestructible, essential center of our being.” (from How to Know Higher Worlds by Rudolf Steiner)
How do you create inner quiet? Practice. Nothing very fancy or mysterious or exotic. Just good old-fashioned practice, with a good dose of humility and gratitude. This will be a day of practice, for all levels of practitioners. But what to practice?
Everyone must find what works for them to quiet a busy mind, calm a distracted soul and ease a restless body. I will offer a number of practices, that I have found and love, that work to prepare the ground. They include perception exercises, listening, working with verse and imagination, breath and body awareness, gentle movement and a simple heart alignment exercise.
In all practices we are working, or playing, with attention — our capacity to place our attention where we choose and to enter feelingly into the experience. Those of you who are familiar with the 6 Basic Exercises (which Steiner gave over and over again as an important ground for all further meditative work) will recognize the 1st, concentration and control of thinking, in this working with attention.
“Once we begin to meditate, we achieve the only really fully free deed possible in this human life… When we meditate, we are completely free.”
—Rudolf Steiner, Lecture on Aug 8, 1922
Facilitator: Joseph Rubano has been a meditator and disciple on the path for over 50 years. He has received teachings and inspiration from many sources. Anthroposophy and Rudolf Steiner have been the primary source and ground of his spiritual work for the past 35 years. He has a Biographical Counseling practice in Oceanside, CA and is on the faculty of the Biography and Social Art Program at Sunbridge Institute in NY. He has been offering the True Heart True Mind Enlightenment Intensive and the Desert Solo (Vision Quest) in San Diego for the past 15 years.
Dear Friends
You are invited to join us on September 27th, 2024 at 7:00 PM in Escondido, to read together Rudolf Steiner's Last Address, originally given on Michaelmas Eve, 1924, entitled:
"The Individuality of Elias, John, Raphael, and Novalis"
For those unable to come, we hope that you will read with us at home: https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA238/English/Singles/19240928p01.html
We will close by reading from Hymns to the Night & Spiritual Songs by Novalis.
Please email: contact@sandiegoanthroposophy.com for more information / directions.