The word human or (Wo)Man sums up our essential qualities, our status as unique individuals and social beings. Through our grasp of knowledge, our heart-felt sense of beauty, truth, and goodness, we enact loving kind deeds – deep wisdom echoes in each of us. We participate freely in the world via thinking, feeling, and our willing deeds.
In this light, we will look at what is represented by the Greek term anthroposophy (pronounced “anthro-poss-oh-fee”). We will also describe some endeavors for anyone who would like to investigate further.
Something special happens when we meet people we grow to respect and love. Not only do essential human qualities appear in social context, those we admire provide living evidence of the workings of truth and goodness. Comparing their words with their deeds and also with our own, we see ourselves mirrored in their struggles and in their love of life. Learning by emulation, we become those we take to heart in many ways. – It is not at all paradoxical that self awakening is truly social.
We continuously redefine “human” by what we do. It is also up to us to lift the term “anthroposophy” out of jargon and place it into the context of life. In this sense, “human” and “anthroposophy” are parallel key words pointing to encompassing, active ideas. On the surface, anthroposophy would appear to be a philosophy, a world view. But it is no more or less so than “being human” is. Because of our nature, because of our gradual awakening, anthroposophy is something we all possess in the foundations of our own humanity. “Everything slumbers within the soul and can be awakened,” claims the Austrian thinker, Dr. Rudolf Steiner, who brought these ideas to the attention of modern understanding.1) Physical and spiritual insight, born of human-centered knowledge, is the wide-ranging content of anthroposophy.
Beyond embracing attained and potential human knowledge at the profoundest levels, anthroposophy is also an inward skill – a faculty of soul and spirit. It is “that practiced state in which I recognize myself to be a spiritual being participating consciously in the physical and spiritual worlds.” This ability belongs to everyone – humanity (anthro) has its own wisdom (sophia), i.e., anthro-po-sophy.
This word also has another root meaning. Anthropos – (s)he, who in the highest of life, her primal source is seeking… Using our best abilities in a heart-full context, our active knowledge merges subjectivity and objectivity into actuality. Truth-wrought meaning is wholesome and holistic, full of inward vitality to empower our deeds.
Towards self development, dozens of works and thousands of lectures are available to readers to pursue on their own. Let us take a look at some of the social endeavors which have benefited from anthroposophical initiatives in virtually every country. Many people in America are unaware that more than a few of these efforts have been going on for over a century. A few of the areas anthroposophy has contributed to are:
- Economic and social revitalization – Foundations, banks, and capital investment firms located in many countries contribute to the development and on-going support of many of the socially-oriented organizations we list here.
- Agriculture – “bio-dynamic” farming methods are more than organic. No poisons or artificial fertilizers are used, of course. Beyond this, bio-dynamic farmers have a deep understanding of companion planting and conservation techniques. For a century, they have improved special composting methods that help the earth to heal. These farms also have a healthy connection to society. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is raised another degree in social interaction, frequently involving schools and medical clinics. For example, on “b.d.” farms, those recovering from addiction can reconnect to the earth and be sheltered from old circumstances. And emotionally disturbed children and adults may find their own healing in working on healing the earth.
- Science and mathematics – Physicists, chemists, geologists, meteorologists, and many others from diverse scientific fields have gained new insights and results following Goethean-scientific methods. Mathematicians applying Dr. Steiner’s suggestions have developed enlivened approaches to teaching math in school. Ground-breaking, post-doctoral research has been done in areas such as projective geometry.
- Education – Waldorf (and “Steiner”) school teachers recognize and respect the totality of the child. By assisting in the development of the whole being of the child, healthy foundations are nurtured, contributing fundamentally to healthy society. Waldorf is the largest private school network in Europe; the first school opening around the early 1920’s. Today, Waldorf education is gaining recognition throughout America, even among public school educators. There are schools in Florida, including a kindergarten in Jacksonville Beach.2)
- Architecture – By attempting to heal our sense and use of space, these structures extend and reinforce our awareness of our physical and spiritual nature. There are many of these unique buildings throughout the world. The “Goetheanum,” in Switzerland, was one of the world’s first cast-concrete buildings.
- Art, music, and speech – Artists in all media have shown a renewed sense of wonder and reverence in their works, reflecting the experience of the awakening human spirit. Speech training and art therapy are widely used in clinics and in the Waldorf schools.
- Eurythmy – as an innovative art of movement, eurythmy (“yurh-rith-mee”) makes speech and music visible through specific, body gestures. Although a new art form at the beginning of the last century, eurythmy has been developed to a high degree in several areas: 1) as a form of personal growth, 2) as a stage art, and 3) in a therapeutic-medical form. Teaching any of these areas requires four-year training, with additional training for the stage and therapeutic forms. The latter also requires a medical doctor’s intervention.
First, eurythmists teach classes for enhancing personal development and social awareness. As an integral part of the Waldorf schools, eurythmists are in great demand. And in the work place, eurythmists teach employees at companies such as Mercedes Benz. Eurythmy maintains physical and emotional balance and promotes general well being.
Second, in stage art, performers present eurythmy making speech and music visible through movement. Stage groups perform around the world.
Third, in the therapeutic-medical form, the eurythmist is a practitioner, guiding the patient’s eurythmy gestures. This eurythmy requires a medical doctor’s referral and prescription. In the world, only a handful of trained eurythmists are also medical doctors.
- Assisting people with special needs – The Camphill Movement is one of several initiatives for helping children and adults with emotional and mental disabilities. The profound support provided in these live-in facilities encompasses daily physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. Many other focused groups are at work, from special schools for the mentally disabled, to holistic nursing homes, and drug rehabilitation clinics. Assistance is even available to our fellow human beings often forgotten: the incarcerated. Through out-reach programs, art, and counseling, prisoners reconnect to society in ways normally unavailable to them.
- Therapy and Medicine – The clinics and hospitals centered primarily in Europe vary in size and specialty. Some have large wards and extensive facilities. All incorporate diverse treatment modalities. The full spectrum of traditional (Western) school medicine including alternative, complementary medicine is available. This repertoire is then further expanded, culminating in the most sophisticated techniques based on anthroposophic modalities. The latter have been in development and in tried clinical use in Europe for many decades.
A few of the many modalities are: specialized rhythmic massage as an extension of regular message techniques; naturopathic and homeopathic medicines; and specific complex treatments for advanced diseases. A significant modality is a result of dialogue and counseling. Without prescribing drugs – even without natural remedies – a thoroughly-trained anthroposophic doctor is able to intervene through awareness and participation. The patient is empowered to take active charge of life. This lessens the attraction of accidents requiring medical attention, which, in turn, may prevent disabilities.
It is important to note that although anthroposophy is accessible to all, an anthroposophic medical doctor requires decades of study and experience in addition to their medical training and licensing before being qualified to practice anthroposophically-extended medicine. The same is true for an anthroposophic nurse.
As a human-centered extension of conventional medicine, anthroposophic medicine touches on all the endeavors listed and more. For example, Waldorf schools may have a visiting anthroposophically-trained physician or an on-site nurse. And bio-dynamic farms may provide high quality plant products for the production of medicines.
All healthy endeavors happen through a balance of thinking, feeling, and acts of will. All good deeds are the direct result of our applied human wisdom as responsible social beings.
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Notes:
1) How to Know Higher Worlds, Rudolf Steiner, translation 1994, Anthroposophic Press. ISBN 088-010-3728.
2) See, “Waldorf Education: Age Appropriate, Holistic Approach to Learning,” S. Butsch and T. Ridgway-Kapustka; Natural Awakenings, Jacksonville/St. Augustine, Fl., August 2004 issue.
