Branch Library

For information, to take out a book or to arrange a visit, contact

Valerie Hope, info@portlandbranch.net

The Book Catalog is now on our website – the ‘search’ function is really helpful.

You can now return books at any time to the box on the porch at 2606 SE 58th Ave.

To schedule the space for an event or meeting

Contact James Knight, j365@yahoo.com

Contact the Branch Council: info@portlandbranch.net

Website: portlandbranch.net

JANUARY NEWSLETTER

PORTLAND BRANCH CURRENT CALENDAR OF EVENTS  

Save These Dates!

• January 6                                           EPIPHANY

• January 17th, 3pm - 4pm                  INCARNATION OF THE LOGOS

• January 31st, 7 - 9:30pm                  FIRE IN THE TEMPLE

As our Epiphany activity the Council has planned a way to support the elementals - on the very day of Epiphany - with a very special biodynamic preparation.

In a meditative process, the Three Kings biodynamic preparations – gold, frankincense and myrrh – will be ground together in a mortar for one hour, then stirred in water for an hour, and the preparation taken by participants to spread on suitable sites.  This particular preparation is meant to only be spread where other biodynamic preparations have been used over time to prepare the way.

Simultaneously, we will stir the horn manure preparation (BD 500), which everyone can take and spread regardless of prior biodynamic preparation use.

Mark and Valerie Hope have invited us to grind the gold, frankincense and myrrh together at their home on January 6th while we listen to an Epiphany reading. This will be an indoor activity. Afterward, we will move outside to stir the ground Three Kings preparation, and a separate Horn Manure preparation. This will be an outside activity, so dress for the weather. Bring watertight containers to take the stirred preparations home with you.

Please Email Us Here if You Will Attend

There is still space available!

We will inaugurate this group early in the new year, for perhaps 3-4 sessions.  Rudolf Steiner speaks to what we must do while on the earth, what we can do only while we are on the earth, to prepare us for the much longer period of time when we will be in the spiritual world, or unborn. (His preferred term for those we usually call ‘dead’.)

If you are interested, please contact Valerie here, with an indication of what times are best for you to meet:

Our matching grant goal for 2025 has been reached!

This has been a year of so much giving and receiving, as we have experienced the wonderful gifts of our festivals, lectures, workshops, and community gatherings. We are immensely grateful for the ways in which you support those of us who work to keep the doors open, plan the events, and joyfully keep a library open for all who enjoy it.

We appreciate your financial support, and perhaps even more, we are lifted up by your participation, encouragement, communication, and the spiritual striving that shapes the wonderful community that we are. As we end another year together continuing into the Holy Nights, we wish for you peace and an abundance of love.

With gratitude for your support,

The Branch Council

If you enjoy our newsletters and like being informed about all we have going on please consider becoming a member. We would love to have you join our community.

Updates to our current membership will be made monthly. If you don’t see your name on the list please let me know. kathyrem@gmail.com

Our Library

OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS

ON-GOING STUDIES/GROUPS/MEETINGS

First Class of the School of Spiritual Science. January 11th. 9:30 am sharp • (no admittance after the class starts) • Bothmer Hall, 5915 SE Division St. • Remember your Blue Card. For more information contact: Cheri Munske cherimunske@gmail.com or Diane Rumage drumage@comcast.net 

Portland Branch Council Meeting: Monday, January 12th, 6:30 pm, Branch Library/Community Space, 5415 SE Powell Blvd, entrance off parking lot in the back. All Branch members are welcome to attend, and/or call us with agenda items, proposals, suggestions, or to observe. Please contact us at info@portlandbranch.net to let us know you are coming. Meetings are normally held on the second Monday of each month.

First Monday Study, we will read together, The Michael Mystery (GA 26) which includes Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts (leading thoughts 79 through 185)

Please join us for lively discussions.

 • First Monday of the month (Due to the Holy Nights the 1st Monday study will be moved to Thursday January 8th), Study 7:00pm - 8:30pm,  •In person (with zoom option TBD) • Contact Heidi Sheppard,     HSHEPPAR@LHS.ORG      Free

Opportunity for Speech Work: with anyone interested, ways of speaking texts of your choice (poetry or prose) with enhanced expression by unlocking its natural beauty. These 45 minute sessions would be offered in the Branch Library. Donation will be accepted for using the space. Call Miriam and let her know if you are interested at 503-459-3423.

Astrosophy Class First and Third Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm • 8654 NE Boehmer St. • Contact Diane Rumage, 971-271-7479 drumage@comcast.net This class will introduce participants to the basic principles of Astrosophy in a study of the works of Willi Sucher and Diane Rumage’s work with the stars, with indications that Rudolf Steiner gave for those interested in the cosmos. No previous knowledge necessary. Please bring blank paper and colored pencils to the class in case we need to use them. If you are just curious if you’d be interested, please feel free to come and check us out. Free

Speech Formation and Mystery Drama Group   2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm • 8654 NE Boehmer St, Portland, OR 97220 • Contact Diane Rumage drumage@comcast.net or 971 271-7479. Free. No experience necessary, just enthusiasm and a love of the Word.  Besides speech formation and acting exercises, we are currently reading and discussing Rudolf Steiner’s book of lectures, Speech and Drama, copies of which are available in the Branch Library. Free

The Tarot in Light of Spiritual Science • Presently once per month  

For more information contact James Knight (j365k@yahoo.com) Registration for the class happens through Meetup (meetup.com) where you can learn more about the class and RSVP at this page: https://www.meetup.com/experiences-in-spiritual-science/. Free

REQUIREMENTS FOR NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

We are happy to promote local activities in this newsletter, which is a primary purpose of this publication.  We want to thank our community members for sharing your local events, and advertising your anthroposophical initiatives here.

Because there are so many anthroposophical initiatives from outside the Portland Metro area that have asked to be included, your Branch Council has worked to clarify the parameters for placing an ad or community event in the monthly newsletter. We have had feedback asking us to keep it from getting too long.  We hope the guidelines below will be helpful.

1.     All events or services offered should be local within the Portland area.

2.     If a registration fee is required, or there is a charge for services, that will be considered advertising.

3.     The fee for advertising is $10 per ad or $100 per year.  This helps to cover our newsletter costs, and rent for the Library/Community space.

4.     Local community events that are free will not require an advertising fee.

5.     Flyers need to be jpg or png ready. Keep in mind that small print will not read well when placed in the newsletter. Make your font bold and big - font size should be a minimum of 16 point.

6.     Calendar announcements can be sent directly to newsletter editor Kathy Rem.

You may contact Kathy if you have any questions – kathyrem@gmail.com

ADVERTISERS AND SPONSORS

Embryo in Us & Embryo in Motion: Two Seminars with  Jaap van der Waal.  Two separate DVD sets recorded live in Portland in 2010 & 2017, available only here.  These two seminars explore human prenatal development and show how biology is expressing the essence of human spiritual enfoldment.  Jaap van der Wal, PhD, MD now retired, was an associate professor for anatomy and embryology at the University of Maastricht, Holland.  Contact the Portland Branch.