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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 |
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NEWSLETTER CONTENTS 2026 Branch Sponsored Calendar of Events Biodynamic Stir A Resignation and an Appeal Library News Other Community Events Requirements for Newsletter Submissions On-going study/groups/meetings
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| | PORTLAND BRANCH 2026 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Save These Dates!
Biodynamic Stir, February 28th and last Saturday of every month Easter Festival, April 4th Portland Branch Annual Gathering, March 28th Astrid Schmitt Stegmann, May 15th & 16th Pentecost Celebration, May 24th St. John’s Day, June 24th Michaelmas Festival, September 26th All Souls Observance, November 2nd First Sunday Advent Tea Holy Nights Grind Three Kings Biodynamic Prep, Dec. 31st Epiphany Stir & Spread of Three Kings Prep, Jan 6th
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You are invited! The Portland Stirrers and Spreaders will now be offering a biodynamic stir event on the last Saturday of every month. We will have our annual Tree Paste Party and Horn Manure Stir as our kickoff event. The upcoming stir will begin at 1:00 pm on February 28th rain or shine at the home of Denise Tester. We hope you can join us. Please contact Denise for further details at deeprootsfarm@harbornet.com. Start time will vary month to month. Fair weather unless otherwise noted. |
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| Dear Friends,
For more than 17 years it has been a joy and a privilege for me to serve our community as a member of the Portland Branch Council. For much of that time I have fulfilled the responsibilities, legal and otherwise, of the chairperson. Sometimes also the secretary, the newsletter editor, festivals and events organizer, etc. Today I am writing to let you know that our Annual Gathering in March will mark my last day as a Council member.
My involvement actually began 21 years ago in 2005, when we formed the Portland Branch of the Anthroposophical Society in America. We had been, from about 1980, the Michael Group, members of which in 1982 had founded the Portland Waldorf School, before my time. My own family came onto the school scene in 1986.
Speaking of family, their understanding and support has been integral to this effort, and much would not have been possible without the able help of my husband Mark.
There is no obvious reason for this change. I had not been thinking about it, although I have been contemplating for some years when the right time to step away would arrive. At the beginning of Advent it came into my head and heart, ‘the time is now’. I decided to live with that as a question through Advent, and when Christmas came and went the certainty about stepping away was still there. My sense is that the reasons for now being the time will become apparent over time.
It has been a great gift to be involved with all of you in the evolution and growth of our anthroposophical community, and with those who have joined and left the council over all this time. But with my departure, and one other, the Council will be left with only three members.
The Appeal Three are not enough people to cover all the tasks which sustain the healthy community life and the community space that we have enjoyed for so long. Therefore the appeal aspect of this letter centers around a hope that many of you will be moved to reply below saying that you are willing to be involved with re-organizing ourselves to move forward as a healthy and effective Anthroposophical community, and/or to determine how you can help with all that needs doing. Perhaps you have a particular talent, skill, or interest in an area such as Festivals, which could lead to taking up a particular task or project.
To offer the library as just one example, over the past year several people have selflessly worked on inventorying our library and entering changes into the catalog in our computer. This will soon be uploaded to the website, and a new copy will be at the library. Deborah Ham has established a system for checking books in and out. Currently Lisa Masterson (who it turns out has been educated as a librarian) has provided us with a file cabinet in which she is organizing all of the publications that are too small for the shelves. There are gems in that format which she is now working to make accessible. Sandra Burch has organized and de-cluttered the space. James Knight frequently cleans the floors in addition to offering his very special social eurythmy to our events.
I am confident that as we begin to identify together the work that is both wanted and needed, that many of you will step forward to take it up. Please reply by clicking the button below if you are willing to be contacted.
With great hope and optimism for our future, Valerie Hope
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| | Thank you for your membership! Here are our current members. |
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| 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 |
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| | When I moved to the beautiful Pacific North West my immediate priority was to connect with the Portland Branch of the Anthroposophic Society. You all are my people and I wanted to be a part of the community. I did what I had learned to do in life and that was be of service. It is the most fulfilling activity giving me connection, friendships, and purpose.
Would you consider joining our festivals group or adding your name to help with hospitality at events? You are always welcome to visit our council meetings and really see the dedicated work being done behind the scenes.
We’d love to hear from you. Kathy Rem for the Portland Branch |
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| | CALLING ALL ARTISTS to our ARTIST’S CORNER!
We invite you to contribute a photograph of your art in any modality you work with. This includes photography, watercolors, oils, pastels, ink, collage, sculpture, crafts, or any expression not listed.
Please contact Pablo Feliz at felizpablo@gmail.com |
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ART WORK BY
PATRICIA LYNCH
This painting is from a series of 12 paintings, inspired by the 12 Virtues that are associated with the astrological signs.
Title of this painting is
"Devotion in the sign of Aries" |
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There will be an Art Dispersal April 9, 2026 at the Art Hall at Cedarwood Waldorf School where this series will be available at the Art Dispersal. An Art Dispersal is a way of bringing original art into your home, office, or school for a donation of your choosing. This distribution of art was established by Laura Summer bringing art out of the economic sphere and into the cultural sphere where it belongs. At the Dispersal April 9, if a painting speaks to you enjoy it in your home. Then you may donate to the cause with what meets your individuals musing. Sometimes a person may have difficulty coming up with what they can give but believe me it is about getting the work out into the world where it can do its work not the amount you choose. A portion of the donation will go to the Art Hall, a percentage towards the framing cost, and a percentage to the artist.
I have been involved with Art Dispersals, over the years in Atlanta, New Orleans, Santa Fe, Hudson NY and Portland.
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Steiner Books Study Group Ideas and Book Discounts Multiples of Some Books Available at the Branch Library
When a group of people join together to study a particular book and wish to purchase that book in quantities of five copies or more, Steiner Books will give a 20% discount for that order. You must purchase five copies or more of a single title, and payment in advance is required. Order using the offer code STUDY at checkout.
In addition, the Branch Library has multiple copies of some books, which you can look up on the searchable catalog on our website here: https://portlandbranch.net/community-library-1/
Steiner books also has suggestions for how to organize study group discussions here: https://steinerbooks.org/pages/study-group-guidelines?_pos=7&_sid=1fa05784a&_ss=r
If you have outstanding books please complete the process by returning them when you are finished. They can be returned 24/7 to the book box located on the porch at 2606 SE 58th Ave. Portland, Or. Books can be checked out during all our events. For more information you can call Valerie Hope at 503-775-0778 |
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| ON-GOING STUDIES/GROUPS/MEETINGS |
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| First Class of the School of Spiritual Science. February 8th. 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, February 9th, 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, Study 7:00pm - 8:30pm, •In person (with zoom option TBD) • Contact Heidi Sheppard, HSHEPPAR@LHS.ORG Free
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 |
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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 |
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| 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. |
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