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

MARCH Newsletter

Renderings by Jannebeth Roell based on photographs of Rudolf Steiner sketches depicting two phases of the mutual evolution of the Earth and humanity.

Please join us in remembering Rudolf Steiner through the power of the sketches he did that focus on the mutual evolution of the Earth and humanity. Many of these renderings were the original inspirations for the paintings that can be seen in the large cupola of the Geotheanum. Community member and artist, Jannebeth Roell, who has been endlessly inspired by the artistic expressions of Steiner, will be sharing about some of these artistic renderings and then guiding us through a hands-on artistic journey to allow the art itself to bring us into a deeper experience of the Earth’s and our own evolution.

No prior art experience necessary. Supplies will be furnished.

RSVP by March 26th to Pamela Rico at: pamela@sophiasmission.org

Your RSVP is greatly appreciated so we can properly set up the space and estimate supplies needed. Thank you!

All are welcome. 

Suggested donation, if you are able: $20.

Donations received will go to the Portland Branch and be applied towards the cost of art supplies and library rent.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Our Annual Gathering is the event which brings us together from all parts of our community to connect with the Being of the Branch, take stock of the state of our community, and consider ideas for the coming year.  Always there is the scrumptious potluck which further feeds our delight in being together.

Although this annual gathering was originally formed around a legal requirement of our nonprofit status for reporting to our members, hearing members’ perspectives on the past year’s activities, and considering priorities for the coming year, it has transformed into an annual celebration, a time to see those we may not have seen for a while, and to greet any new faces. This year we will be coming together on the 100th anniversary  of  Rudolf Steiner’s death day. We’d like to share with you below his last verse, and we can  perhaps have a dialogue of our own soul’s experience when taking it in.

Rudolf Steiner’s last verse written 2 weeks

or so before his death

I want with cosmic spirit

To enthuse each human being

That a flame they may become

And fiery will untold

The essence of their being.

The other ones, they strive

To take from cosmic waters

What will extinguish flames

And pour paralysis

Into all inner being

O joy, when human being’s flame

Is blazing, even when at rest.

O bitter pain, when the human thing

Is put in bonds, when it wants to stir.

Currently, we have more Council members than at any time in our history as a Branch. All seven of us are looking forward to our time together!

Valerie Hope for the Council: Walter Rice, James Knight, Kathy Rem, Denise Tester, Timothy Kennedy, and Pamela Rico

The Portland Biodynamic Stirrers

Hello Stirrers!

Please join the Portland Stirrers and Spreaders as we prepare for Spring. On Saturday,  March 15^th at 1:00 pm we will gather to stir Horn Manure (BD 500) and Barrel Compost, mix up some biodynamic tree paste, and maybe even brew a batch of horsetail tea. We will also have a seed and plant exchange. Participants can bring a snack to share, containers for your preparations, plant divisions or extra starts, and any extra seeds you have to share. All preparations and ingredients are provided. Small monetary donations gratefully accepted but not required. This is a fair weather only event. Please contact  Denise at deeprootsfarm@harbornet.com for more details and to RSVP.

If you can’t participate in stirring but would like the preparations spread on your land/potted plants/tiniest patch of soil, please contact Denise at deeprootsfarm@harbornet.com and we will try to arrange delivery of the activated preparations to you. You do not need to have a farm or garden to use and benefit from the preparations.

Our Library

Steiner Books Study Group Ideas and Book Discounts

Multiples of Some Books Available at the Branch Library

When a group of people joins 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 a piece with 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 it would be helpful to complete the process. We ask that you return them if 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

The Branch Library has received a box of Beth Wieting's books from her extensive collection generously donated to us from the Oregon Biodynamic Group which were the recipients of many of her books after she crossed the Threshold. Beth studied and promoted both biodynamic agriculture and Anthroposophy itself in Portland over many years, and was beloved by many. They will be added to the catalog soon.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Oregon Biodynamic Group for thinking of us.

In the Spirit of Giving

Many thanks are due to our wonderful community who pulled together to make the $4,000 matching grant a success. The Grantor agreed that donations processed in January, due to a glitch in the donation link, can be applied to the 2024 grant.

We have been generously blessed with a 2025 matching grant for another $4,000!

Our community is strong, active, and showing continual support for our branch making the space available for so many inspired activities, and helping us all meet the future as it streams towards us all. Thank you!

LOCAL ARTIST HIGHLIGHTED

“It is none other than the sense granted us for the appreciation of art; the artistic sense can transmit to us spirit shining in matter, and revealed as the beauty we appreciate in art.” Rudolf Steiner

Every month it is our intention to bring to you a piece of art by a local artist from our community. Artists in our community using any medium who would like to share their art are encouraged to email Pablo Feliz at felizpablo@gmail.com We are immensely grateful to Pablo for taking this on!

This month we are glad to share a painting by Cheri Munske.  A watercolor of hellebore, which is currently blooming around Portland - how auspicious!  One of the earliest signs of spring, and an offer of solace in the dark of winter.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

ON-GOING STUDIES/GROUPS/MEETINGS

First Class of the School of Spiritual Science. March 9th. 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, Diane Rumage drumage@comcast.net or Rebecca Soloway rrsoloway1@gmail.com Free

Portland Branch Council Meeting: Monday, March 10th, 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.

Community Eurythmy Wednesday mornings from 8:45 to 9:30 at the Portland Waldorf School, 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

Building Stones for an Understanding of the Mystery of Golgotha, (GA 175).  Ten lectures given in Berlin between March 27, 1917 and May 8, 1917 by Rudolf Steiner  • First Monday of the month, 7:00-8:30 pm • Currently conducted in person and on Zoom • Contact Heidi Sheppard, HSHEPPAR@LHS.ORG Please join us for lively discussions. 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

A feature of the newsletter is this Community Bulletin Board, the brainchild of Christine Badura, who now finds that she has time to make it a reality. Community members can post their offerings and/or things they are looking for. To post, please call Christine at 707-494-6741 or email badura88@hotmail.com. Possible categories that can be posted:  Housing, Give Aways, Help Wanted/Offered, Announcements, Items Wanted.

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.