March Newsletter/Calendar 2022

The library is open 10 am-8pm every Saturday, contact Lisa Jones, lmjones1075@protonmail.com

In this Issue:

• Save the Dates

• Remembering our Dear Friend Margaret Kerndt

• Remembering Dr Philip Incao

• For One Who Has Died, poem by Adam Bittleston

• We Die in Christ - Toward Easter

• New Class: The Tarot in Light of Spiritual Science

• Anne Mavor Art Exhibit Available Online

• Update on matching funds for $4,000 rent grant

• Calendar, Events/Ongoing Groups

• Events Fliers

• Embryo DVD’s Available

• Advertisers/Sponsors

• Members/Donors

Save the Dates (more details in the Fliers, Articles & Calendar below)

• Anthroposophy in Everyday Life with Cheri Munske

• Painting with Cheri Munske • Saturday, March 12

• The Art Hall presents Anne Mavor’s ‘Healing Images’ Online Through March 18

• Micha-el Institute Spring Conference, ‘The Spiritual Nature of Our Time, April 8-10

• Drawing Forms from the First Goetheanum with Patrick Marooney May 13, 14

Remembering Our Dear Friend Margaret Kerndt, offered by Donna Patterson-Kellum

Margaret and I had some very good times together ….from playful and lighthearted to quite serious. Once she talked about a time in her life when she’d almost lost her will to live ….and it was doing and learning eurythmy that brought her back into this life again.

She couldn’t hear in one ear….so in any moment with her she might call your attention to the quality of something involving some other sense….the feel of the breeze, ripples on the water, a hawk diving in the distance, or the softness of fuzz on the peach she was cutting to share with you. There seemed to be a kind of magic idealism for her in the sense world. I’d be rushing around with the idea of getting something done while she’d get me to pause in some sensory moment that needed our attention before it dissolved …and she was particularly capable in this way of the pause to reflect on levels of warmth building in the elemental sense world.

Margaret would listen carefully, help you unpack a problem, ease in to and stay with the unfolding… and you might come to think you’re done with it…but she might bring it up again with an off-the-wall question for you to consider... giving the subject more credence, more depth than you’d given it yourself. The life you lived and how you lived it was deeply interesting to her. I think the sharing really helped her….perhaps even to find and sustain herself in it. She always seemed to be able to make me ask myself what’s the hurry? This poem reminds me of Margaret’s own striving….

WE WASTE SO MUCH ENERGY By Mark Nepo

We waste so much energy trying to cover up who we are,

when beneath every attitude is the want to be loved,

and beneath every anger is a wound to be healed,

and beneath every sadness is the fear

that there will not be enough time.

When we hesitate in being direct,

we unknowingly slip something on,

some added layer of protection that

keeps us from feeling the world,

and often that thin covering is the beginning of

a loneliness

which, if not put down,

diminishes our chances of joy.

It’s like wearing gloves every time we touch something,

and then, forgetting we chose to put them on,

we complain that nothing feels quite real.

Our challenge each day is not to get dressed to face the world,

but to unglove ourselves so that the doorknob feels cold

and the car handle feels wet,

and a kiss goodbye

really feels like touch with another being,

soft and unrepeatable.

Written For Margaret by Sherry Hirssig:

Did you notice

her hands?

Her light-footed

walk?

Her awareness

of others?

Her tenderness?

Did you notice

her hands?

Her delight in the

unexpected?

Her anticipation of

each encounter?

Her patient gaze?

Did you notice

her hands?

Her open laugh . . .

Her open heart . . .

Her open hands.

Written by Margaret:

My wish for the future is to embrace the present

learn from the past

become aware of what is evolving out of [the] future

Through what exists in the present.

Where individuals listen to one another in heart feeling/sensing

encouraging their connection to spirit to unfold a language

that unites practices for the world.

Remembering Dr. Philip Incao

offered by Valerie Hope

At 6:38 in the morning on February 28 Philip’s wife, Jennifer Thomson, sent the email, ‘He just passed.....please pass the word.’

I imagine that there will be a virtual avalanche of testimonials about all the good that Dr. Incao has done not only for his patients but for fellow healers and the advancement of Anthroposophical healing in the world. He has a special place in our hearts here in Portland, Oregon as he more than once generously accepted the requests extended by the Portland Branch to work with the students at the naturopathic university here, NUNM, and bring light to the then current and future healers there. This was during an all-too-brief period when interest in anthroposophical medicine was most alive there, and I feel certain that Philip’s healing influence in those circles are rippling out into the world as we speak.

The funeral will take place on Thursday, March 3 at 1:00 pm at the Incao’s home in Creston, CO

For one who has died

by Adam Bittleston

The Good Shepherd lead thee

Where thou art transformed

That thou mayest breathe

The air of eternal Being.

Where thou workest as soul

For worlds to come

The grace of the Spirit

Unite us with Thee.

Golgatha, Ninetta Sombart

Toward Easter: Excerpts from Last Year’s Newsletter, We Die in Christ

Evelyn Francis Capel (the first woman in Britain to be ordained within the Christian Community) describes the change wrought by the Christ for us [at Easter] in this almost poetic way: At the time when the Spirit of Christ passed into the region of death, the souls of men and women who had died had come into a tragic state. In the early ages of Mankind’s history, when human souls were still so near to the Divine World that they could throughout their lifetime recollect their existence before birth, they had returned to their homeland of the Spirit at death. As the world of earth became in time much more separated from the Heavens and the souls forgot their place of origin, the return became more difficult. Instead of entering the community of the spiritual beings and dwelling in the many mansions of the starry spheres, they were imprisoned in the region where the pictures of the past life on earth surround those who have died. They found themselves in a land of shades, where they were aware of being only the shadows of their former selves. Hades, or Hell, was the old name for the realm of shadows where the souls met the tragic experience of death.

When Christ died, He came to the imprisoned souls of the dead and, having overthrown the prince of death, He wrought a transformation in their existence. He released them from the land of shades and gave them the strength to go on into the worlds of the Father. There they could find the experience of the universe, out of which their being had been born at the beginning of creation, and the healing of the infirmities caused by the sickness of sin. Since then, Christ has become the guide of human souls on the journey between this and the other world. He takes them into His care and goes with them to the dark Gate of Death, showing them the light shining from the other side, leading them out into the eternal realms of the Father…By His descent into Hell, Christ changed the destiny of the souls of the dead.

In an essay on Holy Saturday Bock describes the deed of the Christ in the underworld on our behalf in this way: While on Earth the dark Sabbath of the grave prevails, in the realm of the dead the Sun rises. This is the meaning of Christ’s Descent into Hell. In the kingdom of the departed a glimmer of hope lit up. The spell of death was loosened, and the prospect opened towards a future victory of the human soul over the spell of the underworld.

While it was still Holy Saturday on Earth, it was already Easter in the Kingdom of the Dead.

Rudolf Steiner describes the results for us in this way: A new substance was created through the Mystery of Golgotha that could give consciousness to men when they were in the spiritual world after death. This substance flowed out of the Mystery of Golgotha. A man can develop consciousness in the spiritual world after death through an immersion in this Christ substance. That's why every evening when we go to sleep and into the spiritual world we should remind ourselves of this and permeate ourselves with the feeling: We die in Christ. — For only the Christ impulse can keep us conscious in the spiritual world after death through its death-overcoming vital force.

Respectfully Submitted, Valerie Hope

New Class: The Tarot in Light of Spiritual Science

James Knight will be offering a bi-weekly class on "The Tarot" in light of spiritual science and practical occultism. This will not be a class on the use of Tarot for divination. In this class we will focus on the major arcanum of "The Tarot" as a practical tool for self development and insight into oneself and the world. For further information and class time and location please contact James at j365k@yahoo.com

Collaborating Anne Mavor, 2019

Anne Mavor at the Art Hall, Exhibit Online Through March 18

See Flier At the End of this Newsletter

Dear Friends,

As we have previously communicated, the Branch has been gifted a $4,000 matching grant to fund rent for our library/community space for the coming year. We are excited to announce that to date we have received $2121.88 toward that goal! This is over and above membership donations which fund our other activities. We are humbled by the fact that some outside our immediate community have been moved to pitch in as well.

We are hopeful that the generosity of friends and members of the Portland Branch over the course of the coming year will make it possible to claim the entire $4,000.

We are looking forward to sharing another sustaining year in Anthroposophy! Let us know what activities you would like to see. You can communicate with us by replying to this email.

Warmly, the Portland Branch Council

Christine Badura, Valerie Hope, James Knight, Walter Rice, volunteer fundraiser Marsha Johnson

Beginning Astrosophy Class First and Third Tuesdays, 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

The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman Study Group First Monday of the month, 7:45-9:00 pm • Currently conducted on Zoom • Contact Heidi Sheppard, HSHEPPAR@LHS.ORG Free Please join us in lively discussions centered on Rudolf Steiner’s Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman: Human Responsibility for the Earth.

Speech Formation and Mystery Drama Group 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7:30-9 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. Now studying Glen Williamson’s mystery drama, Future Dawning.

Pacific Eurythmy Open Classes for the Community in Anthroposophy and the Arts Monday Evenings For details please see Pacific Eurythmy or call Jolanda, 503-896-3345 or Carrie, 415-686-3791

Man and the World of the Stars Study, led by Cheri Munske Monday Evenings, 6:30-8:00 pm • Portland Eurythmy Space – Second Floor at St. Mark’S Lutheran Church, 5415 SE Powell Blvd, $15 Suggested Donation Limited space available. If you would like to join us contact us at PacificEurythmy@gmail.com

Waldorf Education and Teacher Training Lectures and Courses Conducted throughout the year by the Micha-el Institute Contact Jen Davis, 503-449-7387 jennifer@micha-elinstitute.com

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.

Great Gratitude to our Members, Friends and Donors who make this newsletter and our library/community space possible.

Cyndia A. Ashkar, Christine Badura, Virginia Berg, SandraBurch, Wes Burch, Kathreen DeMille, Stacey Durych, Amanda Eastman, Cheryl Fisher, Wendy Fisher, Robbie Forkish, Sara Genta, Mark Hope, Valerie Hope, Lois (Tish) Johnson, Marsha Johnson, Lisa Jones, Timothy Kennedy, James Knight, Anne Kollender, Anna Krecic, Liesl Li, Robin Lieberman, Michael Limas, Mihoko Lunsford, Lisa Masterson, Brian McClure, Cheri Munske, Eric Nielson, Robin O'Brien, Nancy Peirce, Susan Rice, Walter Rice, Pamela Rico, Lowell Rheinheimer, Diane Rumage, Diane Schell-Rowley, Kimberly Sinclair, Jerry Soloway, Rebecca Soloway, Barbara Strong, Deborah Velarde, Miriam Ward, Elizabeth Webber