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Branch Library

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

Valerie Hope, portlandanthroposophy@gmail.com

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: portlandanthroposophy@gmail.com

Website: portlandbranch.net

May Newsletter/Calendar

Contents:

• Annual Gathering/Pentecost Observance with Mary Stewart Adams - Save the Date: May19!

• First Class will be held before the Annual Gathering, usual time and place

• Anthroposophical Group Activity as New Pentecost

• Horn Silica Stirring Party May 11

• Astrid Schmitt-Stegmann Sunday June 23

• Richard Steel, May 14

• Library News: Progress, volunteers needed for inventory

• October 2024 National Society Conference to be held in Portland!

• Whitson Celebration for Children and their families

• Several and varied workshops offered through Portland Eurythmy

• Local honey now for sale through Burch Apiary!

• Sessions now available through Transformative Arts

  
  

Please reply to this email if you will be attending so that we can have numbers for set-up.  All are welcome from near and far, whether members of the Portland Branch or not.

MARY STEWART ADAMS has been General Secretary and President of the Anthroposophical Society in America since autumn, 2023.  She serves as a spokesperson for the society and country representative in the international movement.

For over twenty years, under the title of Star Lore Historian, Mary has worked as a dark skies advocate, to raise awareness about the effects of light pollution and to make known the mysteries of the starry skies from environmental, cultural, and anthroposophical perspectives.

She first encountered the work of Rudolf Steiner at the age 18 in 1981, and met Hazel Straker, a pioneer in Astrosophy, in 1996. These two destiny moments have shaped much of her life path, which, together with her education in literary arts, continue to inspire her work and research. She joined the School for Spiritual Science in 2000.

Mary has four children, and since accepting the position of General Secretary for the Anthroposophical Society in America, she makes her home in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Anthroposophical Group Activity as Striving Toward New Pentecost

                                                                                    Pentecost, Ninetta Sombart

We can, perhaps, think of our striving together in Anthroposophical endeavors as a continued striving toward a Pentecost experience.  We come together in many ongoing groups – eurythmists, visual artists, dramatists, speech artists, medical practitioners, biodynamics practitioners, First Class members, study group members, in the Christian Community, even as members of the Branch Council – to rise up together and form chalices which can invite the participation of spiritual beings.  We also do this when we come together as a whole community, in our observances of the festivals, All Souls, to hear speakers and engage with deepening our understanding, forming the community sheath for the being of the Branch - and in this regard perhaps especially when we come together for our Annual Gathering.

In our time we can experience the Pentecost experience as flames rising up from us toward spirit, rising to meet spiritual beings who want to help.  Rudolf Steiner offers vivid pictures of that first Pentecost that we can apply to our own efforts and experiences.  

From Whitsun - the Festival of United Soul Endeavor:  

In the past, mankind became free of the group-soul. Through spiritual-scientific knowledge mankind is now for the first time in the position to discover, with the utmost certainty of purpose, what will unite mankind again. When men unite together in a higher wisdom, then out of higher worlds there descends a group-soul once more. What is willed by the Leaders of the spiritual-scientific Movement is that in it we should have a society in which hearts stream towards wisdom as the plants stream towards the sunlight. In that together we turn our hearts towards a higher wisdom, we give a dwelling-place to the group-soul; we form the dwelling-place, the environment, in which the group-soul can incarnate. Mankind will enrich earthly life by developing what enables spiritual beings to come down out of higher worlds.

This spirit-enlivened ideal was once placed before humanity in a most powerful way. It was when a number of men, all aglow with a common feeling of fervent love and devotion, were met together for a common deed: Then the sign was given, the sign that could show man with overwhelming power how in unity of soul he could provide a place for the incarnation of the common spirit. In this company of souls the same thing was living: in the flowing together, in the harmony of feeling they provided what was needed for the incarnation of a common spirit. That is expressed when it is said that the Holy Spirit, the group-soul, sank down as it were into incarnation. It is a symbol of what mankind should strive towards, how it should seek to become the dwelling-place for the Being who descends out of higher worlds.

The Easter event gave man the power to develop these experiences; the Whitsun event is the fruit of this power's unfolding. Through the flowing of souls together towards the common wisdom there will always result that which gives a living connection with the forces and beings of higher worlds, and with something which as yet has little significance for humanity, namely the Whitsun festival. When men come to know what the downcoming of the Holy Spirit in the future can mean for mankind, the Whitsun festival will once more become alive for them. Then it will be not only a memory of the event in Jerusalem; but there will arise for mankind the everlasting Whitsun festival, the festival of united soul-endeavour.

It will depend on men themselves what value and what result such ideals can have for mankind. When in this right way they strive towards wisdom, then will higher spirits unite themselves with men.

Horn Silica Stirring Party

Saturday, May 11th, 8:00 am

Come join the Portland Stirrers and Spreaders as we meet to stir the horn silica preparation (BD 501, provided). Horn Silica supports healthy plant formation, the processes of photosynthesis, and plant maturity.  We will meet at the home of Denise Tester at 8:00 am on Saturday, May 11th. This is a fair weather event and will be moved to a different date if it is raining. Bring a watertight container for your stirred prep and a snack to share. Contact Denise deeprootsfarm@harbornet.com for more details and to let us know you are coming.

For those who can’t participate in stirring but would like the preparations spread on their 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 a garden to use and benefit from the preparations.

Save the Date!

St. Johns Visit with Astrid Schmitt-Stegmann

Two Presentations: Threshold Experiences; and That Good May Become

Sunday, June 23, Branch Library

Library - The Saga Continues

Sandra and Valerie have placed bookplates in all the books that Mark and Eric entered into the catalog and placed them on the shelves.  The next step will be to conduct an inventory, comparing the catalog with what is actually on the shelves, and will be scheduled in accordance with volunteers’ availability.

Please reply to this email if you would like to help with inventory.

We are pleased to announce
The Anthroposophical Society in America's 
In-Person Annual Conference 
and Annual General Meeting
October 11-14, 2024 Portland, OR

with special guest Marc Desaules, 
author, General Secretary Anthroposophical Society in Switzerland 

& founder of L'Aubier 
-
Registration opens Spring 2024

PORTLAND BRANCH CALENDAR

Portland Branch Council Meeting Monday, May 13, 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 portlandanthroposophy@gmail.com to let us know you’re coming. Meetings are normally held on the second Monday of each month.

Portland Branch Annual Gathering with Mary Stewart Adams May 19, 11am - 3pm with potluck  Branch Library/Community Space, 5415 SE Powell Blvd, entrance off parking lot in the back. See piece in this, April newsletter.  Contact Valerie Hope, portlandanthroposophy@gmail.com

St. Johns with Astrid Schmitt-StegmannSunday, June 23 Branch Library/Community Space, 5415 SE Powell Blvd, entrance off parking lot in the back. Two Presentations: Threshold Experiences; and That Good May Become. Stay tuned for more details.  Contact Valerie Hope, portlandanthroposophy@gmail.com

Calendar of the Soul with Richard Steel May 14, 7:00pm Portland Branch Library  Richard Steel will be touring the country exhibiting the original artwork that was created by Karl Konig for the Calendar of the Soul.  When he passes through Portland for one night, he will offer a presentation on the Calendar, but time will not allow for setting up the whole exhibit. For more information contact Miriam at miriamhcosentino@gmail.com

Annual General Meeting of the Anthroposophical Society in America October 2024  Save the date. Venue and dates will be announced soon

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Pacific Eurythmy Events - See Flyers in Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Pacific Eurythmy is happy to be continuing offering adult education classes through the spring and we are very excited about the workshops and artists coming to share their knowledge, love and enthusiasm for different arts with us. Please visit our website here for more details on what is coming or email us at: PacificEurythmy@gmail.com with any questions.

ON-GOING STUDIES/GROUPS

First Class of the School of Spiritual Science.  Usually second Sunday of the month with a few exceptions. 9:30 am sharp, • May 19th ,   (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

Beginning 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

Community Eurythmy Wednesday mornings, 8:45-9:30 at the Portland Waldorf School, 2300 N. Harrison St. Portland, Or. See flyer included in this newsletter.

Building Stones for an Understanding of the Mystery of Golgatha, (GA 175).  Ten lectures given in Berlin between March 27, 1917 and May 8, 1917 by Rudolf Steiner  • First Monday of the month, 7:45-9:00 pm • Currently conducted in person and on Zoom • Contact Heidi Sheppard, HSHEPPAR@LHS.ORG Free Please join us for lively discussions.

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. Our group will start a new reading, studying and acting of “The Soul’s Probation”, Rudolf Steiner’s second Mystery Drama, dealing with the karma and reincarnations of a group of people around the turn of the 20th century.

The Tarot in Light of Spiritual Science with James Knight • Every other Tuesday  James (j365k@yahoo.com),  is leading a class on "The Tarot" in light of spiritual science and practical occultism. This is not a class on the use of Tarot for divination. In this class we focus on the major arcanum of "The Tarot" as a practical tool for self development and insight into oneself and the world. The classes take place approximately every other Tuesday from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Branch Library Space (5415 SE Powell Blvd) Entrance off the parking lot in back of the church • This is a free class. 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/.

Waldorf Education and Teacher Training Lectures and Courses Conducted throughout the year by the Micha-el Institute Email us at inquiry@micha-elinstitue.com or call 971-808-1640

A newer 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.

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Roommate and Lyre wanted:  Jolanda (Eurythmist) is looking for a quiet, respectful roommate. Room for rent has a small private bathroom. House has a big yard in front and the back and is located in a lovely Milwaukie neighborhood close to the new New Seasons.  I am also looking for a used good quality soprano or alto lyre to buy.

Please call 503 896 3345 or email jolandamf44@gmail.com

Warmly, Jolanda

Great gratitude to the members and friends whose 2024 memberships and donations make this newsletter and our library/community space possible. (donations offered in the previous month are listed):

For donations and membership please click here      

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.