Suggestions for meditative deepening in view of the current challenges
Building on the existing foundations from Anthroposophy and taking into account the current events, here are some thoughts on deepening the spiritual core of Waldorf impulses at your disposal
Viewed in the current context The influence of the whole "sub-sensory technology" of digitization is increasing from week to week. The current "corona crisis" with the consequence of "social distancing" and "distance learning", as justifiable these ordered measures may be, they bring along an incredible boost of this technology. Steiner's last "message" before his death was exactly about that:
In the scientific age, which begins around the middle of the nineteenth century, the cultural activity of mankind gradually slides down not only into the lowest regions of nature, but below the nature. Technology becomes sub-nature.
This requires that man finds a spiritual realization in which he rises as high into the supernatural as he descends below nature with the sub-natural technical activity. In this way he creates the power within himself not to go under. (1)
How do we "rise " to this higher dimension? Here, the anthroposophical spiritual science opens up new perspectives. Through the study of anthroposophy and through a meditative effort, this can be made possible, at least to some extent. And so we can also ask ourselves what significance is attached to the meditative impulse in Waldorf schools.
Impulse based on the "collegial imagination“
For Waldorf teachers, the esoteric foundation of the Waldorf impulse with the "imagination" that Steiner carried out as a “spiritual act“ with the teachers of that time (2) is still a historical reference and an inner orientation today. From a free inner initiative, a meditative community impulse has been sought through this ever since. This imagination encompasses the three levels: that of the individual, the social community and the spirit of the times. And also today it is necessary to ask: How can this spiritual impulse be grasped by us in such a way that it can have a healing effect, for individuals, for communities and for our time?
Level 1: Awareness of the other self gives strength: this applies to the individual children we teach, to colleagues, to parents and in general to our whole field of destiny. The "teacher meditations" can be a help here, as well as other inner efforts to sense the person and his or her higher self and to seek a connection to them. Only in this way can we create the necessary counterbalance to "social distancing" with the increased digital contacts and the network of technology that influence human relationships. We can then use this technology without human qualities falling by the wayside.
Level 2: Interest in the abilities and initiatives of the other in a community creates courage. Genuine encounters and in-depth exchange as a counterbalance to the many blogs, platforms, app groups and other digital networks. These can be quite useful if they integrate the spiritual dimension and therefore the users do not succumb to the fascination of these technical tools.
Level 3: The encouragement that lives in a community opens us to the spirit of the times, to the needs and problems of today and can bring light. It can bring light to recognize what can be done today out of love for human society and for the environment, so that every school can truly become involved in society, in the world of today, in the midst of the great challenges of the time.
Some examples of how we can meet "distance learning" and "social distancing" through meditative work
Individual level:
We received reports from teachers who newly discovered the "teacher meditations", because in times of distant learning they were looking for the inner connection to their children all the more. One teacher supplemented the meditative exercises with artistic activities by adding portrait sketches of the individual young people in the context of these meditations, so that she found an inner spiritual contact with them despite spatial distance. In this way a harmonious way of "learning at a distance" can be found with imagination and empathy, so that technical means are not distracting us from the core of Waldorf education.
Community level:
Some of the teacher’s conferences are now held online with the new digital tools. Some teachers felt the impulse to balance out this "social distance" through an increased meditative effort (everyone from the teaching staff who also felt this impulse was invited to participate). In this context, one teacher reported how long lasting conflicts among colleagues were resolved by these intensified inner efforts, which she was quite surprised to find out when they met again by chance (with the required distance) in the school building.
Healing powers for the environment and humanity:
Teachers and also school parents are often shaken and troubled by the great problems and suffering we are confronted with today as individuals and as a human community. It is a noticeable "threshold situation" that we have now reached. Initiation becomes a principle of civilization (Steiner). And such communities, such as Waldorf Schools, can give everyone involved courage, courage to take new initiatives, and above all to connect with the forces of the future, with the spiritual beings that are addressed in the "collegial imagination".
This is only possible if we overcome through our spiritual efforts all that is limiting, restrictive, dogmatic and know that in the end it is by grace if we succeed. The tasks and problems are great, because we are thinking about the future of a whole generation, we meditate for the healing of our fellow men and the environment. The new "light", the new sun, to which anthroposophy refers, can show us today a contemporary and necessary path:
Light divine,
Christ-Sun,
Give warmth
To our hearts;
Enlighten Our heads,
That good may become
What from our hearts
We are founding,
What from our heads
We shall guide
With our purposeful willing (3)
A renewed free commitment today?
How would an inner commitment from a completely free individual impulse look like today? Which initiatives are alive today, which questions, which experiences? It could be helpful, especially in our "special times", to exchange ideas, to stimulate and encourage each other.
Friederich Nietzsche once emphasized that forgetting is a blessing for mankind, because only by forgetting the old, then new things can be created. When we emancipate ourselves from traditions, and look at them from a distance to explore the sources of pedagogy, we encounter a comprehensive anthropology that challenges each and every one of us. The complexity, the clear and extensive connections, the depth of the perspectives will, in time, seem like an existential test; I must immerse myself ever more deeply in order to make the experiences of anthropology fit for life in practice. In the process, much will be forgotten and new things will emerge. No one will be spared in this inner trial, but one will become richer, more humble and more flexible inwardly.
There emerges on the horizon cooperations of people who experience the all-too-human as a burden. The basic trust in the potential of the human being beyond his limited abilities is on the one hand necessary and on the other hand a strengthening of the spiritual attitude in the community; it acts as an uplifting force in the social sphere.
Looking back on what has been achieved by the anthroposophical spiritual science for now more than 120 years, numerous scientific results and impressive artistic achievements on a high level are to be found today. The pioneering nature of the anthroposophical movement has paved and opened up great paths. At the source of all these achievements are always dedicated individuals who have made these endeavors their own personal and binding cause.
Steiner summed it up like this: I want to build on individuals. It always takes such people who seek the spirit and who are dedicated to a cause out of a free impulse. In the human being there lies the way and the goal at the same time. The inner spiritual work is the privileged field of individual decisions and contributes to "building worlds".
To spend oneself in matter is to grind down souls. To find oneself in the spirit is to unite human beings. To see oneself in all humanity is building worlds. (4)
Easter 2020, Robert Thomas (International Forum) and Thomas Stöckli (Afap, Dornach)
(1) Leading Thoughts Nr. 183 and 184, GA 26 (2) This is described in detail in the publication for Waldorf teachers „Meditative deepening...“ (2014) and can be read in the appendix of “The Study of Man“ (GA 293) (3) last part of the Foundation Stone Meditation“ given by Steiner 1st of January 1924 (4) Rudolf Steiner, GA 308, 11th of April 1924.