October at the Goetheanum
A former student reflects on a transformative first trimester of study, celebration, and community
On October 31st, 2024 we celebrated Halloween, Samhain, Diwali/Deepawali, Day of the Dead, Christopher's Birthday and the end of our first month in the Anthroposophy Studies program with a beautiful student day celebration coming together with all the Goetheanum schools in song and feast. It has been a month of tremendous change. We came in as individuals from the far corners of the Earth, gathering in common anticipation as the leaves were still green on the trees. Now as the leaves have turned orange and carpet the paths we tread in companionable conversation we have become a family.
Living together, studying together, sharing our biographies, our hopes, dreams, values and vulnerabilities. We step in to offer each other an English translation when the language escapes us in our desire to be understood. We share our pain and joy in intimate circles ever rotating throughout the evolving rhythm of our days.
This found family is made up of young and old from Korea, Brazil, Crimea, Malaysia, Italy, The Republic of Georgia, Chile, Nepal, China, Argentina, The United States, South Africa, The Netherlands and England. We come together each weekday morning to study the book. Theosophy, one book in a room containing at least 15 different translations. This incredible diversity of language and reference material was a bit daunting at first… What paragraph? What did he say? Can you please repeat that. Wait, wait can you say that again please… At first this seemed cumbersome and even a bit ridiculous; how can we all study one book when we all have different books?? But after a little time we are coming to see it as a metaphor for what we are studying. Become an empty vessel into which the world we do not know can flow, be unbiased and receptive toward it, see your antipathy and sympathy as information to add to your collection of things to consider. All of these differences that could be viewed as discrepancies can also be approached with openness and positivity. The challenge of using a common language that is uncommon to most requires our attention be directed to understanding in a very deliberate way. As our teachers guide the thought weaving of all these colorful threads into recognisable patterns that reveal the wisdom to us, we sparkle with inspiration and marvel at the changes we see in ourselves already.
We end this first month on a high note, in awe of the wisdom and wonder of this magical realm, marveling at the beauty that surrounds us, grateful for this gift of time and place we have granted ourselves and hungry for more!
Kristina Kingsland, Sandpoint, United States - Alumni Anthroposophy Studies on Campus, 2024