President’s letter – November

14 Nov President’s letter – November

Dear members,

Warm greetings!

On Thanksgiving weekend, we had the annual meeting of the Council and Class Holders in Toronto. This meeting, which is supported in the budget of the Society, provides an opportunity for us to come together around a common research topic. It also gives the Class Holders a chance to meet as a group. This research and mutual support provides a solid grounding for the work of the School for Spiritual Science across Canada.

This year the theme of our meeting was “Is the spiritual impulse of the Christmas Conference still an active force for humanity in the 21^st century?” Research was shared about what the spiritual impulse was that entered with the Christmas Conference, and where we see it in the Anthroposophical Society worldwide, in Canada, and in the movement.

The 100^th Anniversary of the founding of the General Anthroposophical Society at the Christmas Conference in Dornach is in 7 years, in 2023. At the Goetheanum, as well as in many countries, thoughts are turning towards this big commemoration. At our meeting in Toronto we spoke about our vision for the Canadian Society, and shared some ideas about what we can do to prepare, and how we as Society members might engage in this. There will be more to follow in future newsletters.

A Way of Working Together

I had the opportunity to participate in the Freedom Mystery Conference in Thornhill, October 21 to 23. This is the second year this conference has taken place, with plans for a third year.

What excited me about the conference was a way of working in the Society that is manifesting in many different ways and places. The initiative was taken by Tim Nadelle. He brought a small research working group together during the year to develop and test exercises related to themes in “Philosophy of Freedom.” Then, at the weekend conference, about 35 participants worked in small, facilitated groups, with these exercises that helped us to understand the text, facilitated meeting each other, and gave an experience of working together, and co-creating.

Woven into the weekend, were scenes from the mystery drama, “The Portal of Initiation.” There were keynote talks by both Daniel Hafner and Jonah Evans that deepened the material.

This initiative taking, researching together, and artistic gesture is living strongly in Canada. What arises from our joint activity is connected to the original impulse from the Christmas conference.

With best wishes,

Dorothy LeBaron, President