In this concise summary and introduction, Michaela Gloeckler presents the therapeutic spectrum of anthroposophic medicine - its scientific basis, diagnostic methods and potential for practice. She gives numerous practical examples of its application and suggestions for treating patients at home. Anthroposophic medicine is an integrative system that combines scientific training and practice with a spiritual understanding of the human being. It seeks primarily to stimulate self-healing powers, directly supporting recovery processes and innate capacities of resistance. Anthroposophic physicians - registered general practitioners and specialists in all fields - utilize the knowledge and skills of conventional treatments as well as anthroposophic and homoeopathic medicines, external applications, and eurythmy, art and physical therapies. Michaela Gloeckler describes the current status of anthroposophic medicine whilst raising awareness of the social dimension of illness and health to address issues of fate and destiny and to show what individuals can do for their own and other people's health. She reflects on Rudolf Steiner's call to 'make the health system democratic' and clarifies why scientific pluralism of methods and freedom of therapy are essential for the further development of the healthcare system and a modern understanding of disease.

'Essentially we do not really have the right to talk about normality or abnormality in a child's inner life, nor indeed in the inner life of human beings altogether...One does not gain much from such labelling, and the first thing to happen should be that the physician or the teacher rejects such an assessment, and goes further than saying that something is clever or sensible according to the way people are habitually thinking.' - Rudolf Steiner Speaking in 1924, when general attitudes to people with special needs were far from enlightened, Rudolf Steiner gave this seminal course of lectures to a small group of teachers and doctors as a fundamental basis for their future work. In the cultural context of the time, regressive ideas such as Social Darwinism and Eugenics were not only tolerated but popular (some 15 years after these lectures were delivered, the Nazis were to initiate their so-called 'euthanasia' programme). In contrast, Steiner - who as a young man had successfully tutored a boy with special needs - was devoted to the progressive task of special education and, in the words of one of those present, '...gave the course with pleasure and satisfaction'. In the twelve lectures, Rudolf Steiner describes polarities of illness and derives courses of treatment from a comprehensive analysis. He considers many individual cases in detail and gives indications on therapeutic exercises, diet and medicine. The 'I' (or self), he states, relates directly to the physical body, and spirit and soul need to be taken into consideration when making diagnoses. Throughout the course Steiner gives valuable advice regarding the educator's own development, emphasizing the need for enthusiasm, humour and courage. As with Steiner's lectures on agriculture, which stimulated the birth of the worldwide biodynamic movement, this single course has had a huge international impact, inspiring the founding of hundreds of schools and communities for people with special needs - encompassing both the Camphill and Steiner special education movements. Revolutionary in its approach, the far-reaching perspectives of these lectures are a living source of inspiration to both professionals in the field and parents and others seeking spiritual insight. This new edition features a fresh translation, introductory material, notes, colour plates and an index. 12 lectures, Dornach, Jun. - Jul. 1924, CW 317

'A great deal is happening all the time in world evolution; and it falls to human beings, particularly those of our own time, to acquire real understanding of the world events in which they are involved.' In this popular lecture, Rudolf Steiner reveals that the angels - the spirits closest to human beings - are seeking to create images in human astral bodies. These images are given with the intention of bringing about 'definite conditions in the social life of the future' related to brotherhood, religious freedom, and conscious spirituality. Other spiritual beings, however, are working against the angels. If, as a consequence of their disruption, humanity sleeps though the angels' spiritual revelation, the consequences will be dire, and aberrations connected to sexuality, the misuse of medicine, and the misapplication of mechanical forces will begin to manifest.

'By cultivating spiritual thoughts here on earth we can provide nourishment for the dead...When fields lie fallow they produce no crops to feed humanity and people may die of starvation. The dead cannot die of starvation, of course; all they can do is suffer when spiritual life lies fallow on earth.' - Rudolf Steiner The founding of the Anthroposophical Society in 1913 marked a major change in Rudolf Steiner's work. Although Steiner had always been an independent spiritual researcher, the break with the theosophists removed all constraints, allowing for a full flowering of anthroposophy. These lectures, presented to audiences in Germany, France and Sweden, are filled with a freshness and vitality that reflect this new beginning, providing intriguing glimpses of great themes that Steiner was to develop in the years ahead. A predominant topic here is that of death. Rudolf Steiner seeks to explain how people on earth can reach the dead in a non-mediumistic way, and how such interaction between 'living' and 'dead' is mutually beneficial. Startlingly, he states that people who do not recognize the being of Lucifer during their earthly life - who have not 'already got to intuit and know the luciferic impulses in the human soul properly whilst here in life' - will be 'vampirized' by this being after death. Rudolf Steiner also elaborates on the activities of the adversary beings in present-day civilization - spiritual powers that play a necessary role in Earth evolution - and how we can counteract them. The longer someone can stay alive, for example, is a victory over Ahriman's activity. Even the losing of teeth has beneficial aspects, allowing us to '...gain certain impulses and these overcome Ahriman'. Steiner relates the actions of such spiritual entities to child development too, indicating the various influences in the seven-year cycles of growth. Also included are lectures on the Christian festivals and various artworks, including 'The Triumph of Death' in the Composanto cemetery at Pisa, which reveals great secrets of humanity's evolution. Whatever the subject addressed, it soon becomes apparent that these lectures were not just relevant to Steiner's audience in 1913, but also speak to contemporary souls around the world seeking spiritual orientation and understanding. 10 lectures, various cities, Jan. - Dec. 1913, CW 150