The relationship between The Christian Community and the Anthroposophical Society is complex and often misunderstood. Christian Community priests work out of an understanding of anthroposophy, and it was undoubtedly Steiner's theological lecture courses which led to the formation of the movement. Nonetheless questions remain, which Peter Selg examines closely in this unique book. -- Steiner's work emphasises the importance of finding the spiritual in everyday life. So why did he help found a 'Sunday church'? -- In his lectures, Steiner spoke about a 'spiritual communion' without physical matter. So why is there any need for a sacramental communion with real bread and wine, as practiced in The Christian Community? -- In a much-quoted lecture after the founding of The Christian Community, Steiner said that anthroposophists should have no need of the new religious movement. But on another occasion he said he wished greatly that the movement should succeed. How can these be understood and reconciled? This long-overdue book is a significant exploration of Steiner's legacy which should have far-reaching implications for mutual understanding and cooperation between The Christian Community and the wider anthroposophical world.

In the architecture of Rudolf Steiner's great cosmological temple, this extraordinary course of lectures on spiritual beings forms the central pillar with other important texts such as the fourth chapter of An Outline of Esoteric Science, The Spiritual Hierarchies and the Physical World, and Inner Experiences of Evolution. These works, outlining a revolutionary angelological cosmology, lie at the heart of Steiner's mission to transform our understanding of the world by laying down a new, non-dual, phenomenological path to a contemporary divine-spiritual-physical cosmology that is angelological and theophanic. For Steiner, what constitutes the world are "beings"-including the ground of the world itself, the "Father being." Steiner's cosmology or angelology is personal, and it is known in relationship; therefore, he presents it in terms of states and deeds of conscious, and of the divine-spiritual beings whose states and deeds they are. The spiritual world is thus always a world of beings. The twin realizations-that "I am an 'I'" and that "reality is constituted of other "I-beings"-go together. Cosmology is angelology. Spiritual beings define experience of the nature of reality. In these lectures, the reader is led through a series of meditations to recognize these spiritual beings and come to know their deeds. Steiner's approach is "contemporary" in that, while continuous with the most ancient understanding of the cosmos, he discovers it for himself, out of his own experience and consciousness, and expresses it in his own words with a logic and language appropriate to our time. Thus he teaches us, his readers, to do the same.

Rudolf Steiner entrusted the Esoteric Section and the Mathematics and Astronomy Section at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland, to Elisabeth Vreede (1879-1943) because of her special abilities. He commented, "Miss. Vreede is one of the people who best understands my lectures." Elisabeth Vreede was recognized as the "esoterically educated" member of Steiner's governing body. Nevertheless, in 1935 she was stripped of all her positions at the Goetheanum in Dornach and prevented from resuming them. Lili Kolisko wrote of her, "Dr. Elisabeth Vreede was a member of the Executive Council whose opinion was considered of very little or--one could almost say--no importance." Herbert Hahn wrote to Elisabeth Vreede, "I feel we must thank your loyal custodial task and your unfailing enthusiasm for all of Anthroposophy for much, much more than we can grasp at this time." This book--employing numerous, previously unpublished documents dealing with tragic misunderstandings in the anthroposophical movement--offers testimony to the greatness of this singular individual. C O N T E N T S Foreword 1. "All of Heaven seemed to be called down" (1879-1913): The Way to Rudolf Steiner 2. "Dr. Steiner was very pleased with my lectures" (1914-1923) Dornach 3. "Tested to the ultimate degree" (1924-1925): The Christmas Conference and the Esoteric Executive Council 4. "Executive Council's Idylls" (1925-1935): The Decade after Rudolf Steiner's Death 5. "May soul live in this house" (1935-1943): The Final Years Appendices: Elisabeth Vreede: The Christmas and Michael Impulses: Lecture at the Opening of the Second Goetheanum, 1928 Elisabeth Vreede: Isis-Sophia, Christmas Essay, 1928 This book was originally published in German as Elisabeth Vreede: 1879-1943 (Verlag des Ita Wegman Instituts, 2009).

Whether as a quick snack, part of a full-course dinner, or as the whole meal, there is nothing quite like a good bowl of soup. These recipes reflect the care and awareness that goes into providing proper nutrition for children and adults alike, while never ignoring the palate. Many Waldorf schoolteachers, staff, parents, alumni, and friends of the Waldorf school movement have contributed their favorite recipes to make up this collection. You will find everything from stocks and broths to selections of vegetable, bean, cream, tomato, seafood, chicken, beef, and dessert soups ... and, of course, no book of soups would be complete without a recipe for Stone Soup! This cookbook has something here for everyone.