Exploring the Foundation Stone

The Foundation Stone is a significant part of Anthroposophy – from its founding, to how it carries Anthroposophy through today and into the future.

The book entitled “The Foundation Stone Meditation” by Rudolf Steiner describes it as:

“The Foundation Stone Meditation” is central to the inner life of many students of Rudolf Steiner’s work. First presented during the reestablishment of the Anthroposophical Society at the Christmas Conference of 1923, it is a powerful and penetrating meditative text that many consider to be a key to the spiritual mysteries of our time.

Exploring the Foundation Stone – Live online Discussion Series & Podcast

Leading up to the centenary celebration of the founding of the Anthroposophical Society (1923 – 2023), Linoia Pullen has compiled a book sharing the verse, with some additions of rarely seen photographs and contributions from members of the Anthroposophical Society of Southern Africa.

To complement the release of this book the Anthroposophical Society in Southern Africa is hosting a country conference for members and friends, no matter where you are, to celebrate this centenary.  Join members throughout the country either in groups or in the comfort of your own home for a seven week series of on-line discussions, as we explore Rudolf Steiner’s Foundation Stone verse, using Pullen’s book as a springboard.

Telana Simpson will be hosting alongside Linoia Pullen, as they interview guests each week on different topics and aspects of the Foundation Stone, and then open for questions.

[CLICK HERE for the links to the Podcasts]

Our guests include:

• Linoia (Noy) Pullen: Maths and English teacher led to becoming a make-up artist and wardrobe planner and then finding creative ways to help health professionals support those people living with diabetes. Currently Secretary of the ASSA.
• Michaël Merle: For twenty-one years he was involved in Waldorf Education as a high school teacher, teacher trainer and training coordinator. Now Michaël is a priest in The Christian Community, Movement for Religious Renewal.
• Estelle Bryer: a Steiner Waldorf kindergarten and eurythmy teacher, author and puppeteer.
• Cyril Coetzee: Formerly a published art historian Cyril Coetzee has been a practicing artist since 1990. Cyril is best known for his portrait of Nelson Mandela reproduced on an international postage stamp and for his 28 square metre painting in the William Cullen Library at Wits University. Cyril has had a lifelong interest in Anthroposophy.
• Wendy Lilje: Studied Science at WITS, and worked at Pharma Natura where she encountered Anthroposophy. She also worked at both Weleda and Wala in Germany and has now taken over the biodynamic farm Bloublommetjieskloof in Wellington.
• Martin Wigand: has been a Waldorf high school teacher in Germany and South Africa for many years. His special interest was always the anthroposophical foundation of Waldorf Education.
• Christiane Wigand: Eurythmy artist and Eurythmy teacher for 24 years, now working as a Eurythmy therapist in 2 Waldorf schools and a government nursery school and as a trainer.
• Telana Simpson: Secretary of ASJ, librarian, and personal coach and podcaster.

DATES

When: Monday nights for 7 weeks

Date: starts 6 June to 18 July 2022

Time: 19h00 SAST (check your time zone here)

Register: Event is now finished, so registration is closed.

Programme:

• Session One – 6 June : Noy will share her interest in the connection of the Anthroposophical Society and the Foundation Stone verse to our present time. For the REPLAY click here.
• Session Two – 13 June : Martin will talk about the significance of the Foundation Stone meditation in the history of the Anthroposophical Movement and in the life of Rudolf Steiner. Christiane and Martin will also talk about the various rhythms in this meditation. And Christiane will also expand on the healing aspect of the verse. For the REPLAY click here.
• Session Three – 20 June : Estelle will talk about her relationship with Dr Zeylmans van Emmichoven and the significance of his role in bringing Anthroposophy to South Africa. She will explore the movement in the verse, from the eurythmy perspective. For the REPLAY click here.
• Session Four – 27 June : Michaël will discuss the world of translation, and unpack meditation from Steiner’s perspective. For the REPLAY click here.
• Session Five – 4 July : Wendy will bring a connection of her work with biodynamic agriculture to the Verse. For the REPLAY click here.
• Session Six – 11 July : Cyril will elaborate on how the four streams come together through Rudolf Steiner’s deed, and make a connection to the Philosopher’s Stone. For the REPLAY click here.
• Session Seven- 18 July : We will touch on themes that came up over the the weeks, like the three fold social order. And Telana will, as someone new to the Verse, find her connection to the verse in the light of the interviews. She will draw the conference to a close, bringing us a possible path to the future. For the REPLAY click here.

The AGM of ASSA will follow, on Saturday 23 July at 2pm in Cape Town & on zoom. The Venue will be confirmed.

PODCAST LINKS

The series was recorded and then podcast and here are the links to the replay’s for each session:

1. Introduction to the Foundation Stone Verse- CLICK HERE
2. History of the Foundation Stone and a look at it’s rhythms- CLICK HERE
3. The Foundation Stone and Dr Zeylmans van Emmichoven- CLICK HERE
4. Translating the Foundation Stone Verse- CLICK HERE
5. The Foundation Stone Verse and Biodynamic Farming – CLICK HERE
6. The four streams and their connection to Steiner’s deed related to the Foundation Stone – CLICK HERE
7. Three-fold Social Order and the Foundation Stone, going into the future – CLICK HERE

For more information contact Telana.

“The right ground in which we must lay today’s Foundation Stone, the proper soil, this is our hearts in their harmonious cooperation, in their love-imbued good will to carry the will of anthroposophy through the world together with one another.”

–Rudolf Steiner

If you would like to make a thank you donation to the Society for this conference, the related book, and the podcasts, we would be most grateful. You can make a deposit to the ASSA or use the ASJ’s credit card link. Please use the reference: foundation stone. Thank you.

BANK: Nedbank
Account name: Anthroposophical Society in Southern Africa
Account Number: 1958214213
Branch: Rosebank Gardens
Branch code: 197705
Swift code: NEDSZAJJ
Reference: Foundation Stone