September 29, 2020

MERRY MICHAELMAS

THE WALDORF BOOK OF POETRY — 

"Front cover art: 'Michaelmas', needle-felted wool tapestry ... 

St Michael protects the town from the menacing dragon...."

Waldorf schools almost always deny that they are religious institutions. But they certainly are religious [1]. One indication is the large number of religious observances that punctuate the Waldorf year. Among the most prominent of these observances is the celebration of Michaelmas, which occurs today, September 29 [2].

According to Waldorf founder Rudolf Steiner, Michael is a warrior god [3] who fights against a terrible monster, the "dragon". During their Michaelmas ceremonies, Waldorf teachers and students typically recite poems and sing hymns praising Michael and beseeching his aid. Here are a few samples:

From "Five Verses for Michaelmas":

"St. Micha-el [4], brave and bright

Who loves to live in the light [5],

The fierce foe to fight,

And smite with swinging sword

The dragon dark and dread [6]—

Defeat is his reward [7]."

— THE WALDORF BOOK OF POETRY 

(Living Arts Books, 2012), p. 105.

From "St. George — For Michaelmas":

"In a swamp, dark and dank,

Lived a Dragon most wild...

Oh St. George [8], Come! Advance!

'Gainst the Dragon to fight,

With your horse and your lance

And your conquering might!"

— THE WALDORF BOOK OF POETRY, p. 106.

From "Unconquered Here of the Skies — Michaelmas Song":

"Unconquered hero of the skies [9], Saint Michael;

Against the foe with us arise,

Thine aid we pray the foe to slay [10], Saint Michael."

— THE WALDORF SONG BOOK 

(Floris Books, 1992), p. 13.

From "Sankt Michaels Lied

{St. Michael's Song}":

"The heavenly banner [11] thou dost bear, Saint Michael;

The angels [12] do thine armor wear;

Thine aid we pray, the foe to slay, Saint Michael." [13]

— THE SECOND WALDORF SONG BOOK 

(Floris Books, 1993), pp. 76-77.

Anthroposophy identifies itself as the School of Michael [14]. In requiring their students to recite verses such as those above, Waldorf teachers encourage their students to accept Michael's battle as their own. In effect, this is an effort to enlist the students into the ranks of Anthroposophy. This, indeed, is the ultimate purpose to Waldorf education — to spread the faith devised by Rudolf Steiner, the religion he called Anthroposophy [15].

Waldorf Watch Footnotes 

[1] See "Schools as Churches".

[2] See "Michaelmas".

[3] See "Michael".

[4] This formulation echoes the ancient Hebrew designation Mikhaʾel, meaning one who emulates God. Anthroposophists usually speak of Michael, but sometimes they refer to Micha-el. There is even an American Waldorf school called the Micha-el School [see https://micha-elschool.org].

[5] Anthroposophy is polytheistic, recognizing a great many gods. [See "Polytheism".] In Anthroposophical doctrine, the god known to us as Christ is actually the Sun God, the deity worshipped by various ancient peoples under such names as Hu and Baldr. [See "Sun God".] According to Anthroposophy, Michael is the Sun God's chief lieutenant — he is the Sun Archangel. As one of the gods dwelling on or near the Sun, Michael "loves to live in the light."

[6] According to Anthroposophical teachings, the "dragon" is a demonic opponent of human evolution. Often in Anthroposophical texts, the dragon is taken to be the arch-demon Ahriman or the legion of demons who serve Ahriman. [See "Ahriman" and "Evil Ones".] So, for instance, Rudolf Steiner said this: "[W]e can always call on an image which humanity has known throughout its evolution — the fight between Michael and the dragon ... We may say that a particular crowd of ahrimanic spirits [i.e., Ahriman's minions] seek over and over again to bring something into world evolution, but they are always overcome.” — Rudolf Steiner, THE FALL OF THE SPIRITS OF DARKNESS (Rudolf Steiner Press, 2008), p. 137.

An Anthroposophical seal 

showing Michael subduing the dragon.

[R.R. copy, 2010.]

[7] Awkwardly, this verse literally says that Michael will be defeated (grammatically, the individual mentioned in the last line is the subject of the verse, Michael). Obviously, however, the verse means to say that the dragon will be defeated.

[8] In Anthroposophical lore, the legend of St. George killing a dragon on Earth is a variant of the narrative of Michael's war with the demonic dragon on high. These stories are taken as having the same inner meaning. So, for instance, Rudolf Steiner once said this: "[T]oward the end of the Atlantean evolution [i.e., while we lived on Atlantis], the third Christ event occurred ... St. George who conquers the dragon, or Michael who conquers the dragon, are symbols of the third Christ event." — Rudolf Steiner, THE FOUR SACRIFICES OF CHRIST (Anthroposophic Press, 1944). In other words, both stories tell of the third time the Sun God, Christ, intervened directly in human evolution. Anthroposophists generally treat the tale of St. George as an ahistorical myth, whereas they treat the account of Michael's combat in the sky as an historical truth.

[9] Steiner taught that Michael has fought, and defeated, the dragon several times. Their war is cyclical and continuing — but Michael always wins (he is the "unconquered hero"). The most recent battle between Michael and the dragon occurred in the year 1879, Steiner taught. "[A] particular crowd of ahrimanic spirits [i.e., Ahriman and his minions] seek over and over again to bring something [evil] into world evolution, but they are always overcome. And so they...lost the battle [against Michael] in the autumn of 1879." — Rudolf Steiner, THE FALL OF THE SPIRITS OF DARKNESS (Rudolf Steiner Press, 2008), p. 137.

[10] Note that the ultimate battle against the dragon is ours. In this and other Anthroposophical prayers addressed to Michael, humans ask for Michael's assistance. We fight the dragon, and Michael comes to our aid ("thine aid we pray the foe to slay"). The dragon, in other words, is more our enemy than Michael's enemy. Steiner taught that the dragon represents the forces that would derail human evolution. To the extent that the dragon is an image of Ahriman, the forces we must fight are the corrupting influences of modern science, technology, and rationality. [See "The School of Michael & Its Schools for Kids", September 25, 2020.]

[11] There is no "heaven," as such, in Anthroposophy. Instead, Steiner taught that there are two "higher worlds" above the physical world — the soul world and the spirit world. Within and around these he also posited various planes, levels, or regions. [See "Higher Worlds".]

[12] Anthroposophy teaches that there are nine ranks of gods. "Angels" are gods of the lowest rank. (They are also called Sons of Twilight, Spirits of Dusk, Bahishad-Pitris, etc.) Archangels, such as Michael, are gods one rank higher than angels. (Archangels are also called Spirits of Fire, Agnishvattas, Solar Pitris, etc.) When the archangel Michael fights the dragon, he leads and army consisting of gods who are his subordinates ("the angels do they armor wear").

[13] This is essentially the same song as "Unconquered Hero of the Skies", except it is set to a different melody and it is arranged for four singers. Each version of the song is a hymn or prayer addressed to Michael. The importance of Michaelmas in Waldorf education is underscored by the appearance of the song in both of the Waldorf song books.

[14] "St Michael and Anthroposophy are connected in a special way ... Anthroposophy is also called the School of Michael." — Waldorf teacher Henk van Oort, ANTHROPOSOPHY A-Z (Sophia Books, Rudolf Steiner Press, 2011), p. 78.

[15] See "Here's the Answer" and "Is Anthroposophy a Religion?"

— R.R.

September 25, 2020

THE SCHOOL OF MICHAEL

& ITS SCHOOLS FOR KIDS

Michaelmas observances at Waldorf schools [1] almost always include reenactments of Michael's battle against a fierce, demonic foe. According to Rudolf Steiner, Michael is a warrior god who fights on behalf of his master, the Sun God [2]. Michael's foe is "the dragon" — a monster that embodies all the forces that try to defeat the gods' plan for human evolution [3]. 

Here is how a Waldorf teacher describes the dragon in a Waldorf/Steiner reference work:

"Dragon — collective name of all forces that try to distract human beings from their intended development [4] ... In the Bible, we read about St Michael slaying the Dragon [5] ... The feast of St Michael (September 29) is celebrated in Waldorf schools ... The story of St Michael slaying the dragon is often performed, and Michaelmas songs are sung [6]." — Henk van Oort, ANTHROPOSOPHY A-Z (Sophia Books, Rudolf Steiner Press, 2011), pp. 31-32.

The figure of the dragon may be taken as representing various demons and evil gods who oppose human evolution, but one demon in particular is usually emphasized in Waldorf/Steiner Michaelmas pageants: This is Ahriman [7].

Bust of Ahriman, attributed to Rudolf Steiner.

[Public domain photo; color added.]

According to Rudolf Steiner, Ahriman is an arch-demon who attempts to drag humanity down into a totally materialistic existence, divorced from spirituality. Steiner taught that Ahriman is particularly present in our modern age with its materialistic technologies and sciences [8]. Ahriman strives, for instance, to confine human thinking to the physical organ called the brain. According to Steiner, no real thinking occurs in the brain. 

◊ "Within the brain there is absolutely no thought." — Rudolf Steiner, WONDERS OF THE WORLD (Rudolf Steiner Press, 1983), p. 119.

◊ "[T]he brain and nerve system have nothing at all to do with actual cognition...." — Rudolf Steiner, THE FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE (SteinerBooks, 1996), p. 60.

Actual cognition, according to Steiner, is a spiritual process that occurs apart from the brain. Actual cognition is clairvoyance. This is why Waldorf schools place great emphasis on imagination rather than rationality — Steiner taught that imagination is an initial stage of clairvoyance [9]. 

Steiner said that Waldorf teachers should develop their own powers of clairvoyance — or, at a minimum, they should accept the "clairvoyant" visions of their highly spiritual colleagues.

"Not every Waldorf teacher has the gift of clairvoyance, but every one of them has accepted wholeheartedly and with full understanding the results of spiritual-scientific investigation [i.e., the disciplined use of clairvoyance] ... And each Waldorf teacher applies this knowledge with heart and soul...." — Rudolf Steiner, WALDORF EDUCATION AND ANTHROPOSOPHY, Vol. 2 (Anthroposophic Press, 1995), pp. 224-225.

Devout Waldorf teachers accept the proposition that clairvoyance is essential in their work:

"Must teachers be clairvoyant in order to be certain that they are teaching in the proper way? Clairvoyance is needed...." — Waldorf teacher Eugene Schwartz, THE MILLENNIAL CHILD (Anthroposophic Press, 1999), p. 157.

The problem in all this is that clairvoyance is a delusion — it does not exist [10]. Yet clairvoyance is a central pillar of the Waldorf approach. Many Waldorf teachers think they should use clairvoyance, and many lead students in a direction meant to foster the development of clairvoyance. Consider what this implies. Waldorf education deemphasizes the importance of the brain [11]. Consequently, Waldorf education often has low academic standards [12]. Students may emerge from Waldorf schools having only a weak comprehension of reality. They may imagine much, but they may actually know very little. In such cases, the students have been badly served — they have received a deeply deficient education [13].

All of this is wrapped up in the Waldorf version of Michaelmas. The Waldorf belief system is a mystical religion, Anthroposophy [14]. In this religion, Michael plays a leading role. Indeed, Anthroposophists consider themselves to be earthly agents of Michael. The celebration of Michaelmas is, for them, a celebration of Anthroposophy itself.

"St Michael and Anthroposophy are connected in a special way. As the custodian of cosmic intelligence [15], and as spirit of the age [16], Michael inspires all human beings who wish to connect the human spirit with the spirit of the cosmos [17]. Anthroposophy is also called the School of Michael." — Waldorf teacher Henk van Oort, ANTHROPOSOPHY A-Z, p. 78.

Anthroposophy is the School of Michael. And the schools for children run by Anthroposophists are Waldorf schools, where Michael is revered. When Waldorf students are led to celebrate the Waldorf version of Michaelmas, they are enacting — and celebrating — Anthroposophy. 

Waldorf teachers are unlikely to explain all this to their students. Much at Waldorf schools is secret [18]. But this is what's going on.

Waldorf Watch Footnotes 

[1] See, e.g., "Celebrating the Mighty Sun Archangel: Michael", September 18, 2020.

[2] See "Sun God".

[3] The Waldorf/Steiner belief system, called Anthroposophy, is polytheistic. [See "Polytheism".] The central narrative of Anthroposophy concerns the evolution of human consciousness under the guidance of many gods. [See the entry for "evolution of consciousness" in The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia (BWSE).]

[4] The "intended development" of humanity is the evolutionary plan laid out by the gods. [See "evolution" in the BWSE.]

[5] See Revelation 12:7-9.

[6] E.g.,

"Unconquered hero of the skies [9], Saint Michael;

Against the foe with us arise,

Thine aid we pray the foe to slay [10], Saint Michael."

— THE WALDORF SONG BOOK , collected by Brien Masters

(Floris Books, 1992), p. 13.

[7] See "Ahriman".

[8] See, e.g., "Spiders, Dragons and Foxes".

[9] See "imagination" in the BWSE.

[10] See "Clairvoyance".

[11] See "Steiner's Specific".

[12] See "Academic Standards at Waldorf".

[13] See "Who Gets Hurt?"

[14] See "Is Anthroposophy a Religion?"

[15] I.e., champion of the gods' truths.

[16] I.e., the god having special responsibility for human evolution now.

[17] These special, enlightened humans are, according to Anthroposophy, predominantly Anthroposophists themselves. This is the special connection between Michael and Anthroposophy.

[18] See "Secrets".

— R.R.

September 18, 2020

CELEBRATING THE MIGHTY

SUN ARCHANGEL: MICHAEL

The Waldorf conception of Michaelmas is revealed in publications such as this,

MICHAELMAS — From the Work of Rudolf Steiner, Compiled by Helmut von Kügelgen

(Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America, 2004).

We are approaching the end of September, when Waldorf schools will celebrate the Anthroposophical version of Michaelmas — the mass or festival of the Archangel Michael. [1]

According to Rudolf Steiner, Michael [2] is the champion of the Sun God [3]. Michael fights on behalf of the Sun God against the terrible arch-demon Ahriman [4]. In Michaelmas tales and pageants, Satan or Ahriman is represented as a dreadful dragon. In some versions of the Michaelmas story, Michael slays the dragon; in others, Michael conquers but spares the dragon, holding it at bay. At Waldorf schools, Michaelmas is often observed through pageants that reenact the battle between Michael and the dragon. But sometimes the religious nature of Michaelmas at Waldorf is disguised, and the holiday is then designated a peaceful “fall festival” [5]. 

Among his many statements about Michael and the dragon, Rudolf Steiner said the following:

“[During summer] Ahrimanic forces…establish themselves firmly in this Earth ... [In autumn] from spiritual heights there comes to the aid of the descending human soul the force of Michael, who…contends with the Dragon, Ahriman.” — Rudolf Steiner, THE CYCLE OF THE YEAR AS BREATHING PROCESS OF THE EARTH (Anthroposophic Press, 1984), p. 11 [6].

Here is an explanation, written by a Waldorf teacher, for the enactment of Michaelmas in Waldorf schools:

“The dragon is not an external reality, but rather lives within all humankind, represented by cold, dead, rationalistic and pragmatic thinking [7]. It is alive within every mortal as a potentially evil force … The backdrop for the drama of history is the struggle between the powers that strive for the forces of Goodness against those that struggle for the purpose of Evil [8] … At Waldorf schools…the children hear stories and legends of Michael. Then, on or around September 29, the teachers in many of our schools lead their students out into the fields, where they see an enactment of Michael’s battle with the dragon.” — David Mitchell, “Why Do Waldorf Schools Celebrate Michaelmas?” [https://www.waldorflibrary.org/images/stories/articles/WJP15_mitchell.pdf]

For more on Michaelmas at Waldorf, see "Michaelmas".

Waldorf Watch Footnotes 

[1] Michelmas is originally a Christian festival. 

“The veneration of St. Michael — typically regarded as the greatest of the archangels and a mighty defender of the church against Satan — began in the Eastern Church in the 4th century and had spread to Western Christianity by the 5th century … Michaelmas was originally celebrated as a Holy Day of Obligation, but that requirement was gradually abolished.” — “Michaelmas”, ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, downloaded 9/18/20.

[2] In Anthroposophy, Michael is the Archangel of the Sun. [See “Michael”.]

[3] The Sun God, in Anthroposophy, is Christ as reconceived by Rudolf Steiner. [See “Sun God”.]

[4] See "Ahriman".

Note that although Ahriman is given prominence in many Anthroposophical/Waldorf observances, there is another demon who is arguably an even greater foe of the Sun God and the Sun Archangel. This is Sorat, the Sun Demon. 

"This being is known as Sorat, the Sun Demon and the most powerful opponent to Christ Jesus in the universe. Sorat rises every 666 years to deceive humanity ... Sorat will do everything in its power to obliterate humanity’s connection with the spiritual world and tempt humanity to deny Christ." — THE BOOK OF REVELATION AND THE WORK OF THE PRIEST (Rudolf Steiner Press, 1998), Introduction by René Querido, p. 8. 

[5] See the account of Waldorf festivals presented in “Magical Arts”.

[6] Steiner taught that the Earth breathes in and out during the annual cycle. The annual festivals at Waldorf schools celebrate this cycle. In summer, when the Earth’s breath has been expelled, Ahriman can send his baleful influence into the Earth, Steiner taught. In autumn, when the Earth breathes in, Michael can expel Ahriman. Here is a longer version of the quotation given above:

“Because the Earth is a mirror of the cosmos in the summer, it is also opaque in its inner nature, impermeable by cosmic influences and therefore, during the summer time, impermeable to the Christ Impulse. At this time the Christ Impulse has to live in the [Earth’s] exhaled breath. The Ahrimanic forces, however, establish themselves firmly in this Earth which has become impervious to the Christ Impulse ... [In autumn] from spiritual heights there comes to the aid of the descending human soul the force of Michael, who, while the Earth’s breath is flowing back into the Earth itself, contends with the Dragon, Ahriman.” — Rudolf Steiner, THE CYCLE OF THE YEAR AS BREATHING PROCESS OF THE EARTH (Anthroposophic Press, 1984), p. 11.

[7] Waldorf education — like Anthroposophy in general — is wary of rational thought. Steiner warned against intellect and rationality, even though these are “pragmatic” (i.e., they produce practical results). Waldorf education emphasizes imagination instead — which, according to Steiner, leads to (or is a form of) clairvoyance.  

"Whoever wants to acquire imaginative clairvoyance develops this force through meditation and gradually attains it." — Rudolf Steiner, SLEEP AND DREAMS (SteinerBooks, 2003), p. 124. [See “Clairvoyance”.]

[8] Although the Waldorf worldview is often presented as entirely positive, with all things in the cosmos contributing to our welfare, in fact Steiner emphasized that there is much evil in the cosmos. We must overcome this evil in order to evolve properly, he said. [See, e.g., “Evil”.] From the Waldorf perspective, Waldorf schools themselves represent one of the chief forces serving the cause of Good, whereas opposition to Waldorf is demonic or Evil. Steiner taught that Waldorf teachers work in the service of the gods. 

“Among the faculty, we must certainly carry within us the knowledge that ...we are actually carrying out the intentions of the gods." — Rudolf Steiner, FACULTY MEETINGS WITH RUDOLF STEINER (Anthroposophic Press, 1998), p. 55.

— R.R.

September 12, 2020

WALDORF TEACHER-TRAINER

EXPLAINS THE CORONAVIRUS

The following is excepted from Oliver Rautenberg's Anthroposophie.blog, a website originating in Germany:

About Atlantis and Contract Killers: 

A Waldorf Instructor Explains

Institute for Waldorf Education Witten / Annen, 

photo by Reclus

In a Telegram group, a Waldorf education instructor spreads corona conspiracy myths...

Once again, conspiracy myths about the corona pandemic come from circles within the esoteric worldview known as "Anthroposophy." This religious community, known for alternative Waldorf education and alternative Anthroposophic "medicine," often spreads "alternative" facts: Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has cast doubts on the state, the press, and science, and it expresses absurd esoteric conspiracy myths about the virus.

Critics of corona protective measures are increasingly using the instant messaging service Telegram. This Russian chat system is popular with right-wing extremists and conspiracy ideologues, as content is barely monitored or blocked there.

Since August 3, 2020, Antje Bek has been on Telegram with her group "Waldorf Educators for Clarification." Bek heads the "Waldorf Education" course at the Institute for Waldorf Education in Witten/Annen and is a lecturer for "Waldorf Class Teacher Training." For this Anthroposophist, an alleged "corona crisis" exists only in quotation marks...

Ms. Bek's "opinions" on the coronavirus are like those that have been heard many times from the esoteric religious community. The virus is largely harmless, and masks do not protect, on the contrary they lead to serious mental illnesses...

She explains the "dangers" of everyday masks esoterically. The connections to the cosmos and the "environment" would be disrupted [if we wore masks]...

Even more, the concept of the Waldorf school, which wants to take into account the karma and the state of reincarnation of children, would be dangerously disrupted [if everyone wore masks]...

A disturbed breathing process [caused by masks] endangers the healthy reincarnation of children...

Bek goes on to assert that the virus does exist, but hardly anyone is infected — it is virtually a phantom...

Then she endorses widespread conspiracy myths about a co-ordinated press and a policy under which only the government's views are presented, never the opposition's. Opposing "opinions" are suppressed, so the public is lied to and manipulated...

[And so on.]

The Waldorf school movement is often perceived as an assembly of esoteric, perhaps crazy, but basically harmless do-gooders. The opposite is the case: Its members deliberately undermine trust in the state, media, and science. It is a faction that is dangerous for our society.

[9/12/2020    https://anthroposophie.blog/2020/09/08/von-atlantis-und-auftragskillern-eine-waldorf-ausbilderin-klart-auf/    Translation by Roger Rawlings, leaning heavily on Google Translate.  Rautenberg posted the item on September 8.]

Rautenberg's blog entry is considerably longer than the excerpts I have translated; it covers far more topics than I have touched on (Atlantis, for instance, and contract killers). If you're interested in delving further, please visit the blog. Rautenberg expresses his own opinions vigorously. If nothing else, you may want to weigh his views against Bek's, and formulate your own conclusions.

— R.R.

September 8, 2020

Keith Raniere

[Keith Raniere Conversations, via YouTube]

The self-help group Nxivm gained notoriety as a "sex cult" last year when its leader, Keith Raniere, was convicted of sex trafficking, racketeering and conspiracy after testimony that he had created a harem of sexual "slaves," branded with his initials and kept in line with blackmail.

Now, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have asked that Mr. Raniere be sentenced to life in prison, citing the severity of his crimes and his lack of remorse, reflected in communications with supporters in which he denigrated his victims.

For more than a decade, Mr. Raniere, known to his followers as Vanguard, claimed that Nxivm could help people find enlightenment and inner peace. But Mr. Raniere, who attracted high-profile adherents like the actress Allison Mack and the liquor heiress Clare Bronfman, instead preyed upon Nxivm’s members, presenting himself as an omnipotent savant and forming a secret subgroup called D.O.S., in which women were assigned to have sex with him....

[9/6/2020    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/nyregion/nxivm-keith-raniere-sentence.html  This article originally appeared on August 28.]

HBO is currenly airing a documentary series, "The Vow", about Raniere and Nxivm. The network describes the series this way:

From Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning directors Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer...comes The Vow, a documentary series following a number of people deeply involved in the self-improvement group NXIVM ... The series takes a deep, nuanced look at the organization faced with various charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, against its highest members — most notably founder Keith Raniere ... Amidst claims by NXIVM participants of both profound transformation and devastating abuse, the series...seeks to reveal the issues behind the headlines....

[9/6/2020    https://www.hbo.com/the-vow]

A review of "The Vow", published in The New York Times, includes the following:

"The Vow" doesn’t stint on the jaw-dropping details. But it also makes clear that the story of Nxivm (pronounced "NEX-ee-um") is more complex — and much more chilling — than the reductive "sex cult" label would indicate. As dangerous conspiracy theories rise to shocking prominence in American life, "The Vow" examines why people are so primed to fall for the kind of tempting but perilous psychological traps that skilled manipulators use to lure and catch their idealistic prey...

Raniere, a floppy-haired former businessman who insisted that people call him "Vanguard," told seminar attendees that through "data and facts," he and his instructors could help them push past the fears and limitations holding them back.

Instead, trial testimony and court rulings have revealed, Raniere weaponized people’s secrets and insecurities so that he could exploit them emotionally and financially. According to a lawsuit filed by former followers, Nxivm was also an enormous pyramid scheme that bilked its members out of millions of dollars....

[9/6/2020    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/23/arts/television/review-the-vow-nxivm.html   This review, by Maureen Ryan, originally appeared on August 23.]

Keith Raniere reportedly attended a Waldorf school for a few years "from the late 1960s to the early 1970s" [2]. Whether his story tells us anything about Waldorf education is unclear. Indeed, given his fairly brief exposure to Waldorf education many years ago, it seems unlikely.

Still, anyone interested in investigating the Waldorf movement may want to take note. There are certainly some parallels between Nxivm and the underlying Waldorf belief system, Anthroposophy [3]. Both creeds promise to enlarge their followers' minds, showing the path toward enormous self-improvement and spiritual fulfillment.

In addition, both creeds have been labeled "cults" [4], both describe themselves as "scientific" [5], and both center on the figures of self-appointed gurus who claimed to be virtually omniscient: Keith Raniere at Nxivm and Rudolf Steiner at Anthroposophy [6]. Moreover, there have been some indications — far from firmly established — that Raniere incorporated some of Steiner's teachings in the Nxivm curriculum [7].

Raniere's sentencing is currently scheduled for October 27 of this year. Stay tuned. [8]

Waldorf Watch Footnotes

[1] See, e.g., "Nxivm’s Keith Raniere Convicted in Trial Exposing Sex Cult’s Inner Workings", The New York Times, June 19, 2019.

[2] See "Keith Raniere", Wikipedia [accessed September 6, 2020].

[3] See "Anthroposophy" in The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia (BWSE).

[4] Is Anthroposophy a cult? See, e.g., "Six Facts You Need to Know About Steiner Education".

[5] Anthroposophists often refer to their creed as "spiritual science." [See, e.g., "Steiner's 'Science'".]

[6] Concerning Steiner's stature within Anthroposophy, see "Guru".

[7] "NXIVM teachings drew upon a diverse source of influences, including...Rudolf Steiner...." — "NXIVM", Wikipedia [accessed September 8, 2020].

[8] For previous Waldorf Watch coverage of Nxivm, see "NXIVM" at the Waldorf Watch Annex Index.

Some sources, of varying authority, have hinted at deep connections between Nxivm and Waldorf. See, for instance, "NXIVM Problems at Waldorf School of Saratoga", Artvoice, September 21, 2018; "'Sex Cult' Leader 'Born Evil' Says Childhood Classmaste", Cult News, June 28, 2019; and "Waldorf Schools Are Quirky, Culty and Just the School for Young Keith Raniere", Frank Report, February 12, 2020.

If there are similarities and even links between Nxivm and Anthroposophy, there are also large differences. The most lurid allegation against Nxivm, giving rise to the label "sex cult," is that some women near the center of Nxivm became sex slaves of Keith Raniere, in which capacity they were branded with Ranier's initials. No reports coming out of Anthroposophy tell of behavior rising to this level of depravity. On the other hand, sexual misconduct and abuse are certainly not unknown within Anthroposophy. [See, e.g., "Extremity".] 

— R.R.

September 3, 2020

WALDORF TEACHERS TEACHING

WALDORF TEACHERS — AND US

A Waldorf teacher-training organization in Germany has a fascinating event planned for next week. A program scheduled for September 10-12 will investigate the occult nature of children, and it will delve into the wondrous healing powers of mistletoe. Waldorf students as well as Waldorf teachers are invited to attend. The presenters will include a Waldorf teacher who is said to be clairvoyant [1] and another who professes deep understanding of astrology [2].

One portion of the program, led by Waldorf teacher Alfredo Agostini, will discuss the etheric and astral bodies of children. According to Rudolf Steiner, these invisible bodies incarnate on a fixed schedule as children develop. The etheric body — an envelope of formative forces — incarnates around age seven, and then the astral body — an envelope of soul forces — incarnates seven years later, around age fourteen [3]. (Seven is a mystically important number, Steiner taught — it is the number of perfection, he said [4].)

A second part of the program, led by Waldorf teacher Raphael Kleimann, will focus on the magical plant known as mistletoe. Rudolf Steiner taught that mistletoe is not of this Earth, and he indicated that mistletoe has the power to cure cancer [5]. Kleimann advocates therapies attuned to zodiacal and planetary forces, and he suggests that mistletoe processed through such power centers as the Goetheanum [6] can improve the relationship between human beings and nature spirits (invisible beings such as gnomes) [7]. 

For more on all this, see "Claivoyance in the Waldorf Seminar" at Oliver Rautenberg's Anthroposophie.blog [https://anthroposophie.blog/2020/09/03/hellseherei-im-waldorf-seminar/].

Waldorf Watch Footnotes 

[1] Belief in clairvoyance is basic for Rudolf Steiner's followers. Steiner claimed to be clairvoyant, and he said he could teach his followers to develop similar psychic abilities. The great problem in all this is that clairvoyance is does not exist. [See "Clairvoyance" and "Knowing the Worlds".]

[2] Belief in astrology is also fundamental among Stener's followers. [See "Astrology", "Waldorf Astrology", and "Star Power".]

[3] See "Incarnation".

[4] Belief in numerology is less fundamental among Steiner's followers than belief in clairvoyance and astrology. Still, numerology pops up often in Anthroposophical/Waldorf circles. [See "Magic Numbers".]

[5] See "mistletoe" in The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia (BWSE).

[6] This is the worldwide headquarters of Anthroposophy. It is essentially a cathedral in which Steiner's occult teachings are revered and celebrated. [See "Is Anthroposophy a Religion?"]

[7] See "nature spirits" in the BWSE. (Yes, Steiner's followers believe in such beings, including gnomes. [See "Gnomes".])

— R.R.

September 2, 2020

STEINER, WALDORF, AND COVID

(& KARMA, DEMONS, THE SUN...)

[Part 2.3]

Here is the final installment of an article about the Steiner/Waldorf view of Covid-19, published recently by the French news service Heidi.News. This article is the second of three interlinked articles planned by Heidi.News. Overall, the articles present an intriguing account of the way Rudolf Steiner's followers (including many Waldorf teachers) look at the Covid crisis. Much of the commentary in the articles is provided by former Waldorf teacher Grégoire Perra.

To read my translations of the first two articles in their correct sequence, see "Steiner & Covid".

Take care of your relationships. We know that the modern world makes us anxious; likewise, it also makes us distant from each other. But why do Anthroposophical medical guides advocate "compassion, concern for others" specifically as a defense against Covid?

You should understand this: The rhythmic heart-lung system [1] is connected to the sun; lack of light unbalances this system; and, crucially, in Anthroposophy this system is connected to Christ [2]. Grégoire Perra explains:

"As Christ is the one who connects people to each other, we should follow him in strengthening our relationships with others."

Nothing could be clearer. The medical protocols issuing from the Goetheanum [3] do not explain this doctrinal rationale; instead, they just stress the result: "cultivating relationships," which is listed among other "important and preventive possibilities for strengthening resilience [4]." The other measures include meditation and eurythmy.

Eurythmic dancing. Eurythmy [5] is nothing less than the "sister" of Anthroposophy. This form of dance, which is compulsory in Steiner-Waldorf schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, is intended to help students "harmonize their bodies and vital forces" by making visible the "invisible gestures we imprint in the air when we speak [6]."

In concrete terms, each letter of the alphabet corresponds to a precise position of the arms, and words can thus be "eurythmised [7]." Grégoire Perra:

"Eurythmy is not just 'artistic and bodily expression' or merely a dance. There is a cultural dimension. For funeral vigils, if there is no priest available from the Christian Community [8]...we can bring in a eurythmyist [9] who will perform a eurythmic version of the Alleluia [10] or The Lord's Prayer [11]."

Indeed, the May 2020 newsletter of the Swiss Anthroposophic Society tells of a seminar led by Virginia Sease, honorary member of the Steering Committee at the Goetheanum, where participants "eurythmized the Alleluia" to strengthen "the immune system of animals, plants, the Earth, and the terrestrial environment" against Covid-19.

You see, eurythmy has a therapeutic component. According to a document from the medical section of the Goetheanum about coronavirus: "Eurythmic therapy can holistically strengthen our immune system, not only at the physical level, but also at the level of the soul and mind, and in particular at the level of the life force [12]."

Grégoire Perra confirms this, detailing Steiner's theory on the four bodies (astral, etheric, physical, and ego) [13]:

"Eurythmy is supposed to act on the etheric body, the body of life forces [14], which is connected to the lymphatic system and, through it, the immune system. It also strengthens the 'I' [15], which is supposed to be outside of us [16]. With eurythmy, you're attuned to that higher self [17]."

Without commenting on the effect of dance on the health of the planet, we note that the therapeutic effectiveness of eurythmy is far from proven. Review articles indicate inconclusive results, mainly because the few studies conducted on the subject did not have a control group or were not randomized.

Moreover, most of the studies have been conducted within the framework of AMOS (Anthroposophic Medicine Outcomes Study), a project led by Dr. Harald Hamre. He is a strong supporter of homeopathy and heads the European Scientific Cooperative on Anthroposophic Medicinal Products, a group campaigning for the creation of an approval system for Anthroposophic medicines. Of course, he believes that the requirements of the system that regulates "products of conventional medicine are not suitable" for his proposed approach.

Form drawing [18]. This activity in Steiner-Waldorf schools has nothing to do with mere secular drawing techniques. "It is rather an esoteric meditative practice," explains Grégoire Perra, "which consists of reproducing certain figures, always freehand, with certain pencils, of a certain brand. When performing it, you should never put your hand on the paper, the movements must be uninterrupted, because the movement is linked to the 'Dynamis', superior beings, spirits of movement and carriers of force [19]."

"Pneumonia, Viral & Bacterial

(dark blue)"

Form drawing proposed by a Steiner school 

for "respiratory reinforcement" 

(March 2020, downloaded by Grégoire Perra)

In March, the Steiner school in Haute Alsace circulated a form drawing "indicated for respiratory strengthening" (it has since been removed from their website) [20]. This drawing is supposed to strengthen the etheric body, which is supposedly linked to the respiratory system and blood circulation. The idea, here, is much like the idea about eurythmy.

Finally, if despite using all these therapies, you continue feeling a little weak, there is still the route of Anthroposophical pills and potions. This route is paved with products from Weleda [21], a company that is mostly owned by the Anthroposophical Society [22]. We will travel down this path during the third and last part of our Steinerian odyssey.

[9/2/2020    https://www.heidi.news/sante/anthroposophie-et-covid-partie-1-une-maladie-symbolique    This article originally appeared on August 26. Translation by Roger Rawlings, making use of Google Translate and DeepL Translator.]

Waldorf Watch Footnotes 

[1] Anthroposophical medicine claims that the heart and lungs are part of a single bodily system, one that reflects inner rhythms. Of course, modern medicine (which is to say, real medicine) identifies the heart and lungs as quite separate organs, the centers of two separate systems.

[2] The "Christ" is Anthroposophy is quite different from the Son of God worshipped in Christian churches. Anthroposophy's "Christ" is the Sun God, the solar deity who has been worshipped under such names as Hu and Ahura Mazda. [See "Sun God".]

[3] This is the headquarters of Anthroposophy, a cathedral designed by Rudolf Steiner. [See "Is Anthroposophy a Religion?"] The Goetheanum is located in Dornach, Switzerland, and is named for the German author Goethe.

[4] I.e., it increases our ability to recover from illness.

[5] Eurythmy is a form of spiritual dancing — in effect, temple dancing — devised by Rudolf Steiner. [See "Eurythmy".]

[6] Eurythmy is is sometimes described as "visible speech" — the movements of the dancers purportedly make visible the deep, real meaning of language.

[7] I.e., a word can be expressed through a series of movements corresponding to the letters that spell the word.

[8] This is the overly religious offshoot of Anthroposophy — a church that worships the Sun God, as described by Steiner. [See "Christian Community" in The BWSE.]

[9] I.e., a trained practitioner of eurythmy.

[10] An "Alleluia" is a liturgical chant in which that word (meaning "Praise the Lord") is combined with verses of scripture, usually from the Psalms.

[11] This is a prayer Jesus taught his followers, for instance in his Sermon on the Mount. [See Matthew 6:9-13.]

[12] See "life force" in the BWSE.

[13] Steiner taught that all fully incarnated human beings have four bodies, three of which are invisible. [See "Incarnation".]

[14] The etheric body is the lowest of the three invisible bodies; it incarnates at about age seven. [See "etheric body" in the BWSE.]

[15] The "I", in the sense used here, is the highest of the three invisible bodies; it incarnates at about age 21. [See "I, ego" in the BWSE.]

[16] Steiner taught that the most elevated part of the "I" dwells in the spirit realm even while the less elevated parts dwell on the physical plane. [See "higher I" in the BWSE.]

[17] "In having people do eurythmy, we link them directly to the supersensible [i.e., spiritual] world.” — Rudolf Steiner, ART AS SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY (Anthroposophic Press, 1998), p. 247.

[18] See "form drawing" in the BWSE.

[19] Steiner taught that there are nine ranks of gods. [See "Polytheism".] Dynamis are gods of the fifth rank; they are also known by such names as "Spirits of Movement" and "Mights." [See "Dynamis" in the BWSE.]

[20] Instructions for making this drawing were given as follows:

• Use a dark blue pencil.

• Make the drawing with the right hand clockwise.

• First draw the outer circle.

• Lightly mark the center of the circle.

• Make the lemniscate inside, starting from the top, clockwise (in the direction the clock's hands move).

• Finally, make the inner circle.

[21] Weleda is an Anthroposophical enterprise that sells products that purportedly enhance health and beauty. [See "Weleda" in the BWSE.]

[22] The General Anthroposophical Society is the central body of the worldwide Anthroposophical movement. The Society has its chief offices at the Goetheanum, but Anthroposophy has branches in many parts of the world: the Anthroposophical Society in America, the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain, and so on. 

— R.R.

September 1, 2020

PROTESTS,  CONSPIRACY THEORIES,

AND RUDOLF STEINER'S FOLLOWERS

Anthroposophists — including some holding positions at Waldorf schools — have taken leading roles in street demonstrations that are roiling Germany and other European nations. The demonstrators generally oppose governmental measures aimed at combatting the coronavirus pandemic. But the protests also reflect a broad, confused mix of conspiracy theories and extremist political beliefs. Demonstrators represent all shades of political allegiance, from far left to far right, but the right wing seems to be predominant.

Here is how the demonstrations were characterized recently by an opinion writer in The New York Times:

A protester with a former German Empire flag during a demonstration 

against coronavirus restrictions on Saturday in Berlin.

Credit...John Macdougall/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Meet Germany's Bizarre Anti-Lockdown Protestors

They’re out on the streets again.

On Saturday, around 38,000 people marched in Berlin, calling for an end to pandemic restrictions. It was a bizarre mix of people: families and senior citizens were joined by right-wing extremists, some sporting swastika tattoos...

These demonstrations are something of a mystery. One of the strangest things about them is that there is hardly anything to protest: Most restrictions, never as strict as in some other European countries, have been lifted...

It’s little surprise that the protests have drawn their fair share of far-right adherents. Right-wing extremist groups supported the large Aug. 1 demonstration in Berlin — organizing rides to the city, for example — and even dominated some of the earlier, smaller protests in the capital...

Behind this strange coalition of ordinary citizens, conspiracy theorists and far-right extremists is the belief that they have discovered a hidden truth, which has been either ignored or nefariously concealed — the same impulse that fuels populist movements across the world. Such conviction...can spill into violence....

— Anna Sauerbrey, The New York Times, August 31, 2020.

The demonstrations reached a new, threatening level of intensity when an effort was made to storm the Reichstag, the German parliament. A reporter for The New York Times gave this account:

Far Right Germans Try to Storm Reichstag as Virus Protests Escalate 

It was shortly after 7 p.m. when a self-described healer got on stage outside the German Parliament and urged the jeering crowd of protesters to storm the building: “There is no more police!” she shouted. “We have won!”

What followed was a scene many Germans thought had been confined to their history books: Hundreds of far-right activists waving the black, white and red flag of the pre-1918 German Empire that once inspired the Nazis broke through a police barrier and tried to force their way into the building.

It took only a few tense minutes before the police, though vastly outnumbered, managed to push them back. But Saturday’s events marked an alarming escalation of the protests against Germany’s response to the pandemic that have grown steadily bigger and — on the fringes at least — angrier....

— Katrin Bennhold, The New York Times, August 31, 2020.

The involvement of Anthroposophists in these protests may surprise some readers, but at least some segments of the Anthroposophical community have long been involved with far-right political movements, including Nazism. [See "Sympathizers?"] And certainly Anthroposophy encourages belief in hidden realities, dark conspiracies, and the need for a social revolution. [See "Double Trouble" and "Threefolding".]

A blogger in Germany who keeps close tabs on the Anthroposophical movement has offered the following summary of the current situation. (I have edited the summary lightly and reformatted it for use here.)

The Waldorf movement plays an important role in the demonstrations against corona measures in Germany and also in German-speaking countries like Austria and Switzerland. 

Anthroposophists took part in corona demonstrations in Berlin, Chiemgau, Cottbus, Düsseldorf, Ehningen, Görlitz, Halle, Holzgerlingen, Oldenburg, Stuttgart, Tübingen, Überlingen, Weimar, Vienna, and other cities. 

Anthroposophical demonstrators include Waldorf teacher-trainers such as the Anthroposophist Christop Hueck — he was present at more than 10 corona demonstrations as a speaker. There he trivialized the virus as harmless and brought up conspiracy theories like one involving Bill Gates. 

The Anthroposophical threefold ("Dreigliederung") movement also appears time and again, for example in the city of Halle. 

In Überlingen, the demonstration was organized by a former director of the Waldorf School there, Udo Daecke. He held lectures with well-known conspiracy theorists such as Daniele Ganser or Willy Wimmer. 

In the city of Weimar, the local Waldorf School Weimar organized the demonstrations.

Anthroposophic Waldorf school physician Dr. Klaus Lesacher was a speaker at corona demonstrations in Tübingen, where he spoke about "mass hysteria" and "media war." Also in Tübingen, the Anthroposophist Andreas Neider of the Anthroposophic Arkanthos Academy has been active at demos. 

In the cities of Görlitz and Cottbus, the local Waldorf school [was central], and a Waldorf teacher reported on the media's "pharmaceutical lobby," "Bill Gates," and "fascist propaganda."

In Ulm, a Waldorf teacher has distributed radical leaflets and claimed that corona measures are like Adolf Hitler's "Enabling Laws."

At the Waldorf School in Wahlwies, a student newspaper had coverage of "mass vaccinations, disappearing freedom of expression, and manipulated media." 

In Düsseldorf and Cologne, a Waldorf teacher appeared and spoke about the "duty to resist" corona measures. 

Finally, on August 29, it was an Anthroposophic healer and Rudolf Steiner admirer who led the storming of the Berlin Reichstag building. 

— Oliver Rautenberg, posting at the Waldorf Critics discussion site [https://groups.io/g/waldorf-critics/message/32146, August 31, 2020]. 

Rautenberg's blog is located at https://anthroposophie.blog. His coverage of the demonstrations, and Waldorf/Anthroposophical involvement in them, can be found at https://anthroposophie.blog/2020/06/18/esoteriker-an-der-querfront-gegen-staat-presse-und-wissenschaft/.

— R.R.