Michaelmas
Michaelmas is the feast of St. Michael, September 29. In Anthroposophy, Michael is the Archangel of the Sun. A warrior-god, he fights on behalf of Christ, the Sun God. The autumn festivals staged at Waldorf schools are generally, to one degree or another, enactments of Michaelmas — although this may be disguised, to one degree or another.
Here are some Waldorf Watch "news" items touching on Michaelmas. (Please remember that these items were originally posted days or even weeks apart. For that reason, I often reiterated basic important points, knowing that some readers did not see the previous items and were coming upon these points for the first time.)
September 17, 2011
THE SPIRITUAL BACKGROUND TO CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS
(Floris Books, 2007).
The author, now deceased, was a Waldorf teacher.
The cover portrays Michael using a sword to slay the dragon — i.e., demonic evil.
In Anthroposophy, Christianity is redefined to consist of
Rudolf Steiner's occult teachings about Christ, the Sun God.
The "spiritual background" of this faith is not to be found in the Bible
but in Steiner's teachings and in their
gnostic/mystic/Theosophical roots.
[See "Sun God", "Gnosis", and "Basics".]
"Michaelmas Celebration
"Please join us [The Waldorf School of Pittsburgh] for the Michaelmas celebration on Saturday, September 24th from 11:30 am – 3:00 pm at the Bigelow Shelter in Highland Park. Lunch will begin at noon. Bring a dish to share...."
[9-17-2011 http://waldorfpittsburgh.org/michaelmas-celebration/]
◊
Waldorf Watch Response:
Waldorf schools celebrate many festivals during the year. When open to outsiders, these colorful events are often used to lure new families into the fold. Note, however, that although Waldorf schools almost always claim to be nonsectarian and nondenominational, the festivals are distinctly religious. Michaelmas, for instance, is the celebration of the archangel Michael who, according to Waldorf belief, is the god supervising the current stage of human spiritual evolution. [See "Michael".]
Other festivals staged at Waldorf schools include Advent (celebrating the coming of Christ), Whitsun (celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit), and, of course, Easter and Christmas. These are Christian festivals, although in the philosophy underlying Waldorf education — Anthroposophy — they are refocused in accord with occult concepts. (In Anthroposophy, Christ is the Sun God, for example, and one of his chief antagonists is Ahriman, the devil of Zoroastrianism. [See "Sun God"and "Ahriman".])
On the surface, Waldorf festivals may seem to be pleasant family events having no deep meaning. Often they are given innocuous titles, such as "Fall Festival" or "Harvest Festival." But as always when examining Waldorf schools, you should look beneath the surface. All may not be as it seems. [See, e.g., "Magical Arts" and "Was He Christian?"]
September 26, 2011
"In the autumn, at harvest season, we celebrate Michaelmas (pronounced Mick-el-mas).
Michaelmas is September 29th and celebrates the forces of the archangel Michael
(usually pronounced Myk-i-el), the time-spirit of this epoch ...
The Michaelic forces imbue us with the confidence and courage to look to the spiritual world ...
Michael represents the unconquered hero, fighting against evil and the powers of darkness ...
We celebrate with a play about St. George, the human
counterpart of Michael, taming the dragon."
— Eugene Waldorf School [http://www.eugenewaldorf.org/community/festivals/]
The school isn't playing around. It affirms Anthroposophical doctrine.
[For more on the "powers of darkness", see "Evil Ones".]
From The Register Guard:
The Eugene Waldorf School [Oregon, USA] will present an outdoor medieval play at 11:15 a.m. Thursday. Grades one through eight will perform a pageant with gnomes, farmers, villagers, royalty, St. George and a dragon. The play celebrates Michaelmas, which takes place near the autumnal equinox. Bring a picnic for after the play.
[9-26-2011 http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/26908940-41/eugene-call-library-springfield-www.html.csp]
◊
Waldorf Watch Response:
Waldorf schools use colorful events like this to recruit new families and to charm the parents of current students. Such festivals can be fun. But they are also significant in ways that may not be immediately apparent. Michaelmas is a religious holiday, the celebration of the archangel Michael. In Waldorf belief, Michael is the warrior-god who oversees the current stage of human evolution — as the Eugene Waldorf School says, he is the "time-spirit of this epoch." [See "Michael".] From the Waldorf perspective, a play about Michael's earthly representative slaying a dragon (the embodiment of demonic evil) is not merely a play — it is an enactment of Waldorf religious belief. If a Waldorf school presents itself as a nondenominational institution, you might ask why it celebrates Michaelmas.
Things get stranger the more you inquire. According to Rudolf Steiner, beings such as gnomes ("a pageant with gnomes...") really exist. Gnomes are "nature spirits" who live underground. [See "Gnomes".] In the Waldorf belief system, there are several other kinds of nature spirits, including sylphs (who live in the air), undines (who live in water), and "salamanders" (who live in fire). I kid you not. [See "Neutered Nature".] Michael represents one of the high spiritual powers recognized in the Waldorf religion, and nature spirits represent lowly spiritual powers recognized in the same belief system, called Anthroposophy. Waldorf schools exist to promote Anthroposophy. They usually go about this task quietly, indirectly, subtly. But go about it they do. [See "Here's the Answer" and "Spiritual Agenda".]
Much of what I have relayed here seems ridiculous. It is ridiculous. But I have not invented these things. These are beliefs that genuinely lurk below the colorful, pleasing surface of Waldorf schooling. [See, e.g., "Magical Arts - A Look at Festivals" and "Is Anthroposophy a Religion?"]
September 29, 2011
More on the Waldorf celebration of Michaelmas, this time discussed by the Washington Waldorf School (Maryland, USA):
"Michaelmas is not an invention of Rudolf Steiner. It is already there in the old church calendar, marking the fall equinox on September 29. It celebrates a battle between the hosts of angels in which the archangel Michael leas [sic] the good forces against the dark forces and casts the dragon out of heaven and onto the earth. The children, in fact, rarely hear this particular story, which occurs briefly in the Revelation of St. John. But what they do hear is a reiteration of its underlying theme in stories, drama, poetry, music, painting, and drawing.
"Michaelmas is the time of the year when we experience death in nature and approach of great outer darkness as the sun withdraws [sic] in both time and strength. It is a time of the year to be inspired to mobilize our own inner resources against those forces which seek to overwhelm us in the course of the working year. In summer we usually feel a little lazy and enjoy taking it easy. In autumn we often feel inspired to new heights of energy. By spring we are tired and need a boost from outside, and spring grants it. But in autumn we look straight into the coming darkness."
[9-28-2011 http://www.washingtonwaldorf.org/Michaelmas.pdf]
◊
Waldorf Watch Response:
The Washington Waldorf School is more upfront about its mystical views than are many other Waldorf or Steiner schools. Still, the Washington account of Michaelmas omits a lot.
Michaelmas at Waldorf schools honors the Archangel of the Sun, Michael, who is the champion of the Sun God, aka Christ. According to Waldorf belief, Michael helps the Sun God ward off the evil effects of two mighty demons, Lucifer and Ahriman. Lucifer threatens humanity with false spirituality, Ahriman threatens to drag humanity into a wholly materialistic mindset (often through the use of cold intellect). By positioning himself between the demons, Michael helps Christ turn the efforts of the demons to better account.
"Michael stands in this activity between the Luciferic World-picture and the Ahrimanic World-intellect." — Rudolf Steiner.
[See "Michael". Also see "Sun God", "Lucifer", and "Ahriman".]
One problem Waldorf schools must grapple with is that — awkwardly for "educational" institutions — they distrust the use of the brain (especially intellect or skeptical thinking).
[See, e.g., "Steiner's Specific — Thinking Without Our Brains" and "Materialism U." For other reports on Michaelmas at Waldorf schools, see several earlier stories at the Waldorf Watch Annex. For an exploration of festivals in general at Waldorf schools, see "Magical Arts". For an indication of the ways Waldorf schools impress their doctrines on students through "underlying themes in stories, drama, poetry, music, painting, and drawing," see "Sneaking It In".]
November 7, 2017
WALDORF FAIRS
& FESTIVALS
Waldorf schools host numerous fairs and festivals during the year. Here is a typical announcement of such an event:
"HARVEST FAIRE
• Interactive Maple Kingdom Village
• Pixie Games • Knight Challenge Games
• Tea with the Queen • Raffle • Fairy & Gnome Village
• Bake Shoppe • Delicious Harvest Food • Crafts
• Face Painting • Hair Braiding • Music & Entertainment"
[Maple Village Waldorf School]
◊
From The Grunion [Long Beach, California]:
Maple Village School To Host Harvest Faire
by Emily Thornton
The Maple Village Waldorf School will have a Maple Village Harvest Faire from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the Girl Scouts Ranchito Campsite, 4040 N. Bellflower Blvd.
Admission is free. Activities include an interactive Maple Kingdom Village, Fairy Village, crafts, games, wall climbing, tea, bakery items, food, pies, face painting, hair braiding, raffle, music and more.
[11-7-2017 http://www.gazettes.com/entertainment/maple-village-school-to-host-harvest-faire/article_34a1c5d4-baaa-11e7-b334-3f01ba8d4bd5.html]
◊
Waldorf Watch Response:
Such events — colorful and entertaining — serve many purposes for the sponsoring Waldorf schools. Students have fun, their parents are pleased, and new families may be attracted into the Waldorf community. (Note that the Harvest Faire at Maple Village Waldorf School is open to the public, and admission is free.)
But as is true for most events at Waldorf schools, festivals and fairs also serve deeper purposes. Generally, these Waldorf events are in fact disguised religious celebrations. The festivals scheduled for the fall months are often disguised Michaelmas observances; those in winter are often Advent and/or Christmas celebrations; and those in the spring are generally toned-down Easter rituals. [1]
Here is how the autumn Waldorf festival is described in a guide to Waldorf education:
"[T]he autumn festival [is] traditionally known as Michaelmas [2] ... This festival is named for the Archangel Michael, conqueror of the powers of darkness, the harvester of the deeds of human souls. It is at this time that the image of Michael with the dragon appears before us as a mighty imagination [3], challenging us to develop strong, brave, free wills, to overcome love of ease, anxiety and fear. This demands inner activity, a renewal of the soul which is brought to consciousness in the Michaelmas festival, the festival of the will. [4]” — Karen Rivers, “Michaelmas”, in WALDORF EDUCATION: A Family Guide (Michaelmas Press, 1995), p. 145.
Of course, sometimes the organizers of a Waldorf festival are unacquainted with the deeper meaning of that event; not all Waldorf teachers are devout Anthroposophists. But, usually, the spiritual traditions standing behind various Waldorf festivals can be discerned on at least some levels.
When the religious impetus of Waldorf festivals is clear, Christian families may be pleased (the festivals certainly seem to be Christian), while other families may be put off, at least slightly. But the issue actually is more complex than this. The religion behind the Waldorf movement is not really Christianity — it is a polytheistic, pagan faith: It is Anthroposophy. [5]
Deciding what to make of all this can be a challenge. One danger is the temptation to think that nothing particularly meaningful is going on at a Waldorf festival. Maybe it is all fun and games; maybe it is no more occult or esoteric than a Disney fantasy.
But making such assumptions would be a mistake. Consider fairies, for instance. There will be a "Fairy Village" at the Harvest Faire. [6] The village will probably be cute, and visiting it will probably be fun. So where's the harm? Maybe there is none. But you should know that, amazing as this may seem, Anthroposophists believe that fairies really exist. According to Anthroposophical teachings, fairies are "nature spirits" or "elemental beings" — invisible entities such as gnomes, sylphs, and undines. [7]
Being attracted into the Waldorf circle means being attracted into a culture dominated — gently, quietly — by a pagan, polytheistic faith: Anthroposophy. You may want to think this over carefully before yielding to the attraction. You may especially decide that your young children should be protected from the esoteric, occult beliefs that are often subtly conveyed to Waldorf students by true-believing Anthroposophists serving as Waldorf teachers. [8]
◊
Waldorf Watch Footnotes
[1] See, e.g., the entries for "fall festival", "festivals", and "spring festival" in The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia. Also see the discussion of festivals in "Magical Arts".
The schedule outlined is for Waldorf schools in the northern hemisphere; the seasons are different in the southern hemisphere (December, for instance, falls in the middle of summer, down under).
[2] Michaelmas — the feast of St. Michael — is September 29. In Waldorf schools, the autumn festival may be enacted at any time from September through November.
In Anthroposophy, Michael is the Archangel of the Sun, a warrior god serving Christ, the Sun God. [See "Michael" and "Sun God".] Waldorf autumn festivals often include combative events, such as playful sword fights, in honor of Michael's militancy. (Note the picture of swordplay on the Maple Village Waldorf poster.)
How closely a Waldorf autumnal festival is associated with Michael varies. Sometimes a Waldorf school will mark Michaelmas on September 29 and then host a festival, open to the public, on a different day. Sometimes a school will associate a public, autumnal festival with a different religious holiday, or the school may seek to make the public event seem wholly secular. Sometimes Steiner's teachings about the seasons of the year (the breathing process of the living Earth) will be emphasized more than any overtly spiritual teachings. Still, almost always, the sword-wielding figure of Michael can be discerned — quite clearly or only vaguely — in the pageantry of most Waldorf festivals held during the autumn. In Anthroposophy, Michael is a god whose significance for humanity today is second only to that of Christ, the Sun God. These two gods dominate the yearly cycle as it is understood at any Waldorf school that retains its ties to Anthroposophy — that is, any real Waldorf school.
The Maple Village Waldorf School will hold its festival on November 11, which is Martinmas. Martin is a far less monumental figure, in Anthroposophical teachings, than Michael. But the two spirits may be understood to be related. Michael (an archangel) serves Christ, the Sun God. Martin (a human being) embraces Christ, and thus he is a subordinate of Michael. If Martin is seen as secondary to Michael, Martinmas may likewise be considered secondary to Michaelmas. Some Waldorf schools hold distinct Martinmas celebrations, others tuck such celebrations into Michaelmas celebrations or into generalized autumn celebrations. When attention is specifically focused on Martin, a nighttime lantern walk rather than a daytime festival is usually enacted. [See, e.g., "Soul School".]
[3] I.e., a true mental picture. Usually, in Anthroposophical belief, such pictures result from accurate use of clairvoyance.
In legend, St. Michael killed a dragon. Anthroposophists associate this dragon with the arch-demon Ahriman, whom Michael has fought and defeated but not killed. [See "Ahriman".]
[4] Steiner placed great emphasis on will or will power. [See "Will".] The will power exemplified by Michael is the determination to fight against demonic powers and thus to promote the beneficent gods' vision for humanity. [See the entry for "divine cosmic plan" in The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.]
Anthroposophists consider Waldorf schools to be a foremost instrument for aiding Michael in his tasks.
[5] See the entry for "Anthroposophy" in The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia. Also see "Is Anthroposophy a Religion?" and "Was He Christian?"
As the Waldorf movement works to spread beyond Europe and North American to other parts of the world, efforts are increasingly made to modify the annual festivals so that, at least superficially, they seem consistent with local, non-Christian cultures. The heterodox nature of Anthroposophy assists this effort. Anthroposophy, like the Theosophy from which it grew, is essentially an amalgam of many spiritual traditions. But the overarching significance ascribed to the Sun God (Christ) and the Sun Archangel (Michael) remain. Anthroposophists believe these are the most important gods for all mankind during the current great epoch.
[6] The news item tells of a "Fairy Village"; the poster produced by the school refers to a "Fairy & Gnome Village". As for the "Pixie Games" mentioned on the poster...
[7] See the entries for these terms in The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.
[8] See, e.g., "Spiritual Agenda" and "Sneaking It In".
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]
◊
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]
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].
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 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.
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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, Saint Michael;
"Against the foe with us arise,
"Thine aid we pray the foe to slay, 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"]
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].
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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 Apollo 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.
[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 an 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.
MICHAELMAS
(Waldorf Publications, 2015).