Community Study Group: An Impulse of Healing & Self-Education

Anthroposophy is non-denominational: its meaning “wisdom of the human being,” or “consciousness of one’s humanity” was defined by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) as “a path of knowledge, to guide the spiritual in the human being to the spiritual in the universe.”

In the Community Study Group, parents, grandparents, and friends have sat together and thought on the children, our own lives (past, present, and future), on education, and aspects of being human in today’s world and more.

The space we weave with our own thoughts and interests in each other leaves us feeling more connected and ready to start our week.

We begin with Eurythmy led by Ms. Havris and move into a quiet time (open to each individual to be taken or not) of five minutes. We then look at a verse by Rudolf Steiner. We read it, we think on it, and then in the context of the verse, content is brought through an Anthroposophical view, which gives us some direction. That said, thoughts brought into the space are usually connected to how the individual is experiencing the verse, however this may be.

For example, one verse we have worked with is:

To Educate Youth
Means to Develop
Spirit in Matter
It means to develop
Tomorrow in today
It means to develop
Spirit existence in earthly life.

~Rudolf Steiner

We have found these words to be a source of understanding of some of what lies behind Waldorf education, and offers continuous opportunity for inquiry.

In our circle, this verse has brought us into conversations and created questions such as: what does it mean to perceive something? How do we experience spirit in matter? How do these ideas translate when spending time with a little one or the practical life, or with our older children who are becoming more and more in relationship with the earth and their Humanness? What is tomorrow into today? Why or how is this connected to spirit in matter?

In Waldorf communities, we are a fabric woven by the consciousness and participation of many.

As we continue to take up the work and task of being a healing and striving self-educated community on behalf of our children, each other, and Waldorf education around the world, we can begin to think on these things together. We can continue to grow and cultivate joy and substance in the simple lines and ideas of this wondrous world in these difficult times.

The insights given through the education of our children are also for us, for those interested.

Cedarwood’s community study group is now in its 8th week of meetings. Behind the efforts of creating and offering a warm and inviting space, and bringing the opening content for discussion, it is the group’s intention that each person who is able to give this hour of time on Monday mornings — which we know to be precious — will leave with a feeling of the impulse that lives in the school community. This impulse in its nature is one of healing, an invitation to self-education.

Please know that if 30 minutes is all you have on Monday mornings, you are wholeheartedly welcomed to the Community Study Group. With each new individual who joins, the group is formed anew, open to the possibilities each person brings.

Lisa Bono and her family are new to Cedarwood and Portland, moving here in December, 2018. Lisa holds a M.S. Ed in Waldorf Education and is the founding teacher of the New Amsterdam School, a Waldorf School in NYC. Lisa comes with 15 years experience working to build early childhood Waldorf eduction in schools and communities in the greater NY metro area, as well as in Kathmandu, Nepal. Current projects take Lisa to initiative work in children’s homes throughout Nepal and working with children and adults living with Autism. Lisa is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Cedarwood community through the community study group and beyond.

Oana Havris (Ms. Havris) teaches eurythmy (K-8) at Cedarwood Waldorf School. She has been involved in the Waldorf movement since her graduation from Antioch University New England in 2003, where she completed her M.S. in Education and obtained her Waldorf Teacher Certification. Oana began her eurythmy training in Portland in the Cedarwood first grade room (which used to be the Eurythmy classroom) and then graduated from the Rudolf Steiner College Eurythmy Training. She followed up with post graduate studies in Spring Valley, NY, where she gained professional eurythmy stage experience. Oana is delighted to bring eurythmy to the Cedarwood children and the community – right where she took her first steps towards a eurythmy-full life.