News August 2020

Lights and shadows of spiritual striving

Dear friends of the Youth Section Worldwide,  

Lately we had a lively dialogue within the team of the Youth Section - in our enthusiastic endeavor to engage ourselves and support young generation fellows to unfold a lively (spiritual) striving and potential, we stumbled over a shadow of this same idealistic force that you might face as well.

  We perceive our hearts fulfilled and enlightened by the fire and striving to help, to support others and 'saving the world' or 'making the change you want to see in the world' and being, therefore, confronted with a kind of shadow. Many of us might know the powerful sensation that triggers night long conversations, mutual encounters of recognition and sometimes even very fruitful and powerful initiatives that come into being. Especially after our conferences we often observe and experience this fire and will to 'get into action' in order to change not only yourself but also the world. Meanwhile the bars are set high and the (inner) pressure is rising. The ideals and visions are set so far apart from the current reality that sometimes a deep melancholy hits in. A feeling that might even push you in the corner of not doing enough, of not being or living in the right context, not following the right study or not having the capacity to even get close to this high ideals 'to save the world'. One of these expressions can be a black hole that might surprise your morning breakfast after a restless night. The shadow of the spiritual striving might remain small, but can sometimes get so big that oneself feels being so little in the overwhelming world and time we live in. Comparing oneself with others (on Instagram and Facebook) does also not help; warm words and advises of friends neither.   

Well, what we wanted to share is, that his sensation might be an overstretching of this same and individual striving one carries. Finding one’s own size and rhythm, place and role is something essential in a world that is overloaded with challenges but also an equal force of idealism. Finding one's own position might also mean standing still and allow this striving and idealism to find forms of expression, instead of stumbling behind abstract images of how it could look like. The day that everything is perfect or 'done' will also remain an ideal and an important force, which is giving us the necessity and strength to develop and bring development into our surroundings.

Being able to realise one's own striving in the given situation by the circumstances of life, is a huge effort we are engaging in and the results might seem sometimes barely visible. Therefore, we need trust and the mutual support of each other. Trust that good will is bringing about what our hearts are striving for: a world where the human quality is able to express itself every day more, in all the realms of life.

"Just as love will fire the human hand, the human arm, so that from within it draws the strength to do a deed, so from without there will flow the mood of trust in order that the deed may find its way from the one human being to the other. The morality of the future will have to be grounded on the free moral love arising from the depths of the human soul; future social action will have to be steeped in trust. For if one individuality is to meet another in a moral way, above all an atmosphere of trust will be necessary." - Rudolf Steiner. 6th Lecture of 'Younger Generation' (Pädagogischer Jugendkurs), 8. October 1922.

Andrea de la Cruz, Ioana Viscrianu,
Johannes Kronenberg, with Constanza Kaliks.

The Youth Section at the Goetheanum Team

Together with Nathaniel Williams (Free Columbia) and Joaquin Muñoz (Augsburg University) we will bring to young people interested in research processes, a week-long experience to learn about methodologies & practices of investigation grounded on Anthroposophy.

Who is it for?

The school is open for young people of all backgrounds, regardless of previous academic experience. It is recommended for the curious, interested spirit who seeks answers to their questions and want to find approaches that will lead them to unveil new mysteries as they emerge in their research.

(Re)Search Worldwide
Latin America: Experiences of Youth Beyond Education

In July 2020 a new branch of (Re)Search has been established that investigates the experiences of young people who have not had access to higher/further education, or whose background made it difficult for them to attend University. The research is being carried out in Latin America at the moment, where a team of three young researchers, guided and accompanied by the team at the Youth Section at the Goetheanum, lead interviews with young people from different countries in Central and South America.

The foundations of this research branch are the same as in the wider (Re)Search project. The aim it to create spaces for young people to articulate themselves what it means to be young in this times. The team will also observe the experiences of the researchers, who will carry out 30 interviews with youth aged 17 - 35 for the first time in their lives. Below you can learn more about the researchers. If you know a young person, or an institution working with young people who could be interested in participating, please contact us.

These and other (Re)flections are part of a series of writings by young people from around the world taking part in the (Re)Search in times of COVID-19 initiative.

"Like an archer letting go off the arrow"

What makes us human? At first I was overwhelmed with the question, then I became somewhat annoyed by it, it felt too broad, too huge, but really it was also very small and somewhat self centred. Then I realised my mistake, I was actually trying to answer a question when it really it isn't, for the question is also the answer.

(...)

"Thinking"

There's something obvious that comes back to me when thinking of what makes a human being human - thinking. How have I been able to completely change me life in just 4 years through an active and intense process of thinking? From a young man trapped in the "normal" way of living in concordance with societal norms to the one that now thinks of self awareness, self reflection, how to influence each other to reach a higher self and how to explore the potential of community.

(...)

Upcoming events & Coronavirus

We are planning to open our house again from September onwards guided by the guidlines we need to take into consideration. But you are more then welcome to visit our guest house or stay a night!

Down below you will find an overview of the events in preparation for 2021:

Climate Conference 2021 “Breathing with the Climate Crisis” with the Section for Agriculture 11 – 14 February 2021 [Goetheanum]

3rd Class Lesson Gathering Worldwide for young members 25 – 28 February 2021 [Goetheanum]

International Student Conference 2021 6 – 10 April 2021 [Goetheanum]

Youth Section’s Worldwide Gathering 28 April – 2 May 2021 [England]

Camphill Worldwide Youth Gathering 20 – 23 May 2021 [Scotland]

Summer School 19 July – 25 July [Goetheanum]

Refugee theatre week 1 – 9 October 2021 [Goetheanum]

Research colloquium December 2021 [Goetheanum]

Applied Anthroposophy
An online course for everyone!

We are excited to share with you the Anthroposophical Society in America’s new year-long online course Applied Anthroposophy! Through the lens of anthroposophy, the course connects current events and inner work to four key themes: Freedom, Love, Initiative, and Service.

The fact that the course is online makes it ideal for young people who need flexibility in this strange times. Plus there is an affordable option for youth (600USD with payment in instalments possible)

Read more about the course on our website, or visit Applied Anthroposophy's site. You can also email the team here.

Invitation to the preparation of Living Connections,
20-21 September 2020
Goetheanum, Dornach
Public Conference on Anthroposophical Meditation

‹Living Connections› is an encounter with the diversity of anthroposophical meditation. A practice for people who wish to engage self-confidently with questions and the meaning of life, as well as professional challenges.

Supported by open exchange of experience and methods, it becomes a path of individual responsibility. The living connection of all practitioners is the horizon of this event.

If you want to help shape the programme and content of the next conference and would like to attend the preparation meeting, email andrea@youthsection.org for more information.