Merry Christmas from the Youth Section at the Goetheanum

Dear friends of the Youth Section Worldwide,

As we reflect on the past year, we cannot help but to feel full of joy and gratitude for all the things that we have been able to experience. Joy for the many encounters that took place (and will continue to do so) in the events and gatherings, meetings and collaborations that we have forged over the past months. Gratitude for each one of you that took part in them and that shared with us your initiatives, your questions, your wisdom and your youthful striving.

The theme of the year was definitely courage. In Italy, Dornach and New York, we gathered to awaken it in the face of our own struggles and global challenges. In our research, we are also courageously asking what it takes for us to take up responsibility and awaken a sense of agency in our young selves. Everywhere we go, we meet the polarities of a split world and yet, we keep striving towards a future where we can reconnect - with ourselves, others and nature - in such a way that our individual freedom is not under threat. We want this so much, yet, how do we achieve it?

This question will lead us into 2020 and our two main conferences "Bound to Earth: Freedom, Responsibility and Destiny in Times of Climate Crises" (30 Jan - 2 Feb, Switzerland) and "You & I in Our Age: what can we transform together?" (13 - 17 July, Georgia). In this final newsletter of the year, we give you all the information you need to register for these events. We also bring you the latest reflections of (Re)Search: The Spiritual Striving of Youth - Shaping Our Reality, as we prepare for a winter writing retreat of our upcoming publication.

In this spirit of joy and gratitude, we would like to extend our warm greetings to each one of you who support our work in such varied ways. These includes the Dornach students who, out of their own initiative, helped build a new beautiful living room at our Youth Section house; our dear colleagues at the Goetheanum - School of Spiritual Science and each foundation that, believing in the work and potential of young people, has supported our initiatives during the year and continue to do so.

With our very best wishes for a peaceful and light filled Christmas!

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

The Youth Section at the Goetheanum Team

The Fridays for Future movement was launched in Germany for the first time in September 2018 and has grown steadily ever since. Following the example of the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, the pupils go on strike on Fridays and visit the local protest action under the motto "Together against the climate crisis". The influence of the movement can be noticed throughout the Western world and can no longer be ignored, no matter how one positions oneself toward the movement. What can be learned from this movement as a social phenomenon?

The current, ongoing and increasing strength of the movement attests that the youth have found a common ideal for which it is committed. The protection of the environment is a universal concern that needs to be addressed effectively and sustainably. The fact that young people want to work together to create a future in which coming generations can live a good life is an extraordinarily positive development that can be observed. In addition, an enormous change of consciousness is slowly but surely taking place in dealing with nature.

If one looks back only a few years on the beginning of the climate movement, such a radical change of consciousness and historical upheaval can most likely be observed, which is comparable to that of the French Revolution. At the same time, this development shows how disappointed young people are by current politics. For this reason, the movement aims to persuade politicians to stand up for climate protection by boycotting schools on Fridays and by demonstrating in city centers, and in Germany in particular, for the withdrawal of carbon.

On the 7th of December 2019 and for the third consecutive year, a colloquium took place as part of the research project of the Youth Section at the Goetheanum. The world of the future as a reality that is being shaped in the present times, as well as possible contributions towards making this possible, were central themes of our meeting. Another element of the colloquium was the presentation of a key aspect keeping the research team busy in this current phase of the project, namely, the way in which conversation spaces and processes can be designed in order to make visible “images” of this future reality.

"That's why I find the project very appealing or interesting, because one is once again confronted with the questions: what is life? Togetherness? Interaction with fellow human beings? Not only what are your ideals or ideas, but what do you actually want to achieve in practical, everyday life? I think that it ultimately depends on the individual, so how do I place myself in life?

So, meaningfulness; that's ultimately a question from this research. I think that's good, because it's like waking up perhaps, when you're faced with this question at first. How do I stand in the world and before the other human beings? (Colloquium participant, 31, Germany)

Do you sometimes feel a sense of alienation, despair and anxiety, but at the same time a deep longing and belonging to a broader whole of inter-connectedness with humanity and nature?

Professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies Richard Tarnas points out, inspired by Rudolf Steiner, that these feelings are not only subjective personal struggles and joyful moments but also part of a deeper transformation of consciousness that is currently going on. In his view today’s humanity is going through a rite of passage. A transition from an Ego to an Eco consciousness. Is the modern dualistic approach to reality transforming into a participatory relation?

Location: Goetheanum, Dornach
Registration by email: johannes@youthsection.org
Costs: 75 euro

About Flore Lutters

Flore Lutters (1991) studied history, film and philosophy. At the moment he works as scientific coordinator at the Liberal Arts Year (Vrije Hogeschool) where he teaches philosophy, is coaching students and makes philosophical walking journeys trough Europe (Classroom Alive). He also coordinates the Dwarslopers Lecture cycle ‘The Perfect Storm?’ (2019-2020). As a freelancer he gives national and internationally workshops about film and philosophy.

Young class members are welcome to join us for the third consecutive year to experience the 7, 8 & 9 Class Lessons of the School of Spiritual Science. The Class Readers for this year will be Bart Vanmechelen, Constanza Kaliks and Joan Sleigh.

The General Assembly of the Anthroposophical Society takes places three days after our gathering, from April 2-5. We can make reservations for you in the Youth Section house if you want to stay. You can register yourself at www.goetheanum.org.

COSTS: 100CHF including gathering, meals and accommodation.
REGISTER: by sending an email to johannes@youthsection.org
TRAVEL SUPPORT: can be requested until December the 15th 2019.

The impulse to host an international student conference in Georgia was born in the summer of 2018, when the Georgian youth section members participated in the Becoming Human conference, in Dornach, with their performance of Goethe’s Faust. Young people representing different European countries – Russia, Latvia, Romania, the Netherlands – came together around the idea in May 2019, in Tbilisi, for the first time. During an intensive weekend of working together and getting to know one another; of discussing the expectations and aspirations of each member; a team was formed, ready to plan the 2020 conference. Thus, the upcoming conference will be the result of the mutual striving of this international group of young people. Participants between 18 and 35 are warmly welcome.