Whitsun and Free Individuality

The festival of today is not bestowed on us by nature. It must be called forth… Some say it is a festival of the future, for we must grow ripe to withstand the surging of the Spirit. Whitsun is the festival of our true higher self, which as yet only hovers above us like a dove.

At the same time it is the festival of community, arising from the harmonizing of our higher selves which are ONE in the spirit - The Cosmic Spirit of all-pervading Love, Healing Spirit, Spirit of Wisdom, The Comforter, Counselor, Paraclete, Sophia, The Spirit of Truth. “You shall know the truth & the Truth shall make you free.” Christ fulfilled His Deed for all mankind. And, to each human individual, in order that we may be able to understand this Deed, Christ sends the Healing Spirit, Fulfilling his promise that each person may have access to the effects of the Deed, which was accomplished for all.

Whitsun presents us with a remarkable & dramatic picture of spirit-filled individuals, anointed & enkindled with the impulse to speak out of individual freedom regarding the truth & healing power of the Spirit…Speaking the Language of the heart, that all can understand. The intense rush of spirit planted in the hearts of human beings highlights one of the greatest challenges of being human: placing our individual gifts, our individual ego, in the right relationship within the social realm.

This challenge is strongly felt during this time of the consciousness soul era. It was Rudolf Steiner’s hope that “the spiritual foundation stone of Love” would be laid in the etheric hearts of all people, providing a bridge between the macro & microcosmic streams in the world & in human beings striving to create a conscious Michaelic community.

This Sophia inspired Michaelic community can be seen as a vessel in which Christ Being can unite with humanity. Rudolf Steiner created the Anthroposophical Society so that striving individuals can meet to continue this work of evolution. We get a foreshadowing of this through the Whitsun experience of the 1st apostles.

Now let me ask you this, as seekers on the path, have you ever felt utterly alone, overwhelmed, or even a bit lost? Perhaps when you 1st began to know anthroposophy? Steiner speaks of this in ‘How to know higher worlds’. You see, we have an opportunity to recognize & acknowledge the isolation that can come from our striving, a mirroring of the experience of the apostles those 10 days between Ascension & Whitsun. That uncomfortable feeling when waiting feels like wrestling.

If today, together we Will to turn our hearts towards a pearl of higher wisdom, to set fire to the forces of knowledge in our souls, redeeming our intelligence, our Anthroposophical angel if you will, can anchor & embody itself in the environment we prepare for it.

For this to happen, we need to let go of judgment. When we let go of our opinion, we can find the truth. And then we can let the ground of our souls become warm.

Today, we will celebrate this day by turning inward. Cultivating our own inner peace and igniting our own inner holy spirit. We dress in white and will come together to have fresh fruit salad topped with homemade whipped cream. We will light a white candle and say this verse:

Spirit in rushing wind and air,

In sunlight, cloud and rainbow fair,

Spirit in flame and snow white flower,

Oh, come to us with mighty power.

-From Wynstones Summer

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Planting FUN!!!

"How do we understand one another? We understand the meaning of the words we speak, but on a deeper level we really take in the warmth and cold, the gaiety or gravity of anyone who speaks to us. The personal mood or feeling is, however, overlaid by something else, something the moods of sounds and words bring to us. Pop goes the weasel, ... Pussy cat, pussy cat, ... Worra, worra, worra, ... All of us remember being captivated by such sounds. Looking back we realize that it is not a single 's' or 'r' or 'o' that catches our attention, but the repetition, a rhythmic repetition, growing louder and softer, faster and slower, waking us or making us drowsy, bringing laughter or calm..."

~Rudolf Steiner

Children acquire a range of skills when they tend flowers in the a garden. Lessons about weather, soil, wildlife, ecology, and even language engage all five senses in children as they nurture plants they have grown themselves. Share your love of gardening with a child, and give him an opportunity to turn a summer of fun outdoors into a lifelong hobby.

Butterflies and Bumblebees

Planting flowers that encourage pollinators to visit your garden captivates children and provides an important lesson in ecology. Children can be afraid of bees, but if they’re not allergic to beestings there’s no reason why kids can’t enjoy observing non-aggressive bumblebees and native honeybees filling the pollen baskets on their legs.

Butterflies are easy to attract with nectar-rich flowers like butterfly bush or ‘Butterfly Blue’ scabiosa. You should also plant host plants like bronze fennel so children can observe the entire life cycle of these garden jewels.

Let's Plant a Dinosaur Garden

If your child marvels at the prehistoric world that dinosaurs once inhabited, you can recreate some of that antediluvian mystery in your own backyard. Plants that thrived during the Jurassic period include ferns, conifers, cycads, and gingkoes. Although the exact species that lived millions of years ago may not be available for cultivation now, the architectural beauty of similar plants may start a learning quest for the budding botany student.

Plant your Child's Name Garden
This is so much fun to do with a child of any age. Go together and pick flowers that represent the first letter of the names like for A BROOK garden I would plant


Blueberry bushes
Raspberry Bushes
Oregano
Ozothamus
Kolkwitzia


This is a great way for learning about new plants and a special garden all of there own .


Here is a great little verse to say while planting your special plants.

A little seed for me to sow.
A little earth to make it grow.
A little hole, a little pat,
a little wish, and that is that.
A little sun, a little shower,
a little while, and then a flower.

~Sing Through the Seasons

Inner work and creativity

I believe that inner work is very necessary and that we are continuously growing. We are faced with challenges and hurdles to overcome because that is what makes us better ourselves. I feel as much a "student" as my children are and I am eager to wake each new day to see what information and experiences it holds.

As a parent-teacher, we must seek the balance and interweaving of thinking, feeling and willing in ourselves.

In the Heart - the loom of Feeling,
In the Head - the light of Thinking,
In the Limbs - the strength of Will
Weaving of radiant Light,
Strength of the Weaving,
Light of the surging Strength;
Lo, this is Man!

~ Rudolf Steiner, Ecce Homo

Take note of how you are sitting at the computer right now... are you sitting up straight or are you hunched over. Stay comfortable but raise your shoulders, elongate your neck to hold your hear high instead of allowing it to just sit upon your shoulders. Raise your chest as well. This immediately opens your breathing and allows you to take in more air. Breathe....

Take a moment to think about the people you love. Did you let them know today how important they are in your life? Did you tell them that you LOVE them? You should. Right now...

Think about each and every thing you are thankful for. Hold the thought in your mind. Remember it when you lay in bed tonight and go over your "list" a few times. Aren't you so blessed? There are so many things to be thankful for! Going to be with this though will bring a better sleep and dreams and you will awaken feeling refreshed and revitalized.

When you wake up tomorrow morning, stand and walk tall. Look at yourself in the mirror and see the person you WANT to be. Spend the day walking around with the belief that you are this person! Watch your posture. Is your head held high? Are you breathing properly? Feel the power of this posture and how well you feel at the end of the day. Include this feeling as one of the things you are grateful for!

Take a break. The dishes, the laundry, even the lessons can wait for a day. Take your children outside and wonder at the beauty of nature. Walk barefoot. Climb a tree with them. Swing, don't just push them... Be a child for a day. Be their friend for a day. Make a picnic and spend the afternoon laying on the grass watching the clouds slowly drift by. Squat down or sit so you are at your child's level and look deep into their eyes. Tell them how blessed you feel that they chose you to be the Mommy! Hug and kiss and tickle and play with your child. Your child needs physical affection and thrives on it. Remember, that is what attachment parenting is all about - no matter if your child is a teen. Hug and hold your child! In the evening take stock of the beautiful day and think about how grateful you are for the moment.

Be less serious. Laugh a little... no, laugh a LOT. Remember that laughter is the best medicine. Be silly, be funny, allow your child to be silly! Your child needs to see you laugh and play too, and you'll feel better!

In Reiki, we are taught that all of us have the ability to tap into the universal life flow. When you become attuned to Reiki, you open up channels to allow this life force energy to flow THROUGH you. It is constant and ever present, it is all around us at all times, when you channel this energy, and it flows through you you can do wonderful things. It deals with opening your Chakras, understanding the flow of energy, etc. but the bottom line is that in a way you are "detached" because you are using the energy which is flowing through the world and NOT using the energy which is in you.

You do not go away feeling depleted, but rather refreshed and invigorated.

Let me share something that I strongly believe: Next to the power of the universe and it's life flow, the power of thought is the most powerful "tool" we humans have been given. We need to keep our thoughts positive and focused on what we HOPE to become. You become what you think about. Everything in the world is THOUGHT MANIFESTED.

The mindset you have is what will cause you to feel drained or to feel refreshed. When I get burned out - and it almost always coincides with the times they get all wound up and "trouble making" (lots of energy flowing without an outlet) we go outside and talk to the earth.

This ALWAYS seems to center and bring them back into balance. I feel myself getting agitated because they are no longer playing creatively and they just get into that too much energy but unfocused play where they will end up being destructive, too rough, negative, etc... I stand up and say something like "oh, I feel some strange energy in the house right now" then I look at the clock and say "have we been inside all of this time?" I start to quickly clean up whatever I am doing and I head outside... They model and follow. Outside I begin to talk to the earth, the trees, the birds, the flowers...

"Oh little flowers, I could feel you calling me outside. It's much to dark in the house and the air is not as fresh as it is out here. Thank you for reminding me to come and look at your beauty. What a lovely shade of violet you have become. Have many butterflies and bees come calling today? What's that? The tree needs a hug? My goodness, I will hug the tree! I like to hug all of the trees because they help my body to breathe! I feel better when I hug the tree too because I know that the tree is my brother. In spirit, all of my great great grandmothers and fathers who have passed away, and who were buried in the earth became a part of this wise old tree... This tree holds the secrets of the generations and I am blessed that I have strong arms to give the tree a great big hug. Oooohhh. can you smell the moss today? It smells like it's growing, the heavy rain last night must have really saturated the moss. (kneeling) Oh my goodness, look at this little rollie-pollie worm - pick it up gently, this is its new home...."

Each and every time I do this my children do a complete turn around from the afternoon energy and come straight into balance.

In Reiki, we work to become grounded and I think what happens in the afternoon is that we tend to come apart and "float" our energies. All we really need is to ground ourselves again. Walking barefoot on the grass and or hugging a tree really does the trick in my family. It's quick, it's simple and it brings us back into a calm center, always. As a matter of fact, I cannot recall a time when this didn't work.

Introducing our new Newsletter!

I am so happy to present to all my followers our brand new weekly Mystical Kingdom Newsletter. It will be filled with special verses, recipes, a weekly craft and more. So to be included in our newsletter each week just add your email to the right hand side of the page and submit it!

If you are looking for support and information on home and/or un-schooling based on a Waldorf Inspired Curriculum, you have come to the right place! This newsletter will provide with that extra little bit you have been looking for, you know that little bit of inspiration we all need in our lives!

So Please, make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy our newsletter. As parents, you can provide nothing of more lasting value than an education which develops your child's full human potential. and we know that !

Waldorf ideals for education emphasize and awaken disciplined creativity, wonder, reverence and respect for nature and human existence. Waldorf methods have proven to offer a holistic educational model designed to provide the right stimulus at the right time and allow each child's abilities to fully unfold.

In the first seven years of life, the child seeks to see that the world is a place of goodness, and will learn primarily by imitation and through activity. In the next developmental phase (through puberty) the child most naturally learns through beauty, from adults who merit being authorities. (This is why storytelling and art are employed as teaching vehicles throughout the elementary curriculum.) Finally, entering into the third developmental stage, and ready at last for true independent thinking: the teenager naturally begins a quest for truth.

It is my hope that this newsletter will become your favorite resource for your Waldorf home schooling and parenting.  The newsletter will come to your inbox weekly, so sign up today and become a part of our Waldorf community!

Dressing Your Child in Accordance to Rudolf Steiner's Philosophy

What is Waldorf?

Waldorf is a method of schooling founded by Rudolf Steiner, which focuses on the specific developmental needs of children. Waldorf education strives to 'educate the whole child' and does so in a respectful way

 of both child and environment, using natural toys and surroundings for optimal development.

What kinds of things are recommended?



Natural fiber clothing of cotton, wool, or silk are recommended in solids and subtle prints. Layering is encouraged in the winter, and young children are dressed warmly to allow for outside play on all but the most bitter winter days. Colors that are bright and cheerful and found in nature are encouraged, and black and solid white are discouraged. Wool long underwear is pricey, but is a wonderful addition that can allow the outdoors to be enjoyed all winter long. Logos, pictures, or words on clothing are discouraged. The clothing should be natural fibers to allow breathability and warmth. Polyester, flashy clothing, and clothing that reveals a distracting amount of skin are discouraged.

What about something generic, like a dolphin on a t-shirt?

A picture, even of a natural thing is discouraged as it draws attention away from the child's face and distracts from the child him or herself. Even though it is not advertising or having words, the eye is immediately drawn to the shirt and the child is looked at secondly.

Advertising and the child

Children do not understand, and neither do many adults in this modern era, but clothing with logs on it or specific pictures is the company using yourself or your child as a walking billboard. While trends may still persist with muted clothing, there is no elitist class of 'Nike' or 'Gap' clothes as only being cool when no logos are shown. In most groups of children there is a 'cool' kid or two. When the cool kid is wearing subtle clothing, it diffuses the ability of a clothing company to capitalize on our youth because a subtle shirt doesn't drive a group of grade schoolers and their parents out to buy he same shirt in hopes that they too, by wearing that in style shirt, will become cool as well.


Retracts from the face

When subtle clothing is used, the face is the highlight of the person's or child's body. This is how it should be. Clothing should frame the face so that a person's feelings and thoughts can be captured, not

 those conveyed by their clothing.

Stops the escalating show off mentality

With subtle clothing there is no need to try to outdo each other in the way of the more popular styles or keeping up with the latest fashions. Children still will show off, but at least the playing field is more leveled for those who don't have the resources to 'keep up with the Jones's'

Creates a sense of peace in the classroom

Think of a classroom void of all logos and flashy clothing. A teacher is not going to be distracted by her pupils' dress so she can focus on the children themselves. Doesn't this seem like a nice idea for a classroom?

What about individualism?

We all know that older children and teens want to have a sense of their own style. Even if they are like my husband and I and prefer to dress subtly, that is their own style. Children who are asked to dress within Steiner's philosophy can still show their own personality and creativity through laying (which is in style right now anyway), solid colors, and textures.

How we dress in our family

In our family we strive to keep the clothing attractive and plain, but we don't stress out much about it. It isn't a religion, it is a preference. So when we saw an adorable shirt with a hand painted turtle on it, we went ahead and bought it anyway. But it is nice to at least be aware of how logos, pictures, and words on clothing can affect a person and child.
written by Lea Anderson

Some wonderful articles written by the Waldorf Association of North America

The main goal for any Waldorf Inspired parent teacher is to develop the capacities (physical, mental,emotional and spiritual) which will serve your child throughout his or her life.Before you can truly achieve this,you need to:


1. have a real understanding of how a child develops at each stage and what the child needs while passing through each stage.

2.offer creative methods which stimulate your child and engage him/her in an integrated approach.

3.have the skills and practice to model and lead the children, yourself. If you are teaching a movement exercise, you need to practice it until you have down the correct movement because the child imitates... If you are reading a story or reciting a poem, you need to be so familiar with it that they are a part of your speech and not just word being read aloud...you need to master the art of beeswax, wet on wet, etc... the key is to learn these skills alone before introducing them to your child.

You must also be familiar with INTEGRATED form of study. This means simply, that subjects which are "normally" presented separately be presented in the same lesson so that they are integrated to one another. The more related they are, the more meaning they will have for the child.

The ultimate reward is a child who is fully involved in each lesson Their THINKING is stimulated, their FEELINGS really connect to the subject matter and they become ACTIVE in the lesson. This is the key to the Waldorf Approach.When a child is fully integrated, s/he has a deepened sense of understanding and a better grasp of the material presented. This goes way beyond traditional methods of memorizing or learning.

Young Children Today - Understanding Them and Helping Them

For the past 20 or more years we have watched a decline in the health and well-being of children in
North America. We have been concerned and, at times, preoccupied with the growing problems the
children present. Now it seems we have overlooked something that is just as strong as the problems:
this is a remarkable generation of children and young adults who have brought new levels of
awareness to the earth with them. They need our protection and help, but they also need our
recognition of the gifts they have brought. To read more click the link below.

http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW3001.pdf

 Early Childhood and the Consciousness Soul

What is particularly important for modern human beings is the development of the consciousness soul.
This is the newest aspect of the human soul, for the two lower soul forces were developed in earlier
epochs. It is our current epoch, beginning with the Renaissance and continuing for about 2000 years, that
provides the conditions with which humanity as a whole can develop this higher soul capacity. It is the
consciousness soul that carries a full awareness of the soul nature of the human being and also serves as a
bridge to an understanding of the spiritual. In the future, humanity as a whole will be able to develop
spiritual capacities in a much fuller way than is possible today. Nevertheless, each human being is able to
develop soul and spiritual capacities to a large extent, if they so will, especially if their upbringing and
education are supportive of it. To read more click the link below.

  http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW2902.pdf

Simple Waldorf Style party!

In years past we have done many wonderful Birthday parties! Ranging from way to many people, tearing through presents and tons of chaos!!! It wasn't until a friend of mine shard how they do there birthday parties that things changed from chaos to quiet. I will share with you my sons seventh birthday and following a good rule, we allowed only one child per year of age, so it was a small and intimate affair....

I didn't purchase any "party favors" but instead we chose to make our own with Gabrial's help. We sought out polished stones, shells and healthy naturally sweet treats (carob raisins , nuts and granola bars from the local health food store).

We sewed beanbags with ribbon streamers coming off one end. We carefully wrapped the polished stones along with some glass pebbles in colorful tissue and ribbons.

Instead of store bought goodie bags we handmade our own bags out of fabric pieces we had leftover from various sewing projects! We also tried to remember how we "do" goodie bags at our home... well, Gabrial remembered that we don’t give them to each child as they come in, instead we wait until the very end. This is so that the children have something to take home and keep, and they are not consuming too much sugary sweets in such a short time! 

Guests arrived at in the afternoon. We had several games for the children planned: First we started out with a simple circle song. The children played several circle and movement games which kept them very active and moving for about 30 minutes. Afterward the kids gathered around for a special birthday story !

Meanwhile, I set up the cake, candles, and matches on a small table.

I passed out small cupcakes each with a small beeswax candle in it to all of the children. I explained to all of the children that the way we do birthdays is that we each get to have the candle on our cupcakes lit and we each get to make a wish for Gabrial, so my husband walked from child to child, lighting the candle and asking each child what they wished for Gabrial. "I wish you to get lots of presents", "I wish for you to play with me everyday", "I wish for you to be happy" were some of the wishes. Each child delighted in that they had the opportunity to blow out a candle and make a wish (and an important lesson is that they made the wish for someone other than themselves!) 

After that, We told the wonderful story of Gabrial's Rainbow Bridge As we told the story, all of the children (and parents) were in awe of Gabe. He sat tall and proud, after all, this is a celebration of the day of his birth! As we spoke of him coming over the rainbow bridge, he stood up, walked proudly to us and then sat with us. He was so pleased, he was squeezing my hand very hard because it had such a "ceremonial" feel to it. We then went on with the story and for each year of Gabrial’s life with us, and lit candles. When all of the candles were lit, we carried the cake to Gabe who made a wish and blew out the candles. We all sang "Happy Birthday to You" and the every one went off to eat cake, cupcakes, and play. 

The Children then had some free play time.

While, I did a quick clean up and set out a place for the opening of gifts. (Now maybe I just have a personal peeve here, but I have noticed that at each and every party we have ever been to, the gifts get piled high, the cards and tags fall off, and the child rips through from one gift to the next. I have always tried to teach that a person puts much time, care and love into choosing a gift, and that needs to be acknowledged) 

So, for that reason, at our house, the gift giving is done a bit differently... Each child (and parent) holds onto their gift. When it is nearing the end of the party, we sit in a huge circle and I ask that everyone please be patient as Gabrial opens the gifts. Now this may sound kind of tedious for many, but the actual experience is a great "lesson" for all of us home and unschoolers. Also, as each child carries and presents his gift, Gabe gives them the goodie bag. It’s nice because each child gets to open a gift, plus they don’t lose it during the 2 hours of the party... it goes home intact! I’ve taught Gabe to thank each person by looking into their eye and either offering them a hug or a hand shake and I truly believe that giving and receiving go completely hand in hand and lend themselves to the "breathing in-breathing out" rhythm. I am pleased to say that it went very well. 

Of course, we will now spend the next few days preparing lovely Thank you notes, and at our house... doing that is almost as much fun!

“A healthy social life is found only, when in the mirror of each soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the whole community the virtue of each one is living” Rudolf Steiner

Common Sense People!!

Steiner stands out firstly for insisting that knowledge gained from insight, instinct and experience are not only as valuable as logical reasoning, but take precedence over it. Thus, common sense is more important than even the most highly trained intellect, which is obvious to everyone but intellectuals. This helps further to account for his absence from the ranks of our academic heroes.

The Funeral of Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of an old friend, by the name of Common Sense.

Common Sense lived a long life but died from heart failure on the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, factories and offices, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense.

He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, the early bird gets the worm, and life isn't always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it's okay to come in second.

A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including body piercing, whole language and "new math." But his health declined when he became infected with the If-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus.

In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing regulations. He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies, reports of six-year-old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student.

It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but cannot inform the parent when the female student is pregnant or wants an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional sports.

Finally a woman who was stupid enough not to realize that coffee is hot and was awarded a huge payout caused Common Sense to finally throw in the towel.

As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments, regarding questionable regulations for asbestos, low flow toilets, bicycle helmets and mandatory air bags.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by two stepbrothers: My Rights and Ima Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Your impression on your child's soul!

Parents should understand and explore their own temperaments in a continued effort for personal growth. Steiner requested Teachers do self observation and study so they could learn more about themselves and how better they could serve the children. He stated the importance of the adult remaining in balance, because "a teacher's unbridled temperament can be harmful to a child".

From Rhythms of Learning:

"Everything that adults do makes an impression on the child's soul. These impressions work their way into the child's breathing, circulation and metabolism and can affect that child's health in later life."

"According to Steiner, teachers (and parents) with an overly strong choleric temperament cause children to live in dread of their fury. This dread penetrates into the child's metabolism and can lead to disorders of the metabolic system in adulthood. Teachers (parents) who are overly melancholic can be so preoccupied and self-involved that they behave coolly toward the children. This lack of warmth can cause disorders of the respiratory and circulatory systems in later life. Teachers (parents) who are overly phlegmatic and not sufficiently responsive to children can cause a certain dullness to arise in adulthood. Sanguine teachers (parents) who give themselves up to every impression, hastening from one thing to the next, fail to arouse sufficient inner activity in the child. The lack of inner activity can result in a lack of strength and vital force in adulthood.

As Teachers (parents) we therefore have a RESPONSIBILITY to strive to MASTER OURSELVES, to bring ourselves into harmony and balance, so that we can promote this health and well-being on the students (our children) for the rest of their lives.

Waldorf teachers recognize that we affect our students not just through curriculum and the subjects we teach, not just by the methods we use, buy by WHO WE ARE.

Who am I to stand before my students (children) as a representative of humanity? How can I, with all my faults and limitations, guide my students (children) toward their higher selves? We must remember that what is most important to our students (children) is not our achievements but our STRIVING.

Each of us in the process of becoming. Our students (children) are often our teachers in this process. They force us to face our shortcomings and limitations and inspire us to continue to strive to transform ourselves. By working on ourselves, we work on behalf of our students (children). By coming to know ourselves, we learn to know our students (children).

Anthroposophy is a meditate path and a WAY OF LIFE that supports this striving."

(source: Rhythms of Learning)

In The Four Temperaments Rudolf Steiner said: "We learn to know individual human beings in every way when we perceive them in the light of spiritual science. We even learn to perceive the child this way. Little by little we come to respect, or value, in the child the peculiarity or enigmatic quality, of the individuality; we also learn how an individual must be treated in life, because spiritual science doesn't merely provide general, theoretical directions. It guides us in our relationship to the individual in the solving of the questions we need to solve. Such solutions require that we love the individual as we must, otherwise we merely fathom others with the mind. We must allow the other to work upon us completely. We must let spiritual scientific insight give wings to our feelings of love. That is the only proper soil that will yield true, fruitful, genuine human love; it is the basis from which we discover what we must look for as the innermost kernel in each individual."

To Find out more about Temperaments click here

Toys that Teach: A Lesson in Reverence, Gratitude and Beauty

Toys that Teach: A Lesson in Reverence, Gratitude and Beauty A toy is something your child invests precious time in and in this way it acts as a teacher. The right toy can teach your child to care, to be watchful and conscious, to be careful, to appreciate, to love. In your child’s hands are the keys to learning to be grateful, to appreciate beauty, to have a sense of peace and reverence for life in all its forms… By the same token, the wrong toys can teach your child anger, frustration, disregard, insult and mockery. How many times have you seen this at the community playground? Children mimicking the grotesque objects they have been playing with? Making grimaces and bullying the other children. They are putting out what they have taken in, from their toys.   What can a plastic contraption possibly teach your child? What lesson is hidden within the action figure? When children have a room full of such toys they are often so overwhelmed, that they choose not to play at all. Grandparents come and say they are spoiled. Oftentimes, when they do choose to play, they play in a very aggressive and destructive manner. They show no sense of love or caring for these toys. They show no gratitude for these toys. These toys which growl at you and make grimaces at you seem to be designed to instill or teach anger, frustration, and hatred. Ask yourself "what does my child get from such a toy?" If you closely observe your child you will discover that their play lasts about 5 minutes at most and they end up being frustrated and overwhelmed. They physically look ill after playing this way, with these toys.  The reason for this is that children take everything from their play and it becomes a part of who they are and who they are about to become. Children internalize everything from their surroundings. When they are exposed to synthetic and ugly toys, children are at risk of losing their sense of awe, their sense of reverence and beauty. They begin to internalize the messages that these toys put forth: Hit, Stomp, Slam, and Pound, Throw away. Replace. These feelings then grow within our children. Their relationships become "synthetic" and their play grows ugly. These children then grow into teenagers who bulldoze through and over their fellow teens. They have grown up to think that just about anything can be replaced. Everything is meant to be handled roughly and without special care. They grow up with fast food and throw away drive-through toys, which mean nothing to them. They blaze through the world without worrying about what gets stepped on or knocked over, believing it can all easily be replaced or that it is the responsibility of everything in their way to be strong enough to last. They break their plastic battery operated gizmos and into the garbage it goes. Sadly, in our mass produced society, it often quickly gets replaced with one exactly like it. What does that teach our child?  Many parents do not realize that the mind of a developing child takes in everything. These toys have very negative impact on our children and their behavior changes from inherently good and loving to bad and spiteful. The young child learns the most when at play. Play is the work of the child and it is through play that the child learns to be an adult. Why then are we not more careful and more aware when we choose our children’s playthings? The majority of modern toys do not speak to the soul of the child. In this way they can actually damage the child. They not only rob the child of his/her imagination and sense of wonder, but they create a shell over the child’s heart. The toys of today are "dead". Obviously, they are not beautiful. They have no energy coming from them. They are just… ugly. Don’t our children, who only recently arrived and are still so intertwined with the spiritual world, deserve better?  In looking at the writings of Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Waldorf Schools, we discover that the first seven years of life the child should see and experience the world as a place of goodness. The child in this age group learns primarily through imitation. Teachers trained in the Waldorf Education method are taught to be completely conscious of each and every movement, because they know they child takes it all in – good or bad. Waldorf Kindergartens are places of simple beauty for this reason. Children from ages 7 through the onset of puberty should experience the world as a place of beauty, because through beauty they will gain a reverence for life, which they will carry through to their adult lives. The Waldorf method of education is based completely on these beliefs. Children need to have a few simple toys, ones that must be delicately cared for and lovingly attended to. They require toys, which they can wash by their own hand, hang in the air to dry and gently fold. They blossom when playing with toys, which need to be carefully polished, and which can be mended. They thrive when they have toys, which they know they will pass along to their younger siblings. It is through this that they learn to have gratitude, reverence, and a sense of beauty for their environment and surroundings. The majority of modern toys simply do not speak to the soul of the child. Which toys do speak to the child? Silks, Woods, Nuts, Shells, Seeds, Stones, Crystals, Leaves, Ribbons and little baskets in which to carry their treasures. These are the types of toys, which speak to the child’s soul. These Natural Wonders instill awe and discovery, magic and wonder in your child. These toys have been created as "one-of-a-kind" treasures. These toys are special and can become just about anything your child imagines them to be. Consider pure silk scarves for play. They are delicate and ethereal and they seem to naturally awaken that sense of awareness of beauty and reverence. They awaken the child’s imagination and inspire their creativity. Children appreciate their simplicity, and yet take such wonder in the magic that a simple little cloth can be transformed into so many wonderful things. Wood is another example. It comes from a living, growing organism and has so much potential. Has this wood been carved or "decorated" by the creatures of the forest? What sort of tree did this wood come from? Imagine that two pieces of wood will never be exactly the same and your child can feel this and sense it when holding this toy. What a lesson of gratefulness for this piece of wood – which is here play with. What a wonderful discovery when playing outside your child finds this wonderful toy all by him or herself… as it was meant to be! Your child will carry this wood as a parcel, build with it as a block, cradle and hold it as a baby. This piece of wood can be turned into just about anything in the imagination of your child. Perhaps grandfather can carve this little wood into an animal friend, or a gnome to return to the garden. Such treasures are not easily replaced. If you are not careful and you break a wooden toy (especially a hand made or found one) it is truly a tragedy because it is a one of a kind. If the child is lucky it can be repaired and will be cared for even more delicately because it has been weakened. Of course, this will make the toy be loved and cherished all the more for the wounds it bears and the effort that went into saving it. The children of today have adopted many of their attitudes in life because of the toys they have been surrounded with in their childhood. The mass produced disposable toys of today are wasteful, ugly and harm not only our children but also our environment. They are impersonal and created for one purpose and one purpose only -–to make money for their creators. The next obvious reason is for them to break and be replaced easily, teaching your child to want more…

Are your Children caught up in commercialism?

My opinion? I believe it all comes back to the same old message. Turn off the television. Of course, they are then attacked by the ads and billboards wherever we go, the specifically spaced items at every store, the commercials in our mailbox, hanging on our door knob, on the radio... it's so hard to get away from it all, really.


Kids & Commercialism
Pat Veretto, frugalliving.guide@about.com
used with permission.

Our children are surrounded by pointless materialism and commercialism to the degree that their worlds often become shallow and selfish quests for nothing more than 'things'. Things that are impersonal and poor substitutes for self worth. Things that create intolerance for the 'havenot's, and ego- inflation at the price of self confidence. It's disheartening to realize there are men and women who spend their days trying to find a way to sell our kids on the myth that they 'need' this and 'need' that. 

Schools trade the minds of our young people in return for satellite dishes and tv monitors. 'Channel One', a for profit organization provides over 12,000 schools across the country with these and videocassette recorders in exchange for the right to broadcast 'news' into the classroom, in which they sell advertising time to pay for the venture... by marketing to your child. 

Advertising to children as they are 'held captive' in a school situation is an underhanded ploy. It's bad enough that companies deliberately target young children with flashy toys and games during cartoons and children's shows on tv, but then they play on young teenager's natural feelings of awkwardness and promise them the moon. 

Why don't they advertise to their parents, who hold the purse strings? Right. It's just easier to market to a child and bypass the parent, who then feels frustrated, and powerless to undo the damage.

"...annual gross television-broadcasting revenues in the U.S. are conservatively estimated at about $25 billion..." Newton Minnow, former Chairman of the FCC.

What's a parent to do, especially with the holidays coming on so quickly?

If you're the least bit an activist, you can write letters - to the editor of the local newspaper, to the schools, to your congressmen and to your friends. 

Talk to your kids about it. Even the youngest can understand that, while some of those things might be cool to have, they might not be as fun as they look. Tell them honestly that the companies that make them want the money more than they want them enjoy the product or it's results.

Become an advertising critic. Point out the flaws and unrealities of commercials, but don't harp on it to the point that your kids turn you off.

Be a good example. Let your kids see you ignoring or questioning ads as you shop for things you would need to buy anyway. 

Ask your kids how they really feel about the product, but tell them to not answer for at least an hour after seeing the commercial. Sometimes helping a child to think about it the first time is all it takes. 

Encourage your child's questions and doubts about the product, and help them to explore them completely. 

Remind them of their personal interests and hobbies and ask them if they'd rather have that product than one that pertains to their other interests.

Avoid temptation by going to the park instead of the mall; play ball with the kids instead of watching tv with them.

When the commercials and advertisements have your kids convinced absolutely that everyone else has it and they absolutely need it, remember that you're the parent. Put your foot down. Make the child come up with a reason acceptable to you.

Steiner said, "Things have gradually developed in such a way that in general our whole civilization has been flooded by the impulses proceeding from the philosophies of the western nations. Our whole public life is permeated by their philosophy." (The Educational Task of Central Europe, 1920)

Final Verse a'la Rudolf Steiner:

Out of the gravity of our time
There must be born
Courage for Deeds.
Give to your teaching
What the spirit has given you,
And you will liberate mankind
From the nightmare
That weighs upon it
Through materialism.