This Summer School is an initiative of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum, with the aim of renewing practical, social, and esoteric co-working in our professional and representational work. We will explore what it means to renew the mysteries in relationship with Raphael, the being who takes an interest in communities working therapeutically.
In September 1924, this work was given a particular form by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman through a practical-esoteric circle for doctors willing to take responsibility for the development of the Medical Section, grounded in a deeper understanding of the task of the doctor for humanity. Our aspiration is that this work may be strengthened and allowed to inform the co-working of other professional-esoteric groups within anthroposophic medicine and therapy. We especially invite those who have both a practical and an esoteric commitment to this work, and who wish to co-carry responsibility for the various anthroposophic healing professions.
In previous years, we have deepened various themes in this direction. We began with visits to sites in Britain that Rudolf Steiner visited 100 years ago, where important impulses were born in conversation with Ita Wegman. Indeed, the human relationship between Steiner and Wegman carries a core karmic and esoteric signature for our movement. To deepen our sense of their cooperative working, we hope to explore their earlier incarnations through short presentations each morning, and to develop these further through speech and drama work in the afternoons. Each day will begin with eurythmy, which will also echo our themes.
Last year, to strengthen multi-professional awareness, while also allowing the various therapeutic approaches to deepen their own sense of identity, we explored the history and essential gestures of the different therapeutic directions, focusing on Eurythmy Therapy, Anthroposophic Nursing, Anthroposophic Arts Therapies, and Anthroposophic Psychotherapy. This year, we will develop this work further and, for the first time, hear from additional modalities. This will be supported by specialist working groups each afternoon, where the different fields of work and their relationships can be explored. For example, Arts Therapists (a group that includes a range of artistic therapies) will meet to deepen their understanding of their distinct identities; Psychotherapists will explore their interface with the work of priests and doctors; and Nurses will meet with Doctors to explore the relationship between their two professions.
An essential question throughout this work is the nature of esoteric community life, and what it means to make a commitment to such work. What might it mean to renew ancient mystery wisdom within a modern, practical, and esoteric community of therapeutic professionals? Presentations and conversations will support the development of this theme.
A visit to the Wellsbourne Community Project in Brighton is planned, alongside a visit to Saltdean Beach, to experience a local clinical project as well as aspects of the surrounding natural environment.
If you feel you are actively carrying anthroposophical medical and therapeutic work and are drawn to be involved in this impulse to strengthen our practical and esoteric co-working, you are warmly invited.
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