News 49-23

HB Branch News -- Sunday 10 December -- Week 49, 2023

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Calendar of Coming Events 
(in the Rudolf Steiner Centre, 401 Whitehead Road, Hastings
unless stated otherwise)

• Friday 22 December 7pm.  Summer Festival
• Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 January 2024. 3-day Eurythmy Workshop at Taruna.
• Weekend 24-5 February. 2-day Workshop on Threefold Social Order*
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        PROVIDENCE

“The moment one definitely commits oneself, Providence also moves.

All sorts of things occur to help which would not otherwise have happened.

A whole stream of events flows from the decision, bringing all kind of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no one could have foreseen.

Whatever you can do or dream you can; begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and magic.

Begin it now.”

Often attributed to Goethe, but without a named source within his work.

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Centenary of the Christmas Foundation Meeting in 1923.

The Auckland Branch has planned several events to commemorate this important occasion.  See posters at this link.

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*Threefold Social Order

(Some further thoughts by Robin Bacchus.)

I am arranging a weekend workshop on the theme of “Threefold Social Order” over 24/5 February.  I would appreciate contact from those who may be interested in participating or contributing.           robin@bacchus.co.nz

In the lecture series “The Social Future” [Zurich, GA332a October 1919] Rudolf Steiner notes that human civilisation has evolved from a unitary or One-fold state to a binary or Two-fold state and now needs to evolve further to a Three-fold state or social order.

The first large states probably happened in the 3^rd Post-Atlantean Age often called Egypto-Chaldean.  Society had a pyramidical or hierarchical structure.  In these cases a single ruler – despot, king, emperor, or pharaoh exercised the might of their WILL over everyone, from lords to slaves.  The king, like Solomon, dispensed justice and rights.

In the second stage, in a binary state, the will of individuals and entrepreneurs is evident, one facing another in the market place and forums of life, perhaps typical of the later 4th Post-Atlantean Age or Greco-Roman Age.  Parliamentary, representative democracies emerged.  But also, by the early 20^th Century powerful economic entities began to have a strong effect on social life leading to a world war.

At this point, Rudolf Steiner felt it necessary to introduce the idea of a Three-fold social structure that would lead to a healthier social future in a third stage within our current 5th Post-Atlantean Age.  Here every individual may consciously merge his/her personal will into a collective will through conscious collaboration and teamwork in a joint enterprise for the good of others, for the whole of society.  The structure of the Waldorf College of Teachers that he introduced is an example of this idea in action.

“Our highest endeavour must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility  — these three forces are the very nerve of education.”

Since Rudolf Steiner’s time – in the last 100 years – the Economic sector has become much more global; international corporations have become very large and powerful.  Automated machinery and robots have taken over much of the work of former factory workers, and the financial proceeds of production have thus been shared with fewer and fewer people -- the oligarchy. 

It is time for us to examine the essence of Threefolding.

Contact: robin@bacchus.co.nz