Newsletter 08: Sunday 22 February 2026

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Introduction to the First Class of the School of Spiritual Science.

For at least the last 20 years of his life, Steiner ran trainings for people to learn to see what he saw of the spiritual world.  In his last two years, he ran a course which has come to be called the first class of the school of spiritual science.  

This course introduces participants to:

• Mantras on which they can meditate;
• What a person experiences as they begin to enter consciously into the spiritual world.

Traditionally, anyone who was a member of the General Anthroposophical Society for more than 2 years could apply to join the First Class.  The course is 19 lessons long.  An appointed reader of the Society reads one lesson per month to members of the class in the Anthroposophical centre.  It used to be that the class was completely secret, but for the last few years, the lectures have been published and are thus in the public domain.  Because it is no longer secret, I have given an introduction twice in the last few years to anyone who wanted to attend.

To do that, we would meet, usually in Taikura School Library, for 30 minutes on Wednesday mornings from 7.30 am to 8 am on 19 occasions, and in those sessions I would read and explain some of the content of those lessons, including the mantras.

Anyone interested in participating, please contact me (David Urieli  06-878 6028 or <davidurieli@gmail.com>) so that I can answer any questions you may have, and that you can decide whether you want to take part in these sessions.  If you want to talk to someone who has participated in these lessons, the last time I ran them, I can suggest someone to you.

... 

We will begin our introduction to the First Class on Wednesday 11th March. 

We will start at 7:30 am in the library at Taikura and run until 8 am.  The times will be the same every Wednesday during term times.

To find the library enter through the front gate on Nelson Street at the end of the zebra crossing opposite the Anthro Centre.  Walk past the office and Hall building with it on your left.  Follow the road more or less straight on passing the water flow form on your left and the entrance to the Edwin Ayre building on your right.  Then as the road turns hard left to go to Taikura House (the tower block) follow the pathway straight on to the door of the library.  The whole walk is more or less straight. from the gate. See you then. 

Cheers - David 

David Urieli

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Earth Radiating Spirit 

After arranging and attending Earth Radiating Spirit, we are left with such gratitude that such an event can take place in our community.  We are not only thankful to those who contributed to the main events,  but to all who attended, their input, conversations, generous koha and assistance with the practical work that is required with setting up and clearing away.  People thank us two, but it would be impossible for us to do everything that is needed without a very supportive community, and we would like to express our gratitude to all those who help us behind the scenes.  

And of course we are so glad that Norbert had this opportunity to share his deep, inspiring insights with us, arising from his decades of spiritual research, experiences and practices. We are sure that we will be seeing him more often in the future.

With thanks and warmest wishes, 

Diana and Bernie. 

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Geometrical Musings 8

Most of these slides were shown during the Earth Radiating Spirit Workshop.

RB

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A Response to Social Needs of our Time

through  Eurythmy

The opportunity to explore & experience eurythmy with an awareness of life.

To hold one's centre amidst life's challenges.

Join us for 7 weeks

Tuesday 17th February - 31st March

9:15-10:15 am

401 Whitehead Road, Hastings

Cost $100

 Contact sue.simpson0@gmail.com

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Report from Anthroposophy Hawke’s Bay Committee Meeting 12 February 2026

Mike Caris has resigned from the committee for personal reasons. We want to express our gratitude to Mike for his time on the committee.

The committee comprises now of four members only and we do need more members so please contact me (Gerrit) if you would like to serve your local branch.

We will need to clarify the legalities of certain issues regarding proposed rule changes before the SGM on Sat 14 March 2026.

 Some AHB members have been removed from the ASNZ membership.  We need clarification of ramifications for AHB membership.

 The under-floor insulation of the back part of house has been completed.

 Financial report for December 2025 and January 2026
ith 85% of the Financial Year now complete, it was noted that only 73% of Income Budget has been achieved, whereas Expenditure is slightly behind at 63% of Budget.

Readers, Please send in new book purchase suggestions to the committee c/- Gerrit before 31. March.

Some Coming Events at the Centre

• Friday 27 February, Rudolf Steiner’s 165^th birth anniversary; small public item will be included in the last day of the Speech course to acknowledge it – Friday at 3:30 pm.
• Special General Meeting, 14. March 2026.
• We will send out an email to all members 14 days prior to the meeting, including the old rules, proposed rule changes and a letter explaining the reasons for the proposed rule changes.
• All documents will be taken as read so that we can go straight to clarifying questions, discussion and a decision on adopting the changes or otherwise.

Festivals

Autumn Festival Sat 28 March. 
BD Preparation 500 stirring will be on the autumn equinox (Sat 21 March). 

General comment: Room bookings for festivals or any other event need to be made to ensure there are no clashes with other Centre users.  When a room is required for an event, a booking needs to be made via our website, confirmed with a payment (festivals and their preparation are excluded from room hire charges but still need to have rooms booked via robin@bacchus.co.nz to avoid double booking) clashes.

Repairs and maintenance

• Timber from under the house needs to be disposed of, it’s full of borer.  
  Can any reader help with a trailer to take it to the dump.  We will cover the dump charges.  Contact robin@bacchus.co.nz as soon as possible, please.
• The lawn area by the water toby which some people use as car park (in the shade of the totara tree) has water pipes running under it. The constant driving over these pipes has caused damage and had to be fixed at some cost.  We hope to find a solution to cover the area with wooden planks to protect the pipes (any volunteers?), otherwise we may have to install a barrier to stop cars parking there.

 Correspondence

• Michelle Vette re. open online dialogue with the Executive Council on 14. February.
• Margaret Stevenson re. need of preparation of food and festive mood at festivals.
  Robin to put request in newsletter for people with a flair and eye for aesthetics to support the festival group to organise the food, foyer and art work.
• Nic re. website.  Nic commented on old and out of date content on our website.  We are working on correcting this. (One of the areas where the Committee needs help).
• Gerrit has informed AHB Trust and ASNZ Council of our proposed rule changes.

Committee members’ agenda items

• Further conversation of process of SGM re. rules changes
• Roadside glass display cabinet looks old and tired, do we need it?- the meeting felt it should remain but it desperately needs to be upgraded; priority given to branch events organized by the committee, general anthroposophical information, but no political information to be included.
• Discussion re. design options at next meeting.

Confirmed date for our AGM: Saturday 2 May 2026. 

Gerrit Raichle
For the AHB Committee gwr@actrix.co.nz

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ROOM BOOKINGS

There appears to be a snag in ourroom booking system whereby people making bookings online are not seeing when the Room is already booked, giving rise to double bookings which are frustrating to all concerned.  Until we can solve this problem, we ask everyone to make bookings [or make queries] via the Treasurer [ treas@anthrohb.nz ], who can also make longer sequence daily, weekly or monthly bookings for you - a facility that is not available online.  You will get an email confirming your booking details.

Particularly, people wishing to rehearse items for Festival Events must actually BOOK a sequence of dates and times for particular rooms reasonably in advance, so that others can avoid planning to use these spaces when you are rehearsing.  Don't leave it too late, or you may miss out.

Thank you.  Robin

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