Newsletter 24: Friday 12 June 2026

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Warm and cold – finding the balance . . .

 When a group of people come together, as we regularly do, it is important to find a balance  in relation to the physical atmosphere in the space. We now have more than adequate heating and along with the underfloor insulation it is indeed a comfortable space, that is until it is not.

Understandably with a group of people there will be those who experience the cold more than others, those who don’t feel the cold and those who are comfortable with either.

The problem with being too hot /cold is that we become preoccupied with this and find it difficult to remain alert.

Heating the room before an event and then turning this down or off has proven to be a good middle road in balancing the temperature. An additional bonus is that in silencing the noise of the heaters,  the quiet can support our conversations and listening.

 For those who do feel the cold more acutely, knee blankets are available to bring comfort and  extra warmth, these are available both in the foyer and in the main room.

 Bernie Raichle.

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Report on Zoom Meeting of Regional Representatives with Michelle

Tuesday 9 June 2026

Christchurch

ASNZ consultation meeting re. changes of constitution.

Nelson:

No events since last meeting

Wellington:

AGM coming up, lots of preparation currently.

Fiona to step down as regional representative.

Two members of Committee stepping down.

Branch meetings on theme of “Art of Resolving Conflict’.

First Class monthly which is well attended.

Branch finance people to go to ASNZ AGM in HB.

The library will be opening more often due to demand.

There is a number of study groups at the branch and up the coast.

Branch group theme: 3-fold order.

Aurora Counselling Group going strong.

Eurythmy and Speech Therapy sessions as well as Meditation group in 12^th year.

Hamilton:

Janet Malloy is supporting new Waldorf School principal who is going well after a long time of challenges with principals.

Sue Simpson offers First Class lessons once a month.

David Seidel et al organised the “Sauna Fest” where anthroposophical speakers interfaced with mainstream public.

There is a strong BD impulse.

Have no physical home so lots of library books in boxes.

Kerikeri:

Regular First Class lessons and study groups.

David King retired from Committee after 8 years.

Rich year of events.

Class conference was held at the end of May.

Michelle:

Ueli Huerter offered to come to AUS and NZ to talk about GAS new constitution.

It was felt this was too early.  Let’s have our own AGM first and then communicate with members about GAS constitution changes.

Possibly have Ueli visit in August if there is enough interest.

Also the suggestion for Gerald Häfner to speak on Zoom on this topic if there is enough interest.

Asked if NZ could have a country Goetheanum TV subscription for members to access. This is still in progress.

For more details on the Health Professionals in Waldorf Schools Training Course mentioned in the April report, please see attachment.

 Next Area representative Meeting in August.

 Gerrit Raichle

HB Area Representative

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Mary Willow Book Launch at Taikura

What if there was not one child to parent but two?
Parenting mentor and past nurse, midwife, and Waldorf educator, Mary Willow, introduces the
dramatic difference between the True Child and the child’s Defence System which she calls ‘the
Guard Dog’, in her new book:
BREAKING THROUGH How to Rescue Childhood and Heal the Parent-Child Relationship.
This new and dynamic framework for understanding your child’s behaviour and transforming family
life covers early childhood through to the teenage years.
Her book is available at all main bookstores from 1 June 2026. The e-book version is
available on Kindle and other e-readers.
She will be visiting our school to give a community talk with Q&A , followed by book sales and
signins. This will place in our whare ‘Te Manukura’ at 3:00 pm on Sunday 21 June.

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For the four MONDAYS 6 th , 13 th 20 th an 27 th in July there will be a
conversation on the FOUNDATION STONE at the centre.
Conversations from 7pm
The Foundation Stone as laid at the Christmas Conference 1923-24 is
such a fundamental event in the life of Anthroposophy that is not easy to
comprehend all its ramifications. I would like to consider one aspect:
what it cost RUDOLF STEINER to take on his shoulders, the destiny of
the Anthroposophical Society.

Foundation Stone Meditation
This meditation has a connection with the first Goetheanum.
During our conversation on the meditation, I will show pictures relating to the construction and artistic completion of this building. I will try to connect this with parts of the foundation stone meditation.
I will be bringing copies of the text with me for distribution to participants
Christopher Bacchus

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Arithmetic Musings #10

The first four perfect numbers 6, 28, 496 and 8128 seem to have been known from ancient times - there is no historical record of their discovery.

1^st.         6 = 1 + [2 + 3],
2^nd.        28 = 1 + 2 + [4 + 7] + 14,
3^rd.        496 = 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + [16 + 31] + 62 + 124 + 248
4^th.        8128 = 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 + [64 + 127] + 254 + 508 + 1016 + 2032 + 4064

Notice how the numbers are double the preceding number in the sequence, except for the pair near the middle - the second number is one less than double the first one - in algebra this is n and 2n-1.
In each case the second of the pair is a prime number.  The powers of 2 [2¹, 2², 2³, ...] or [2, 4, 8, ...] are very important.

Here is a chart showing the calculations for the first seven perfect numbers.  As you can see they grow very fast, and are quickly few and far between.  The seventh perfect number is already greater than a hundred billion.  It would take a lifetime to count as far as this!

 RB

More in the coming weeks