Waldorf in the Home

"Anthroposophy 101 for Parents"
Workshop by Cynthia Hoven

Rudolf Steiner envisioned an education that would educate the child towards freedom, and the fundamental principles of his curriculum were inspired by his enduring commitment to understanding the spiritual nature of the human being and the world. This will be a "blitz introduction" to Steiner's world view, known as anthroposophy or "wisdom of the human being."

Audio Recording in CD format.

"Seven Principles for Optimum Learning, Performance and Well-Being"
Workshop by Michael Mendizza

Gathering from years of research on optimum states (being in the zone, flow, play), Michael shares the seven characteristics that optimum states have in common and applies these to the adult-child relationship. This can help adults rediscover the genius of their childhood and transform parenting and mentoring relationships.

Audio Recording in CD format.

"Healing from the Heart"
Keynote address by Thomas Cowan, MD

Today's emphasis on fad diets and nutritional supplements makes it truly challenging to know just what to feed our children and ourselves. Dr. Cowan draws on the work of Dr. Weston A. Price (traditional nutrition), Rudolf Steiner and others to show that the heart and digestion are foundational for health. Steiner's insights into the circulatory system and the physical and spiritual aspects of the heart can affect our definition of health and the treatment of illness. They can also provide a new metaphor or paradigm for nonhierarchical living, noncentralized farming, and so forth--a brilliant talk you won't want to miss.

Audio recording in CD format.

"Dare to Parent Authentically"
Keynote address by William Bento

Conditions today have made raising the next generation a mission extraordinaire! Who dares be a parent in these complex times? The answer: "Only those who still know deep in their hearts that the next generation is the only hope for humanity's sanity." We need to be who we are authentically so our children will see, hear and experience the glorious mystery that men and women of all ages have paid homage to, the one single truth we know as Love. Dare to parent in the virtue of Hope and live in the power of Love!

In this presentation, William adapts Steiner's "Six Basic Exercises" to form a path of inner development for parents.

>

"Sacraments of Social Life"
Workshop by Willliam Bento

This workshop weaves together the sacred and the artistic as ways of meeting the mystery that lives between us. William invites us to explore the seven traditional sacraments in the Christian church and how they can be expanded to help elevate daily life to the realm of the sacred.

Video recording in DVD format.

"Create Harmony in your Relationships"
Workshop by Susan Kaplan

Amidst all the demands of parenting, how can you value your partner and build on your strengths? Learn how to build bridges, deepen the four levels of your relationship (body, mind, heart and soul), energize your relationship zest, and how to use your "heart camera."

"Honoring the Spiritual Feminine"
Workshop by Nancy Poer

Sophia Wisdom, the universal spiritual feminine knowing of the eternal, was once revered. In our era of materialism, egotism and destructive domination of the natural world, we are called consciously to renew in our hearts and communities, this life-giving interconnectedness to spirit, earth, all nature, and one another.

"Learning the Language of Virtues"
Workshop by Cynthia Wand

By helping your children relate to the virtues or values that underly all social and religious life, you can help their inner development as well as their outer actions. Cynthia is a Waldorf home schooling parent and a Master Facilitator with Virtues Project International, a model global program for families that has been honored by the United Nations.

"The Human Soul and the Soul of the Earth"
Keynote Address by Cynthia Hoven

Understanding our sacred and intimate connection with the earth can warm our heart forces and strengthen our will. The earth is a living being, whose soul breathes with the seasons and expresses itself in the cycles of nature. The wealth of pictures developed by Rudolf Steiner in his booklet The Calendar of the Soul and other works guide the contemplation of this vital topic.

Stress Management--Whole Person and Whole Family
Workshop by Susan Kaplan
What are your balance and imbalance cycles as a family? As an individual? As we explore the four levels of body, mind, heart and soul, you will find ideas to re-balance and create the daily life you want.

Standing in the Heart: The Brain of the New Intelligence
Workshop by Claudia McLaren Lainson

Our children are coming with a heart knowing that requires us to meet them with our heart if they are to recognize us as authorities, guides and pathfinders. Making the changes these children need requires our moving into the new intelligence. Who are these children and what changes do I need to make in myself to meet them?

"Re-imagine Money: Toward a New Economic Citizenship"
Keynote Address by John Bloom

Money reflects the architecture of human experience, our interior and exterior spaces, and the intersection of the two. This presentation looks at the opportunities we can take to reimagine those structures, to transform how we think about and transact with money as a step toward positive economic practices. By transforming ourselves in community and aligning our deepest spiritual values with our economic citizenship, we will lead the next generation to a freer and hopefully more enlightened relationship to money and the world of finance. In addition to the presentation, dialogue with the audience is included.

The Woman Awake. Feminine Wisdom for Spiritual Life
Book by Regina Sara Ryan

Over the course of 15 years, Regina Sara Ryan, a former Catholic nun, began her search for the "feminine face of God." This book is the result of that search. Stories of her own compelling journey are intersected by those of 24 great women of spirit who guided her through inspiration, or touched her by their personal presence, including:

Embracing the Dark: Kali Energy in Life and Spiritual Practice
Workshop by Regina Sara Ryan

When we only look to the sublime and blissful images of the Divine for our consolation, we often fail to recognize the face of the Divine in those experiences and energies that do not fit our limiting stereotypes. However, the fierce and erotic Goddesses such as Kali and Smashan Tara must be approached with tremendous respect, awe, humility and caution. Using stories and the contemplation of sacred images of the Dark Mother, this workshop will provide an opportunity to reflect upon and rekindle our longing for Wholeness--for a deeper appreciation of full-bodied spiritual life and practice.

Becoming Mother--Spirituality, Femininity and Earth Transformation
Keynote by Regina Sara Ryan

Female or male, the task for each conscious human person is to "become Mother." Whether we have physically borne children or not, the knowledge of "mother"--as the one who facilitates birth, nurturance and maturation, and death and renewal--is present in the cells of the body.

Sadly, this knowledge of "Mother" often remains obscured and unavailable to us. We can, however, turn to one another, to the great "Mothers" from the past (women or men), and to the images and understanding of God as Mother to find the inspiration, courage and wisdom to transform our own hearts, to serve our children and families, and to ultimately celebrate and honor the Earth Mother on whom we all depend.

Regina Sara Ryan is the author of The Woman Awake. Feminine Wisdom for Spiritual Life

Mother-Lines of the Spirit
Keynote by Carol Lee Flinders

Biological mother-lines are the channels through which our evolutionary inheritance flows. Spiritual mother-lines come into existence when we take our evolution into our own hands. We will explore how they connect us with mothers, daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters in altogether new ways, and with women we may never meet face to face: a Dorothy Day or Aung San Suu Kyi; a Teresa of Avila or Wangari Maathai. They can render us fearless, resourceful and radiant. Distinct, yet joined like partners in a dance, the mother-lines of body and spirit turn and twine within us like the double helix of our DNA.

Igniting the Inner Life
Book by Regina Sara Ryan
The inner life is the intrinsic spiritual dimension of existence. To ignite it is to make a pilgrimage within--to move from "out there" to "in here" in the orientation of life, work, choices and relationships. This book is immensely practical and is directed to anyone with a focus on spirituality, self-understanding, contemplative prayer, God or the awakening of the heart's knowledge regardless of the religious tradition they follow.