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Why we have Educational Programs at the Lili Kolisko Institute!

January 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment

We all know the saying: learn one; do one; teach one.

In that spirit the Institute has been founded by a group of colleagues that have been studying anthroposophy for over 40 years, have been practicing anthroposophic medicine for over 35 years and have engaged in anthroposophical research for over 10 years. So, after many years of learning and doing they felt that it was time to share with others their experiences and enthusiasm. The intention was and continues to be to share practical indications that lead to incorporating anthroposophy into one’s daily work. This will refresh one’s physical and spiritual health. Rudolf Steiner wanted anthroposophy to be understood as an impulse that takes hold of the “entire human being” not just become a source for “reading material”. We feel that the groundbreaking work of Rudolf Steiner is the most significant impulse that can counter the destructive tendencies of our time. But his impulses need to be taken up into one’s will and they need to be practiced – and we hope to help in the “how”!

We feel that including into our presentations research that we have actually done at the Institute, right here in the US, raises the credibility of our strivings – especially to those not intimately connected yet with anthroposophy.

Here are some of the topics we have covered for various groups:

  • Understanding and treating chronic illnesses like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and more from an anthroposophic viewpoint.
  • The contribution of anthroposophical thinking to the mental health and development of our children – and those who care for them. Anthroposophy, spiritual science, is uniquely suited to understand the modern challenges our children face in the modern world and show pathways to decrease the negative influences resulting in physical and behavioral illnesses.
  • Clarifying why the new movement form called Eurythmy is an essential part of one’s daily physical and spiritual growth regimen; teaching the actual steps necessary for its practice.
  • Presenting insights on the history, the esoteric foundations and meditative practices of anthroposophy.
  • Presenting specific research done at the LK Institute.

As seen from above we direct our attention to both professionals and lay groups.

We have given webinars and many other contributions online. We consider nevertheless our “in person” visits to groups throughout the country to be the most significant endeavors. Nothing can replace the person to person encounters. For those workshops we have asked only for minimal monetary support – and often none at all. Any funds coming in are of course going to support the further work of the Institute. We look forward to continued invitations.

We hope thus to work towards one of the most cherished goals of R. Steiner: the creation of institutions from where anthroposophy is practiced and researched in groups and then, when joining with communities, can spread these much needed impulses into the world.

The LKI is a non- profit, 501(c)3 organization which gratefully accepts tax deductible donations.

 

Filed Under: Anthroposophy, Education

A Rudolf Steiner Meditation for strengthening responsibility and against fear

January 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Dear Friends,

With the coming of the New Year come also the new responsibilities and obligations. However, we often get intimidated by inner and outer fears and become less able to accomplish our intentions.

A hundred years ago, in the tumultuous time of the First World War, Rudolf Steiner gave this meditation (in my translation) to a person that was being entrusted by High Beings in the Spiritual World with a particular task. This person needed strengthening because he was allowing himself to be sidelined and thus prevented from carrying out that task. Not standing firm he was essentially allowing adversary forces to succeed in purposes contrary to his own.

Doesn’t that often happen to us too? Do we not often know exactly what is expected of us spiritually/anthroposophically and yet we succumb to material needs and fears? Do we not often get overwhelmed by the world around us? Do we not often choose physical comforts over what we know to be our spiritual mission? Do we not overvalue perceived risks? Do we not need help?

This meditation will help us to neutralize misleading impressions that disable us, that make us timid. This meditation is meant to give us strength:

What do you deceiving thoughts, and images that lead me astray

Have to do with the High (purpose) that I must (do);

The Spirits want it of me after all.

Thus I remove the enmity to my own Soul,

By forcing myself to strong thinking,

Out of my timid heart,

That strongly serves me if I only will it.

As in any meditation of R. Steiner’s the cadence and the peculiar sequence of the sentences is crucial. The weaving back and forth is just as much unusual in German as it appears here in English – but we need to observe it. First the question is raised what the thoughts and images of the physical world have to do with the spiritual mission that the person knows it has to do. Then the certainty needs to be reasserted that one is aware that the good spiritual beings have entrusted one with a high mission- for each person its unique one. Then the realization comes that by forceful strong thinking (the right thinking) one can remove the hindrances that make the heart timid and thus transform it into a Courageous Heart.

Happy New Year,

From all of us at the Institute

 

Filed Under: Anthroposophy, Uncategorized

Lilly Kolisko-Thank you

November 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment

On this November 20th we can warmly remember the individuality of Lilly Kolisko. She passed into the spiritual world 38 years ago. (To refresh oneself on who this personality was (9.1.1889-11.20.1976) please see our website under the About Section and where you will find a fairly complete biography of hers.)

Speaking about the painter Raphael R. Steiner once said that his worth and stature in the spiritual world was increasing every time when human beings still remembered his works and were benefitting by them. The same can be said of L. Kolisko who clearly is an inspiration to all striving human beings to this day.

In another context, R. Steiner points out in his Karma Lectures (1924) that the personality of Tycho Brahe, the astronomer – a later incarnation of Herzeloide, the mother of Parcival – was active in guiding in modern times the development of the science impulses needed to further the “spiritual science” aspect of anthroposophy.

I feel confident that Lilly Kolisko is engaged in the same inspirational stream. As one of the most successful and faithful scientific experimenters and esoteric students of Rudolf Steiner she can be a guiding light to us all.

Thank you Lilly Kolisko!

N.B. We want to thank all those who follow us on this Blog. If you would like to stay informed on our ongoing research, education and outreach activities and continue to support us please have a look at the newly updated  “Brief Report and Appeal“.

Thank you to All who make our work possible!!

Filed Under: Anthroposophy

Who is Michael?

October 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Dear Friends,

After the last posting one of the dear readers of this blog asked: “Who is Michael?”

This is a very nice question.  When we say Michael we refer of course to St. Michael, the Archangel that plays a central role in Anthroposophy .

I will give you one or two thoughts of my own but

I would like to invite as many of the other readers a possible

to share a couple of brief lines on

what St. Michael means to them!

This powerful spiritual being has been known for a long time in the evolution of humanity.  For example, in the Old Testament he appears as the angel that is fighting with Jacob and “blesses him” by renaming him Israel. The word Israel means “He who fights for God in a spiritual way”. Michael appears there first as a spiritual being that is so mighty that he represents the ” Face of God”.  He is specifically related to the night. He undergoes his own growth and maturation and, based on Rudolf Steiner’s spiritual scientific research, we know that he has now advanced to a “day spirit” and has become “the Face of Christ”. Incidentally, we also know a part of the activity of this being under the name of  St. George.

I’m looking forward to the contributions that might be coming on this topic.

Ross Rentea

Filed Under: Anthroposophy

A Michael Meditation

October 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Dear Friends,

First let me thank you all for the kind responses to the previous blog!

This of course should be our all most fervent wish: to establish a Michael community with conversations going back and forth from one to another.

For today I would like to share with you a Michael meditation that Rudolf Steiner gave sometime around 1910.It was given to an Italian anthroposophist. Needless to say I was impressed by the fact that this meditation directly addresses our need to overcome the anti-Michael spirits  in us that lead us to inertia, lassitude, and make our productive, creative Will life more difficult. these are the spirits that hinder our following through on our responsibilities:

 

Michael!

Lend me your Sword

That I may be armed

To overcome the Dragon in me.

Fill me with your Strength

That I may vanquish

The Spirits that want to lame me.

Work in me in such a way

That Light may stream

To mine I and I may thus be led

To actions that are worthy of you.

Michael!

Have an active Michael season!

Yours friendly,

Ross Rentea

 

 

Filed Under: Anthroposophy

Lunar Eclipse and Anthroposophy

October 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Today occurred the second of  four lunar eclipses. All that natural science can tell us about a lunar eclipse is that there is a perfect alignment in a row between the sun the earth and the moon with the earth being in the middle and obstructing the sun rays that are going to was the moon. Interestingly, depending on the pollution level on the earth the shadow cast on the surface of the moon will be either a “blood” red or a dirty black. On the newscasts the day before we were made to understand that short light waves are absorbed and only the long waves are led through which is what leads to the varying color differences.
Rudolf Steiner gives us a different story illuminating for us through his research the fact that a lunar eclipse is actually a valve through which a very negative influences can come from the cosmos to the earth. These influences can then be used by people who do not have the best intentions in mind. It gives the lunar eclipses a completely different meaning and it awakens us to the needs to take some action.

The two lunar eclipses of this year and the two of next year are particularly important. The first one of April 15, 2014 occurred on what Rudolf Steiner calls the Rafael day – the day that commemorates the Archangel of Healing. The one of October 8, 2014 occurred with the sun in Virgo and the moon in Pisces, a zodiac axis that Rudolf Steiner attributed a great importance to calling it “The Axis of Healing”. The next lunar eclipse will be on April 4, 2015 a day belonging to the historical Mystery of Golgotha (April 3 of the year 33 being the Friday of the Death on the Cross of the Christ and April 5 being the day of the historical Easter Sunday). Finally, the fourth eclipse will be on September 28, 2015 the day before the celebration of Michaelmas day.

The world at large concentrates, if at all, on the actual moment of the astronomical event like for example mentioning that this current lunar eclipse at its maximal point at exactly 5:15 AM Eastern daylight Time. To us it should be  obvious that the whole event is beginning of a process that at the very least will take several days during which these unwanted thoughts are coming to earth and then we needs to observed what new forms of “unfortunate thinking” is becoming manifest as a “new thought form on earth.

What can we do to help?

From an anthroposophic point of view it is understandable that a healing property can be brought to this event by increasing the Sun forces in us and around us.
First and foremost this can be done through meditation especially by reawakening in us thoughts connected to the Archangel Michael, who is the leader in the fight against nefarious Moon forces. since the current eclipse is so intimately related to a morning experience I’m including here this special Rudolf Steiner given Michael meditation:

We people of the Present (time)

Need the right Hearing

For the Spirit’s Morning Call,

The Morning Call of Michael.

Spirit Knowledge will

Open to the Soul

This true Morning Call- Hearing.

—————

I will follow this theme in my next blog.

Ross Rentea

 

Filed Under: Anthroposophy

New Article on Blackthorn and Prunus Spinosa Posted

September 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment

A new, fascinating article has been posted about Blackthorn elixir and Blackthorn in potentized form (Prunus Spinosa 6X).

Some highlights from the article include:

  • An overview of the Blackthorn plant and berries
  • Anthroposophic indications and uses
  • Why these remedies are ideal for autumn!

To read the article, click here and then click on the article you wish to read.

 

Filed Under: Anthroposophy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Register Now for Our Annual Fall Workshop!

September 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment

We are excited to announce a Weekend Intensive Workshop

The Zodiac:
Meditative and Therapeutic Aspects

November 6th – 9th, 2014
Hartland, WI

Twelve Moods Cover Page Zodiac Image
Artwork above by Kitsy McHenry, with kind permission from Mercury Press..

This year will focus on more learning and discovering, more practice and more applying.

This workshop will focus on the constellations of the zodiac and their influence on:

  • the 12 Zones of the human anatomy (the Mysterium Magnum);
  • the Eurythmy movements (emphasis on R. Steiner’s “12 Moods”);
  • Substances like the gemstones, calcium and silica;
  • the 12 Senses;
  • Clinical applications and more.
Of course we will present new research we have engaged in during the last year, however this year’s workshop will focus on working together as a group: potentizing a remedy together, making observations on minerals and precious stones; learning how eurythmy can help us deepen our anthroposophy. Our hope is that by working together we can come to new insights, especially understading Rudolf Steiner’s intentions and their applications in our lives.
We hope you join us!
Filed Under: Anthroposophy, Education, Events, Rudolf Steiner

Season’s Greetings, Easter Greetings!

April 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends,

Throughout the day we die a little and lose strength until we have to give all up and finally lie down, go to sleep, lose consciousness. We have to give up our most fundamental human qualities: no more speaking, no more standing upright, no more thinking. Other forces take over and help so that in the morning we can rise again, a “resurgence” takes place. We are restored to our full humanity again. Alas the process needs to be repeated.

This process is similar to the tiredness that happens in the metabolism Sunlight in treeswhere every out-breath – the result of bodily breakdown processes that create CO2 – must be followed by an invigorating in-breath with its life bringing oxygen. This also has to be repeated. Are we doing this just “out of ourselves “ or are other elements at play here?

Isn’t it interesting that in an archetypal human day we breathe 25,920 times; that in a life time we (again archetypically) “resurge” 25,920 times and that these rhythms are coinciding with the return of the Sun to the same cosmic place it was before in 25,920 years.

We are never alone. The Earth could never live without the Sun. And what if just as the human being is not just a physical body, but has  spiritual qualities that help us to strive for higher ideals that help us to constantly resurrect (from the Latin, resurgere) something noble out of the most downtrodden situations of life, what if Nature had these higher Beings also – that repeatedly infuse us with the forces that we might be lacking at the beginning of the breath, at the beginning of the day, at the beginning of the year. What if the life giving Sun also had its Being that unites itself ever more with the Earth and its inhabitants.

This might explain why we pay so much attention at True Botanica to expose our tinctures to at least seven consecutive morning Suns. These are the impulse that we hope to have our remedies aligned with.

We wish you all the Best in this season of Resurgence of the Sun, after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. We benefit from this Sun, a particularly Powerful one. We benefit from all the remedies that can be made, and have been made at this time, for this time.

But this Sun also benefits from our celebrating it, inviting it in, acknowledging it, not resisting it, not staying in the dark, in the tired, lost in an out-breathing. Then these forces can become ultimately not just forces of resurgence, but forces of Resurrection.

Let’s take in this special Spring Time and marvel at how much more healthy we can then be, how much more effective our medicines and nutrients can work. They help us if we help them.

Dedicated to You,

The True Botanica Foundation Team

Filed Under: Holiday

Rudolf Steiner’s Birthday

February 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Today is Rudolf Steiner’s birthday. There is some controversy on whether he was born on February 25, or on February 27th 1861. Either way these next few days are a good time to turn our thoughts, feelings and will impulses toward this individuality.

To the Jesus Being the Three Kings brought Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

What can we bring Rudolf Steiner this year, and increasingly every year, as a worthy gift?

Rudolf Steiner once said that he did not want to be revered but rather he intensely wished to be understood. Because to truly and really understand him is to understand ourselves to Know Ourselves.

So let’s bring him our understanding. Let’s try to better comprehend his intentions, his impulses. Let’s ask the questions that will lead us to “get it”.

It is a worthwhile endeavor. Understanding his work, Anthroposophy, the science of the Spiritual Man, ultimately benefits us ourselves. As the saying goes

“It helps us to become what we are.”

Ross Rentea MD

 

Filed Under: Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner