Autonomy In Association

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Autonomy In Association

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Draw Into the Circle

Draw Into the CircleDraw Into the CircleDraw Into the Circle

biography, social art, soul-spiritual development, anthroposophy

Draw Into the Circle

Draw Into the CircleDraw Into the CircleDraw Into the Circle

biography, social art, soul-spiritual development, anthroposophy

 A sense for the truth is the hidden language of the soul, and if we listen to each other carefully, it will emerge, leading us to the right imaginations and to the right actions for the future. 

- Christopher Schaefer


SAVE THE DATE

Biography and social art conference OCTOBER 23-28, 2025

A Collaborative Gathering among

Biography Workers and Social Art Facilitators 

Generously hosted by Foxhollow Farm

Photo by Kendra Lynne Photography

the initiative circle - Welcoming Co-Creativity

Now in its fourth year ...

The Initiative Circle – “the IC” – is an inclusive and open group that seeks to support work with biography and social art, in light of anthroposophy, through circle formation, collegial dialogue, conferencing and other associative activity. The initiative circle is committed to diversity and wholeness, encouraging both individual contribution and “consciousness of the field of the group.”  


In creating Conference 2025, we are happy to collaborate closely with the Center for Biography and Social Art, who, among other contributions, will sponsor a special continuing education component presented by a recognized leader in our field.  

conference 2025

Dear Friends, 


Greetings!  We are looking toward Conference 2025!


This time, we have a full year to look forward to being together again in person! – giving plenty of time to take further steps with our way of working collaboratively. We, the Initiative Circle, continue to set our sights on a co-created event, all the details of which are yet to be developed, meaning the floor is open. And, a few ideas are percolating.  


Remembering that the point is to meet, and in our meeting feel belonging, strength and renewal …  


We will include a continuing education opportunity (immediately following the conference) sponsored by the Center for Biography and Social Art. Theme and presenter TBD. 


We will make a space for research presentations, seeking to encourage this particular area of activity within the field of biography and social art. Please think about whether something you are working on now or will embark on in the coming year can be prepared for the conference. 


We will want to give space to and highlight new circles. 


And as a gesture of thanks toward Foxhollow Farm, as a gift to the land, we will plant a tree! 


Of course, we will visit with the Stones, share stories around the campfire, and more. 


For now, think for a minute about the areas of activity in which we are engaged, the communities we reach through the initiative and courage of individuals and partnerships:  death and dying work, biodynamic agriculture, Waldorf school communities, Waldorf teacher trainings, international biography and social art trainings, The School of Michael, medicine, substance abuse recovery, leadership courses, branch life, eldering, skin care, karma, social justice work, festival life, and more. This is remarkable! (Please forgive us what we’ve left out; better yet, let us know – eileen.jonesVT@gmail.com)
 

In the meantime, we have envisioning to do, questions to ask about our needs and the needs of our clients and communities … sensing to do, regarding the individual’s experience of aloneness and the social world’s longing for mature capacity for relationship. 


And, we might look for – in one another – that initiative, that spark just waiting for an invitation to flame forth!  In the highest and most positive way, if you see something -- one of your colleagues illumined in a particular way -- the quality, skill, or strength another has to give -- say something!


Finally, if you would like to participate in the planning -- and pulling off -- of Conference 2025, if you have ideas you would like to see included, questions you hope will be addressed, please let us know – eileen.jonesVT@gmail.com  


We look forward to meeting and working together again in the autumn of 2025!


Warmly,

The Initiative Circle – Diane, Eileen, Leah, Paulette and Sarah

A Leading Thought

 Rudolf Steiner

Berlin; November 23, 1905  


People who work together in a brother/sisterhood are magicians because they draw higher beings into their circle. One no longer has to witness the machinations of spiritism when one works out of brotherly/sisterly love in a community. Higher beings do manifest themselves there.When we give ourselves over to brother/sisterhood, this giving, this merging into the totality, is a steeling, a strengthening of our organs.When we then act or speak as members of such a community, 

it is not the single soul that acts or speaks in us, but the spirit of the community. 

conference 2024 - Simple Sacred sublime

CONFERENCE 2022 - DRAW INTO THE CIRCLE

The program in 2022 arose out of what we have to offer one another, in collegial spirit, around three central themes: "beginnings," where we honored those who pioneered this work; "real need," currently met in the field by inspired practical activity; and "the space between us," the fertile if yet shaky ground we cultivate in the interest of a more human future.  

Generously hosted by Foxhollow Farm

Video by Dana Jenks

circles are a free initiative - Anyone can start one

associative activity -- "It takes a circle"

About Circle Formation

It is an express intention among many biography workers and social art facilitators to actively associate with one another, particularly through  circle formation.  Knowing that wholeness is found in diversity, we continue to seek to  respond to the call of our time with clarity of purpose: by embracing individual contributions and by developing new perspectives on and ways of working in community.  


Guidelines for Forming and Sustaining Circles for Biography Workers / Social Art Facilitators are below.

About the Initiative Circle

The Initiative Circle is 

  • an inclusive and open group that seeks to support work with biography and social art, in light of anthroposophy, through circle formation, collegial dialogue, conferencing and other associative activity. The initiative circle is committed to diversity and wholeness, encouraging both individual contribution and “consciousness of the field of the group.”  
  • a  group  that takes seriously the nature and quality of advanced work in biography and social art, encouraging 1) deep and sound research, as the foundation of all practice; 2) continuing education for practitioners toward sustained quality and currency; and 3) practicum for new graduates of recognized trainings; among other activities that demonstrate professionalism.
  • a group of formidable people devoted to the development of biography work, knowing full well it will be several thousand years before it realizes its intention and receives its crown as The Royal Art.


Please feel free to contact us:  eileen.jonesVT@gmail.com


The Initiative Circle would like to grow, with respect to the interests of those who become involved.  

All are welcome!    

About the Research Circle

With this initiative, we hope to champion the central role research itself plays in our field. The intention is to support ever deeper insight and ever clearer articulation of that which our beautiful, warm, soul-spiritual practices stand upon.  The research seeks to be both informed by and relevant to practical activity in the field. 


Where the breadth of biography and social art is supported by depth, the work will be sound -- and worthy.


Spiritual or esoteric science, as communicated by Rudolf Steiner, is the vital underpinning of every general reference to “biography” within anthroposophical understanding. You can read more about the role of research within the School of Spiritual Science, and the special place held for the human being in the General Section of the Anthroposophical Society at: 

https://allgemeine-sektion.goetheanum.ch/en/the-section


For more information, contact Leah:  biographyworker@gmail.com 

more about Circles

Circles_sugg guidlines for forming and sustaining_Sept 2022 (pdf)Download
Circles_sample themes and prompts (pdf)Download

Background

the Origin of "Autonomy in Association"

The phrase "autonomy in association" is coined from the following passage --


When societies arise, this should come about according to the purpose of the fifth post-Atlantean period, in such a way that the human beings who are united in these societies are the main thing, with the purpose of achieving what can follow from the dealings of these actual people, with one another.  If this is realized, truly individual results will be achieved.  But what is usually done today?  The first thing is that statutes are drawn up.  That may all be very good, it may indeed be necessary, because outer circumstances demand statutes.  But in our field, we should be quite clear that all talk about programs 

and statutes is only a concession to the world, and that the important thing must be the individual life together, what follows from these actual people.  Mutual understanding is the decisive thing.   

-- Rudolf Steiner, Zurich; October 10, 1916   


“… the important thing is the individual life together”—autonomy in association. 



“When we come together, insight, enthusiasm and courage show up every time.”

Contributions Are Welcome

And will be applied directly to Conference 2025.  Thank you!

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