Autonomy In Association

Autonomy In AssociationAutonomy In AssociationAutonomy In Association

Autonomy In Association

Autonomy In AssociationAutonomy In AssociationAutonomy In Association

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 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. 

BIOGRAPHY conference 2025

MEETING IN COMMUNITY :  HONORING THE THINNING VEIL

October 2025


A Reflection by Linda Bergh


Meeting, eye to eye, heart to heart

The opening circle cracking open, the striving of each one of us as the mission of the biography being was ever strengthened

The karma circle, the association discussion, the naming of circles, the Goethean conversation and review, all showing the power and challenge of our shared journey with each other and with spirit

The ancestors holding us, feeling acknowledged by our honoring of them by the candles lit and the stories shared, all of us sensing our ever-present connections

The gifts of individual striving through studio work guided well

All the conversations between sessions - deepening the web of connection word by word

The food - oh the food - oh the food - oh the food …

The moving forward of karma and circle work through striving sharing

The moving forward the elders, finding a way to hold with Sophia this sacred I-Thou soul work, the work of our time

The planting of the young Willow – watering and nurturing her roots as we felt the roots beneath our own feet welcoming her to the sacred land, which has welcomed us

The visitation to the Stones, ever present, ever present – stretching us from the deep water beneath the earth, to the warmth of the grass beneath our feet, and upward and outward to the farthest star.  We felt timeless as we touched the Stones and leaned our bodies against them

The meeting of each of our eyes as we went around the closing circle singing led by our national treasure - from you I receive to you I give together we share and from this we live

The courage of each one to be here to be in the now of meeting the other through sound, through touch of hands, through looking into each other's eyes. Another moment out of time

The thinning of the veils – the name of the conference – was truly alive

We experienced the thinning of all the veils - the veils of the visible and invisible with the spirit world and our ancestors

Those within us and between us 

Those between us and the being of Biography …

All guiding us toward deep healing and transformation

We are thinning the Veil - and in this the veil-thinning, 

breath by breath, 

We are one. 

May this sacred time strengthen our future work together …

Gratitude warms my heart as I share these impressions

Forgive me for using “we” - I could not somehow write it as “I”

What a privilege to share time and space with each and all of you

We are one round round round, We are one, walking sacred ground

We are one round round round, We are one making sacred sound 

We are one round round round, We are one making love abound …

Round, round … 


WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, INSIGHT, ENTHUSIASM, AND COURAGE SHOW UP EVERY TIME.

practical information toward creative conversation

M Spock_The Art of Goethean Conversation (pdf)Download
M Spock_Group Moral Artistry Part I (pdf)Download

A Leading Thought

 Sergei Prokofieff 

The Esoteric Significance of Spiritual Work in Anthroposophical Groups


Rudolf Steiner’s spiritual-scientific indications regarding the conditions necessary for 

the collaboration of human beings with the new group souls [– Spiritual Beings longing to meet with us –] may be cultivated in three successive stages: knowledge of spiritual truths of anthroposophy in thinking; free streaming together of feelings around a single focus; attaining of social unity in the will. Of the three conditions, the main one is the second, which may be attained by human beings only by dint of their developing thinking of the heart. 


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 and Social Art Practitioners are below.

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 circle 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:  biographyworker@gmail.com 

About the Karma and Biography Research Circle

The interest of the Karma and Biography Research Circle is in following a path of inner development by working with exercises given by Steiner for recognizing karma in our biographies. Emphasis is placed on taking an exercise and working with it, using our own life paths. The focus is on our personal discoveries and on developing the capacities required, rather than on reading and presenting Steiner’s findings. For more on this circle, see the Karma and Biography Research Circle Report 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!    

more about Circles

Circles_sugg guidlines for forming and sustaining_Sept 2022 (pdf)Download
Circles_sample themes and prompts (pdf)Download
Karma and Biography Research Circle Report_Dec2024 (1) (pdf)Download

The Initiative circle - Current members

Paulette Arnold, Illinois

Paulette Arnold, Illinois

Paulette Arnold, Illinois

Sarah Putnam, N. Carolina

Paulette Arnold, Illinois

Paulette Arnold, Illinois

Lorna Kohler, California

Paulette Arnold, Illinois

Lorna Kohler, California

Seneca Gonzalez, Vermont

Seneca Gonzalez, Vermont

Seneca Gonzalez, Vermont

Eileen Jones, Vermont

Seneca Gonzalez, Vermont

Seneca Gonzalez, Vermont

Diane Piette, Illinois

Diane Piette, Illinois

Diane Piette, Illinois

Leah Walker, Illinois

Diane Piette, Illinois

Diane Piette, Illinois

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. 



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

Contributions Are Welcome

And will be applied to scholarship at our next conference.  Thank you!

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