ABOUT US OUR INITIATIVES GET INVOLVED THE LATEST TOURS DONATE The Work of Rudolf Steiner & Anthroposophy Rudolf Steiner circa 1905 Rudolf Steiner, (1861-1925) was a philosopher, a natural scientist, and a researcher into the relationship between “spirit” and “matter.” In his lifetime he made lasting contributions to the fields of natural science, medicine, education, painting, sculpture, dance, politics, economics, and agriculture. Biodynamic farming and Waldorf education draw their inspiration from his work. Steiner developed a science of spiritual investigation, which he called “Anthroposophy” – or the study of the wisdom of man. The results of these investigations in the fields mentioned above form the basis of over 6,000 lectures and over 30 books. He hoped to help achieve the integration of science, art, religion, and morality within a greater cosmology and to further the understanding of the role of the human being within evolution. It was through very special faculties and abilities that Steiner was able to bridge the gap between “spirit” and “matter.” In such books as Theosophy, How to Know Higher Worlds, and An Outline of Esoteric Science, Steiner sets forth paths of self-development that help the individual develop the capacity for direct personal knowledge and deeper understanding of the spiritual and physical worlds and the interplay between them. At Hawthorne Valley, some people are members of the Anthroposophical Society, an association of people interested in knowing more about Steiner’s work. Of these people, some choose to belong to the School for Spiritual Science. In order to join this School, one has to make a commitment to follow Steiner’s path of development. Meditation is one key to this path and members of the School for Spiritual Science are given a series of meditations with which to work. Hawthorne Valley is a thriving, multi-faceted community. Some parents who have never heard of Steiner’s work send their children to the Waldorf School simply because it offers an excellent private education. Others parents are committed students of anthroposophy or “anthroposophists.” It was extremely important to Rudolf Steiner that people work with his ideas out of complete freedom, without any dogma attached to their efforts. This remains the ideal at Hawthorne Valley. hawthornevalley Our Initiatives Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School Hawthorne Valley Farm & Farmer Training Hawthorne Valley Farm Store Children’s Programming Alkion Center for Waldorf Teacher Education Center for Social Research Farmscape Ecology Program Walking the Dog Theater Adonis Press ABOUT HAWTHORNE VALLEY Hawthorne Valley Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit made up of diverse initiatives committed to the renewal of soil, society and self by integrating agriculture, education, and art. Accessibility Statement 327 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY 12075 Phone: 518-672-4465 info@hawthornevalleyassociation.org OUR INITIATIVES Hawthorne Valley Association Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School Hawthorne Valley Farm & Farmer Training Hawthorne Valley Farm Store Children’s Programming Alkion Center Center for Social Research Farmscape Ecology Program Walking the Dog Theater Rolling Grocer 19 Adonis Press RECENT HVA NEWS Roots to Renewal features local educator & artist Martina Müller Honoring 50th anniversary of “Diet for a Small Planet” Winter CSA Shares Now Available Roots to Renewal: The Role of Money and the Creative Process Adapting to New Farming Realities © 2021 Hawthorne Valley Association, All rights reserved.