POLARITIES & FORMING the CENTER: The Building Motif of the Second Goetheanum November 2026

 

The Art of Meta-morphosis Art Study Year at the Goetheanum

Dear Art Lovers, dear Friends,

the students in their second year of art studies at the Goetheanum have successfully completed their third trimester Painting and invite you to a Studio Exhibition on Thursday, 25 June at 3 pm.

The Art Study Year, comprising three trimesters of intensive full-time artistic work, is intended for individuals who wish to awaken, intensify and deepen their relationship with art and Anthroposophy. Although the entire year makes a whole, each trimester can be attended individually. The Art Study Year is especially suitable as a time of orientation for recent graduates, offering a possibility of learning for all life situations, through self encounter and the opening of fresh orientations through participation in a learning community.

The new Art Study Year begins on 5 October on the theme ‘The Art of Metamorphosis’, newly available in English as well. Please refer to the flyer available for download below for further information.

We look forward to welcoming you to the exhibition and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the new Art Study Year.

Warm regards, on behalf of the Leadership team,

Christiane Haid

 

An In-Process Look into Soul Portrait of John the Beloved Kristena West

 The Individuality of Elias, John, Raphael, Novalis

For my yearly EASTER painting, I wanted to work with Raphael and see where this led. What should not have been surprising is a soul portrait of John the Beloved. We are still working on this painting, but the breakthrough came into color at 3-4 o'clock on Good Friday as I was resting gazing at the painting, and listening to En Passion et Morte Dominae (Nova Schola Alberto Turco) Gregorian Chant for Good Friday. It's always a mystery entering into painting with sacred intention.

I remember something Rudolf Steiner said when Marie Steiner would go to a room to think about which writer she might work with for Eurythmy, he said the room would fill with spirits of departed poets. May it be so for all of us!

Good Friday 2017

Kristena West

www.KristenaWestArt.com

The Last Address given by Rudolf Steiner

The truth is, my dear friends, this earthly personality of Raphael was completely yielded up and was only present through what Lazarus-John gave to this soul to be poured out into colour and line for all mankind.

Such was the life of this being. And it was so, that this Raphael life could only be, as it were, absolved in another life of thirty years — in Novalis. And so we see Raphael die young, Novalis die young — one being, who came forth from Elijah-John, appearing before mankind in two different forms, preparing through art and through poetry the true Michael mood of soul, sent down by the Michael stream as messenger to men on Earth.

And now we behold the wonderful artistic power of Raphael come to life again in Novalis in poetry that stirs and enraptures the hearts of men. All that through Raphael was given to human eyes to see, — of this could human hearts drink deep, when it came again in Novalis.

When we consider the life of Novalis, what an echo we find there of the Raphael life for which Hermann Grimm had so fine an understanding! His beloved dies in her youth. He is himself still young. What is he going to do with his life now that she has died? He tells us himself. He says that his life on Earth will be henceforth to “die after her”, to follow her on the way of death. He wants to pass over already now into the super-sensible, to lead again the Raphael life, not touching the Earth, but living out in poetry his magic idealism. He would fain not let himself be touched by Earth life.

When we read the “Fragments” of Novalis, and give ourselves up to the life that flows so abundantly in them, we can discover the secret of the deep impression they make on us. Whatever we have before us in immediate sense-reality, whatever the eye can see and recognise as beautiful — all this, through the magic idealism that lives in the soul of Novalis, appears in his poetry with a well-nigh heavenly splendour. The meanest and simplest material thing — with the magic idealism of his poetry he can make it live again in all its spiritual light and glory.

And so we see in Novalis a radiant and splendid forerunner of that Michael stream which is now to lead you all, my dear friends, while you live; and then, after you have gone through the gate of death, you will find in the spiritual super-sensible worlds all those others — among them also the being of whom I have been speaking to you today — all those with whom you are to prepare the work that shall be accomplished at the end of the century, and that shall lead mankind past the great crisis in which it is involved.

This work is: to let the Michael Power and the Michael Will penetrate the whole of life. The Michael Power and the Michael Will are none other than the Christ Will and the Christ Power, going before in order to implant in the right way into the Earth the Power of the Christ. If this Michael Power is able verily to overcome all that is of the demon and the dragon [and you will know what that is], if you all, who have in this way received in the light Michael Thought, have indeed received it with true and faithful heart and with tender love, and will endeavour to go forward from the Michael mood of this year, until not only is the Michael Thought revealed in your soul, but you are able also to make the Michael Thought live in your deeds in all its strength and all its power — if this is so, then will you be true servants of the Michael Thought, worthy helpers of what has now to enter Earth-evolution through Anthroposophy, and take its place there in the meaning of Michael.

If, in the near future, in four times twelve human beings, the Michael Thought becomes fully alive — four times twelve human beings, that is, who are recognised not by themselves but by the Leadership of the Goetheanum in Dornach — if in four times twelve such human beings, leaders arise having the mood of soul that belongs to the Michael festival, then we can look up to the light that through the Michael stream and the Michael activity will be shed abroad in the future among mankind.

Because this is so, my dear friends, I have made the effort today to rise up and speak to you, if only in these few short words. My strength is not sufficient for more today. May the words so speak to your soul that you receive the Michael Thought in the sense of what a faithful follower of Michael may feel when, clothed in the light rays of the Sun, Michael appears and points us to that which must now take place. For it must even be so that this Michael garment, this garment of Light, shall become the Words of the Worlds, which can transform the Logos of the Worlds into the Logos of Mankind. Therefore let my words to you today be these:

Springing from Powers of the Sun, Radiant Spirit-powers, blessing all Worlds! For Michael's garment of rays Ye are predestined by Thought Divine.

He, the Christ-messenger, revealeth in you — Bearing mankind aloft — the sacred Will of Worlds. Ye, the radiant Beings of Aether-Worlds, Bear the Christ-Word to Man.

Thus shall the Heralds of Christ appear To the thirstily waiting souls, To whom your Word of Light shines forth In cosmic age of Spirit-Man. Ye, the disciples of Spirit-Knowledge, Take Michael's Wisdom beckoning, Take the Word of Love of the Will of Worlds Into your soul's aspiring, a c t i v e l y !

Ex Deo Nascimur,

In Christo Morimur,

Per Spiritum Sanctum Reviviscimus

From God we are born,

In Christ we die,

(and) in the Holy Spirit we are reborn revived-reborn

....................................................................................................

Kristena West Art & Healing YouTube Channel

LOVE THE SUN ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL UHRICH FARM JOHNSTOWN CO JUNE 20

 

ANTHRO ART GRAPHIC DESIGN AND FORM DRAWING THE ART OF SPACE AND LINE FRIDAY-SUNDAY JUNE5 -7 2026 VAN JAMES

 

 

The artistic imagination acts as a powerful bridge between the unseen and the seen. By exploring cross-cultural traditions, we can learn to awaken our perceptions and our imaginative skills. This journey begins with understanding how the artist’s mind naturally interfaces with the Anima Mundi, or world soul.

In this podcast, I will introduce four techniques that will help you use your imagination in ways you may not have experienced before. These practices allow you to focus on perception and our image making facalities to enliven our creative capacities.  

These four techniques put the power back where it belongs: in your hands and your vision. This is about waking up your imagination and focusing it toward manifesting an inspired art career and re-shaping your life to bring your creative gifts to the world. Our Creative Will is the most mysterious spiritual force within each of us—listen to this podcast and add these manifestation techniques to your toolkit. 

• Techniques to exercise your imagination

• Learn how to focus your intention and will.

• Work with creative imaging to activate your will.

More art classes & personal development at KristenaWestArt.com

BLACK & WHITE SHADED DRAWING: THE ART OF LIGHT & DARK VAN JAMES - FRIDAY-SUNDAY MAY 29-31

 

Healing Through Art with Pamela Whitman & Ken Smith APRIL 25 and MAY 19

 

HEART-SIGHT: A CONTEMPLATIVE JOURNEY WITH CHRIST AS OUR HEALING ICON: VISIONARY ART

https://www.kristenawestart.com/christ-icon-reg

In this sacred movement into contemplative artistic practice, we open the door to a deeper connection with the spirit of the season. Our journey begins with the ancient, grounding presence of the Christ Pantocrator, Photograph download provided. Second video tutorial is the visionary insights of Rudolf Steiner’s Head of Christ - use charcoal, pastel, watercolor or paint.

It is my hope that this practice serves as a bridge for everyone who feels called to a higher creativity. To celebrate this time of renewal, I am offering a sacred gift of the season with a special tuition of $27 (originally $85).

 

Color and Form as Bridge to the Spiritual World Ascension Conference 2026-Bucharest Visual Arts Section in Rumania

 

MICHAEL HOWARD VISIBLE MUSIC VISIBLE SPEECH FEB 20-MARCH 22 - 2026

 

LARRY YOUNG FEB 20-MARCH 22 2026

LARRY YOUNG 1944-2026

Larry Young devoted the last decade of his life primarily to painting. Working in watercolor and pastel, he approached the human face as a living reflection of thought, feeling, and will. His portraits reveal how subtle shifts in color and form make visible the evolving life within.

Opening February 22, 2026, at the Lightforms Art Center in Hudson, New York, 'Face to Face' will feature more than one hundred works selected from the thousands he created over his lifetime. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larryyoung63

 

HEALING THROUGH ART with Pamela Whitman and Ken Smith FEB 28 & MARCH 19

 

 VIRTUAL GALLERY LINK: https://pes.hds.harvard.edu/steinerco.../digital-art-exhibit

Divinity School’s Program for the Evolution of Spirituality has a Virtual Gallery up for the “100 Years Rudolf Steiner” conference, and it’s a wonderful way to meet the artists connected with this gathering.

Harvard

The gallery is set up as a simple grid—each image leads to an artist’s name, and from there you can click through to view their work (and websites, when available). It’s a vibrant mix of visual languages—painting, drawing, sculpture, and more—and it’s genuinely enjoyable to browse and discover who is showing what.

I recommend spending a little time in the gallery as we don't know how long this online virtual gallery is available.

Harvard Divinity School 100 Years of Rudolf Steiner Conference Virtual Gallery Open Kristena West

"The common trait of all evil is nothing other than egoism. Basically all human evil comes from what we call selfish-ness. There will be as much deceit and criminality in the world as there is lack of art." ........15 January, 1914 Berlin GA 063 (thanks John Stolfo)

I’m sharing my Sophia installation as part of the Harvard Divinity School Virtual Gallery. Lifting the Seven Veils grows out of years of study around good and evil and the inner work of lifting illusion through the contrary virtues. I build the installation as a participatory sequence—seven colored veils, one after another—so color and form become a contemplative practice. I also work from a Rosicrucian dream practice taught by my father—an anthroposophist from Germany.

I’m grateful to share this work through Harvard’s virtual gallery, and I invite you to enter Sophia—Holy Wisdom—through art making in the third realm, where sensory experience and spiritual insight meet through awakened attention. 

HARVARD DIVINITY: 100 YEARS OF RUDOLF STEINER /A Century Later — Steiner Steps Into the Light DECEMBER 14, 15 & 16 Kristena West M.A.

Harvard Divinity School – Rudolf Steiner Centenary Conference 

This video offers an overview of Harvard Divinity School’s centenary conference on Rudolf Steiner, “100 Years Rudolf Steiner,” hosted by the Program for the Evolution of Spirituality. 

I briefly walk through the published program, note a number of the presentations, and comment on the range of Steiner initiatives represented there, including visual art (with reference to Hilma af Klint), Waldorf education, biodynamic gardening, anthroposophical medicine, and Steiner's black board drawings.  I also touch on Steiner’s presence in museums and cultural life. 

Sign up for Free Virtual Attendance - all info under my vlog. 

VISUAL ART & PAINTING METHODS with VAN JAMES. NOV 28/NOV 30/DEC 5/DEC 7

 CONTACT SMZ.ANTHROPOSOPHY@SMZWALDORF.EDUCATION

 ESOTERIC DREAMWORK: he veil between the worlds is thinner — it is the season for working with our Loved ones over the threshold.

Module One: Rosicrucian Dreamwork — Lucid, Precognitive Etheric Vision

Module Two: Dreamwork with the Dead — Bridging Time and Threshold

Dreams are sacred gateways of knowledge.
In Esoteric Dreamwork, you’ll learn to approach dreaming as a path of initiation and communication with the spiritual world.

Part One: Rosicrucian Dreamwork explores the Rosicrucian three-day rhythm of dreams described by Steiner. Through rhythm, gratitude, and journaling, we begin to perceive how the future, health prompts, and spiritual experiences first announce themselves in dreams. Working consciously with the dream image, we learn to discern reflection dreams, organ dreams, and true imaginations.

Part Two: Dreamwork with the Dead dYou will learn how to pose a question before sleep and become aware of the "waking moment" to capture the answers, images the answer from the realm of "the dead" or our beloved friends over the threshold. 

"Now, it is a fact that of the two conditions of consciousness which rush so quickly past the man of to-day—those of waking and of falling asleep—the one is adapted for the question only, the other only for the reply. The peculiarity is that the moment of falling asleep is specially favourable for putting the question to the dead; that is, for the hearing of the question which we put to him. " Rudolf Steiner Earthly Death and Cosmic Life [GA 181]

Ancient Rosicrucian wisdom for the modern seeker — a self-paced study with Kristena West, M.A.
Writer, spiritual-scientific researcher, and sacred art teacher with advanced degrees in Psychology, Dream Studies, and Cross-Cultural Sacred Iconography.
Includes the Sacred Sleep eBook.

SIGN UP SLIDING SCALE AT KRISTENAWESTART.COM