Dear Conference guests / possible guests who are considering attending, please find below the details of the confirmed workshops

Please find below a list first then the details further down

  • Simone Königsperger – Eurythmy
  • Herbert Wolpert – Civil Society and the Challenges Ahead
  • René De Monchy – Illness as (necessary?) crisis in our human biography and the challenge of transformation in order ‘to get better’
  • Ian Henderson, Marinus La Rooij – biodynamics
  • Robyn Hewetson – Speaking and Listening, our most human arts
  • John Suggate & Gritt Enevold & others – Introduction to Anthroposophy
  • Vanya Howell-Kress – singing and music
  • Diederic Raurus – Society as a Threefold Organism
  • Alan Cummins – Form and Chaos

#1 – Simone Königsperger
Eurythmy

Born 1966 in Germany, studied Eurythmy in The Hague. Bachelor‘s degree in Dance/Eurythmy. Arrived in NZ for a Eurythmy tour in 1988.
Eurythmy teacher at Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School for 23 years, with both children and adults. Diploma in Te Reo Maori.
Also trained as Eurythmy Therapist, working part-time at Helios Medical Centre in Christchurch.

Assuming that we all share the experience of “Falling apart” to some degree in various ways, the question arises where and how can we get a sense of feeling centred.
Could our centre be found in “The whole human being”?
Based on the Foundation Stone Meditation I plan to work with various Eurythmy movements which may aid us in gaining a certain experience of “centre” in our quest for daily integration and wholeness.
Especially the heart as an organ for future perception will receive ‘special attention’.
Relating back to the conference titled “What matters?” 2 years ago, I believe it matters what we from our heart will send into “The Field”, the ‘etheric realm’ around us… We will engage in this together outside also.

#2 – Herbert Wolpert
Civil Society and the Challenges Ahead

Senior consultant of MIRA with 20+ years experience in Organisation and Leadership Development, Mediation and Executive Coaching. I work across a wide range of sectors including organisations in industry, commerce, trade, education, healthcare, ministries, media and banking.
Active in Civil Society Development since 2011 in South East Asia and Africa.
MSc in Psychology and qualifications in Education, Mediation, Organisation Development.
Born and educated in Germany and resides part of the year in New Zealand.

‘It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.‘

We stand in a critical moment in Earth’s history as we are on the brink of destruction of ourselves and the diversity of life. Injustice, poverty, ignorance, environmental issues, and conflicts are widespread and the cause of great frustration and suffering.
In this workshop we will focus on the role of Civil Society and the megatrends we are facing on our home, the beautiful and needful Earth. It is no accident that we are on this planet at this crucial point of time, witnessing huge changes in our societies.
Out of our anthroposophical understanding we are citizens of two worlds – a visible and an invisible.
How does our spiritual background relate to these challenges? As we all know, vision alone is not enough, it also requires meaningful action to create a better humane, ecological and social world within our reach. Our actions are serving the two worlds. It is not time to lose heart. We are made for these times.

#3 – René De Monchy
Illness as (necessary?) crisis in our human biography and the challenge of transformation in order ‘to get better’

Psychiatrist for past 13 years after almost 20 years (anthroposophical) general practice, including school-doctorship, followed by 4 years practicing in an isolated rural mission-hospital in Africa.
Trained in medicine in the Netherlands before emigrating to New Zealand in 1975, and getting involved in anthroposophy.
The uniqueness of each human biography, with their traumas and crises as challenges, and the place of the ‘healing spirits’ continue to deeply move me in compassion and humility.

Illness as (necessary?) crisis in our human biography and the challenge of transformation in order ‘to get better’.

An interactive workshop, drawing on experiences and anthroposophical concepts and practices around illness and recovery.
What does illness and ‘getting better’ actually entail in our biography from childhood to old age?

#4 – Biodynamics

Ian Henderson

Demeter certified Biodynamic farmer at Milmore Downs, North Canterbury, since 1983; sheep, beef, cereal production and processing, direct marketing, educational outreach.

Former BD association councillor and Manager of Demeter NZ.

Active in Demeter International since 1991 in the Board, as standards committee coordinator and in the certification office.

Falling apart – holding the centre is applicable to modern conventional agriculture and the counter movement to maintain productive capacity of food through care of the soil at all levels.
Farmers have the task of nourishing humanity. Rudolf Steiner said that our ability to realise our dreams and aspiration arising in the world of the spirit relies on good nutrition, nutrition appropriate for the body, soul and spirit.
BD is by far the best of the ‘green’ possibilities to do just that – we’ll look at what it is in the light of anthroposophy, how the world of the etheric can be supported using preparations given by Rudolf Steiner and in the second session use one of them to treat the school grounds.

Marinus La Rooij

Marinus trained in biodynamic agriculture in the Netherlands and has managed biodynamic farms and gardens in Hawkes Bay, the Kapiti Coast and Canterbury. He now lives in Christchurch. Marinus combines wide practical experience in biodynamics, – including work as adult educator, farm advisor, Demeter and Biogro inspector and biodynamic Council member, – with study of anthroposophy as it pertains to the living world of soil, plant and animal.

The conference workshop will take the format of a presentation followed by a discussion. What is the connection between elemental beings and the biodynamic preparations ? What does it mean to make the Earth inwardly alive ? And what is this 1 hour stirring all about ?

#5 – Robyn Hewetson
Speaking and Listening, our most human arts

I gained my Education degree in New Zealand then Diploma of Waldorf Education from Emerson College then four year diploma from London School of Speech Formation.
I worked in Steiner Schools and Curative homes in UK, USA and NZ.
I have my own business called WellSpoken and teach students, teachers and business people the power of speaking.

We will work on some poetry and exercises to revive our love of the spoken word and the gifts it has for our ears and souls.

#6 – John Suggate & Gritt Enevold & others
Introduction to Anthroposophy

An opportunity for those new to Anthroposophy to hear about some of the basic ideas.

#7 – Vanya Howell-Kress
Singing and music

I have been very fortunate to have grown up in a family where music was always valued very highly and was often one of the main centres of activity. I sang in a number of community choirs around the world and in 2015 was asked whether I could start a community choir on the Kapiti Coast. I am currently one of two music teachers at Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School and I have been leading the Festival of Song, the senior solos. As one of the few schools in the world which facilitate all students to sing a final solo before graduating, this has been a key part of my role.

This series of workshops will create a space to discuss working with singing for all ages but the focus will be on singing together as a group in multiple harmonies. I will be happy to speak about age appropriate songs, share song materials and ways which I have found useful for approaching singing as a transformative experience. All abilities and backgrounds welcome

#8 – Diederic Raurus
Society as a Threefold Organism

In this workshop I want to present some of Rudolf Steiner’s main ideas concerning society and how it could/should be structured. How we regard ourselves reflects in the sort of society we bring about. In New Zealand various political parties have different “pictures” of society and therefore have a different focus and thus their policies differ. Steiner took his perception of the human being as a basis for developing a threefold structure for society. How do we understand this? How might it look in practice?

#9 – Alan Cummins
Form and Chaos

I have been working with the medium of sculpture over many years, and have tutored a number of classes for different age groups and abilities. My own work includes carving the planetary motifs in plaster for the capitals in the Hohepa Canterbury Hall. Also creating the range of Artplay wooden figures primarily for children’s play. I am currently working as the hard materials Technology Teacher at the Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School and tutoring a wood sculpture class at the Risingholme Community Centre.

In this workshop we will work with the medium of clay to explore a personal relief motif that expresses ‘Holding Your Centre’ within the surrounding and encroaching influences. These forms will then be extended in an interaction when ‘Meeting the Other’.

OPEN SPACE

This is not strictly a workshop but a time where anyone who wishes to do so can offer a topic on which they can speak and/or lead a discussion. Offers prior to the conference can be forwarded to the organisers. It will also be possible to offer topics at the start of the conference.

Marinus la Rooij has offered a talk on the Class of the School of Spiritual Science.