at work behind our thinking and which are liberated in us after they have formed our brain. He then described how the transformed forces of the word that fashion the larynx and are freed at puberty can lead us to knowledge of former incarnations—a sphere rendered dangerous by Ahriman and Lucifer. He then went on to speak about the forces that bring about the upright position and which, in the case of man, are held in reserve after he has learned to walk in childhood. We can discover these pure and sacred forces within us and can transform them into faculties that grant us vision of the loftiest spiritual regions we inhabit between death and rebirth. “You may ask how this can be accomplished. We have already made a start when we seek for these forces,” said Rudolf Steiner. “If all proceeds normally these forces generally grow active only after the age of seven, but the beginning is there and this beginning will lead further. As a rule these forces, which have been saved up in man’s bodily nature, are disregarded. Now the human being can promote consciousness of them by practicing an appropriate form of dancing. Of course this consciousness can be produced through meditation too, but for nearly a year now, the new art of eurythmy, based on the principles governing the movements of the etheric body, has been practiced in anthroposophical circles....” What importance Rudolf Steiner attached to eurythmy can be seen by a story told by Dr. Noll, who cared for him towards the end of his life. Rudolf Steiner was distressed that owing to his illness “so little was happening.” Therefore Marie Steiner made the great sacrifice of leaving Dornach with the eurythmists in order to visit several German cities. And when telegrams brought news of the success of eurythmy performances, Rudolf Steiner wept with joy.... From “Eurythmy as the Mystery Art of Our Time,” translated by A. Innes.
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being human
Eurythmy, A Worldwide Gift by Sue Simpson Sue Simpson is both a eurythmist and General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in New Zealand. Eurythmy has grown up out of the soil of the Anthroposophical Movement, and the history of its origin makes it almost appear to be a gift of the forces of destiny. Rudolf Steiner, Penmaenmawr, 26th August 1923
It was nearly one hundred years ago when this gift was first received. We have long since moved on from the excitement and challenges of the early years. Despite the passage of years, eurythmy is still a child in development; nurtured in the anthroposophical movement, it is only gradually finding its place in the world. It too faces the challenges of modern life. In Magdalene Siegloch’s biography of Lory Maier-Smits, How the New Art of Eurythmy Began, it is amazing to read how committed and engaged she remained over the next years as she worked in isolation. She immersed herself deeply into every instruction given and gradually she mastered each exercise. Lory not only worked with Steiner’s instructions, she brought her own initiative to the work. On a Lory Maier-Smits number of occasions, out of her practice or study of ancient Greek dances and art, she discovered something behind an exercise or explored new gestures or movements. Demonstrating these to Rudolf Steiner, she often met with his affirmative and supportive response. Lory became the teacher for the first interested young women. A number went on to become eurythmists, developing the artistic, educational and therapeutic eurythmy. World War I interrupted the continuity of her work. From the beginning, Marie Steiner took on responsibility for the nurturing and development of this young art and, in 1914, she took on the training. Over the years, a stage group was formed; eurythmists from approximately 20 nations came. Performances were given regularly in Dornach and also toured throughout Europe. The primary impulse of eurythmy was the artistic aspect. When eurythmy was inaugurated in 1912, there was no thought of its developing along any but artistic