Summer Reading
The Wonder of Trees: Nature Activities for Children. Andrea Frommherz and Edith Biedermann, Floris, 2012, 150 pgs.
This fascinating book is not just for children. It is filled with lore illuminating the arboreal world. Which tree gives us strength; which leaves and blossoms can be made into soothing ointments and delicious teas; and which tree can be entrusted with our secrets? The authors introduce 13 common trees through stories, songs, games, and crafts; traditional rituals associated with trees; and simple recipes for food and the medicine cabinet.  The Rose on the Ash-Heap. Owen Barfield, Barfield Press, 2009, 98 pgs.A beach read for anthroposophists? The Rose on the Ash-Heap is the epilogue from English People, Barfield's unpublished novel of English life between the First and Second World Wars. "At once fairy tale, societal critique, romance and apocalyptic vision, it discloses the redemptive powers of love and imagination."
 Rudolf Steiner's Intentions for the Anthroposophical Society: The Executive Council, the School for Spiritual Science, and the Sections. Peter Selg, SteinerBooks, 2011, 86 pgs.Written in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Rudolf Steiner's birth, this book seeks to clarify the mission and tasks of the Anthroposophical Society by describing the historical background of anthroposophy's "civilizational task" and how he had hoped it might be accomplished.
 Footprints of an Angel: Episodes from a Joint Autobiography.Siegfried E. Finser, Lindisfarne Books, 2012, 228 pgs. How might we find our angel? The author begins by considering various "inexplicable" events in his life, and realizes that major turning points seemed to happen largely by accident, coincidence, or even a series of miracles. People often say, "The devil is in the details." This book shows that our angel is also present in the details of our lives. Old Favorites Summer can be a wonderful time to rediscover old friends (or make new ones).  Elective Affinities: A Novel. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1962, 274 pgs.This provocative novel's challenging themes (among them, fidelity and karma) are quite modern. Rudolf Steiner said of it, "look at Elective Affinities, and you will see what Goethe was striving for but failed to achieve. Everywhere he was striving to place the human being within a great spiritual context. He was unable to do so...."
 The Rhythm of the Christian Year: Renewing the Religious Cycle of Festivals. Emil Bock, Floris Books, 2000, 240 pgs.
In this collection of festival meditations, Emil Bock explores ways to deepen our understanding of the Christian festive year. An active renewal of the festivals today can not only heighten our appreciation of the Earth as a living organism, but can provide new energy for humanity's social life.
Harmony of the Creative Word: The Human Being & the Elemental, Animal, Plant, and Mineral Kingdoms, Oct. 19 - Nov. 11, 1923 (CW 230), Rudolf Steiner, trans.and revised by Matthew Barton, Rudolf Steiner Press, 2001, 244 pgs.
This series of lectures centers on the human being as a microcosm containing all the laws and secrets of the world. Rudolf Steiner presents the plant and animal worlds within the context of planetary and cosmic evolution, introduces the elemental nature spirits, and then places the human being at the heart of this "spiritual celebration of life."  Aurora: The Northern Lights in Mythology, History, and Science. Harald Falck-Ytter, Floris, 1985, 167 pgs.
In this beautifully illustrated book, filled with dramatic color photos, the author "reveals the mythology surrounding the aurora in different northern cultures, as well as the science behind the phenomenon. He discusses responses to the aurora, ranging from Aristotle to modern geophysicists, together with evidence from various cultures and traditions, thus charting the gradual understanding through history of this awe-inspiring experience. Demonstrating the influence of the sun in the creation of the aurora, Falck-Ytter compares the northern lights with other light phenomena, such as lightning and rainbows."
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