- Arie van Ameringen

Dear Friends,

As the spring season approaches, our inner being encounters the "rebirth of the universal spirit bringing us the joy of cosmic becoming". The Soul Calendar verses for March (weeks 50, 51, 52) urge us to become aware of the moment when the "I" can come into conscious contact with cosmic light.

Into the inner self of Man

The senses' riches pour themselves;

The cosmic Spirit finds itself

Reflected in the human eye,

Which must create anew

From it, its inner strength.

- The Calendar of the Soul, Rudolf Steiner. Anticipation of spring (21-27 March), translation by Daisy Aldan (Anthroposophic Press)

Throughout the decades, Canadian poets, both French-speaking and  

English-speaking, have been inspired by their respective sensibilities to describe this rebirth of nature in spring. They express in images the joy one feels when discovering new life. Beyond linguistic differences, one can discern a characteristic feature of the "Canadian soul" - if one can speak of such a phenomenon - which could be described as having a unique connection to nature. This bond causes us to experience this period of renewal with great intensity and makes us particularly aware of the time of the year when outer light comes to triumph over darkness. 

Here are two  poems that express this special connection, along with their corresponding translations.  Follow these links:

♦  Hymne au Printemps (Felix Leclerc )

♦  Poem by Duncan Campbell Scott

In closing, I invite you to click here for updates about the following events:

♦ Annual General Meeting in Toronto, 17-19 May. 

♦ Tour with Bodo von Plato this summer

♦  Encountering our Humanity Conference 2016