Our Guest Speakers

Edward Schuldt, April 26, 2024

Edward Schuldt’s work with the Beatitudes was propelled by his research into the nature of evil and takes its point of departure from the indication Rudolf Steiner gave that the antidotes to the evils of the nine layers of the sub-earth are found in the Beatitudes. Edward’s decision in 2016 to share what had been a private activity came as a result of experiencing the hostility between people that has become such a strong characteristic of the social and political life of today. 

Edward has returned to the Midwest after leaving Camphill Village Minnesota for Camphill Copake in 1993. In his post-63 life, he is looking forward to beginning once more the in-person lectures and workshops that he gave throughout the Midwest during his time in Minnesota.

View our recordings with Edward Schuldt from: 4-02-21, 5-28-21, 6-25-21, 7-30-21, 8-27-21, 9-25-21 ,11-19-21 , 12-17-21, 1-28-22 , 3-04-22, 7-29-22, 9-09-22, 11-5-22, 12-9-22, 2-3-23, 3-17-23, 4-12-24 and his most recent offering:

Lynn Jericho, April 19, 2024

Lynn Jericho devotes her thinking, feeling and willing to the ancient admonition “O Human Soul, Know Thyself!” For thirty years she has been counseling and mentoring individuals and groups on their paths to self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-expression. Her blog on imagineself.com has over 3000 followers. Since 2004, she has been guiding people around the world through the Holy Nights with her inspiring Inner Christmas Messages. (240 messages). Beyond Inner Christmas, Lynn has offers guides for Inner Advent, Inner Epiphany, Inner Lent, Inner Easter, and Inner Pentecost.

*View our Café recordings with Lynn from 6-12-20, 12-18-20, 11-5-21, 10-7-22, 11-25-22, 3-15-24 and recently:

Edward Schuldt, April 12, 2024

Edward Schuldt’s work with the Beatitudes was propelled by his research into the nature of evil and takes its point of departure from the indication Rudolf Steiner gave that the antidotes to the evils of the nine layers of the sub-earth are found in the Beatitudes. Edward’s decision in 2016 to share what had been a private activity came as a result of experiencing the hostility between people that has become such a strong characteristic of the social and political life of today. 

Edward has returned to the Midwest after leaving Camphill Village Minnesota for Camphill Copake in 1993. In his post-63 life, he is looking forward to beginning once more the in-person lectures and workshops that he gave throughout the Midwest during his time in Minnesota.

View our recordings with Edward Schuldt from: 4-02-21, 5-28-21, 6-25-21, 7-30-21, 8-27-21, 9-25-21 ,11-19-21 , 12-17-21, 1-28-22 , 3-04-22, 7-29-22, 9-09-22, 11-5-22, 12-9-22, 2-3-23, 3-17-23 and his most recent offering:

Daniel Hafner, April 6, 2024

Daniel Hafner is a member of the Anthroposophical Society and the School for Spiritual Science.  He works as a priest in the Christian Community, currently in Nuremberg, Germany, but soon elsewhere.  Beginning this September, he will be leading a full-time introduction to Anthroposophy for young people.  Tap here to connect via email.

*View our Café recordings with Daniel from 5-6-23 and recently:

Timothy Kennedy, March 22, 2024

Timothy Kennedy has been a part of anthroposophical communities throughout his life. He has sought to find an Anthroposophy of the will, and through steady practice, and a lot of grace, is finding balance in his inner and outer work. He has led the largest natural building and design company in the US for 24 years, administrates the global Natural Building Network online and has been in development on a 700 acre project integrating regenerative farming, ecological restoration and healthy housing for 100+ humans. He recently joined the Western Regional Council of the Anthroposophical Society in America in hopes of furthering the life of Anthroposophia in the West.

*View our Café recordings with Timothy from 9-10-21 and recently:

Lynn Jericho, March 15, 2024

Lynn Jericho devotes her thinking, feeling and willing to the ancient admonition “O Human Soul, Know Thyself!” For thirty years she has been counseling and mentoring individuals and groups on their paths to self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-expression. Her blog on imagineself.com has over 3000 followers. Since 2004, she has been guiding people around the world through the Holy Nights with her inspiring Inner Christmas Messages. (240 messages). Beyond Inner Christmas, Lynn has offers guides for Inner Advent, Inner Epiphany, Inner Lent, Inner Easter, and Inner Pentecost.

*View our Café recordings with Lynn from 6-12-20, 12-18-20, 11-5-21, 10-7-22, 11-25-22 and recently:

Kerst deJong, March 8, 2024

Kerst de Jong was born and raised in the province of Friesland in The Netherlands. He studied mechanical engineering and traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. He came to Camphill in the UK in1990 and he has been living in Camphill Village Copake in upstate NY since 1998. For eight years he was the Executive Director of the Village and presently he is the president of the Camphill Association of North America. But he prefers to spend his time in the woodshop in Camphill Village.

Anne de Wilde, March 2, 2024

Anne de Wild is a mother of 4 grown up children and works as a naturopath and biography worker in her own practice in Basel, Switzerland. Together with Chris Burke, a psychology professor at Lehigh University, PA she founded the Hummingbird Principle, a platform to bring Biography and Social Art into the world. They are working with the big and small questions of our time and create thoughts, workshops, and hope to inspire all kinds of people around the globe. There will also be a work book coming out soon, called The Hummingbird Principle, Seven Lenses to Become More Human.

Alice Stamm, February 23, 2024

Alice Stamm was born in Connecticut and after college was fortunate to work and study in Europe for ten years where she studied eurythmy as well as therapeutic eurythmy. Returning to the States she has done eurythmy in schools and Camphill communities, and in performance work as well. At present retired, she teaches kindergarten eurythmy in both independent and public charter schools in the Sacramento area and Davis, CA.

*View our Café recordings with Alice from 1-7-22 and recently:

Harlan Gilbert, February 16, 2023

Harlan Gilbert grew up in the Chicago area. His educational journey led him through several US colleges, a Waldorf teacher training in England (Emerson College), and a eurythmy training in Switzerland. While Harlan’s early career was in computer programming and architectural design, since 1989 he has been active as a Waldorf educator, international anthroposophical lecturer, and writer. Harlan and his wife, an artist and educator, live in Chestnut Ridge, New York.

Andrew Linnell, February 9, 2023

Andrew Linnell is past president of the Boston branch of the Anthroposophical Society and a member of the School for Spiritual Science and its Natural Science Section. He is co-founder of MysTech, an organization seeking to realize Rudolf Steiner’s indications on Mechanical Occultism. He retired from a 42-year career in the computer industry in 2013 and has since focused on Anthroposophical work including his role as admin to a number of Anthroposophical Facebook groups. He is the father of three and the author of two children’s books, three art history books, and seven MysTech study guidebooks. These books are available at Rudolf Steiner Bookstore in Seattle and worldwide via Amazon. 

*View our Café recordings with Andrew from 7-17-20, 2-27-21, 7-9-21, 4-22-22, 7-8-22, 4-7-23 [+PDF], 9-29-23 and recently:

Angus Jenkinson, February 3, 2024

Angus Jenkinson has had a varied career across education, business, academia, and government. He is recognised and active across multiple scientific and practice disciplines including anthroposophical.

Doug Miller, January 26, 2024

Dr. Douglas Miller served as a professor of German and as an administrator at the University of Michigan-Flint for more than 40 years.  Now retired, Dr. Miller lectures and writes on anthroposophical topics including the life of Rudolf Steiner, the history of the Anthroposophical Society, and the esoteric of the  First Goetheanum. For several years he was also the editor of the Anthroposophical Society in America’s News for Members and of the English-language edition of the Goetheanum’s Anthroposophy Worldwide. He translated and edited a modern collection of Goethe’s scientific studies published in 1988, and continues to explore this aspect of Goethe’s writings with special emphasis on the Theory of Color.

Jennifer Goodman & Laura Embrey, January 19, 2024

Jennifer Goodman, M.Ed. is an anthroposophically based counselor, weaving together therapeutic approaches in her sessions. With over 20 years of experience, she supports adults, children, and teens in their self-development and relational wellbeing. She brings a powerful connection to the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and the Waldorf world through her deep work with Steiner’s planetary soul styles, Waldorf-based parent coaching and child counseling, and Social Inclusion work with schools and children. In addition to a master’s degree in education and anthroposophical counseling from Antioch, N.E., she is a certified Waldorf Collaborative Counselor, a Magic Makers Coach, a Simplicity Parenting Coach, and a Social Inclusion Coach. Jennifer’s robust background also includes Biographical Counseling, Social Mediation, Kashmir Shaivite and Vedantic philosophy and meditation, and therapeutic arts.

Laura Embrey most recently worked at Camellia Waldorf School as Pedagogical Director. Previous to this, she worked at a Waldorf-inspired charter high school, George Washington Carver, where she taught English. Before this, Laura worked at Sacramento Waldorf School in both lower and high schools. She has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley. She has published nine form drawing books and one novel. She serves on the board of trustees at Camellia Waldorf School and teaches online form drawing workshops to adults all over the world. She lives with her husband, David Wiant, and their beloved cat in Fair Oaks, CA.

*Please email: soulstylescourse@gmail.com for ‘A Taste of Transformation through the Planetary Soul Styles’ course details.

Kristena West, January 12, 2024

Kristena West M.A. is a dream teacher, a social and community artist and a teacher of men and women’s groups focused on gender reconciliation. She spent many years studying shamanic traditions and researching how Anthroposophy connects with traditional wisdom. Kristena received her Masters in Cross-Cultural Sacred Iconography, her life long question, “What Makes Art Sacred?” led her to the question, “What makes a Human being Sacred? Her graduate exhibition in 2002, Deities Dialogues and Dreams; Extra-Ordinary Conversations with Ordinary People showcased the installation, Lifting the Seven Veils of the Divine Sophia. Kristena is the author of two books; Alchemy the Magical Union of Soul, and Olaf Asteson. Kristena is a life-long student and teacher of dreamwork. Learn more: here.  View Kristena’s previous Café recording from 5-13-22, 12-2-22 and recently:

Jonah Evans, January 5, 2024

Jonah Evans grew up in Sacramento, California and attended the Waldorf school and The Christian Community throughout. He later received a BA in psychology from Sacramento State University. After four years at seminary around the world, Jonah was ordained as a priest of The Christian Community in 2008. He has worked in South Africa, New York and for the last ten years in Toronto, Canada. In 2018 Jonah was asked to co-direct The Seminary of The Christian Community together with Patrick Kennedy. Just recently, he was asked to become the North American Lenker. His favorite subjects are Christology and Pastoral Counseling. He has been married for twenty years and has three lovely daughters.

Christopher Schaefer, December 15, 2023

Christopher Schaefer, Ph.D. is a retired adult educator who for many years taught at both Emerson College in England and at Sunbridge College in New York. He has also been an organization and community development consultant for most of his life working both with Waldorf schools and Camphill Communities as well as with many more conventional organizations. He is the co-author of Vision in Action: Working with Soul and Spirit in Small Organizations, Partnerships of Hope: Building Waldorf School Communities and Re-Imagining America: Finding Hope in Difficult Times. He lives with his wife, Signe, in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. View Christopher’s previous Café recording from 9-11-20 and recently:

Selected articles by Christopher Schaefer: 
Looking for Hope in Difficult Times
Decoding the Trump Virus
A Tri-Sectoral Imagination of the American Future

Adam Blanning, December 8, 2023

Adam Blanning MD is one of three co-leaders for the Medical Section of the School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum, in Switzerland. He teaches and lectures nationally and internationally on topics of holistic health and human development. He practices anthroposophic medicine in Denver, CO, USA and is the author of Raising Sound Sleepers: Helping Children Use their Senses to Rest and Self-Soothe. View Adam’s Café recordings from 4-17-2020, 2-25-22 and recently:

Tobias Kaye, December 2, 2023

Tobias Kaye adopted Anthroposophy in his late teens after searching through a few other streams of development for something to match the richness of his upbringing. Born on a Biodynamic farm and Waldorf educated he has focussed his inner life on service to Christ on the path of initiation/awakening. Since he was given this image, at the age of 30, the Sounding Bowls have become his main guide, and enabled his desire to bring something of value. Today, Tobias also runs groups, guiding people in the seven developmental processes through Steiner’s legacy, particularly the Foundation Stone Meditation. Tobias also writes. Recently contributing a chapter on tree communication for a forthcoming book.

Patrick Kennedy, November 24, 2023

In April of 2006, Patrick Kennedy was consecrated into the priesthood in Chicago, Illinois.  Prior to attending the seminary in Stuttgart, Germany, Patrick studied and worked in the field of early childhood education and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz in cultural anthropology.  He has worked as a priest in the congregations in Devon, Pennsylvania and the Greater Washington, D.C., area.  Then, in Chestnut Ridge, New York, he took up the roles of both seminary director and resident priest in the local congregation. In July 2019, Patrick, his family, and the entire seminary moved to the Toronto area. View Patrick’s recording from 5-21-21 and recently:

Kimberly Lewis, November 17, 2023

Kimberley Lewis is a retired birth-to-three teacher, consultant, mentor and writer. She did her Waldorf training at Antioch University New England in Keene, New Hampshire, where she received her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a RIE Associate and has done many advanced trainings at the Pikler House in Budapest. Kimberley helped edit the WECAN publication “The Child From Birth To Three In Education and Care” and co-edited “Creating Connections” for WECAN, about Parent/Child work. After raising her own three children, she taught for 14 years in Waldorf schools. Currently she volunteers for the RIE organization, Sophia’s Hearth and the Arizona Manzanita Branch of the Anthroposophical Society. And she continues to edit her book.

Ben Cherry, November 10, 2023

Ben Cherry, born and brought up in the UK, has spent most of his adult life in other parts of the world. During the past fifty-four years, he has worked in or traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and North America and has visited or taught in schools on all five continents. He has an MA (Cambridge), 1st MB (Birmingham), Diploma of Education (Australia). His recent articles include:

• Facing Evil, Standing Tall
• The Pandemic of Fear (And the Medicine of Love)
• The Medicine of Love (Within the Pandemic of Fear)

His search for peace and for answers to the huge social, cultural and environmental issues he encountered as a young man, especially through his experience as a teacher and journalist in Vietnam during the war, led him through many spiritual streams to the work of Rudolf Steiner forty-six years ago, in a school for severely disadvantaged children in England, where he worked as a gardener. He was later invited by the UK government to found and co-lead a centre for refugees fleeing from Vietnam in the aftermath of the war.   View Ben’s Café recordings from 7-3-20, 9-4-20, 7-2-21, 2-18-22 and recently:

Oldřich Hozman, November 4, 2023

Oldřich Hozman is a member of the General Anthroposophical Society since 2008 and its School of Spiritual Science since 2017. At various conferences in Dornach/Goetheanum, he accompanies and leads art workshops of contemplative observation of the 2nd Goetheanum (i.e. World Eurythmy Conference, 2016).   He presented   his   work   and   had   presentation of Therapeutical  features of  organic  architecture  on  Year  Medical  Conference  2018 in Goetheanum. He lectures and he is a member of Anthroposophical Society in Czech Republic since 2008. He lectures mainly about 1st and 2nd Goetheanum principles, about twelve senses.

As an architect steeped in  Rudolf Steiner’s design principles, he lectures about Waldorf School architecture principles. Hozman supports the holistic view on the creation of a healthy environment and architecture. Since  2009,  he  personally  organizes  every  year  seminar  and  workshop of anthroposophical plastic works and wood carving of goetheanistic forms. At various international  conferences,   he   lectures   on  new   approaches to architectural   design in harmony with nature. As an author, he also writes and contributes in magazines for Waldorf teachers about anthroposophical and Waldorf School architecture principles.

Jamie York, October 27, 2023

Jamie York is a Waldorf math educator, teacher-trainer, math missionary, and the lead author of Making Math Meaningful books.  He spent 21 years teaching middle school and high school math at Shining Mountain Waldorf School (in Boulder, Colorado), and has also taught at a college prep boarding school in New Hampshire, at a university in Nepal, a Waldorf school in Holland, and served on the faculty at the Center for Anthroposophy in the Waldorf High School Teacher Education Program for 18 years.  As a math missionary, Jamie traveled across the U.S. and internationally offering workshops for teachers so they can re-imagine mathematics and inspire their students. Jamie’s website, online math workshops, and books are resources for Waldorf teachers around the world.  His latest creation is Jamie York Academy, which offers online classes to students in grades 5 through 12. 

*Please view:  A Math Teacher’s Geometric Dream House, as presented in Jamie’s 10-27-23 Café recording:

Lesley Waite, October 20, 2023

Lesley Waite is a recently ordained priest of the Christian Community Movement for Religious Renewal, and lives and works out of Wellington, New Zealand. She grew up in the Scottish settlement of Dunedin, New Zealand, and was blessed with as close to a classical education as one might receive in the twentieth century. Her interests have focused on work and research in education and anthroposophy. For over twenty years Lesley has been a member of and contributor to the New Zealand branch of the Section of Social Sciences. 

Daciana Iancu, October 13, 2023

Dr. Iancu has been an Internal Medicine physician for over 25 years and has worked in hospitals, ICUs, hospice, nursing homes and primary care. Since 2004 she has been incorporating Integrative and Holistic Medicine into her practice. In 2014 Dr. Iancu discovered Anthroposophic Medicine, fell in love with it, and decided to make this the primary modality of her practice. She currently practices in a small private setting in Northern California, where she sees patients both in person and virtually. She serves on multiple Anthroposophic Health organizations: she is one of the co-founders of Foundation for Health Creation (foundationforhealthcreation.org), co-leads the Board for the Anthroposophic Health Association (anthrohealth.org), and serves as a board member for Physicians Association for Anthroposophic Medicine. Learn more. View our Café recordings with Daciana on 1-7-23 and recently:

Eric Klein, October 7. 2023

Eric Klein was born and raised in an Anthroposophic home in New York, educated at the Rudolf Steiner School in New York City, before training as a concert musician at the Manhattan School of Music. His life’s journey has gone through Harvard Business School, the Christian Community Seminary in Stuttgart, Germany before settling in England in 2002. He has worked as a performing musician, composer, conductor, teacher, teacher trainer and developer and lecturer. 

Patricia Kaminski, September 22, 2023

Patricia Kaminski is the Executive Director of the Flower Essence Society, a worldwide collegium of practitioners who research and heal with the subtle essences of plants.  She is also the Developmental Director of Terra Flora, a Demeter-Certified Biodynamic Garden, Nature Sanctuary and cottage industry in Nevada City, California.

Tom Altgelt, September 15, 2023

Tom Altgelt, Co-Host for the Anthroposophical Café, grew up in California and discovered anthroposophy in Germany over four decades ago, while working there as a landscape architect. You can see his biography under “About Us” on our FRAC website. Tom has published a number of articles in “Lilipoh” and “Being Human” magazines on the analogy between the life cycle of a plant and our path of inner development. He is currently on the advisory committee for the Biodynamic Agriculture conference and is the contact person for anthroposophy in Boulder, Colorado. View his Café recordings from 8-14-20, 1-9-21, NYC Branch, 4/21/23 and recently:

Florian Sydow September 8, 2023

Florian Sydow is a founding member of Kahumana Farm & Community located on Oahu, Hawaii. Over 30 years of experience in the design & building industry including organic architecture. Long time student of Goethean Science & Anthroposophy with a special emphasis on the implications of Technological Development from an Esoteric Perspective. Offering Presentations and Workshops on various Spiritual Scientific Themes. Vice Chairman of the Anthroposophical Society in Hawaii. Married to a Waldorf Teacher & Father of three Waldorf graduates.

Richard Steel, September 2, 2023

Richard Steel: Was born in Oxford, England and studied linguistics before moving to Camphill in Germany in 1972. He completed the Camphill Seminar for Curative Education and lived and worked in community with young people with multiple disabilities for 36 years. Richard and his family also spent time in Camphill in North America. 

In 2008 Richard founded the Karl König Institute which now has offices in Scotland, Germany and North America. He began publishing a new edition of König’s works which currently comprises 24 volumes in English and German. The Institute’s aim is to make Karl König’s healing impulses widely available for meeting the world needs of today – and for this purpose Richard also lectures in Europe, Great Britain and Scandinavia.

Richard’s exploration of the Calendar of the Soul was lit up over five decades by what Rudolf Steiner and Karl König brought. And after Richard gave a yearlong series of talks on the Soul Calendar and König’s drawings, his new English translation of the 52 verses was published in 2023. 

See:  Publications

Stewart Lundy, August 25, 2023

Stewart Lundy is an amateur alchemist, esotericist, and avid reader. As of 2023 Stewart is the Creative Director at the non-profit Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics. He helps curate the JPI Applied Biodynamics quarterly which is now migrating to the digital world on substack. He has been farming since 2010 at his own biodynamic operation, Perennial Roots Farm, where he and his wife raise cattle, sheep, and hogs, as well as run a market garden and CSA. Stewart is a regular contributor at the national Biodynamic Association conference. He offers book clubs on esoteric themes and can be contacted for consultations via stewart@jpibiodynamics.org.

Neill Reilly, August 18, 2023

Neill Reilly was born and raised on Long Island, NY. He was graduated from Bowdoin College with a B.A. in Philosophy. He was also graduated from The Waldorf Institute at Adelphi University with an M.A. in Waldorf Pedagogy. Neill taught High School English for 7 years at two Waldorf Schools and a Catholic school. He coached Basketball, Track and Lacrosse. He also directed plays. After teaching, he worked as a salesperson at Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, and Jefferies and Company. Neill has also been a salesperson at numerous financial technology firms.

Neill has written two books Songs and Dreams and Look at What We Can Become. The latter includes a portrait of Prof. Fritz Koelln and four other Michaelic individuals. His essays and poems have appeared in Being More Consciously Human, the Bowdoin Alumni Magazine and other publications.  View Neill’s past recordings from 2-5-21, 8-5-22, 8-19-22, 9-16-22 + (related PDF), 6-30-23 + (related PDF) and recently:

Craig Wiggins, August 11, 2023

Born and raised in Joplin, Missouri as a devout, active Presbyterian, Craig Wiggins wandered about in several spiritual directions before landing at the The Christian Community in Amsterdam/The Netherlands in 1987. With the support of that community and his young family, he attended the Priest Seminary in Stuttgart and was ordained in Amsterdam on March 29, 1992. After serving the Dutch communities in Amsterdam, Arnhem, Zutphen and Groningen, he responded positively to a call to North America in 2009. Since then he has served in Devon, PA,

San Francisco and Chicago. Since April, 2019 he has been serving as Lenker (regional coordinator) for The Christian Community in North America. Craig has been a member of the Anthroposophical Society since 1985, the School for Spiritual Science since 1990. View Craig’s Café recording from 2/19/21 and recently:

Stephanie Georgieff, August 5, 2023

After nearly thirty years as a practicing Naturopath and Acupuncturist, Stephanie Georgieff has chosen to transform her healing vocation into writing and lecturing on various aspects of Christian Spirituality and its relationship to emotional and physical health. She has lectured throughout Europe and North America on various subjects, but her passion is on the Middle Ages and the Divine Feminine. Georgieff hosts a podcast “The Black Madonna Speaks,” writes for numerous publications and has her own Blog: The Heart of the Black Madonna. The Black Madonna, Mysterious Soul Companion is the first in a series of books examining how the Black Madonna as an art form offers healing insights to our collective past and present. These volumes also explore the invitation humanity has from the spiritual world to co-create a healthy and peaceful future.

Jonathan Hilton, July 28, 2023

Jonathan Hilton studied with Willi Sucher at his home beginning in 1977 and continued ongoing study and correspondence until Willi’s death in 1985.  He served on the Board of the Astrosophy Research Center, which was dedicated to publishing Willi’s works, from 1992-2018. He has served as President of the NYC Anthroposophical Society, in the early 1990’s and again from 2018-2020.  He has taught courses and given workshops and lectures on astrosophy at various locations in the USA over the years. In 2016,  he created the Astrosophy website, with various resources in both English and other languages, including Willi Sucher’s complete works as free downloads, his own articles and book, and an introductory video course.  His book, Speaking to the Stars: An Introduction to Astrosophy, was published by Steinerbooks in April, 2023 and is available through Steinerbooks and Amazon. View Jonathan’s Café recording from 2/4/22 and recently:

Alan Thewless, July 21, 2023

Alan Thewless was born in Sheffield, England and moved to the USA in 2002. He carries a deep involvement in education as a healing art and has worked as a Waldorf Teacher and Special Educator for nearly 30 years. In the USA he completed studies in Anthroposophically extended psychology (Psychosophy) and Music Therapy. He has been a student of Astrosophy for over 30 years and regularly writes, gives courses and lectures on this subject, and on education, internationally. Since 2016 he has been author of the Holy Nights Journal, a pathway of contemplation and journaling through each of the Holy Nights of Christmas. He is a lyre maker and also project archivist for the Eckersley Shakespeare trust. He is also on the adjunct faculty of the Association for Anthroposophic Psychology.  View Alan’s Café recording from 11/26/21 and recently:

Lila Sophia Tresemer, July 14, 2023

Lila Sophia Tresemer is CoFounder of The StarHouse in Boulder, with David, her life partner of 30 years.  Lila is a group facilitator, certified mediator, author, ceremonialist, and minister. She co-created a ground-breaking program called Women of Vision in Israel/Palestine between 2004-2012 and now leads tours to Washington, D.C., to engage with the archetypes and values of the Sacred Feminine with a focus on Sophia.

She produces sacred living and remembrance programs online and onsite at the StarHouse. Lila is dedicated to building a global community, honoring the Feminine in Sacred Union in balance with the Masculine. Her current passion is weaving a living network for the Lineage of Sophia for men and women worldwide seeking to reconnect with Sacred Earth Activism and spiritual practices that matter — to transform in these astonishing times.

Some of Lila’s work include: “Don’t Go Back to Sleep” (a spiritual adventure novel); “The Conscious Wedding Handbook” (with David); “Sophia Gnostic Creation Story,” (an animated Creation Myth); “The Goddess of America: Sacred Activism for our Nation” (online course).

Signe Schaefer, July 7, 2023

Signe Schaefer has been a long-time adult educator and was for many years the Director of Foundation Studies at Sunbridge College. She was the founding Director of a professional development training in Biography and Social Art. Since retiring she has published three books: Why on Earth? Biography and the Practice of Human Becoming; I Give You My Word: Women’s Letters as Life Support; and most recently, She Was Always There – Sophia as a Story for our Time. She also co-authored Ariadne’s Awakening: Taking up the Threads of Consciousness and co-edited More Lifeways. A mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she now lives in Great Barrington, MA with her husband Christopher. View Signe’s Café recording from 10-1-21 and recently:

Jean Yeager, June 23, 2023

Jean Yeager was from 1992-1994 Managing Editor of Biodynamics. 1996-2006, Administrative Director of the Anthroposophical Society in America. Today he is an award winning writer, playwright, and blogger.  His One Act play, “Prisoner #101065 Public Speaking Report On The Life And Times of Tupac Shakur with Commentary by Niccolò Machiavelli” was recently named 3rd Place Winner in the National Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival. He and his wife Marietta live in Rutland, VT where they are active in local Restorative Justice activities. Contact via: jwyeager2@gmail.com. Tap for his web site, blog, and  book. View our recordings with Jean from 5-20-22 and recently:

Lelan Harris, June 16, 2023

Lelan Harris, M.Div. (Reno, Nevada), is a founding member and executive director of Wise Cosmos Educational Initiative (WiseCosmos.org).  He has been actively engaged in education and leadership for over 30 years in roles that include public high school teacher, pastor, researcher and author, graduate school professor, consultant, visiting scholar, Waldorf school administrator, and nonprofit executive director.  He writes, mentors, trains, and consults in order to raise up new generations of spiritually mature leaders who are perceptive, integrative, and wise in partnership with humanity, earth, and cosmos.  Of greater delight than any of the foregoing, Lelan has been married to Julie since 1988. View our recordings with Lelan from 5-29-20 I & II, 9-25-20, 11-12-21, 4-15-22 and recently:

Alex Tuchman, June 9, 2023

Alex Tuchman is a beekeeper, educator, farmer, author, and student of nature.  As the Director of Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary, Alex carries a wide variety of responsibilities on the farm, with the bees, in the classroom, and in administration.   Alex arrived at Spikenard Farm in March of 2014 after three years as the Farm Manager of Loyola University Chicago’s Student Farm in Woodstock, Illinois, his home-state.  Alex is an active member of the Agriculture Section of the School for Spiritual Science and a consistent contributor to the biodynamic agriculture and natural beekeeping movements and regularly teaches at conferences in the U.S., around the world, and online.  Alex’s book, A Lively Hive, was published in 2021, outlining the basic biodynamic beekeeping methods that are practiced and taught at Spikenard Farm.

Ezra Sullivan, June 3, 2023

Ezra Sullivan is immersed in finding right livelihood and inner development work. In 2011 after completing highschool education, he moved to South America for three years to pursue agriculture and spiritually. There, he found Anthroposophy, through using the Biodynamic planting calendar. He was the Farm Director of Sunfield Biodynamic Farm and Waldorf School (2017 to 2022), and is spending nine months studying Anthroposophy at the Goetheanum in Switzerland (2022 to 2023). He hopes to find ways to continue his interest in raw milk dairying and the modern path of initiation presented by Rudolf Steiner.

John Beck, May 26, 2023

John Beck created the being human magazine for the Anthroposophical Society in America. His communications career began in public radio in Boston and NYC. He did technology communications for Chase for fifteen years, and was general manager of the New York Open Center. He is now developing a new media presentation for reincarnation. View our recordings with John from 6-5-20, 12-10-21, 9-2-22, 12-30-22 and recently:

Paul Gierlach, May 19, 2023

Paul Gierlach has been a Waldorf teacher since 1979. He received his training in Detroit under the tutelage of Werner and Barbara Glas, Hans and Rosemary Gebert, and Ralph Marinelli.  He initially worked in the grade school before migrating to the high school as a humanities teacher. For the ten years leading up to his retirement from full-time teaching, he used what he learned to develop protocols for working in the classroom with students with different learning styles. Since his retirement in 2013, he has worked in the classroom in China and the United States and in teacher training programs. He has created a four-year program for adolescents and adults that leads them to a conscious, active participation in their perceptual world. It is called Dynamic Drawing.

Laurie Portocarrero, May 12, 2023

Laurie Portocarrero is an actor, storyteller, drama teacher and director. She has trainings in Chekhov acting and Spacial Dynamics and speech, having studied and taught movement, drama and speech in the United States, Canada, Switzerland and Australia. A long-time associate member of The Actors’ Ensemble, Walking the dog Theater, and Threefold Mystery Drama Group, she has been seen in many productions ranging from Shakespeare to Thornton Wilder to Kahlil Gibran, as well as playing Maria in Rudolf Steiner’s four mystery dramas. Laurie tours widely in the United States, Canada, Switzerland and the U.K, with Glen Williamson in their two-person pieces, including the original script, Fire in the Temple. She directs summer children’s camp, teaches drama and storytelling to academy students in special needs communities, and has taught drama in China to adults and children of all ages. She also directs a speech chorus, leads a Mystery Drama exploration group, helps to create festivals for the community, and gives workshops across the country in community-building through the arts.

Daniel Hafner, May 6, 2023

Daniel Hafner is a member of the Anthroposophical Society and the School for Spiritual Science.  He works as a priest in the Christian Community in Nuremberg, Germany.  He is looking for a way to offer a full-time introduction to Anthroposophy for young people.

Chris Burke, April 28, 2023

Chris Burke has a Ph.D. in psychology and has taught at Lehigh University since 2008. He bumped into anthroposophy a few years later, and since then he’s been working to bring these two worlds together. He received training in anthroposophical biography work from the Center for Biography and Social Art, where he met Anne de Wild. Together, they launched an initiative called The Hummingbird Principle, which supports individuals in meeting the challenges of modern life through biographical exploration. They have brought biography workshops to conferences around the world and have contributed biography work to the Applied Anthroposophy Course since its inception in 2020. They have a forthcoming book, also called The Hummingbird Principle, that takes a deep dive into the planetary archetypes and how to work with them in daily life. He also offers private biographical consultations to a small number of clients. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his family, cooking, woodworking, or playing the guitar. He lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with his wife Jerilyn and three amazing children. Learn more: www.thehummingbirdprinciple.com and www.riverbendbiographical.com.

Unchatwa, Robert Karp & Tom Altgelt, April 21, 2023

‘Mysteries of the Corn Mother’ : We will hear a story of people coming together and taking real interest in one another and becoming good friends. Through this friendship they support one another in their respective spiritual traditions and initiatives.  Rudolf Steiner asked us to make our hearts warm in order to do work in the world that is strong in healing. There is much healing needed to be done in North America or Turtle Island as it is called by our indigenous friends…. Through this friendship and the need for healing, we will hear of one such healing initiative from Unchatwa, a Mohican medicine carrier, as he shares about the Corn Mother Dream… How a divine feminine perspective, the Corn Grandmother Council, a re-awakening of lost tradition, leads to this wisdom: “We ask our mother to open so we may sow our life-giving seeds within her. We ask her to nurture and help them grow to feed her children. We never push anything into her. We ask if we may enter.” This perspective is globally applicable and summarized in a single word, respect. There is opportunity to apply this perspective in all directions “we ask, we ask, we never push, we ask”.

Michael Lipson, April 14, 2023

Michael Lipson, PhD, is the author of The Stairway of Surprise, Group Meditation, and, most recently, Be: An Alphabet of Astonishment.  A Clinical Psychologist in long term private practice, he has worked with Mother Theresa in Calcutta and with the Pediatric AIDS Team at Harlem Hospital.   As a George Soros faculty scholar, he developed a program to help health professionals face their own fears about death and loss.  He is also one of the translators of Rudolf Steiner’s Philosophy of Freedom and of many titles by Georg Kühlewind, including The Soft Will.  He teaches meditation online and internationally — you can sign up for a free weekly email via michaellipson.org.  View our recordings with Michael from 10-8-21 and recently:

Glen Williamson, March 31, 2023

Glen Williamson, a founding member in New York City of The Actors’ Ensemble and New Directions Theater, appeared in numerous productions with both companies. He currently plays multiple roles in the touring production of The Gospel of John with Walking the dog Theater and the title role in Aeschylus Unbound, which Glen co-wrote with the late film star Mala Powers. 

He has given his one-man performances of Beat the Devil! Faust, the Whole Story, The Incarnation of the Logos: An Epic Tale of Christ’s Coming to Earth, Kaspar Hauser: The Open Secret of the Foundling Prince, and Kurt Vonnegut’s The Kid Nobody Could Handle and Who Am I This Time? throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K, Germany and Switzerland and has toured throughout North America in The Refugees’ Tale, based on Goethe’s ‘Green Snake’ parable, with Laurie Portocarrero. Glen’s performance of Beat the Devil! Faust, the Whole Story won the award for Best Adaptation at the United Solo Theater Festival off-Broadway in 2011. The off-Broadway run of Glen’s one-man play The Boy Who Saw True was chosen by Back Stage as one of the five best plays of 1992. 

Glen trained in the Michael Chekhov acting technique and at The Juilliard School and has acted with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and the American Stage Festival in New Hampshire.  Other appearances include Macbeth with Shakespeare Alive!, Sylvia by A. R. Gurney, Rudolf Steiner’s The Souls’ Awakening at the Goetheanum in Switzerland, storytelling with the Grupo de Euritmia de São Paulo in San Diego, and speaking poetry in a Camphill benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. View our recordings with Glen from 8-20-21 and recently:

Brian Gray, March 24, 2023

Brian Gray is a teacher, lecturer, musician, and writer on topics drawn from Anthroposophy – the work of Rudolf Steiner. He loves to share insights from the realms of star wisdom, biography, cosmology, sacred architecture, and esoteric Christianity. Brian was core faculty at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California from 1981-2017 and Director of the Foundation in Anthroposophy Program for 17 years.

Brian received a BA in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Inspired by René Querido, Brian received a certificate in Waldorf Teacher Education at RSC (1979 to 1981). Some of his work can be found at wisecosmos.org and thestarhouse.org. View our recordings with Brian from 4-24-20, 5-7-21 and recently:

Edward Schuldt, March 17, 2023

Edward Schuldt’s work with the Beatitudes was propelled by his research into the nature of evil and takes its point of departure from the indication Rudolf Steiner gave that the antidotes to the evils of the nine layers of the sub-earth are found in the Beatitudes. Edward’s decision in 2016 to share what had been a private activity came as a result of experiencing the hostility between people that has become such a strong characteristic of the social and political life of today. 

Edward has returned to the Midwest after leaving Camphill Village Minnesota for Camphill Copake in 1993. In his post-63 life, he is looking forward to beginning once more the in-person lectures and workshops that he gave throughout the Midwest during his time in Minnesota.

View our recordings with Edward Schuldt from: 4-02-21, 5-28-21, 6-25-21, 7-30-21, 8-27-21, 9-25-21 ,11-19-21 , 12-17-21, 1-28-22 , 3-04-22, 7-29-22, 9-09-22, 11-5-22, 12-9-22, 2-3-23; and his most recent offering:

Luigi Morelli, March 10, 2023

Having worked with spiritual science over the last forty years, Luigi Morelli approaches American culture and history by weaving it with its myths, legends and stories in a scientific and imaginative manner; all of this he relates to the present forms of “American practical spirituality”. Explore millenniumculmination.net for details.

Social change from a cultural perspective has been a closely related interest to the above. It has come in vocational/life experience through working with people with special needs in intentional communities of Camphill and L’Arche International and living in cohousing over the last eight years. Communal living, with its blessings and challenges, has been a constant source of inspiration for implementing social processes and bringing to life new social forms. View his Café recordings from 10/15/21, 6/10/22 and recently:

Laura Scappaticci, March 4, 2023

Laura Scappaticci, mom of three, disrupts materialism through her writing, speaking, and online workshops. Her bi-weekly podcast, That Good May Become, focuses on profound and everyday spiritual experiences while offering tips for cultivating spiritual practices in daily life. Laura’s previous work as the Director of Programs for the Anthroposophical Society in America includes the podcast, The Anthroposopher and over 30 webinars, conferences, and workshops focused on anthroposophy. View her Café recordings from 8/28/20, 4/23/21, 10/22/21, and recently:

John-Scott Legg, February 24, 2023

John-Scott Legg has worked in various roles at SteinerBooks since 2014 and currently serves as its Director. His abiding interests include literature, language, spirituality, the complex cultural identity and destiny of America, and, above and between all, the realization, discovery, and affirmation of anthroposophy in every detail and seeming detour of life. He lives in Upstate New York with his family and quite a few animals.

Nancy Jewel Poer, February 17, 2023

Nancy Jewel Poer, grandmother of many, was a co-founder of Rudolf Steiner College, teaching early childhood, the Spiritual America, and working closely with Carl Stegmann, a Christian Community priest with Rudolf Steiner, who tirelessly warned of our time of Arhiman. Nancy is also  an environmental activist, a  BD rancher, national home death movement pioneer, Waldorf teacher of teachers and has created many books.   Her film on America was taken down by youtube two years ago as it included some brave individuals like Anthroposophical doctor, Kelly Sutton, who then lost her license in California for writing needed medical exemptions for children.  Nancy’s many YouTube films, ‘The Sacred Incarnation Series’, beautiful educational films on the spirituality and care of little children, were  were censored and removed from YouTube with no warning or recourse in Dec. 2022.  View her Café recordings from: 12/10/20 and recently:

Mark Riccio, February 10, 2023

Mark Riccio is the author of the Logik of the Heart: the organic templates of spiritual writers, Rudolf Steiner, and the Philosophy of Freehood, and the editor of the George O’Neil Group Newsletter dedicated to the explication of Steiner’s organic method of thinking and writing. The O’Neil Group holds regular online study groups on the organic forms of Steiner’s Theory of Knowledge (CE 2), Philosophy of Freedom, Theosophy, Knowledge of Higher Worlds, and Education of the Child. The G.O.G. is a collection of individuals in 10 nations who joined together to practice and promote Steiner’s living thinking with the goal of renewing anthroposophical study and of founding a new thinking youth seminar and renewed Waldorf teacher training.  View his Café recordings from: 7/23/21, 7/22/22 and recently:

Christine Burke, January 27, 2023

Christine Burke met anthroposophy in 1997 and immediately signed up for the Rudolf Steiner College San Francisco Waldorf Teacher Training.  During a rich and art infused training, she met the anthroposophical speech arts.  In 2001, Christine embarked on the 4 year, full-time Speech training in England.  Before meeting anthroposophy, Christine completed an associate’s degree in Literature and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics.  After the Speech training, Christine earned a master’s degree in Communication Studies.  In retrospect, a clear path of the Word – or to the Word – has been her life’s companion, along with a healthy dose of finding and creating community. Christine now teaches Communication Studies part time at her local Community College and teaches Sacred Speech Work in workshops around the globe, with private students, and at Kairos Institute.

Gillian Schoemaker, January 20, 2023