…Of A Free Cultural Life, Equality and Justice, Shared Economic Prosperity
— Like Seeds From A Cone In A Wildfire,
They Simply Dispersed Worldwide.
FIRE BORNE TELLS THE STORY OF THE FIRST 100 YEARS AFTER THE FIRE
AN ILLUSTRATED, HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY IN A TIMELINE FORMAT
THE STORY IS TOLD TRAVELING THE MORAL TERRAIN IN AMERICA 1886-2026
FIRE BORNE is structured on a series of generational cycles that repeat throughout Western history. I have placed each chapter on a GENERATIONAL WAVE FORM graphic below which repeats throughout this book. Highlights from each chapter of the book are offered in the following pages to give you a sense of how FIRE BORNE weaves WEBLINKS, END NOTES, and EVENTS into a flowing narrative from which “story” arises.
1886 – 1907 – THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING. – PHASE “Awaken.”This was an era of heightened consciousness and what Friedrich Nitzsche called “Moralic Acid” dispensed by religious groups to counter immigrants and drunkenness. Rudolf Steiner originally joined the Theosophical Society and became the leader of the German branch. He lectured widely on many topics including Karma. He also taught at a workers’ college and the politics of the era drew him into speaking against Anti-Semitism which set him against growing political cultural forces.
1908 – 1928 – WWI / PROHIBITION. – PHASE – “Unraveling.” Steiner started the Anthroposophical Society. He organized students to build the Goetheanum (world headquarters in Switzerland) while WWI battles raged nearby. After WWI, he lectured throughout Europe on what he called the Threefold Social Order – his ideas were to use spiritually inspiring work in practical life and raise communities out of the devastation of war. One of his most far-reaching insights had to do with nature and agriculture. He founded Waldorf education. The Nazis hated him and attacked him. An arsonist burns the Goetheanum building. The Anthroposophical Society was re-founded. Anthroposophy goes worldwide. The Verse For America is sent to the Threefold Group in New York.
1929 – 1946 – GREAT DEPRESSION / WWII. – PHASE “Crisis.” Europe is a “Cage Match” with Fascists and Nazis. In the 30s, Anthroposophy and Waldorf schools are banned. Pfeiffer starts the American Bio-dynamic Assoc. His ag lectures inspired “organic” ag which went worldwide. Germans were the enemy to America, and organizations inspired by someone from Germany in the U.S. was highly suspect and considered “enemies.”
1947-1964 – AMERICA SUPERPOWER. – PHASE – “Order.” American Anthroposophically inspired groups and branches multiply. A “Forum for Active Members” was created. BD gardeners find the courage to sue NY state for spraying DDT an active role in providing research for Rachael Carson as she wrote “Silent Spring.” This chapter also excerpts reports from FBI and Secret Service investigations of the German-based Waldorf education and Anthroposophical Societies in NY and Hawaii.
1964 -1984 – COUNTERCULTURE. – PHASE “Awaken.” Waldorf schools grow. The Rudolf Steiner Foundation “crowdfunds” a burned school – the Pine Hill Waldorf School in NH. First CSA garden inspires community gardening nationwide. Demeter Assoc forms in the U.S. to certify Biodynamic farming practices 12 years before USDA even thinks to “certify” organic farms.
1985-2004 CULTURE WAR. PHASE “Unravel.” Religious right “talk radio” defames Waldorf and Rudolf Steiner. Anthroposophical Societies are banned in France and Belgium as “dangerous cults.”. Worldwide there is a battle on the internet against untruths. Waldorf-inspired Public Schools do -good but draw charges of “Witchcraft” in a Sacramento attack. Critics launch First Amendment litigation charging “Anthroposophy is a cult-like religion.” Anthro Medicine creates a cancer remedy – “Iscador”” – which is approved by the Center For Disease Control. The ASA. enters First Amendment litigation with an Amicus Brief to defend Steiner/Anthroposophy. The case may have changed the First Amendment definition of “religion.”
2005-2026 – THE GREAT UNRAVELING. PHASE “Crisis.” – THIS IS A GENERATION IN A CRISIS MODE: The Moral Landscape is one in which the only thing that seems certain is change. The era starts with a Sub-Prime Mortgage melt-down which tumbles into nationwide bank failures and the Stock Market collapse. A quarter of a million people lose their jobs. Followed by a worldwide pandemic and millions of deaths. Despite all of this, people are hungry for new ideas with regard to enterprise and funding of organic agriculture, home gardening, education innovation for lower economic communities, and people seeking new ways to overcome inner city problems because even in small towns, we have the same issues.
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FIRE BORNE: Anthroposophy in America 