Inner transformation, social renewal
Inner Transformation and Social Renewal, a conference I participated in last weekend (Aug 8-11) in Chestnut Ridge/Spring Valley, New York, inspired and humbled me.
Clear thinking, and enthusiasm, Gerald Karnow held up as essential. (Essential to the survival of cherubim and seraphim? Heck if I know. But I think we can agree: essential.)
Healthy egoism Gary Lamb extolled — a virtue in free cultural activity, and not in economic life.
“Angel consciousness” — persistent but flexible intentionality — Laura Summer defined and depicted. Its application in the arts is obvious enough, I hope. And no social artist or activist can afford to neglect this skill.
Loving the facts, Heinrike Holdrege’s motto (or was it Goethe’s?), quietly revealed its adversary as my long-time friend: loving the concepts.
The older anthroposophists embodied surprisingly much invaluable experience, widsom, and openness (beside normal human imperfections): these facts illumined and gradually dispelled the fog of my negative preconcepts as I met one and another of these wonderful and unique individuals in conversation. More than one of them admitted to similar insights in meeting us younger individuals. I will have to rethink the need and place of Think OutWord and other youth-centric groups and networks I’m involved or sympathetic with.
If, as Michael Howard passionately believes, the arts and qualitative sciences can serve the schooling of our empathy and the development of inner capacities essential for positive social transformation — then I at least feel a powerful call to take up or deepen an individual artistic practice.
And if, in practicing, I pursue self-chosen aims with flexible persistence, if I meet my subjects with care and discernment, if I embody zest and clear thinking — then perhaps this activity will bear fruits of inner transformation and social renewal.
