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This year's seminar was once again a great success. Gene Gollogly set the tone and introduced the speakers, who included Christopher Bamford, Dennis Klocek, Jean-Claude Lin, Itzhak bar Yona, and Joan deRis Allen. More than 140 people attended, with many new faces and numerous friends who have attended seminars in past years.

Like previous Spiritual Research seminars, this year's event took place atop of the beautifully designed Rosenthal Pavilion, Kimmel Center, at New York University, NYC.

Christopher Bamford (author and Editor in Chief at SteinerBooks) began Friday evening's talks with a fascinating look at the history of Freemasonry and the various associated movements, tying together many strands from the time of Solomon up to the end of the nineteenth century. He spoke of how, following the time of Christ, the Church forced esoteric Christian streams (Gnostics, Neo-Platonists, and others) to move behind the scenes of history, later surfacing in Islam, Celtic spirituality, Rosicrucianism, and the Masonic lodges.

On Saturday, Chris spoke again, continuing his theme with the beginning of the twentieth century and Rudolf Steiner's esoteric school. He spoke of the ancient and modern roots of Anthroposophy, the levels of initiation in Steiner's esoteric school, as well as the "Masonic" aspects and the rituals of that early school of Anthroposophy.

His talk provided the perfect introduction to one of our newest books in the "Collected Works of Rudolf Steiner" series (released just in time for the seminar), "Freemasonry" and Ritual Work: The Misraim Service: Texts and Documents from the Cognitive-Ritual Section of the Esoteric School 1904-1919.

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Dennis Klocek (author, spiritual teacher, and weather genius) ended Friday evening with what seemed a unique discussion of, among many things, the process of spirit descending into the physical as a matter of cosmic destiny. Pointing to the biblical myth of creation, he described the subtle meanings behind the stories of Cain and Able and their roles in the split between the "practical" and the "spiritual" streams in human history and development, while connecting his subject with alchemical processes, which he in turn related to individual inner development and spiritual research. On Saturday, Dennis unfolded his subject by going into greater detail and developing his approach to spiritual research through the language of alchemy.

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Jean-Claude Lin (publishing director at Verlag Freies Geistesleben, the leading German publisher of spiritual scientific works) spoke on the origins of the "seven liberal arts," showing their interrelationships and describing how they were once considered prerequisites for true inner development and initiation. Jean-Claude went on to show how the seven liberal arts relate to aspects of our inner being and development, including overcoming what he termed the bias of superstition (for example, the belief that thoughts are not real), the bias of doubt (allowing doubts and negativity to block one's life), and the bias of personality (the notion, for example, that it matters who accomplishes something rather than the simple fact that something is accomplished in the world).

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Itzhak bar Yona (long-time spiritual student and teacher from Israel) gave a talk that was, as he described it, experiential and not intended to provide "content" for the intellect. Consequently, many of us did not to take notes for his talk and, instead, simply listened. I was rewarded with a kind of meditation that reminded me of talks I'd heard from some of my Zen teachers. He sat and spoke quietly of his own teachers and experiences, including studies with groups associated with Gurgeff, Sri Aurobindo, and Rudolf Steiner. Being an inventor, he was able to speak of ideas and inspirations and the source from which they spring. Itzhak created a mood that enhanced the whole seminar with a more receptive and meditative quality.

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Joan deRis Allen (an architect and lifelong anthroposophist) treated us to a slide show of largely anthroposophically inspired building designs, beginning with the plans that led up to the first Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland. Saturday evening, she took us through that magnificent building, the immense skills and imagination that made it possible, and its many awe-inspiring features. On Saturday, we moved on to the second Goetheanum and the inspiration and genius behind that design. This was followed by a fascinating journey through numerous other buildings inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner. We also saw some of her own designs, including the new Christian Community chapel, tucked between the Hudson Valley in upstate New York and the Berkshires in western Massachusetts.

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Throughout the two days, one had the sense that the speakers were in tune with one another. Common threads ran through the talks, connecting them on important levels that provided important keys to many truths behind the words. The program and the weekend finished with an opportunity for people to ask questions of the speakers. Judging by the comments of those who attended, many found the seminar to be a very rewarding experience.

We look forward to seeing you at next year's seminar!

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