Do I really have to read Steiner to Waldorf Homeschool?

I get this question a lot.  My answer is yes and no.  You don't HAVE to read Steiner in order to have a Waldorf inspired homeschooling experience. BUT, to begin to really understand the work of Waldorf from a spiritual aspect and even from a practical aspect after the first few years, you will need to begin to delve into some of his actual writings. They aren't scary - I promise! 

One of the things I get very troubled about is those who tend to take Steiner out of context or even take things a bit too far.  I know Waldorf appeals to many faith bases, from a very loose base of those who do not walk a structured religious path, to those who have a pretty rigid path.  Interestingly, both extreme ends have trouble with a lot of Steiner's work.  As we learn to walk with an open heart though, we can begin to see his truths within our own lives and children.  In order to do this we must be open to hearing and seeking to understand a message that we may not agree with - you don't have to agree!  I don't agree with every morsel of Steiner that I read and the more I give myself to being open, the more I realize that Steiner wasn't after disciples, he was only giving what he felt inspired to give.  He was human.  I am also human - I am not perfect - it is from this standpoint that I can read his work, take it to God/Source and use my own gifts of discernment to decide what is right for me.

I had a friend mention to me the other day that she had to walk away from the Waldorf online community because she worried that there was a wave of "cookie cutter" Waldorf families that made her very uncomfortable.  I can see just how that could be the case, especially with so many beautiful blogs that make Waldorf life seem so easy, fun and sort of skim over the vast life experiences we all go through each day.  This friend and I have had many discussions about how our lives don't fit that stereo typical mold. I honestly don't think many of us fit that mold.  We are all free spirits - learning - finding our path - some Christian - some Jewish - some Pagan - some Buddhist - some Muslim - and... well I know I left out many, but we are all walking this path.

So what do we do about this vast ocean that is Steiner?  Do we read him or not?  I think about movements that I have been a part of in my life - breastfeeding - midwifery rights - autism support - even my own faith journey... Steiner is no different.  Would I be a supporter of any of the movements I mentioned without first understanding the basis behind it?  Would I really be selling myself short if I just supported midwifery and didn't understand the ins and outs of the political workings of the bills I was for or against?  What about my faith - would I have joined without understanding the founder and having a true testimony of its truthfulness? I wouldn't have. 

I am a research nerd by nature.  I know that no everyone is this way - some people can jump on a band wagon and ride for a bit and then get off when the work gets hard or we encounter something we didn't expect.  So for this, I do encourage you to read Steiner - remember that you won't agree with it all.  My guess is that some non-Christians will have trouble with his representation of the Christ Impulse - some Christians will have trouble with his esoteric nature of some things.  Do these things make everything else wrong that he said?  Of course not - it may simply be that once you've taken something to meditation and gotten a "no" answer that while this specific part isn't right for you, right now, in your current state of understanding, something else might be.  I try to be very specific when I pray and meditate - I imagine it to be a bit like talking to my son about an activity that he wants to do but he isn't giving me all the information - then I am likely to say no because I don't really know all of what he is asking! I do believe that God/Source as our parent works the same way - while understanding our heart, Source is busy! 

Think of all the souls asking questions - be specific! I have prayed and meditated over specifics of Steiner before and gotten a "no" only to pray and meditate later on the same subject and get a "yes" - what is that all about?  When I examine my pondering, I generally find that it was a "no" for the specific instance or child I was praying for - but now I am praying about something else and this resource/suggestion/course of action is indeed what needs to happen.  Keeping a good connection with the Spirit can hep us to use our discernment to understand when these times are coming our way. It does take connecting though - regularly.

Many times, I have gotten an email from a new Waldorf mom who may have been doing some Waldorf research online and come across some of those anti-Waldorf groups. So sad.  I honestly do pray for them.  I believe that whenever you take up being against something that you then in turn cut off your own power to discern and understand what really needs focus in your life.  Pushing negativity will never bring you the peace that serving in love and charity will.  That doesn't mean that things won't make us bristle, want to throw up or give us sleepless nights.  I encourage anyone who is troubled by any of those "anti" site to stand back and think of motive.  I encourage you to find someone that you know who knows more about Steiner/Waldorf than you do and ASK questions.  I also encourage you to read Steiner's words from Steiner - not filtered through a hate group.  Isn't there enough hate?  Isn't there enough intolerance?  Sure as a Christian, I have my own beliefs about things - but I also know that I am commanded to love my neighbor and be charitable. Charity isn't taking a casserole to someone who just had a baby - charity is loving someone who you don't want to love.  Charity is practicing unconditional love - understanding the Christ Impulse.  Understanding that it isn't about religion - it is about love.  

Hopefully you are thinking "ok, I will commit to reading Steiner" - what next?  Well, decide where your interests lie... if you are into this for education and the long haul with your children then maybe a resource like "Rhythms of Learning" might be a good place - what I like about this book, is that we are given the references for the lectures, we can then go to the lectures using a resource like Rudolf Steiner Archive. Maybe you are interested in his work on gardening and farming?  The Steiner Archive would be a good place to start for that too.  Or maybe you have read a lot about education, your interest is peaked and you want to think about some Anthroposophy and some of his spiritual teachings?  The Archive is a great place and then I also love Rudolf Steiner Audio too.  The audio archives has educational works as well as some of his biodynamic work and works on spiritual teachings.

There is no shortage of places to find his work - make sure it is a good resource.  I would never base my breastfeeding career by reading a formula company's site or get my midwifery education from the AMA... there are obvious conflicts there.  Think about where your Steiner comes from.  Also... remember if you read something somewhere that doesn't sit right with you, ask before it becomes something you become ill about - ask before you make judgments - I have to ask questions all the time!  I ponder, discuss, ponder some more... we are human.  Once you ask and ponder - then you may decide there are some parts that you still don't understand or agree with - rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater, set it aside, focus on what you do understand and do agree with, the other may come back to your later, it may not - it may just be that those parts don't serve you in your quest to know your higher self better or to educate your children.  What one mom needs, another mom may not.  Take the time.  Be open.