I thought Christ rose from the cross, apparently not for many.

Tom,

I did not realize that you were going to put up photographs on my journal entry. I have no problem with that; however, I do have a big problem with this particular photograph because it is NOT a photo of Judith von Halle. You got the photo from Michael Eggert’s fine German Steiner blogosphere site called Egoisten but unfortunately Michael made a real cyber-ass of himself by putting this photo up and mistakenly identifying her as JvH because at the time there were no photos of Judith available anywhere on the Net

However, presently, there are at least two photographs of JvH on the Net and I would ask you to remove the present false photo and replace it with one or both of the following actual photos of JvH, which appear here on this other German blog
http://www.netzhaeuter.de/veranstaltungen/selber-denken-oder-denken-lass...

Here are the Image locations
http://www.netzhaeuter.de/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/judith-von-halle11....
http://www.netzhaeuter.de/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/judith-von-halle2.J...

These photos are far more illuminating and far more germane to the subject at hand, namely “clear thinking,” because Judith von Halle is pictured last October lecturing to the Academy of Waldorf Pedagogy at the Free High School of Mannheim, Germany. The title of her lecture is “Modern Spiritual Guidance.”

As you can see, even from these poor-quality, grainy and distant photos, she’s got a captivating winsome charisma mainly because she looks so serenely self-possessed, genial and warm-hearted. (And that irresistible captivation is, to my mind, the real JvH Flu that’s infecting everybody.)  Even the author of this German blog, who is not sympathetic to anthroposophy at all, makes the point that JvH is not some “other worldly space cadet.” Nor is she some stern dowdy schoolmarm type, either.  She is at once adorably child-like and professionally competent; at once bubbly, dainty, baby-faced, yet intellectually authoritative. (You might be interested to know that she never stopped working as a professional architect in Berlin since her Stigmata first appeared 5 years ago. )

To me she looks like a Barbi-Doll with Brains dressed up in all-black Victorian Rudolf Steiner clothing. Jeez Louise, she could be a model for “Rudi’s Victorian Secret” line of atavistic fashion.  Or else a female Johnny Cash, that is, the “Woman in Black!”

And mark my words, Tom, Judith von Halle is the future of the Anthroposophical Society.  She is already an esoteric Super-Star, and she looks the part!  Move over, Jesus H. Christ. Now we have “Judith von Halle, Super-Star!” You don’t believe me? Well, then, consider the following recent facts:

--- JvH just published a new book entitled: Anthroposophical Perspectives on Dementia.  (Die Demenzerkrankung. Anthroposophische Gesichtspunkte.)

--- The book was published by a subsidiary of the Goetheanum publishing House in Dornach.

--- Dr. Michaela Gloeckler, former Vorstand member and presently the Head of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum wrote the foreword to the book.

Now consider the following rumors and gossip --- which in the dialect of Classical Anthroposophese, I shall hereinafter refer to as “Anthropoop.” ( I really do need to start a spiritual scientific gossip blog and call it “Father Tom’s Anthro-Poop Sheet.” Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!  8-)

--- Rumor has it that a therapeutic center to accommodate the healing vision and work of Judith von Halle will soon be built in Dornach, close to the Goetheanum.

--- the multi-billionaire Anthroposophist Goetz Werner, who made his fortune in founding a drug store chain in Germany --- like Walgreen’s in the US --- has taken such a shine to Judith von Halle, that he is financing the above healing center for her, as well as bailing out the very financially strapped Goetheanum.

--- how much of the bailout is “quid pro quo” I don’t know, but don’t be surprised if there is an actual section of the Goetheanum School of Spiritual Science created expressly for Judith von Halle and her charismatic gifts of the spirit for Anthroposophy

---- Many of Judith von Halle’s devoted followers believe her to be the direct reincarnation of Edith Maryon, the sculptor without whom Rudolf Steiner could not have carved the Representative of Man group.

Anyway, Tom, I just wanted to give you a real “head’s up” on the Judith von Halle phenomenon because it far transcends any previous ideas and mental images you or others may have about her and about Stigmatization. For example, I, as born and baptized Irish Roman Catholic, was flabbergasted to learn that Judith von Halle is not Catholic. Nor is she Protestant. Her parents are Jewish!!!  Previously, I had been under the mistaken impression that only Catholics could get the Stigmata.

I’m out here in Hollywood, Tom, already sifting through possible actresses to play JvH in the future movie about her.  As of today, I’m settling on Kristen Stewart, whom you can see right now playing punk singer Joan Jett in the “Runaways” movie.  What actress would you pick, and what would you like to see represented in the JvH screenplay?

Tom Mellett
Los Angeles, CA

Mellott!!!     Mellott it was your approach to PoF that unlocked the door for me.  I always love it when I randomly come across your writings!  Please start an Anthropoop blog and please know that I when I become a billianiarre, you will be my personal JvH.....

Woman in black!!

I watched Men in Black 2 last night (first time I’ve sat in front of the telly for ages!) I never saw Men in Black 1 but thought Men in Black 2 was really good, very funny, especially the scene depicting the wicked witch! Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are excellent!

Eeeks well now this JvH business needs heads up clear thinking to be sure. What a kettle of fish or maybe a better word is a black pot!

Ps: Please don’t tell me the market is going to be flooded with JvH Tshirts, hair products, lunch boxes, shoes, toothpaste, make-up, stationary etc etc …

Cheapest market .. bumper stickers .. of course!

Why are anthroposophists always looking for a guru to lead them? Unable to recognize The Philosophy of Freedom, I read everywhere Anthroposophical Society members recommending Knowledge of the Higher Worlds And Its Attainment as the path of development. This book begins with the search for your guru: 

.....whoever strives earnestly after higher knowledge will shun no exertion and fear no obstacle in his search for an initiate who can lead him to the higher knowledge of the world.

In my book, Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment, I have described an entirely safe path leading to the supersensible, but I describe it in such a way that it applies for everybody, above all for those who have not devoted their lives to science. Today I shall describe a path into the supersensible that is much more for the scientist. All my experience has taught me that for such a scientist a kind of precondition for this cognitional striving is to take up what is presented in my book, Philosophy of Freedom.

In the first decade of the 20th century, August Ewerbeck got word that there were intimate circles in which Rudolf Steiner gave special esoteric training to those admitted to them. So he asked Rudolf Steiner, his teacher, whether he too might be allowed to attend, and received the astonishing reply: “You don’t need to! You have understood my Philosophy of Freedom!”

I read these posts with some despair. In my understanding we look for the external guru because we are so uncomfortable with our own guru, our Higher Self, our I AM, which yearns for the type of thinking dealt with in the POF. We will form the New Community with those who strive to think, feel and will with conscious awareness.
I am starting to post some of the most powerful statements I have found in Rudolf Steiner's work on my facebook fan page is anyone is interested http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Esoteric-Connection/399418295995?ref=n...
Keep up the good work Tom.

 Its great that the Society and people at the Goetheanum maintain the Rudolf Steiner relics and archive just as things were in that time period (early 1900's). When you add lecturers like Judith von Halle willing to dress up in period costumes the Goetheanum becomes a real Living Museum, which I think will draw more tourists. The more they talk and act like it is 1920 the more realistic. I would suggest they get some period cars. The car photo is a 1921 German Audi that would look good parked in front of the Goetheanum.