Foundations in Anthroposophy
A path of self development for
world development.
By Erwin Berney
with Contributions from Lisa Romero, Anthony Mecca, Susan margaret, Brian Keats, Lesley Evans and Annika Jaensch
The Foundation Year Course is EduCareDo’s initial and most comprehensive course. It provides the principles of anthroposophy through reading, experiments, artistic activities and preparatory exercises for meditation in 26 Lessons.
Course Inclusions
Additions
- Workshops
- Other EduCareDo courses (second year studies)
Anthroposophy is a self-awakening experience of the individual to discover spiritual realities in the inner and outer aspects of life.
Anthroposophy is more than self-development, for through it we recognize our humanity, and humanity (Anthropos) has the inherent wisdom (Sophia) to transform both itself and the world.
EduCareDo’s Foundations in Anthroposophy Course encourages working with questions for helping to unfold our next step. Exercises and experiments throughout the course support the transformation of thoughts, feelings and actions that affect our lives and in turn the lives of others.
By way of seeking questions rather than answers we may free ourselves from prejudices and preconceived ideas. Room is made for more points of view and real change may occur when two or more come together with a willingness to hold room for thoughts to live.
We have to look for answers with life in them, answers that allow new questions to emerge, because to ask questions is a process that is creative and leads to the future.
Erwin Berney, course authoR
The foundations of anthroposophy are fundamental to understanding how to apply the methods that arise out of anthroposophy such as Waldorf Education, Biodynamic Agriculture and Anthroposophic Medicine.
Course Content
The lessons in the Foundations in Anthroposophy Course are written in a sequential order to gradually unfold and deepen the content. The course provides the opportunity for self-paced study. On average a lesson requires a commitment of about 6.5 hours, plus reading books and lectures. Two years is an average time frame to complete the whole course.
Some lessons are available for individual enrolment, and provide a foundation to content in other courses.
Understanding, Caring for and Developing the Human Senses
A set of lessons that introduce the twelve senses.
The Threefold Human Constitution
The ‘threefoldness’ of the human constitution and of the surrounding world in its various manifestations is explored. The principle of the threefold organisation forms the basis to explore the functional dynamics of the human sheaths in health and illness and the workings of the immune system which are explored throughout other lessons.
Watercolor Painting
The Human Being and the Four Kingdoms of Nature
Development and Care of the Four Members of the Human Being
Elements, Ethers, their Origin and their Evolution on Earth
The Human Being, the Four Temperaments, the Four Elements and the Four Ethers
Experiments with Elements, Ethers and their Effects in Nature and in the Human Being
Gender, Sexuality and Spirituality
The lessons on female and male spirituality takes us through ancient evolutionary processes to present day questions and new possibilities in counselling.
Ecological-Social-Economy
The ecological-social-economy lessons explore how some of the great gifts of Rudolf Steiner can be realised in practical life today.
The Arts and their Mission. Living Words: An Introduction to Creative Speech
Introduction to Biography Work
Astronomy
Six Subsidiary Exercises
The Six Subsidiary Exercises are worked with throughout the lessons finishing with the curative eurythmy exercise; ‘I think speech’, given by Rudolf Steiner.
Health and Nutrition
Through the health and nutrition lessons, we endeavor to build images of the ‘healthy human being’ and ‘healthy nutrition’. By understanding the principles of biodynamic farming, we explore the meaning and processes of nutrition and the effects of many foods in relation to our well-being. An overview is presented of the effects in our thinking, feeling and willing by mind and consciousness altering drugs.
Through Rudolf Steiner’s insight and research, the mysteries and origins of health and illness and the basic aspects of healing and medicine are examined throughout numerous lessons, culminating in the 3 Health and Nutrition lessons.
To truly know the world, look deep within your own being.
To truly know yourself, take a real interest in the world.
Rudolf Steiner
Receive Tutoring & Gather
The course is designed for self-paced and self-directed distance learning. Enroll at anytime.
Lessons are written in a sequential order that gradually unfold, and are available to work with at your chosen pace for meeting your capacity to absorb and integrate the content.
Along the way you have the aid of communication with Lisa Bono, the course author, in participant study groups as well as individual feedback when you submit a diary sheet that accompanies each lesson. Engaging with these optional inclusions to the course can become a support to helping understand and enliven the content in a way that your soul forces may reach further into the spiritual foundations of this content.
The Foundations in Anthroposophy Study Group and Practice Sessions are held by EduCareDo contributors who have worked with the course content for many years and are actively engaged with anthroposophy on a daily basis. As for all the courses the facilitators volunteer to hold the space and know the value of gathering around the content. From time to time the schedules change. View the current schedule →
Certificate of Completion
A Certificate of Completion is issued to participants who have completed and submitted their diary sheets to the tutor within two years. Learn more →
Teacher’s Certificate of Completion
A Teacher’s Certificate of Completion is likewise available to participants of this course. Learn more →
The totality of truth is present in every soul as a seed and can be brought to blossom if the soul devotes itself to the development of that seed.
Rudolf Steiner
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Enrol in one lesson
Contributors
The author of this course, Erwin Berney, was the founder of EduCareDo. He was also a principal founder of Australia’s first Orientation Course in Anthroposophy in the 1970’s which grew to become what is now known as Sydney Rudolf Steiner College. Erwin’s commitment to the path of inner development and new community made it possible to compose a course that for those who become students of the work can tirelessly deepen their understanding of its content.(needs edit) The course was the first distance education course of its kind around the world in 2002 and it has stood the test of time. The need for such rich living course content is even more relevant today than it was 20 years ago.
EduCareDo’s Foundations in Anthroposophy Course has been utilised by thousands world-wide since 2001.
The lessons of the EduCareDo Foundation Course are the most all embracing, revealing and yet practical that I have ever come across. Each lesson was POWERFUL. I enjoyed the explanations about the endless connections and relationships between all things. How everything is tied into the Oneness; the artistic and beautiful feeling permeating the real human experience is heart warming.
Tracey Field, Remedial Teacher
Foundations in Anthroposophy
We meet fortnightly to study the lessons together and discuss our thoughts and experiences as we progress through each topic. The lessons meet our group’s diverse understanding of anthroposophy by providing thought-provoking questions, practical exercises, and clear explanations of Rudolf Steiner’s work… We are grateful for this initiative and cannot speak highly enough about the format, content and presentation of the lessons.
ruth underwood
Orana Steiner School study group
Clear and concise lessons clarifying many ideas and issues and introducing new ideas that I am still struggling to understand. Well-planned and arranged to encourage maximum understanding. Everything is highly relevant to my life. I am thoroughly enjoying it. I recommend the course to everyone on a journey of self discovery and/or world discovery
Bronwyn Bellemore
architect
This is a spiritual but highly practical course. The main benefit for me has been the insights into child development. Wonderful. Primarily it gives us greater understanding of children and their needs and also to help us understand and care for each other. The course helps to instill a desire to serve humanity, and incubate interest and understanding
Vivien Jolliffe
remedial teacher
