General Anthroposophical Society
Study and exchange ideas
When faith in progress swept away mythology, Rudolf Steiner conceptualized anthroposophy, a spirituality based on science, to understand the world more deeply and to give a broader foundation to personality. The Anthroposophical Society offers the opportunity to study anthroposophy and exchange ideas.
The Society Worldwide
Today the General Anthroposophical Society connects many hundreds of groups, branches, and regional societies. They are composed of spiritually interested and engaged people in 78 countries on all continents. Anthroposophy sees itself as a science of the spirit; the Anthroposophical Society is concerned with the life, questions, and goals of its members.
The spectrum ranges from open discussion meetings to general issues of current events to specialised thematic working groups, from strictly spiritual science study groups to informal reading groups, to people from all areas of life and work who are committed to civil society.
The local or subject-related groups form a network in regional working groups, cross-regional initiatives and national associations (national societies). At the international level, they are united in the General Anthroposophical Society based at the Goetheanum (Switzerland). The General Anthroposophical Society supports the School of Spiritual Science as the "soul" of the Anthroposophical Society with its specialised sections covering various areas of life and work.
Membership
Become a member of the Anthroposophical Society
Anyone can become a member without regard to nationality, social standing, religion, scientific or artistic conviction. It is not confession that is called for, but interest. Each member can form groups with others and pursue the questions that are important for their pursuit of knowledge and life. This creates a network of lively spiritual exchange about anthroposophy in the present - whether in South African townships or Stockholm, one of the many Rudolf Steiner houses in Germany, or on a farm in New Zealand. Group work on-site, festivals, courses, lectures, and artistic events shape the life of the Anthroposophical Society, as do international conferences.
Newsletter
Member News
‹Anthroposophy Worldwide: What is happening in the Anthroposophical Society› appears monthly in German, English, French and Spanish for members of the Anthroposophical Society.
Executive Council
Justus Wittich
Born 1955 in Germany
Justus Wittich attended the Rudolf Steiner School in Berlin-Dahlem and studied economics at the Freie Universität Berlin. In 1979 he took over the management of the "Association of Friends of Rudolf Steiner’s Education" or "Freunde der Erziehungskunst Rudolf Steiners", in Stuttgart. Since 1985 Wittich has been involved in adult education at “der hof”, a cultural, medical, and spiritual community initiative in Niederursel, Frankfurt. In 1989 he became editorial manager of the quarterly members’ newsletter 'Mitteilungen aus der Anthroposophischen Gesellschaft in Deutschland', and he was a member of the Council of the Anthroposophical Society in Germany from 1992 to 2012. Since 2012 he has been a member of the Executive Council of the General Anthroposophical Society. He is married and has three children.
Constanza Kaliks
Born in 1967 in Chile, Constanza Kaliks grew up and lived mostly in Brazil. Constanza completed her studies of Mathematics in São Paulo, and went on to be mathematics teacher at the Escola Rudolf Steiner in São Paulo for 19 years. There she was also a teacher in the Waldorf Teacher training. Constanza has a Ph.D. in Education with a thesis on Nicolaus of Cuse. She is married with two children. She has been the Leader of the Youth Section at the Goetheanum since 2012 and is part of the board of the Goetheanum since 2015.
patricia.sethaler@goetheanum.ch ioana.viscrianu@goetheanum.ch
Matthias Girke
Born 1954 in Germany
Matthias Girke is a specialist in internal medicine, diabetology, and palliative medicine. He was a co-founder of the hospital for Anthroposophic Medicine Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe in Berlin, Germany, where he was head of Internal Medicine for more than 21 years. He continues to serve as a consultant and advisor and to see outpatients there. He has been head of the Medical Section of the School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum since September 2016 and a member of the Executive Council of the General Anthroposophical Society since April 2017.
Ueli Hurter
Up until 2020 biodynamic farmer at Ferme-Fromagerie de L’Aubier and member of the leadership team at L’Aubier, an associative enterprise that includes an eco-hotel, a biodynamic restaurant, a café-hotel and eco housing. He is married with three children. From 1997 until 2010 president of the Swiss Demeter Association and since 2002 board member of the International Biodynamic Association (IBDA). Since 2010 co-leader of the Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum and since 2020 member of the Executive Council of the General Anthroposophical Society.
Emeritus and former board members (since 2015)
Joan Sleigh joan.sleigh@goetheanum.ch
Dr. Virginia Sease virginia.sease@goetheanum.ch
Dr. med. Seija Zimmermann seija.zimmermann@goetheanum.ch
Paul Mackay paul.mackay@goetheanum.ch
Bodo von Plato von.plato@goetheanum.ch
Support
Support the Anthroposophical Society
As an organization dedicated to cultural activities the General Anthroposophical Society does not engage in commercial activity. It depends solely on grant and donation support from the private sector. Financially, the General Anthroposophical Society is supported by approximately 42,000 members worldwide through their annual membership contributions. It also receives income from services, such as natural science research projects, publications and conferences, etc., as well as through its public performances and the Eurythmy performances of its ensemble. A significant part of core operating expenses, plus additional projects must be funded through donations.
General Assembly
All documents relating to General Assembly and the letters from the Executive Council to the members can be accessed in ‹Anthroposophy Worldwide›.
History
Anthroposophical Society
The General Anthroposophical Society was founded during the Christmas Conference in Dornach in 1923. However, the history of the Anthroposophical Society began earlier, as the German section of the Theosophical Society developed. In five years (2023) the General Anthroposophical Society will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Learn more
Rudolf Steiner
Words to describe the work of Rudolf Steiner: unusual – not easy to approach – filled with stimulating ideas. His monumental projects of drafting an alternative science, a new pedagogy, new perspectives in medicine and agriculture have entered into the spiritual heritage of the present time.
Learn moreAdministration
Personel Department at the Goetheanum
The employees of the AAG (General Anthroposophical Society) at the Goetheanum see themselves as a community of people working together in the service of the tasks that the AAG sets itself. The work takes place at the Goetheanum and is based on the professional, social and entrepreneurial skills of all employees.
Finances
As an institution of free spiritual and intellectual life, the General Anthroposophical Society does not engage in any profitable economic activity and is recognised by the tax authorities of the Canton of Solothurn as a tax-exempt non-profit institution.
Volunteer
Today, countless people continue to work for the Goetheanum on a voluntary basis. Voluntary work is an indispensable pillar of the Goetheanum as an organisation; thanks to such voluntary work, the Goetheanum's services and key operations are supported in a significant way.
Documentation
The Goetheanum Documentation Centre is an institution of the General Anthroposophical Society for the general public, the School of Spiritual Science and the members of the General Anthroposophical Society. It consists of the library, art collection and Goetheanum Archive.