The ideals of Rudolf Steiner, which are being put into practice in thousands of schools and kindergartens around the world today, are outlined by Janni Nicol

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was born in Kraljevec, now Croatia. He was intensely awake to nature, and was convinced of the reality of an inner life. He studied science and the classics and tutored pupils in the humanities. Philosophy, science, literature and the arts were his principal interests.

The extraordinary originality of Rudolf Steiner's mind led him to a philosophy that linked up the world of science with spirituality. His revolutionary ideas (called 'anthroposophy') took form in a number of enterprises that included art and architecture, biodynamic agriculture (organic farming working with natural rhythms), anthroposophical medicine (an extension of orthodox medical practice including Weleda medicines and toiletries), Curative Education and Social Therapy (including the Camphill movement), speech and drama, eurythmy (an art of movement making speech and music visible), Virbela flowforms (water purification systems), and ethical banking and education.

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