Public Conversation and Study Groups

The public conversation and study groups, are ZOOM sessions in small groups of 5 (max 10) participants. The main intent is that we come into a meaningful conversation. Zoom omits the frankness of an in-person meeting, but certainly overcomes the societal malaise of "a-synchronous" communication, the well-practiced modern "original sin". Compassion is the basis of widening personal limitations.

Depending on our level of personal involvement we may take into our mutual concern each other's thoughts, or share a study (book, journal article, or a Steiner lecture).

1. What has been happening in my life; what has to change for a better future?

2. Interactive presentation or discussion of a thought, a book, or a journal article

3. Depending on how much you want to be involved, you can partake in the discussion or (ideally) take a turn in presenting. Once groups crystallize around a certain topic and/or are bigger than e.g. ten participants, parallel "break-out" groups are formed

Sessions are planned 2-weekly (alternating weekly between a) personal development/health, and b) building of community and society). You may decide to come to a single session as you are interested only in a specific topic or your busy life allows; or participate a bit more regularly in the two-weekly topics "Personal Health" or "Development of Community"; or be active weekly alternating in both.

The themes of the future discussions (book, journal article; podcast/webinar) are directed by the questions which turned out in the course of the conversations of the preceding Zoom sessions. The plan for the specific talking point and/or literature is being published one to two sessions ahead, under "EVENTS".

A) HEALTH AND MEANING - every second week

To complement the predominantly reactive present health care, we want to understand life holistically and develop a proactive "health literacy".

As "patients" we are reflecting on our individual challenges and taking charge of our own health journey. A good self-test question is: what are the decisions I will be grateful for or proud of, on my death-bed; what life-style do I need to follow, in order to achieve these goals?

B) HOW TO LIVE FREELY AND COLLABORATIVELY - every second week

As discerning "citizens" we reflect on our position in society. Again thinking backward from the future: what kind of society and environment will I proudly hand over to our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren?

If we can identify common goals, we may initiate an inter-disciplinary working group:
e.g in area of lifestyle choices a (community) gardening and healthy cooking project, in medicine with fellow clinicians and medical colleagues banding together a holistic therapy group.

"My dream is...." - that for example in the "Community" Session

• a group of maternity clinicians could work on an (online) antenatal and parenting unit.
• e.g. osteopaths, homeopaths, doctors could discuss and find their ways of collaboratively treating patients with e.g. chronic inflammatory diseases (hypertension; irritable bowel syndrome; endometriosis).

Each session can be chosen as single attendance, (and each part of each session independently). Ideally, however

• topics are mirrored and followed through in the three parts of each evening, and/or
• groups could form and stay together through several sessions, continually working on more complex topics/books.

The topic of a session, be it a book, journal article, or webinar, is determined by the (preceding) participants. With the approval and following interest of the group, I may finish with the study of a lecture by Rudolf Steiner: an optional part. I have practiced medicine that way all my career; I am not a proselytizer.

Links to Zoom Access and the literature for the specific lecture are detailed under "EVENTS" 

PRESENTLY CHRISTMAS AND SUMMER BREAK 5 DEC 2022 TO 15 JAN 2023