Children and Angels

Posted by Donna Simmons

God is Listening One of the most powerful examples parents can set for their children is to let them witness them as reverent people who pray and who actively relates to the spiritual worlds. We live in dark times and…

Introduction to Anthroposophy

Posted by Donna Simmons

Although teachers in Waldorf schools should be working out of anthroposophy, no homeschooler is, of course obliged to walk this path. However, if one wants to understand the depths of this uniquely universal education, one which is, at heart a…

a story of St Nicholas

Posted by Donna Simmons

St Nicholas’ day has passed (6 December) but this is a lovely story to share with your children. It was written by a Christian Community (the church inspired by the work of Steiner) priest. May it be received with love…

Michaelmas thoughts

Posted by Donna Simmons

Starting on 29 September, Michaelmas Day, we can live into the reality of the four-week period of Michaelmas, a time to gather inner courage as we face the darkening days ahead. In a time when many can feel that life…

A Quick Autumn Craft

Posted by Donna Simmons

I rarely put craft ideas on to my blog—there are so many other folks out there who are so creative and ‘crafty’ I generally leave it to them—but this craft has always been one of my favorites. It is so…

Candlemas

Posted by Donna Simmons

Here is a rather old post from – yikes!! – 10 years ago about the festival of Candlemas. I have been more focused on videos and talks than on my blog – I save my writing for the creation of…

Is Waldorf Education Christian?

Posted by Christopherus

by William Ward (Reprinted with kind permission of the author from Renewal, Vol. 10, No. 1, Spring-Summer 2001) Waldorf schools seek to cultivate positive human values of compassion, reverence for life, respect, cooperation, love of nature, interest in the world,…

Death in the family

Posted by Donna Simmons

 The following was kindly written for me by my friend, Marianne Dietzel. Marianne lost her eldest child in a car accident in 1996 and has, along with her husband and two sons, been on a long journey of healing. One…

The Peace of Mary

Posted by Donna Simmons

This year for the first time I was able to participate in the celebration of Epiphany at my Church (The Christian Community – the Church inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner). I was privileged to participate in the most…

Keeping Sane Over the Holidays

Posted by Donna Simmons

The Holiday Season is a time of joy for most people – and surely people with children are most joyous of all, as children’s excitement mounts and the countdown to the Great Day begins…. But the Holidays can also be…

On Michaelmas

Posted by Donna Simmons

We are approaching Michaelmas, a very important festival from an anthroposophical standpoint and one which can be understood to speak to people from all religions. Michael is the “time spirit” of our age, He who brings an impulse both of…

An Advent Reflection

Posted by Donna Simmons

I thought some of you might enjoy reflecting on this quote about Advent from The Rhythm of the Christian Year: Renewing the Religious Cycle of Festivals by Emil Bock, one of the founders of the Christian Community, the Church inspired…

Fall Festivals

Posted by Donna Simmons

If you work with the “Waldorf calendar” of festivals, then you know that these next few months are busy ones. Michaelmas, Martinmas, Advent…. Succos, harvest festivals, Channukah, Solstice, and Christmas, are all on the way. We are currently having an…

Review: Living into Dying

Posted by Donna Simmons

Every once in a while one reads a book which feels, from the first page through the last, as if one has been handed a great gift. One feels honored that the author has shared her story, has even bared…

Self Development as a Parent

Posted by Donna Simmons

Steiner said there were three absolutes which every teacher must undertake as part of his essential task of being a teacher: to understand child development; to strive to understand the particular children one is working with; and to work on…

Advent

Posted by Donna Simmons

  In most Waldorf schools – at least those in North America, Central Europe, and Britain –  a very special early Winter festival takes place for the children. This is the Advent spiral, a beautiful spiral of Light which symbolizes…

Fantasy and Imagination

Posted by Donna Simmons

(the following was written in response to a question I received many years ago on my old yahoo group…)   When working with questions around the existence of fairies, I guess it all depends on how one views the world,…

Christmas with Older Children

Posted by Donna Simmons

Well, the holidays are over – today is Three Kings’ or Epiphany. It is the day that we take down our decorations and officially bring the Christmas season to a close in our family.   My sons are now 12…

Wonderful Halloween

Posted by Donna Simmons

What a great Halloween we had in our family! What a wonderful festival – though unless one is a follower of Celtic traditions, I’m not sure ‘festival’ is the correct term. ‘Excuse for fun’ or ‘evening out of the ordinary’…

Fall Festivals

Posted by Donna Simmons

By Donna Simmons I love this time of year. I love the bright blue skies, the vibrant shades of red, gold and orange on the trees. I love the warm sun on my face and the cold wind – the…

Religion Lessons

Posted by Donna Simmons

Religion lessons do not figure in the Main Lessons curriculum (there is a specific religion lessons curriculum – but to my knowledge, only a handful of schools in this country or in the UK use it) and the Old Testament,…

January Activities

Posted by Donna Simmons

This article first appeared in the Homeschool Journey newsletter, January 2004, updated slightly in 2019 January can be a depressing month for many homeschoolers. Panic and guilt lurk just around the corner as well realize that the children have done…

Non-Commercial Christmas

Posted by Donna Simmons

This article first appeared in the Homeschool Journey newsletter, December 2003 Advent in America… hmmm… not much awaiting of the Light in our local Wal-Mart or in the orgy of holiday specials advertised on TV. It’s such an assault on…