Rudolf Steiner

Mar 4, 2025

27 February 1861 – 30 March 2025

This year, this month, commemorates Rudolf Steiner’s death 100 years ago. Or, as anthroposophists say, his ‘crossing of the threshold of life between death and rebirth.’

Rudolf Steiner died in his studio on 30 March 1925, at a time, when the School of Spiritual Science and its building, whose exterior he was able to design, were still unfolding. Three and a half years later, at Michaelmas 1928, more than 2000 people from many countries attended the opening of the second Goetheanum.

Anthroposophical societies around the world will offer a range of programs and lectures in commemoration of this definitive day, a turning point in the history and destiny of the anthroposophic movement.

A pivotal moment

As Anthroposophy met this pivotal moment in its history, scientists and researchers ‘opened a door to matter, so that matter itself became receptive to the light from above. It was one hundred years ago that Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr formulated the Copenhagen interpretation, according to which the indeterministic nature of the world is not due to our human fallibility but is an essential feature of existence. In short, the world “is” not—it “appears.”‘ (excerpt from Issue 9/2025, Das Goetheanum Weekly Newsletter).

Goetheanum Commemorative Program

The Management and Board of the Goetheanum invite everyone to a three-day gathering with contributions from around the world dedicated to central stages in the development of the Anthroposophical Society and its School of Spiritual Science over a century, including a series of biographical lectures.

Watch the trailer (you will need to enable English subtitles under captions)

The conference itself will open with an exhibition on Rudolf Steiner’s life and work, his cultural effect and importance, with many contributions gratefully paying tribute to his life achievements and his spiritual and personal devotion to anthroposophy.

Download the flyer.

For the full program of events leading up to his Death Day at the Goetheanum, browse Rudolf Steiner 100 here.

Goetheanum TV live streams and videos

For those who cannot attend in person, Goetheanum TV has a range of videos and live streams, many in English, on the theme, but you need to subscribe. Themes include The Life of Rudolf Steiner – Signatures of a Becoming, Rudolf Steiner’s life in Images and The early Rudolf Steiner – paths and encounters.

The last year of work live stream at 8.00 pm CET on 24th March (6.00 am AEDT on 25th March) by Stefan Hasler should be of particular interest, as Steiner and his co-workers worked almost non-stop to realise the developments and objectives outlined at the turn of 1923/24.

Local events

Closer to home, the St. John’s Branch, Sydney have two upcoming commemorative events:

30^th March 7pm 3pm Gathering – to honour and commemorate the life of Rudolf Steiner.
An invitation is being extended to all, to join us at Rudolf Steiner House for an In Memoriam Gathering – to honour and commemorate the life of Rudolf Steiner. A program is currently being designed for this day- the 100 year anniversary of the death of Rudolf Steiner. We are hoping to offer tableaux glimpses of significant aspects of Rudolf Steiner’s life, and those who lived alongside him. Artistic offerings will be included in the program- honouring the 100 year anniversary and the place the arts hold at the heart of Anthroposophy. Please save this significant date in your diary, and we hope to see you there. Details here and booking here.

1st April 7pm Rudolf Steiner’s Intellectual biography and his contribution to Christology, theology and biblical studies as a core part of the General anthroposophical society. As we commemorate the 100 year anniversary of Rudolf Steiner’s death we can look at various areas of his contribution to the world? Jude Neeme-Samson. This event will also be zoomed. Details and bookings here.

The South Australian Branch will be honouring the day by inviting members and all those who wish to join to read the ‘Last Address’ wherever you happen to be at 7pm on Sunday March 30th. This was the last time Rudolf Steiner was able to speak in public and he became too ill to finish his lecture. It was given on the 28th September 1924, in Dornach, to honour Michaelmas the following day. It also has the title of ‘The Individuality Of Elias, John, Raphael, Novalis” GA 238. For more information, contact the SA branch.

Check your local branch or group newsletters for more local events.

Overview of The early Rudolf Steiner – paths and encounters

Painting of a young man of the late 19th century.

Rudolf Steiner, by Joseph Rolletschek, 1894 Weimar

General Secretary Jane Bradshaw provides a short summary of the lecture, The early Rudolf Steiner – paths and encounters, presented by Tomas Zdrazil.

Zdrazil spoke of the seeds and roots that led to such a powerful biographical journey:

Few reports are available the first half of Steiner’s childhood: we know he was a fragile baby, unsettled; he struggled to connect with his physical body; and his family feared he may not survive. His incarnation in this life was difficult and Steiner’s family moved frequently.

He was born in the late 19^th century when a new rhythm in times was emerging. For many, the life of simple farming in small communities was becoming modernised and industrialised through the machine.

As a child, Steiner experienced this cultural evolution, firsthand as life unfolded for him. For example, he spent some time at an Austrian train station while his father was employed there. In this noisy and unhygienic place, myriads of people transitioned busily, and Steiner watched with great interest.

Within the framework of these new social impressions, from varied backgrounds, Steiner found everyone interesting. Factory workers, monks, teachers – he longed for role models beyond his family.

We know that early interactions with his teachers and friends during his youth laid the groundwork for the eventual development of his ‘science of the spirit’. In the first five years of his life, Steiner himself underwent profound transformations in his ability to perceive the sensory world and to grow into the spiritual realm. It is reported he could read through the outer expressions into the soul life of the people he encountered.

In addition, his clairvoyance became evident in the waiting room at the Austrian station: he perceived a person enter, a figure, a female bodyless spirit, likened to family member. She gestured to him and spoke ‘try now and later to do as much as you can for me’; the figure then disappeared but the impression lasted with him for ever. Steiner realised he had access to a world that is closed to others. He told his parents, but they did not discuss it.

Inwardly, his questions were deep, and he knew the power of learning. Steiner sought concepts for his perceptions. At school he was a quick learner, dream-like pictures arose in him through the lessons at school. At an early age he was inspired to give remedial lessons to other students.

He always loved art and music, but it was the discovery of geometry that awakened him. Geometry books show him something real that was beyond the sense-perceptible.’ He saw life in the forms. He could grasp in the spirit, the invisible. When the local vicar who shared the Copernicium world system using diagrams, Steiner could grasp the content supersensibly. Through these experiences, true happiness came for him for the first time.

A pivotal influence in his life came with his engagement with Goethe’s body of work, both his scientific contributions and his fairy tales. Much later Steiner wrote his plays the ‘Mystery Dramas’ and in the 2^nd drama nature beings are described. These beings had first appeared to him in the Austrian landscape, as a child.

In Germany there is a play currently being performed about Steiner’s early life. The child is played by a child actor, as are most of the characters in the play. It has been very well received. Steiner once said to the Waldorf teachers: Children are the greatest miracle to exist in earthy life. They are a medicine for cultural development.