The Origin and Development of Eurythmy 1912–1918

GA 277a — 22 September 1912, Bottmingen

The Dionysian Course VIII

On September 22, a beautiful autumn Sunday morning, we had been summoned to Dr. Steiner's office at 11 a.m. He greeted us as usual with a handshake. This time, he did not let go of my hand, but said, “Now let's see if the little one has learned anything yet.” My mother interrupted him and said somewhat dejectedly, “Yes, Doctor, do you really think she'll be able to do all that?” The doctor smiled reassuringly at her and said, "You'll be surprised what can come out of such a young thing. So, little one, make an h (repulsive reaction, I had learned) and then an a (that's an inner defense). Now make seven ls (I started small, otherwise it becomes too monotonous), then an e (crossing = astonishment). Now follow with three large, calm l movements, leading to a very large, long-held u (turn upward, serious, with a large arm movement). Finally, form a strong i and a.“ Then he said very seriously, but seriously happily: ”Now you have made the word ‘Hallelujah...h’. This means: I purify myself of everything that prevents me from seeing the Most High."

Hallelujah....h

He wrote down the word, explaining as he wrote: “e is a first climax, an astonished premonition, but only after the last big l movements in the u does it reach its final, desired climax, a peaceful viewing and absorption.” — After a pause with a straight face, the i and the last a should be formed very large and objectively, right down to the fingers i and a, because with this, like a seal, the name of the Most High, Yahweh, is placed. “And now do the whole thing again.”

Thus, “Hallelujah” is the first word that was represented eurythmically!

“It becomes a beautiful exercise when you place five people in a pentagram and have them all form the word at the same time as if it were a being. This would create a convivial effect in the highest sense of the word.” But if one person does it alone, then they should form the word standing at the top of the pentagram, but then move to the next place with a very soft, breathy h, as if carried there by the “”, and when the breath has been exhaled, they should arrive there with their arms completely lowered. In this way, “Hallelujah...h” must be done six times, because at the beginning and at the end one should always stand at the top. Never should a pentagram be placed in the room with its tip pointing forward, i.e., toward the audience, nor should “Hallelujah...h” be done while running, “because then it becomes bacchanalian!” When he described the last pentagram, which is to be performed by a single person, Miss von Sivers suddenly exclaimed in alarm: “But, Doctor, that must require tremendous strength!” “Yes, did you think we only wanted to dance? We also want to help sick people,” was the reply, and he wrote under the drawing: “Strengthening of the etheric body.”

sociable activity / drop h / strengthening of the etheric body

However, “Hallelujah” can also be combined with a form that can be performed by seven people. When the sixth person takes their place, the seventh must quickly run in an arc behind the others to the place of the first, so that this round dance can be repeated.

In addition to “Hallelujah,” Rudolf Steiner also spoke about the Greek cry and greeting “Evoe” on this Sunday morning. After explaining the meaning to be felt in it, he described how it should be performed. To venerate something—a number of beautifully shaped minerals, a bowl of flowers, a child, but never an everyday, indifferent object such as a chair or something similar—one should form a circle; or, feeling yourself on a circular line, approach the object of worship with a reverent e-movement, then take a second, very small step, sinking deeply into the knee, with arms and hands stretched out far in front of you, and touch this sacred object quietly and reverently: o, straighten up again to form an o, and step back into the circle to conclude the word, the greeting, with the last e.

Evoe / We seek each other and have found each other
Greetings from Ev. originated

Two people could also express “Evoe” together by each seeking and finding the other in their counterpart. This means that each person perceives the other with amazement with the e, leans toward them with the v, quietly places their hands on their shoulders, then forms the o toward them—not around them—and, stepping back, the e. “You can still find many medieval images in which two people form the first e—together with their forearms forming a cross—and then continue to form the ”Evoe" as I have just described to you. But,“ he added with a smile, ”you shouldn't let boys and girls do it too often at school, otherwise they'll fall in love with each other!“ That's really all he said. Besides, every day, every person forms an ”Evoe" with another person. Rudolf Steiner then asked me to hold out my hand to him and brought his hand close to mine so that both hands formed an “e.” “Now touch with the ‘o,’ enclose or embrace with the ‘o,’ and when you release, it becomes an ‘e’ again. So, you see, every greeting originated from ‘Evoe.’” For people today, this is not only unconscious, but usually also unintentional. And yet, in every greeting with a handshake lies the ancient “Evoe”: “We seek each other and have found each other.”

Rudolf Steiner's preparatory notes for this lesson

Hallelujah

Evoe – we seek each other and have found each other e- 1 step / v- stretch out your arm and touch the other person / o – unfold yourself /
e – step back —
Alone: with arms stretched out / bow as if greeting something.