The Origin and Development of Eurythmy 1912–1918

GA 277a — 31 August 1915, Dornach

The Apollonian Course XIV

The reversal of the exercise given here, “We seek each other,” was introduced in the 17th lesson on September 6, 1915, as a prelude to the “Song of Initiation.” The second part of the lesson followed on from the 13th lesson by giving further possibilities for poem compositions in stages with a main character and choir in relation to superordinate and subordinate thoughts.

Forms for children and young people

Forms that are good for children and young people. // Practicing with children. // Exercises for children. // Can also be used as a prelude

Look inside yourself, look around you

Four people stand in a square. Four people go back and forth

When going forward: Look within yourself
When going backward: Look around you

Look within yourself! - Everyone walks in an enveloping spiral to the next person's place, forming vowels. // Enveloping and vocal. Look around you! — Everyone walks back to the starting point in an unwinding spiral, forming consonants. // Unwind and consonant.

Repeat several times.

This can be done, but it is not a requirement. Run the formation en face, not en profil. 1. Either the formation is made while reciting the words. 2. Or to music, but then not the movement of the words, but musical values, e.g., major and minor.

There were only four of us at the time, which is why the form was square. But Dr. Steiner expressly said that more people could also be included, e.g., 6-8, etc.

We seek each other out – we live together – very close together

1. (I) Everyone to the next place
2. (II) Diagonally and past each other

3. (III) Turn around, run to the middle, spread your arms without touching each other

4. We search for each other (vocally): Everyone runs from right to left to the next person's place.

5. We live (vocal): Change places diagonally.

6. Very close (vocal): Everyone runs from their corner to the small square, forming an a, which is narrow at the beginning and opens up so that the hands almost touch each other. Then swing back quickly and lightly and repeat the upbeat [the form]. This last movement should not have any accent.

[The whole] four times.

The only ones of these forms that were run with the nose are: “We are looking for each other” and the “Satirical Upbeat.”

We want to find each other – We feel close – We know each other well

Starting point (there must be an even number of people). Go around once and then arrive where the black dots are; then do the lemniscate, go around twice and then stop at the dots. Then the innermost circles.

(I) We want to find each other
(II) We feel close
(III) We know each other well

This is very good for children, much better than gymnastics or anything like that.

1. We want to find each other 2x
2. We feel close 2x
3. We know each other well 2x

However, you should emphasize that the entire form was done frontally. Now 1.MSan EvD often runs it following the nose.

In the third form, everyone runs the circles twice [...], on each stressed LMS, vowel a semicircle: We know each other well. Dr. spoke each of the sentences B16-11.1964 twice, and we continued running during the breaks. [...]

1. Run the ellipse 1½-1¾ times; We want to search. 2. Run the eight 1½ times: We feel like. 3. Run the inner circles twice: We know each other well.

2. Run the ellipse 1½ or 2 times: We want to search. 2. Run the figure eight 1½ or 2 times: We feel close. 3. Run the inner circles 1½ or 2 times: We know each other well.

Poetry composition in stages according to superordinate and subordinate thoughts

We also practiced and performed “thoughts” on these three levels. Top: superordinate thoughts; second level: subordinate or touching thoughts; bottom: subordinate thoughts, but with a new impulse. E.g., “In the flat bed, he creeps along the meadow valley” [in: “Song of the Spirits over the Waters”]; while: “You who are from heaven” only on the first and second levels.

Classified in this way, the following can be done:

J. W. Goethe: “Wanderer's Night Song” (1780) 1 Above all peaks
There is peace, (eurythmized from the center)
IIa In all the treetops
You feel
IIb Hardly a breath;
IIa The birds are silent in the forest
IIb Just wait! Soon,
I You too will rest. J. W. Goethe: “Wanderer's Night Song” (1776) I above You who are from heaven,
Who stills all suffering and pain,
II left Fill him who is doubly miserable,
II right With double refreshment,
II left Alas, I am weary of the hustle and bustle!
II right What is all this pain and pleasure for?
I above Sweet peace,
Come, oh come into my breast! MS, Nb 139

For division among several people, the following works by Goethe are suitable, for example: “The Singer”; “The Wandering Bell”; “Wanderer's Night Song: Thou Who Art from Heaven”; “Song of the Spirits over the Waters”; “The Sorcerer's Apprentice.”

J. W. Goethe: “Song of the Spirits over the Waters” (1779) I above The human soul
Is like water:
II left It comes from heaven,
II right It rises to heaven,
III below And again down
To earth it must,
I above Ever changing. (MSt: III below) I above Flows from the high,
Steep rock face
The pure stream,
II left Then it sprays lovingly
In waves of clouds
Towards the smooth rock,
II right And easily received
It surges veiling,
Softly rushing,
II bottom Down into the depths. I above Cliffs tower
Towards the fall,
III left It foams discontentedly
II right Step by step
II below To the abyss. III below In the flat bed
I right It creeps along the meadow valley,
II left And in the smooth lake
I above Willows their face
All the stars. I above Wind is the wave's
II left Lovely suitor;
II right Wind stirs from the bottom
II below Foaming waves. III below Soul of man,
II right How you resemble water!
II left Fate of man,
I above How like the wind you are!

[Supplemented with sensory forms:]

The human soul / like water: above // Eternally changing above / Flows from the high / Steep rock face above / the pure stream

Cliffs tower / toward the fall above // All the stars bathe their faces in it.

Rudolf Steiner: From the Anthroposophical Soul Calendar, Saying 22

The light from worlds above
abstract soul [abstract outside cosmic]
Inside it lives on powerfully above
soul abstract
It becomes soul light left [abstract] And shines into the depths of the spirit, right [soul abstract]
To give birth to fruits left
abstract
The human self from the world self on the right
spiritual abstract [cosmic abstract]
Allowing it to mature in the course of time. above [unified verb] The light from worlds above
spiritual abstract [cosmic abstract]
It lives on powerfully within above
spiritual abstract
It becomes the light of the soul left [spiritual abstract] And shines into the depths of the spirit, right [cosmic abstract]
To bear fruit left
cosmic
The human self from the world self right
cosmic abstract cosmic abstract
Allowing it to mature over time. above
cosmic abstract [continuous]