Anthroposophist, mystic, and teacher, Claudia McLaren Lainson explains the Holy Nights:
"In the darkness of Winter’s night, when the great breath of the Earth Mother finds its greatest point of inhalation, human beings are afforded the grace to touch into both magic and miracle. In the pause between her mighty in-breath and out-breath there is a still-point of rest. This still-point has long been known as the Holy Nights. In these blessed Nights, the angels circle the globe as if in a great cosmic dance. They long to speak to listening human hearts. Throughout the ages the ‘listening ones’ on earth have heard the angelic choir; they have received messages of Peace and Love. What is received during these sacred days and nights, resounds a thousand-fold in the year that follows. In this year before us, a great light is striving to find willing human hearts. May we each be the ‘listening ones’ during these Holy Nights. May we work with angels."
Choosing the right school for your kid can feel like matchmaking to find their perfect fit. But not all education rides on the typical school bus route. While every educational experience is about enriching children and helping them become well-rounded adults, there are a plethora of options for parents to choose from when it comes to schooling their tykes. Beyond public learning or personalized homeschooling, creative classroom alternatives keep sprouting that mix playground socializing with teaching tailored to how young minds blossom best.
On the first day of first grade, there are so many firsts. The first time the children greet their teacher at the door; the first time making their way to their coat hook, putting on their new indoor shoes, and then making their way to their very first desk. In a Waldorf school, this may be the first time they have a name tag (on their desk and on their cubby) with their name written on it — in the kindergarten, their “names” are symbols (the snail, the rabbit, the moon) that keep the space in the imaginative realm rather than the academic.
What is Main Lesson in a Waldorf School?
The tour of our main lesson provides a glimpse into the active and joyful learning of the students in our grades. During the two hours of the daily main lesson, the teacher engages the students in a multi-sensory exploration of the subject that they are focusing on for a block of time.
