SPECIAL THANKS TO THE WORKING GROUP FOR THE DIRECTORY: 

Jordan Walker Conceptual Design & Project Coordinator
John Scott Legg (SteinerBooks) Editor
Travis Henry (Threefold Now) Census-taker
Leland Lehrman (Fund-Balance) Participant Support
Gwendolyn Sherman Illustrations
Philipp Tok (Das Goetheanum) Logo Design
David Perry (Chronogram) Creative Director
Amara Projansky (Luminary Media) Publishing Consultation
Martin Ping (Hawthorne Valley Association) Organizational Support

ABOUT THE DIRECTORY:

•    300+: Number of initiatives included.  Get it here.

    •    30,000+: Estimated number of people associated with the listed initiatives who could benefit from an expanded awareness of the regional network of anthroposophically inspired work.

    •    $30,000: Was the initial budget which would have included the printing of directories to be distributed free of charge. There was hesitation from donors about the environmental and financial impact of putting information which so quickly goes out of date into such a large number of print copies. Instead, it was decided to release the first edition of the directory as a PDF which can be easily distributed and updated as needed. Individuals and organizations wishing to purchase a hard copy of the directory can buy the latest version through Amazon’s print-on-demand service.

    •    The free PDF is meant to be distributed as widely as possible. Please share it with your student’s families, clients, etc.

    •    Inclusion in the directory is free.  While being listed in the directory is not contingent upon financial sponsorship, the project requires donations to exist.  Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution at the highest financial level you are able.

   •    There are ideas for additionally developing the online platform and producing a traveling Initiative Showcase that would make the rounds to school festivals, farmer's markets, and community forum's throughout the region. Here are updates about live events.     

HOW IT CAME TO BE:

In the fall of 2016, Jordan Walker received a seed grant from the Hawthorne Valley Association, an umbrella for, and an incubator of, organizations in education, agriculture and the arts.  The grant’s expressed intention was to foster collaboration among the various branches within the Association.  As Jordan assessed the “community of organizations” located in Harlemville, NY he began to realize that the community existed within (and was largely responsible for) a whole ecosystem of ground-breaking work being done throughout the surrounding area.

In seeking a natural boundary from which to frame a network that in fact extends across the country and throughout the world, the notion of a geographical (and geological) “Watershed” began to appear.     

Wisdom Working has arisen as a vehicle to explore the question posed by the initial grant: “How do independent organizations, each engaged in important and at times all-consuming work, feel themselves a part of a larger, broader, deeper mission?” The two words—“Wisdom” and “Working”—indicate an intersection where imagined ideas and ideals find application—where wisdom is done.  And vice versa, the place where the “work” of everyday life is elevated by being in touch with a wisdom that we have largely lost sight of in contemporary times.  

More than the technical knowledge available in vast quantities today, “Wisdom” was a living, breathing Being for the ancient Greeks that befriended Her at the advent of philosophy (meaning love of wisdom).  This experience of Sophia is also in the word Anthroposophy (wisdom of the human being), distinct from the more familiar Anthropology (knowledge of the human being).  As the source is different—wisdom vs knowledge—so shall the results be.

In recent times, perhaps no better example can be found of ancient wisdom applied to modern life than the work and legacy of Rudolf Steiner.  The deep, esoteric (and historically hidden) wisdom is there in abundance.  But so too is the drive to have these cosmic truths find a home here on earth.  This commitment to applying wisdom in our daily human lives is exemplified in the world-wide growth and thriving—more than 90 years since Steiner’s death—of Waldorf schools, Camphill communities, Biodynamic farms, Anthroposophical Society branches, congregations of the Christian Community, Anthroposophical doctors, therapists, artists, businesses, and organizations of every kind. 

Wisdom Working seeks to be a vehicle for helping to bridge this amazing wellspring of applied imagination with all who may be inspired (and transformed) by it.