A Festival of Unbornness: The Journey toward Birth

MARY STEWART ADAMS, General Secretary and President of the Anthroposophical Society in America, and CHRISTINE BURKE from the Western Regional Council, ASA

Come for a special Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Anthroposophical Society branch meeting on Sunday, February 4, 2024, with two key members of our national society, Mary Stewart Adams and Christine Burke. Together, they will weave a tapestry of spiritual research, story, and poetry out of the ancient understanding of the human pre-birth experience.

The timing closely coincides with the Winter Cross Quarter, traditionally celebrated as the 40th day after Christmas (February 2). The Winter Cross Quarter marks the halfway point in the winter season and is variously celebrated as Ground Hog’s Day, Candlemas, and Imbolc. Each of these celebrations are related to inner light and inner purification, in preparation for the year’s mystery.

In the work of Rudolf Steiner, this time of year is also delightfully described as the season when all the souls that will come to birth in the year are gathered into the Moon sphere.

Mary Stewart Adams will also share a short perspective from her new role as General Secretary. For over twenty years, under the title of Star Lore Historian, Mary Stewart Adams has worked as a dark skies advocate, to raise awareness about the effects of light pollution and to make known the mysteries of the starry skies from environmental, cultural, and anthroposophical perspectives.

Mary first encountered the work of Rudolf Steiner at the age 18 in 1981, and met Hazel Straker, a pioneer in Astrosophy, in 1996. These two destiny moments have shaped much of her life path, which, together with her education in literary arts, continue to inspire her work and research. She joined the School for Spiritual Science in 2000.

Mary has four children, and since accepting the position of General Secretary for the Anthroposophical Society in America, she makes her home in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Christine Burke sits on the Western Regional Council of the Society. She is a Logodynamics Practitioner / Speech Artist, Community Gatherer, Communication Professor.

The Western Regional Council’s (WRC) primary task is to connect people and to encourage the circulation of anthroposophical ideas and initiatives in the American West. The WRC seeks to deepen esoteric and community life through visits with groups and branches, meeting with local members in person or online.