Motivated by experiences at Emerson College in his twenties, Gerry Josephson seeks to enthuse and encourage adults through the wisdom of Rudolf Steiner’s work. Using his
passion for speech and drama, and his personal research into the deep roots of anthroposophy, he continues to offer adult education experiences through a course called ‘Grail Quest’, now located in Hobart, Tasmania.
After growing up in South Africa, travelling to the UK, and later spending a year in New York, Gerry was unexpectedly guided to study in Australia after his years at Emerson College, and stayed here to share his experiences and his wisdom.
He explores some of the challenges facing anthroposophy, and other spiritual and religious paths, around bridging the polarities of light and darkness through his research and exploration around the distinct archetypes of Apollo and Dionysus.
The theme of courage rings through this interview as Gerry urges us to bring our unique creativity inspired by human wisdom into the world.
You can listen to the conversation with Gerry here.
He recites a version of the following Steiner verse to end the interview:
I would enkindle all human beings
From out of the Spirit of the cosmos
To become a flame
And unfold in fire
Their being’s very nature
The others, they would take,
Out of the cosmos, water
To quench with it the flames;
And dampening all being,
Lame it from within.
Oh joy, when the human flame
Is aglow, even where it rests;
Oh bitterness, when the human thing
Is bound there, where it longs to be active.*
Image credit: Evolving forms (detail), 1984, Roger Kemp
(after) Victorian Tapestry workshop (manufacturer),
Leonie Bessant (maker), Merrill Dumbrell (maker), Sonja Hansen (maker), Pamela Joyce (maker), Irja West (maker), Iain Young (maker),
National Gallery of Victoria.
The music on this recording is by Michael Young, aka Young Werther. You can find him on facebook.
* Rudolf Steiner, Truth-wrought-words, Anthroposophic Press, Hudson, NY, 1979, p 77.
human wisdom 