Rudolf Steiner, founder of an esoteric spiritual movement, a philosopher, social reformer and educationalist, has attracted devoted followers as well as critics for his racist, antisemitic and pseudo-scientific beliefs (according to mainstream academics). His Waldorf inspired schools opened in Stuttgart in 1919 and have spread across Europe and the USA. Recently there have been scandals involving sexual abuse, a “toxic” culture of bullying. Concerns have also been raised about far-right, anti-vaccination, and conspiracy-theorist ideologies.
He was born according to Astrodatabank on 25 February 1861 at 11.15pm in Croatia, though there are alternatives suggested by devotees. This chart gives a Pisces Sun (conjunct Eris planet of discord) opposition Saturn in Virgo in the 10th square an 8th house Uranus in Gemini. Saturn in Virgo would give him a serious, scholarly cast of mind while a focal point Uranus in the 8th would prompt him to explore what lay beyond rational understanding and make him a divisive figure. His Jupiter in Leo conjunct his Midheaven would bring him success and confidence. His Pluto Mars in Taurus conjunction was ultra-determined, fairly ruthless in pursuing his ambitions.
The first Waldorf School opened on 7 September 1919 in Stuttgart, with Sun conjunct Saturn in Virgo and Venus also in Virgo. There was a super-charged conjunction of Jupiter, Mars, Neptune in Leo. And Uranus in a reforming, revolutionary opposition to Mercury square a Scorpio North Node.
The Uranus in final degree Aquarius is about to catch a tr Uranus square and opposition North Node which hints at a need for radical changes ahead. Indeed the Solar Arc Jupiter, Mars, Neptune moving in conjunction to the North Node and square Uranus over the coming few years does suggest a fork in the road with crises forcing a radical rethink.
Steiner’s reputation in some academic circles is more nuanced that is apparent.
He states that the concept of “race” disappeared a long time ago, what there is now can be described more as ethnic groups which develop at different speeds as they have diverse missions.
The record of special schools is excellent, however mainstream schools are in need of an overhaul.
The regenerative agricultural practices are now a beacon for the organic movement, these return health to the soil.
Thanks Marjorie. Steiner’s “racist, antisemitic and pseudo-scientific views” were common currency in many countries, unfortunately, as the pseudo-science of eugenics took hold. Sterilisation of what were seen as undesirable people/races was one particularly hideous result – at one point, for example, in the 1930s, 30 US States had forcible sterilisation programmes. This is not to excuse him in any way, but these beliefs were international, there were huge conferences and so on – and the ideas obviously influenced Hitler.
Francis Galton, 16 February 1822, was one of those individuals born with Uranus and Neptune conjunct in early Capricorn. He also had Saturn and Jupiter in Aries trine his Sagittarian Moon, and sextile his Aquarian Sun and Nodes. A polymath, he is also sometimes known as the “father of eugenics” (1883).
Helena Blavatsky, 12 August 1831 at 02:17 ( 02:17 AM) Ekaterinoslav, Ukraine,
Georges Gurdjieff, 1st January 1877 Julian Calandar.
or
13th Jan 1877 Gregorian Calendar at 00:39 (12:39 AM )
Alexandropol (Gyumri), Armenia,
This is speculation, but in sync with the sign and 29 degree transitions of Neptune and Uranus and Eris etc. would there be similar effects in charts of other famous mystics and spiritualists, like Mme. Blavatsky, Gurdjieff and the like? I don’t have their birth data in the software I use, but it seems this might be a time of such extremes that would show up in such ‘far out’ people. Marjorie, do you know of any others with Uranus aspects especially, but whenever some big planet blasts into a new beginning it seems some new personality appears that embodies the ‘new start’. Pluto into Aquarius, Neptune/Saturn into Aries (especially Aries) and lastly Uranus into Gemini – all together it feels like a complete shift into other dimensions – air and fire, which in the early degrees of overenthusiasm implies a lot of “hot/cold” air of travel and communications and a lot of “hot passion vs cold fire” in the creative and action areas. Just curious….
Interesting SG. I’m wondering now about the early 1970’s, when there was a big expansion of Christian “cults”, various Eastern gurus, and interest in the supernatural, paranormal and so on. Late 1970 Neptune enters Sagittarius. 1971 Pluto enters Libra. Uranus by then mid Libra. Saturn enters Gemini in 1971. That year also has Jupiter in Sagittarius, and Mars in Aquarius from May to early November. There are numerous movies, novels, music and other cultural references that reflect mystical themes that date from around this time too.