While in Vancouver, we had the privilege of staying with Monica Gold. We met with her over dinner to hear about her work and her path. She has given us so much inspiration for moving forward! Her life story is really incredible with so much initiative!
Early in the conversation, Monica shared that after Rudolf Steiner’s last address, he said, “I’ve created a Cain stream.” Monica is working on a new book at the center of which is the story of Lazarus. It was incredibly beautiful to sit at the table lit gently by a single lamp as she read her first efforts in this writing she had begun. She said the Bible will no longer be understood unless enlightened by spiritual science. To this end, Monica carries a strong interest in connecting anthroposophy with the Bible. She is committed 150% to Rudolf Steiner.
The first book of Rudolf Steiner’s she read was Knowledge of Higher Worlds, which she read in three days at age 18! She said she did not come fully consciously to anthroposophy, however, until she was 33.
Monica has been a Waldorf teacher who started her own school, and she has been an art therapist, working with Anne Stockton in Forest Row. Monica published a book called Fairy Tales and Art Mirrored in Modern Consciousness. This work explores the connection between creative art and fairy tales, and the influence and inspiration they can be to our modern consciousness
After all this, Monica realized that she needed to study eurythmy, but she was initially told that she was too old to become a eurythmist. We asked her when this was and she said with a smile, “Ten years ago.” When we wanted to know her current age, she encouraged us to guess. “Go ahead. Don’t by shy!” Her age? 78 years old. Starting at age 68, she studied eurythmy for seven years with Glenda and David-Michael Monasch. Jaws dropping all around, it occurred to us that in Monica we find the gesture of one who sits not in the past nor primarily in the present, rather one listening to the instreaming of what lies in the future. This gesture is what comes forth as a picture as we recognize her efforts in laying the track for what is to be before us as Michael students. To begin with, there is a need for individual human beings to prepare themselves in order to serve Christ and His tasks.
Monica shared that she founded the ISIS Cultural Outreach International Society after her experience of the cultural caravan of Miha Pogacnik, which traveled clear across what was then the Soviet Union. This continuing endeavor has others who have stepped up and taken on the work, furthering her initial yet longstanding efforts. As part of this activity, Monica organized trips to help to bring about medical clinics and Waldorf Kindergartens around 1989. At this time, the political climate in Russia was in chaos. Out of this chaos, however, an opportunity arose, an opening for this new beginning. One of her first efforts toward this project was to bring toys and dolls made with love, trusting that this small gesture would be a beginning to show the love that many hold in their hearts for this country and its people. With this deed, Monica would see seeds of hope sown for Russia’s task as a people of the future.
Not surprising is Monica’s appreciation for Sergei Prokofieff personally in her life in a most needed moment and his efforts toward opening up the dialogue of anthroposophy in Russia, the country of his birth. Never-ending are her efforts, and her collaboration on behalf of the ISIS impulse formed a separate funding initiative to to support Prison Outreach in Canada when it formed in 2012.
Monica has translated important anthroposophical texts from German to English, such as Ruth Haertl’s Study of The Formation of a New Etheric Heart Organ in the Light of the Present Michaelic Mystery Culture as Rudolf Steiner Required it for our Age in his Lectures “Die Sendung Michaels und Die Offenbarung der eigentlichen Geheimnisse des Menschenwesens.” (http://www.rsarchive.org/RelArtic/GoldM/etheric_heart.old)
So much work has been accomplished, and we can see so clearly that Monica is always seeking to serve. She is so inspiring and encouraging for our own hopes to find meaningful ways to further this work in the world. Keep on keeping on till the last breath!
Early, early, early in the morning, we made our way with Monica giving us a lift to the ferry. As we traveled onward, we carried these impressions of a very short visit that was so deeply meaningful for what began in February of this last year. The lasting impression is one of youth-filled forces ever striving toward the future while serving the needs of today. We also carry a question about the elders and a need to create something for them in the future. There was a consideration regarding living gatherings on the table as well as we were on our way out the door. No doubt exists for us that indeed we shall meet Monica over and over and over again in our work in the world now and in the future with the tracks she is laying for us as she moves forward toward what is instreaming from the future.
Experiencing how much is living and striving in Vancouver was the most heartwarming moment as we headed into the future for our gathering in Dornach!
* Photo from Evolving News for Members & Friends, Winter 2009
Monica on the left, pictured with Mary Lee Plumb-Mentjes, Arie Van Ameringen, Galina Fin, and Andrew Gold for the ISIS Cultural Outreach International Society
