AWSNA Regional Conference in Austin, Texas

February 14 2010 04:00 PM to February 17 2010 12:30 PM

Come to Austin to review anthroposophical perspectives on America, and to explore the geographical influences of location.

Are human beings physically and spiritually affected by their
geography?  How is geography an expression of living forces and how can
we become aware of these forces in our daily tasks as striving human
beings?  What is the geographic and spiritual uniqueness of your location? Guest speakers will be David Mitchell and Gunther Hauk.

"It is helpful when we achieve a 'sense of place' - an understanding through applied study of a location's geology, weather, ecology, plant life and history - that we are able to 'be a home' and work creatively with social challenges, our individual tasks, and more consciously come to terms with life purpose."
- David Mitchell

"In this important process of achieving a 'sense of place', we have to be conscious of having to balance one-sided effects of the forces inherent in all matter.  What does it mean to live on lime, on granite, to have as one's main diet corn or wheat?"
- Gunther Hauk

The Austin Waldorf Schools sits on the Edwards Plateau near the Balcones
Escarpment that forms the plateau's eastern and southern edge. Most of
this region is limestone that was laid down when ocean waters covered
Texas. The area is honeycombed with caves, and not far from the school,
we will visit an impressive collapsed cave with its waterfall and
pool. A short drive west reveals startling contrast. From low hills
rimmed with terraces of white, gray or buff colored limestone, we come
upon the great dome of hard, pink granite known as Enchanted Rock. We
will take an afternoon to experience and explore the character of these
contrasting regions, formed from two types of rock that together cover
so much of our continent and our planet.