Anthroposophy, or “spiritual science,” is a spiritual philosophy articulated by Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th Century, in no small part to provide a remedy for the rampant materialism established already in the late 19th Century. It seeks to unite the spiritual and material dimensions of life through a methodical path of conscious inner development and practical engagement with the world. Rooted in Western esotericism, but neither a religion nor a dogma, Anthroposophy provides a spiritual path of knowledge and transformation that emphasizes consciousness and the cultivation of moral imagination, intuition, and spiritual insight. 

As a core tenet, Steiner taught that the spiritual realm is accessible to us. Rather than a matter of unprovable faith, the spiritual realm is an objective reality that is knowable and comprehensible to all who strive toward acquiring its knowledge. 

Steiner also taught that the human being is threefold. Already interconnected with our human material bodies are our soul and spirit bodies, which can be accessed through our conscious effort. 

Indeed, human consciousness has evolved over time, shifting from an earlier, more dream-like consciousness to our modern, intellectual focus. In fact, our next evolutionary step is to consciously reunite clear spiritual perception with intellectual thought and understanding, thereby fulfilling our potential to become more fully human. Also central to Rudolf Steiner’s cosmological view is the idea of reincarnation, which depicts the human spirit moving between earthly and spiritual existence, and karma, which provides the framework of opportunities for our future development as individuals and as a planet. 

Anthroposophy encourages individuals to become conscious co-creators of a more humane and spiritually aware society. Many initiatives have been inspired by Anthroposophy’s sweeping vision, a vision that integrates modern science with deeper spiritual understanding.