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Editorial

Dear Reader,

Welcome to this issue of New View magazine coming to you during the Holy Nights. I liken this time to the fontanelle in the cycle of the year when the spirit can more readily gently pour into human souls during these Holy Nights and days, regardless of any religious persuasion. Rudolf Steiner was clear that the spirit is ever present, woven fully into the fabric of life, but of which we may be mostly unaware, as its recognition is often extremely subtle (but not always!), not least because we all are living at a time of the greatest materialism. This is also a time when there is a great need and, somewhat paradoxically, a yearning, conscious and otherwise, to connect – reconnect – to spirit. In amongst all the darkness, self serving, fear and depression there is also much light, kindness and goodwill to be experienced in everyday moments between people. In any given encounter a person can decide to open their heart to another, no matter what the circumstances. It is a choice. Not always easy to become aware of, let alone do. Often we need help, encouragement.

I recently read somewhere the phrase ‘turning to the spirit’. It led me to ponder on what this ‘turning’ really means? It is certainly a movement and a change of direction, inwardly, which then informs outer actions.

Many years ago I read a book loaned to me by a friend. It was written by an east European author and set, initially in that part of the world. In the story, a man is locked away in prison, unjustly. The deprivation and incarceration have brought him to his knees, existentially; he cannot see how to go on living like this.

One night he is visited by a kind, wise, old man who speaks to him in his cell. The reader is left to understand this as a real event and yet the old man, whilst appearing whole, is certainly not physical in any normal way as no door was opened to let him in. He simply appears. Such is his presence that the prisoner experiences him intensely. The old man simply tells the prisoner to put his trust in him and all would be well. The prisoner does so and the rest of the story unfolds. This was a moment of turning. It raises the question, what allows us to place our trust in another?

The straight line, of itself, can certainly move, but can only keep going the same way, in the same direction (it can also reverse along itself too, of course). The curve, that can go this way and that, offers a new orientation, a different perspective, a potential new way on a journey. I am grateful for the curve, for the turning, for the possibility of another way forward. At times one needs to be utterly direct, then the straight line holds good and has its place. Yet, as I was once told: “Sometimes, the surest way to the centre is via the periphery.”

Go forward, step backwards, change direction; always we can make the decision. Being well informed helps us to make a good choice. In the book I mentioned, the prisoner found himself being well informed, for he had other meetings with the old man he had placed his trust in, who helped him to shape his own choices and decisions – a theme relevant to The Birthing experience and Midwifery in which Rosie Collingwood shares concerns on the medicalisation of giving birth.

Dr. Daphné von Boch, writing from Switzerland, then completes her series on body, soul and spirit in The Four Forces of Nature: Part III What is Spirit?

Jonathan Hilton, from the USA, alerts us to a special cosmic event happening right now in 3I/Atlas – A Comet? A Spaceship? A Messenger?

Robert Clignett, a filmmaker from the Netherlands, appeals for financial help in order to complete the film he is making on the geopolitical causes of war: Creating a Documentary: ‘Searching for Peace’.

In Raw Milk, Vivian Griffiths explores the controversy surrounding the drinking of ‘natural’ unpasteurized milk and a little of its history, followed by Nick Jones with Ruminations on the Gentle Art of Making Bread.

Two articles explore Recumbent Stone Circles; the first of these is from Renatus Derbidge, in Scotland, with Pyramids, Stone Circles and the ‘Inner Egyptian’ followed by Number, Space and Time – Revisiting the Megalithic Culture by David Tasker.

In What Does a Woman Want? A Tale of Sovereignty I look at one of the Arthurian legends, ‘The Loathly Lady’ and to what it can offer us in our time.

Michael Brinch from Denmark writes An Advent Tale as heard by the Dream Crusher in which he explores the cultivation of the true self. The First Shall be Last follows, by Charles Duquette from the USA, about the potential of the human being to develop spiritualised thinking. Then Peter Taylor, our regular contributor on climate science, keeps us abreast on developments regarding the drive for ‘clean’ nuclear energy, followed by the latest update on the climate situation in Nuclear Decisions and Climate Cooling.

In The Lantern – Steiner Waldorf ‘Home Education’ Richard House interviews Alice Lenagh-Davies and Jenny Thompson, who provide a programme for children being home educated.

Richard Ramsbotham takes us into a deep exploration of The Foundation Stone Meditation and The Lord’s Prayer and the relationship to be found between this meditation and prayer.

A review essay follows by Edward Curtin, from the USA, of James Douglass’ latest book Martyrs to the Unspeakable: The Assassinations of JFK, Malcolm, Martin, and RFK.

Finally, thanks to all of you who helped keep us afloat financially this last year; please remember us in the year to come and help New View if you can.

All good wishes for the journey into 2026 and beyond, wherever you may be, Tom Raines – Editor.

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