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Editorial

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the Midsummer/Midwinter (depending on where you are!) issue of New View. At the Equator each day of the year always remains twelve hours long (give or take a minute or two). A sense for seasons and festivals is clearly more subtle and challenging there. In Northern Europe ancient traditions told of the ruling of the year as being shared by the Oak King and the Holly king and they would exchange places of rulership at Midwinter and Midsummer. Legend tells they were brothers, always fighting for ascendency over the world. The truth is that both are needed for completeness.

Balance and completeness are surely something we all strive for. We are all on a journey, which brings me to signposts.

The Earth is the stage where we can play out all our dramas, act our parts and truly experience who we are. But when we first arrive into a new Life we need some help to orientate ourselves and work out, in time, where we need to go to meet and fulfill whatever destiny has in store for us. We look for, and are often comforted by, signposts – both real and metaphorical – but many ways may be signalled, which one to choose? In its broadest sense, education plays such an important part in our lives; properly given and received it can give each person solid ground under their feet, allowing them to quite literally stand and face what life brings towards them. It gives confidence for making choices when the need arises. It is all right not to be certain of an outcome; what is important is to have the trust to take a step.

The front cover picture has so many elements in it worth a little time to ponder upon. A young girl, starting out in life, holds a signpost with her right hand and gazes ahead. Her left hand is pointing straight upwards for a moment. But this is no ordinary signpost; shaped by an artist, it points to other artists, some great ones, whose work adorns our world. They share one thing in common in this moment; they are all a long journey away from the signpost. Some are at the other ends of the earth. But all the choices available on the signpost lead, in varying degrees, to manifestations of Art. Probably the finest educator, art, in its widest sense, can connect us back to who we really are, where we have come from and, in so doing, free us to confidently express ourselves in stepping towards our own future.

Education is a delicate, profound process that needs to be done well to fit us rightly for life. And so to my choice of the first article to lead us into this issue of New View: Richard House presents some disturbing evidence that real and long lasting damage is being done to children who are sent to school too early in Head-start, Early Finish? The Scandal of England’s School Starting Age. This is followed by Three Perspectives on Education and Adolescence from Two London Waldorf Teachers by Amanda Bell and Josie Alwyn, who, writing from personal experience, discuss the serious challenges facing children, particularly adolescents, growing up today.

Martin Large in Transforming Capitalism then looks at ways in which the running of businesses and ownership of land can be put more in control of the people for the benefit of community, not institutions.

The signpost on the front cover offers a direction to the Mona Lisa and with Leonardo Da Vinci’s Philosophy of Freedom, Trevor Dance explores this and other works from many interesting perspectives, revealing much about the artist in the process.

There is no such thing as an uninteresting life. In this issue we feature two sketches of human biography that abound with strong, sometimes gentle, inspiring moments. Aung San Suu Kyi was visiting Europe and Britain whilst this issue of New View was being prepared, having been released from house arrest to travel abroad from Burma (Myanmar) for the first time in 24 years. In Aung San Suu Kyi – the long road to freedom, Harald J. Kiczka writes an appreciation of this courageous Lady followed by Hannah Townsend writing in A face serene about another life, lived away from the public gaze, but in its way no less admirable.

David Newbatt then marks this time of the year, Midsummer and beyond to Michaelmas, with A Reflection on St. John’s Tide, followed by Jeremy Naydler, a gardener and philosopher, explaining the benefits of gardening and soul renewal in Why Garden?

In Three World Wars? Jonathan Alexander looks at some possible rhythmic correlations of events spanning history and questions whether they can be indicators of the future. Whilst, in a similar way, Charles Lawrie also brings to our attention a correlation of historical events in A Question of Continuity? concerning the transits of the planet Venus across the Sun.

Terence Davies then makes a case for the truth of reincarnation in Reincarnation: Insight not Dogma as he looks at the prevailing scientific trend to deny the reality and development of the human soul. Finally, Richard Ramsbotham impresses upon us the need to ask questions in Making sense of 9/11 – Part Four: Towards a Deeper Understanding of 9/11. So much of what is in this issue will repay careful reading.

Humour can be a leaven in these challenging times and I am grateful to Zephir Delamore from New Zealand for two of his cartoons. The one on the preceding page tells a baleful (pun nearly intended!) truth about New View’s financial predicament which, not withstanding a heartwarming drip-feed of donations from many readers, needs urgent help to remain alive. I hope for better times!

Wishing you well, wherever you are,

Tom Raines – Editor

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