As a special supplement to the exhibition De Deugden (The Virtues) in the De Roos (The Rose), Center for Spirituality and Consciousness-raising, in Amsterdam, which is reopening tomorrow on August 13, an interactive blog with the title Power to the Virtues – Seasons of the Soul has just been launched. The blog contains an introduction entitled Rudolf Steiner on the Virtues plus the twelve texts and meditations from the book The Virtues - Season of the Soul by the German philosopher/anthroposophist Herbert Witzenmann as well as the illustrations painted by the Dutch artist Jan de Kok. These colorful illustrations for The Virtues can now be seen until the close of the exhibition on September 11 with the aid, if so desired, of the corresponding texts and meditations in English on one’s mobile phone or tablet as a handy companion and guide. A similar service is provided for Dutch visitors on a Dutch blog.
After the end of the exhibition the translator and publisher of the Dutch version of The Virtues, Robert Jan Kelder from the Willehalm Institute Press Foundation in Amsterdam is planning to offer this artistic-literary exhibition as a sort enhanced concept artwork to a well-willing gallery, cultural center or similar venue in The Netherlands or abroad in a concerted effort to bring, as it were, the Virtues into power (this is being written at the beginning of the Dutch national election campaign for seats in the House of Parliament with the actual elections to be held one day after the closing of the exhibition, September 12.)
This is not as far-fetched or even absurd as it may seem at first. In the esoteric or anthroposophical tradition of the cosmic, Irish-Scottish or Grail Christianity of Saint John and Rudolf Steiner, the middle members of the second Heavenly hierarchy are after all not only called Virtues or Spirits of Movement, but also Powers with the task of keeping the whole cosmos in balance. In that sense, the work The Virtues may be seen as a valiant and noble attempt by the writer to bring down the mighty spirituality of these lofty beings into the minds, heart and soul of those on earth that are prepared to make a genuine effort to comprehend and implement these difficult texts. Thus, by giving one’s vote to these 12 Powers they can win a seat in the House of Virtues, and from there - as a necessary supplement to the work done in the House of Parliament with respect to rights and duties - spread their mighty wings of benevolent change, thereby giving the movement for norms and values new momentum.
A financial condition for a successful campaign to bring the Virtues to power by means of an exhibition moving across town and country is that the 13 paintings, including that for the title page of the book (see image), do not pass over into private hands, but become the property of the Willehalm Institute Press Foundation or are given on loan for this purpose. We therefore end this “election campaign text”, by requesting those with ideas or means on how to to give this party of 12 Powers a seat in the House of Virtues to contact the Willehalm Foundation.
Willehalm Institute Press Foundation, Kerkstraat 386A, 1017 JB Amsterdam, Tel. 0031 (0)20-6944572; 06-23559564
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