Foreword by the translator and publisher

Power to the Virtues

Note: This post has been updated on October 8, 2019.

This interactive blog contains a completely revised translation of the introduction Rudolf Steiner on the Virtues to the first German edition in 1972, plus the twelve texts and meditations from the book The Virtues - Season of the Soul by the German philosopher/anthroposophist Herbert Witzenmann (1905-1988) as well as the illustrations painted by the Dutch artist Jan de Kok for The Virtues. The blog was started as a supplement for the exhibition in the De Roos (The Rose), Center for Spirituality and Consciousness-raising, in Amsterdam in 2012. 

What this blog now also contains is the Conclusion from the first complete English translation done by Sophia Walsh, and published by Spicker Books in Dornach, Switzerland towards the end of the previous century (no publication date given), and the Preface to the first (incomplete) English translation done by the American poetess Daisy Aldan (1923-2001) and published by her Folder Editions, New York in 1975.

After the end of the exhibition in The Rose the publisher and translator 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 some 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, Iro-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, reintroduced by former Dutch premier Jan Peter Balkenende  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 the image above), 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 the Powers a seat in the House of Virtues to contact the Willehalm Foundation. Those wishing to comment on the translation are cordially invited to  do so. 

Last updated: December 16, 2023.

Willehalm Institute Press Foundation, Kerkstraat 386A, 1017 JB Amsterdam, 

Tel. 0031 (0)20-6944572; info@willehalm.nl

www.willehalm.nl; http://willehalminstitute.blogspot.com