ecosophia | Magic Monday

It's just past midnight, so here we go with a new Magic Monday. The picture is of Khaemwaset, the fourth son of the pharaoh Ramses II. Unlike his older brothers, who took up military careers, he entered the priesthood and became famous for his scholarship, his restoration of historic tombs and temples, and his mastery of magic -- so much so that stories of his occult exploits were still being told a thousand years later, and have been preserved in two documents dating from well after the Greek conquest of Egypt. Under the name "Setne Khamuast" -- the closest translation of his religious title and name yet available in the early 20th century -- he was an important figure in the legendary history of Dion Fortune's Fraternity (now Society) of the Inner Light.

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***This Magic Monday is now closed -- and yes, this means you. See you next week!***

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Interesting. Hopefully this will help to clarify the reading. One reason I jumped to that conclusion-- beyond the non-English normal use of the words "soul" and "spirit"-- was that Steiner's goes into the "stages of milk" explanation directly from talking about reincarnation, and how difficult a fit that the human body is for a newly incarnated essence. He is clearly not uncomfortable taking things straight to the spiritual (in the English sense) as well. He more or less begins his lectures with it.

Do you have any particular opinion about his notions about avoiding early reading/writing skills ("early" in this case meaning younger than eleven)?

It really depends from child to child. There's a readiness factor for each child; some children are fascinated with reading and want to learn how to do it as soon as possible -- that was me, for example -- and others are less interested and don't want to do it until later. Myself, I'd let that govern the age at which to introduce it.

The broader pattern -- mostly body-oriented games and activities early on, plenty of vivid narratives and creative work to strengthen the imagination and affective life thereafter, and abstract intellection only when the child's ready for it -- seems sensible to me.

I learned to read at 3 because when Mom read to me she would run her finger along the words as she read.

Sonkitten learned the alphabet at 2 from watching Wheel of Fortune, which we found a much better educational aid than the overrated Sesame Street. On Wheel, somebody says “I’d like a Y,” for example, a Y pops up on the puzzle board, and Vanna helpfully points to the Y. He was also reading at 3, when he noticed the books contained the same letters Vanna had taught him. I had not tried to teach him at 2 because I thought it was too early. I had noticed him watching Wheel of Fortune but didn’t think much of it, till one day I found him going through his blocks reading off the letters. Thanks, Vanna!

—Lady Cutekitten of Lolcat

I learned to read at two and a half. I had letter blocks and other letter toys, and my parents had done the then-obligatory "what does E say? Eeeee!" sort of pre-reading play with me. According to the account I heard, one day when I wanted to hear a favorite story and my mother was busy, I picked up the book myself and started picking through the letters one at a time, calling out at intervals "What does E say?" and the like. I don't think I got very far that day, but the connection had been made and in a matter of weeks I was reading very basic prose of the "One Fish, Two Fish" variety.

Magic Monday

Re: Steiner on Body, Soul, and Spirit

Re: Steiner on Body, Soul, and Spirit

Re: Steiner on Body, Soul, and Spirit

Re: Steiner on Body, Soul, and Spirit