Lyre 2022

By Nancy Carpenter - Detroit, MI

The World Lyre Conference in Cesky Krumlov was a wonderful experience. I have missed playing with other lyre players over these past two years. There were benefits to having a smaller group than usual for an international conference, in that we were able to play together and have more personal conversations with international lyrists John Billing, Christian Giersch, Jan Braunstein, Martin Tobiassen, and John Clark as well as to get to know new friends. I met new LANA members Yee Ching from Malaysia and Elizabeth Howe from England. Our Czech hosts were graciously welcoming and accommodating of our every need. For example, Miroslav Klusák was up every morning at 7, making porridge, boiling eggs, and checking to be sure we all had enough to eat for breakfast and our snack breaks.

The theme of this conference was “The Presence of Spirit”, and every presentation, workshop, plenum, or conversation was filled with that Presence. We began each day with eurythmy in three or sometimes four languages. Our space was tight, but we worked together harmoniously, led by a lovely Czech eurythmist, Hana Adamcova, making beautiful forms with Martin Tobiassen accompanying us on the lyre.

Each day we ended with this verse by Rudolf Steiner spoken in three of these languages: English, German, Czech, Dutch, Italian, Hebrew, or Japanese.

The wishes of the soul are springing,
The deeds of the will are thriving,
The fruits of life are maturing.

I feel my destiny / My destiny finds me.
I feel my star / My star finds me.
I feel my goals in life / My goals in life are finding me.
My soul and the great world are one.

Life grows more radiant about me.
Life grows more challenging for me.
Life grows more abundant within me.