Announcement Artwork: “Tamalpais” by Marion Donehower

“The Genius of Language”*

A North American Conference

of the Section for the Literary Arts & Humanities

A Celebration of Poetic Language and the Literary Imagination

San Francisco: September 7 – 8, 2024 (closed)

Toronto: September 13 – 15, 2024 (open)

Click Here to Register for Toronto

(A waiting list exists for San Francisco. Persons with a strongly felt destiny connection to the Section and its work should not hesitate to contact directly at NASectionConference2024@gmail.com.)

Scroll to BOTTOM of this page for SAN FRANCISCO PROGRAM

Click Here to Register for Toronto

Cost and Logistics / Toronto Campus Only

All Toronto conference events will occur at:
Rudolf Steiner College Canada / Toronto Waldorf School
9100 Bathurst Street, Thornhill, Ontario.  Parking is available.

NEW PRICE FOR TORONTO: Cost for Toronto Campus: $125 US. (Informal tour of Gallery of the Group of Seven is not included in ticket cost. And you will probably need to arrange your own transportation.)

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can I Attend Both Locations?” Will Christiane Haid Be Present at Both?”   Christiane Haid will attend and present at both locations. There will be ample time to meet with her and have conversations. The events at each location will weave together a rich tapestry of common themes. Each North American location will add something special that reflects the unique genius loci or presiding “Spirit of Place.” Together, the two locations will provide a glimpse of the richness and variety of our North American Section work at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century.

“Do I Need to be a Section Member?”   The Conference is for friends and members of the Section. You do not need to self-identify as a “member” of the Section. Blue cards are not required. Friends and members can attend either or both locations.

“Where can I stay in Toronto?”   If you are interested in billeting in a private home, please email Robert McKay at robertmckay@rogers.com and identify any requirements.

“Are there scholarships? Can I apply for travel assistance?”   Some limited funds may be available for travel assistance, but this depends on registrations and donations. Contact Robert McKay at robertmckay@rogers.com

“Are meals included at Toronto?”   Yes, vegetarian meals and snacks are included at both locations. Toronto will not have a dinner on Saturday night. Tickets without meals are not available. See the location details for information about meals and lodging. Tables and chairs for sit-down lunch and dinner are provided at each location. For food allergies or vegan options, contact Robert McKay at robertmckay@rogers.com

“How do I get on the Waiting List for San Francisco?” “Can I get in at the last minute?”    Contact NASectionConference2024@gmail.com

“Are there refunds?” As stated earlier in June, the deadline for refunds requests was July 15. If you registered for Toronto at the higher registration cost, you can apply for a refund to Robert McKay at robertmckay@rogers.com, or, if you like, donate the overpayment to the work of the Section.

Click Here to Register for Toronto

* The title of the North American Section Conference (“The Genius of Language”) is taken from a cycle of lectures by Rudolf Steiner that were given to the teachers of the first Waldorf School in Stuttgart December 26, 1919 to January 3, 1920. This lecture cycle appears in German as Geisteswissenschaftlische Sprachbetrachtungen (GA 299) and in English has the title “The Genius of Language”  (trans. by Ruth Pusch and Gertrude Teutsch; SteinerBooks). While the Conference will reference contents and themes in this lecture cycle, we will not use the cycle as a primary text. Although linguistics falls within the purview of the Section, this is not a linguistics conference; it is a conference devoted to poetic language and the literary imagination.

A Tour of the Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco

8.1.24