Who Are We?

The Goetheanum Weekly (Das Goetheanum — Wochenschrift) is the journal for anthroposophy published every week since 1921 by the School of Spiritual Science. We are a small worldwide team of editors, translators, designers, and production staff, employed by the General Anthroposophical Society, as the sponsor of the School.

Every week, we bring readers a selection of anthroposophically inspired articles on contemporary topics—from nature, science, agriculture, medicine and education, to art, culture and the spiritual life.

Our articles explore questions of human nature, inner development, evolution, consciousness, and the relevance of a spiritual worldview, as well as questions arising out of impactful issues in social life and the environment, and the many ways anthroposophy is taken up in practical life.

We publish weekly in print (German) and online (German and English). Many articles appear in one language first and then get translated for the other edition.

We introduced the online international English edition in 2022, to help connect readers, communities, and initiatives worldwide. Between the two editions, we have a readership of over 8,000 subscribers which include people of all ages from over 100 countries. Visits to our website average around 31,000 per month, 7,700 per week.

What Guides Us?

The Goetheanum Weekly editors and authors, in cooperation with the Sections of the School of Spiritual Science, want to speak to the soul in the world, to touch people’s hearts and minds, and to offer strength and inspiration for contemporary life and spiritual work.

We understand anthroposophy to be an opportunity for development and research that offers a deeper understanding of the human being and the world—a path of knowledge that includes a spiritual dimension.

We hope to be a place where many voices can find each other and engage with vibrant ideas and inspiring actions—a community of writers, editors, and readers who come together to grow a cosmopolitan anthroposophy that serves the development of humankind.

What uplifting contributions can the School of Spiritual Science make to this task? Can we open a strong and dynamic space for inquiry, dialog, and insight? Can we offer something that helps us develop relationships to the workings of anthroposophy in the world—and to each other—which are healthy and appropriate for our times? This is what we strive for!

Please Join Us!

The Goetheanum Weekly has been financially independent since its inception. We are entirely supported by the generosity of subscribers and advertisers. Your support and subscriptions count—we can’t exist without them! Please join us.

Would You Like to Contribute an Article?

Here are some guidelines to give you the best chance of having it accepted. We publish in the following categories:

Deepenings

Essays

15,000-20,000 characters (including spaces)

What have you penetrated? These longer essays focus and deepen one idea or theme, based in personal experience and research. They can include reports on events, interviews, scientific research, etc. Good quality, illustrative photos are welcomed.

Spotlights

Signs of the Times

5,000-6,000 characters (including spaces)

How can we understand the present moment and find roots in our times? These short, penetrating articles focus on how something happens and is seen in the world right now: phenomena of our times as perceived through an anthroposophic lens.

Musings

Dialogues, Reviews, Reflections

2,000-10,000 characters (including spaces)

What moves you? These medium length essays include reflections on a particular theme, book reviews, reports on events, and interviews. Good quality, illustrative photos are welcomed.

News

Research, Initiatives, Life

1,000-2,000 characters (including spaces)

How is anthroposophy being taken up in practical life around the world? These short, succinct reports focus on initiatives around the world, recent and upcoming events, conferences, and mini-biographies of people “in the news”. They are more than simple announcements and can include personal accounts and perspectives. Submissions should include a photo and links to more information.

Seeds

Quotes, Poetry, Thoughts

750-2,000 characters (including spaces)

What has inspired you? These are short anthroposophically inspired quotes, poems, and thoughts with a more contemplative, meditative quality.

How to Submit Your Contribution

Please keep the following in mind:

• the focus and character limit for your article is a requirement (see above)

• correct and accurate references and citations are your responsibility

• our international readership includes a range of proficiency in English

• our readers have varying levels of familiarity with Anthroposophy and the work of Rudolf Steiner

Please review our Style & Grammar Guidelines!

• You will find them HERE

To submit your article:

• Please upload your article and photos on our website under CONTRIBUTE.

• Our editors will review it for appropriateness and determine the amount of editorial work it might need.

• If we are interested in publishing your article we will respond within 3-6 weeks.

If approved:

• If your article is approved, one of our editors will work directly with you to prepare it for publication.

• Our editor may have suggestions for corrections, clarification, and flow. Often this process goes “back and forth” a few times.

• Once an approved article is completed, we will need a short bio (1-2 sentences), a headshot, and payment information, should you wish to accept our honorarium.

Our General Terms and Honoraria

• With submission, the author and owner of the copyright consents to complete or partial publication of the article.

• No liability is assumed for correct designation of protected names.

• Correct and accurate references and citations are the responsibility of the author.

• Submitted images and graphics are subject to approval. With submission, the author and owner of the copyright consents to publication of the images. Otherwise, appropriate generic images are provided by our graphics team.

• Unless specifically requested otherwise, suitable articles will be translated into German for the German edition.

• Reprinting, reproducing, or translating the published article in any form requires written permission from the Goetheanum Weekly.

• A contributor honorarium may be offered for approved submissions (Deepenings, Musings, and Spotlights.) Amounts are at the discretion of the editors. Payment is upon publication.

• Honoraria may also be donated back to the Goetheanum Weekly to assist with our submissions, editorial, and publication costs, for which we would be extremely grateful!