Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was born in the small village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he grew up. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his early philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner came to use the term Anthroposophy (and spiritual science) for his philosophy, spiritual research, and findings. The influence of Steiner's multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, various therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf education, education for special needs, threefold economics, biodynamic agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama, speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland. Agnes Schneeberg-de Steur was born in The Hague, where she attended the Waldorf School. After studying and working both in the Netherlands and in Germany, she emigrated to Canada, where she obtained a university degree in classical Greek and German, as well as a college diploma in piano technology. She worked as piano technician, tuning and rebuilding pianos, and also had her own workshop, making furniture and wooden toys. More recently, she has translated and edited The Ten Commandments in Evolution by Ernst Katz, published by SteinerBooks, and An Outline of Spiritual Science by Rudolf Steiner, published by the Chadwick Library Press.
