The Epochs and how to apply at home

Anthroposophy shows us that we are both physical and spiritual beings. Our ethereal souls leave the spiritual world, cross the rainbow bridge into the physical world and life as a human being begins. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.  EVERY experience is an opportunity to further develop the soul towards enlightenment, peace, and self-actualization. 

In raising our children, we are provided ample opportunities to further the soul. Every tantrum is helping the parent develop patience. Every screaming, stubborn action your young child takes is an opportunity for you to practice empathy and try to take their perspective to assist them with love and compassion. Even when they're total assholes, it's their soul asking you, "Can you love me regardless how my earthly self copes with discomfort?" This is a challenge, but if you can view it as an assignment from the universe, you may find yourself coping with parental challenges easier. 

The first few years of the chlid's life they're still connected to the mother on an ethereal level. Your energy is their energy. They feel your lows and your highs. They feel your angst, your compassion, and drain you more than they fulfill you at times. This is why the new mother  must rest and conserve her energy. Because her energy is shared with the young child. 

Then, the first EPOCH is the hands realm where everything must be felt kinestetically. The child wants to move, climb, jump, run, touch, taste, smell, and experience the world through DOING. The focus of this epoch is on goodness. Preserve, and support, this realm by showcasing goodness with gentle songs, finger play, massage, laughing, essential oils that dont offend the senses, soft lighting, warm rugs, natural materials, and fair tales without violence or aggression. Keep the child believing in magic by allowing them to share their views of the world rather than intelellectualizing everything at the adult level. 

The second EPOCH is the heart realm between the ages of 7-14 or so. Everything is felt with strong heart connection including the good, the bad, and the ugly. They begin to seek social connections, romantic relationships through crushes, obsessive friendships, and see the injustices of the world in a dramatic fashion. They want to save the planet and everyone in it! Use this wisely and focus on beauty (and still goodness). Beautiful drawings, artistic expression, musical opportunities, dance, poetry, folk tales, and legends. Encourage group play and foster friendships with like-minded kids their age. They're slowly moving away from their intense connection with caregivers and seeking a connection with a world outside the home. Help them see the beauty of the world through rich sensory experiences, nature walks, and travel!

The third EPOCH is the head realm. The soul is firmly in the child's body and they've lost their baby teeth entirely. They're beginning to look, and act, more like an adult human. They may have let go of childish ways or are transitioning a bit more into the adult world. They're seeing truth, logic, and using ration. They're making sense of all their experiences thus far and thinking forward into the future. They desire independence, but need a caregiver to support and guide without interfering. They're stepping into their own and challenging their parents (and all other adults) in an effort to find out what's real, what can be trusted, what's conditional, what's consistent? Help them find truth by allowing them to explore all aspects of self. Trust that with loving guidance and a form foundation, they'll find truth, even through hardships and they'll return to their roots!

If you'd like to explore more about anthroposophy, let me know! I'll share wonderful resources!