Following the success of the Malaysian Anthroposophical Conference in 2024, a dedicated group of Indonesian individuals felt the time had come to plant a seed of their own — on soil as rich culturally as it is agriculturally. From this impulse was born the first-ever Indonesia International Conference on Anthroposophy.
Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, tends to keep a quiet profile on the global stage. Despite its remarkable statistics — 283 million people (3.5% of the world’s population), 17,000 islands, and over 700 languages — little is heard of it internationally. An introverted superpower, perhaps?
Likewise, the city of Bandung, Indonesia’s third most populous, might not be widely known. But this is changing — at least in the Anthroposophical world. In July–August 2025, Anthroposophy arrived in a big way: nearly 200 participants gathered for four days of lectures, workshops, art, and shared striving.
The conference was held on the futuristic campus of a Catholic university overlooking Bandung — known locally as Indonesia’s “intellectual capital.” The setting reflected both clarity of thought and the warmth of the Indonesian spirit: smiling, gentle, and welcoming people from diverse backgrounds and religions.
A Nation on the Move
Indonesia is a young and rapidly developing country, recently celebrating 80 years of independence. Its national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (“Unity in Diversity”), speaks to its long-standing reputation for interreligious and interethnic tolerance.
This spirit was palpably present at the conference — manifesting as warmth, friendship, and a mutual openness to higher knowledge. Anthroposophy, it seems, has captured the imagination of a growing conscious community, offering a framework for understanding a shared spiritual heritage.
Hidden Roots and a Blossoming Future
Java, the island where the conference took place, is not only geographically fertile but also spiritually rich. We learned that the spiritual roots of Anthroposophy in Indonesia stretch back further than many realized.
It appears that Indonesia’s founding fathers were influenced by Theosophy, particularly President Sukarno and the revered educator Ki Hajar Dewantara. Remarkably, during the Dutch colonial period, a short-lived Waldorf school operated in Bandung in the 1930s.
Anthroposophy then lay dormant for decades, only resurfacing in recent years through study groups, biodynamic agriculture, and Waldorf education. Over the last decade, more than half a dozen Waldorf kindergartens and two schools have been established, alongside a growing biodynamic farming association. An IASWECE-supported Early Childhood Training is now in its second cohort, and plans are underway for a grade teacher training program.
A Homecoming for Ita Wegman
One of the most moving revelations of the conference was the rediscovery that Dr Ita Wegman, co-founder of Anthroposophic Medicine, was born in Karawang, not far from Bandung. She spent her formative years on the island of Java, where she first encountered Theosophy — an experience that likely sowed the seeds for her later spiritual path.
Our keynote speaker, Dr Michaela Glöckler, was visibly moved to be in the homeland of “her teacher,” Dr Wegman. Throughout the conference, many participants felt Wegman’s spiritual presence accompanying the proceedings.
Wisdom, Warmth, and Transformation
Over three and a half days, participants were guided through Dr Glöckler’s profound insights, delivered with characteristic clarity, care — and a touch of humour. Beginning with Anthroposophy as a path of thinking, her six lectures culminated in a deep exploration of the “quintessence” — the moment when the human being transforms the lower ego, bound to the four elements, into the higher “I”, opening the gateway to spiritual worlds.
Her grace, eloquence, and unbounded love left a lasting imprint on all present.
Workshops and Artistic Exploration
Participants could choose from six thematic workshops exploring Anthroposophy through different lenses:
- Economics — Helmy Abouleish, Abdul Haiyum & Gregory Stock
- Education — Paul Lawrence
- The Arts — Van James
- Health — Dr Lakshmi Prasanna
- Nutrition — Dr Joean Oon
- Biodynamic Farming — Alex Edleson
Each day also featured an hour of artistic practice, offering a more social, breathing space. Participants engaged in:
- Clay modelling — Nicole Lawrence
- Bamboo weaving — Mega Puspita
- Home care — Tjok Gede Kerthyasa
- Eurythmy — Belén Freiria
- Music — Paul Lawrence
These practical sessions brought depth and lightness, helping ground the more intellectual content of the lectures in lived experience.
What Participants Said
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive:
Fulfilling my lost soul, healing a childhood I never felt or realized, and absorbing positive energy for four days made me strong, calm and peaceful.
Through Anthroposophy, I discovered who I am — my place in the world — not just my physical being. Learning to be responsible for what I think, say, and do with the truth. This connects me to God. It helps me grow and become wiser. There is an image of God within us.
Held for the first time in my hometown in a beautiful location, organized by a committee with extraordinary love and enthusiasm. Each participant felt they had found a home for their soul.
Anthroposophy is rising in Indonesia.
Looking Ahead
This conference marked not just an event but a spiritual milestone. A warm, living impulse has been kindled in Indonesia, and it is clear that the fire has only just begun to burn.
Paul Lawrence · Pacifica Journal
