This is a complete vocabulary of the German words found in Rudolf Steiner's
Seelenkalender
. It is designed for the English-speaking reader with limited-or even no-knowledge of the German language. It provides a Glossary of every German word found in the verses.
The
comprises 52 meditative verses, one for each week, intended to cultivate unity of the human soul with the life rhythms expressed in the seasons.
Armed with a knowledge of the actual vocabulary, the reader can deepen their understanding of the verses, and see across and through the various English literary translations. This engagement can lead to a more direct appreciation of the nuanced meanings of the original.
The vocabulary is presented alongside of the verse, with the English definitions of each newly introduced word in a given verse printed on the page facing the text. An English language verse translation by Ernst Lehrs, a personal student of Rudolf Steiner, is provided alongside the original. An alphabetic Glossary is also included.
Also provided is a concise summary of some of the basic elements of the German language in order to further orient the reader in their study.