The Rudolf Steiner Archive

10

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner
[Translation]

Schnorrstraße 10

Munich, 12.9.13 Dear Teacher,

May I report to you on some of the results of my exercises? I had intended to do so on Sunday, but unfortunately didn't, although I have wanted to ask you some questions for two months now, and I will have to wait until Berlin to get answers. Because of something you said, I fear you think I'm not doing my exercises; but I really enjoy doing these exercises and try to put as much into them as possible, even if it's never enough. I have not told you anything because I feel that you can see everything you want and that my experiences are perhaps not important enough to talk about.

1. I feel warmth in the region of the heart, which flows down through the arms and hands - is this the fire of Kundalini? How can it be directed?

2. There are all kinds of strange experiences with the lotus flower of the eyes; how can the currents that emanate from it be directed so that they come into contact with spiritual beings? I now often see something on the mountains that I think is my “higher self” and I thought that maybe I could get ahead through this.

3. Then I feel as if something is taking shape in front of my face and chest, like some kind of organ: I feel and see in a sense all sorts of tubes, one of which is around my head and connects my throat and ears; my throat seems to expand and something seems to rise in it.

And then there are all kinds of other things, but I don't want to take up any more of your time.

With love and gratitude, [in German].

Your student,

L. Edith C. Maryon

11

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

[Berlin] Motzstraße 17 II
19.11.13

Dear Teacher,

I know I was supposed to give you an answer to your question yesterday, but there is a certain difficulty in talking about these things, and I chickened out. But that won't happen again. If I have the opportunity to speak to you again later, I will take this opportunity to say it and ask for your help.

With admiration and gratitude, your student

L. Edith C. Maryon

12

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

[Berlin] Motzstraße 17 II
24.12.13

[no salutation]

With much, much gratitude, not only for you alone, but also for you, for all that you have given me.

L. Edith C. Maryon

13

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

[Berlin] Motzstraße 17 II
19.1.14

Dear and esteemed teacher,

I realize that it is impossible for you to talk to me, as I know there is so much work for you to do. I just wanted to say that I have managed to stay in Germany until Easter. I think that the time has perhaps come for me to do something other than just sit and study for myself; I also have a great desire to do something for Theosophy, if possible, and not just for myself alone. I have thought a lot about this, to find a way, but I don't know what I can achieve or what kind of work I can find here in Berlin. Mr. Richter [Rychter] told me that he needs 80 artists in Dornach and that you don't have many yet, so I thought maybe I could work as a sculptor or help someone with something?

I have here some photographs of artworks that I have made and that have been shown in exhibitions over the last 12 years. If you like, I can show you these photographs. Unfortunately, I no longer have pictures of [other] works that I have already made.

Around Easter, I might have to work in England for a few weeks, but then I'll come back if I'm lucky enough to sell some of my work in England. But of course I can't know yet what will happen.

Your student

L. Edith C. Maryon

14

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner
[Translation]

[No place given,
presumably spring 1914]

[No salutation]

Sunday

I didn't say anything about the most important thing on my mind, namely: is there anything that could help me understand the Mystery of Golgotha? If I could do it, I wouldn't find life and loneliness [in German] as hard as they are now, and I wouldn't have such stupid and weak thoughts about them.

If there is anything I could do to help, could you please tell me tomorrow, as I will be going to Miss von Sivers anyway to ask her a few things. However, if I should just continue to wait and keep doing the exercises I have been given, please consider the matter closed.

Your student

L. Edith C. Maryon

15

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

58, Grove Park Terrace
Chiswick London, 4.4.14

Dearest Teacher,

I feel I must write a few words, for it may be a very long time before I am able to come back to Dornach. There is nothing I can do, and I lack the German to express in words the immense gratitude I feel for my teacher; but it is a feeling that is always there and I want to say it one day.

On the last evening you asked me if I had something on my mind, and I said no, but that wasn't true, I just didn't think it was the right moment to ask the question.

Dr. Felkin is not in London, but I have written to him about what you said; it is only that I have sometimes said that you have so little time for letters, but perhaps if one does not live in Germany, one does not understand it so well. I hope that my karma will allow me to work a little more on the construction than I have done so far. Please accept my best regards from your student,

L. Edith C. Maryon.

16

Edith Maryon to Marie von Sivers [postcard]
[Translation]

58, Grove Park Terrace
Chiswick London, 5.4.1914

To Miss von Sivers
at Dr. Alfred Zeißig
Vienna III, Untere Viaduktgasse 17 I
Vienna

Dear Miss von Sivers,

Somehow I was unable to say goodbye to you during my last stay in Munich, but it is also unpleasant to say 'goodbye' to people to whom I would rather say 'auf wiedersehen'. I hope that this [reunion] may be quite soon in Dornach — when, though, I do not yet know at present.

I am very envious of Mr. Collison today. He is just leaving for Vienna. His new house for the branch is much more attractive than the previous one and also has much more space. B. Walleen gives lectures there three times a week.

With kind regards,

L. Edith Maryon

17

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

58, Grove Park Terrace
Chiswick, W. London, 18.4.14

Dearest Teacher,

On Easter Sunday I wrote you a letter, but sent it to Miss Wilson in Dornach because I wasn't sure where you were. Perhaps you are now in Berlin, so I am writing a few words, because I may not have much time left. Dr. Felkin says that when I was so ill in Dornach, I was very close to the gates of death and now my heart has become very, very weak, etc. I already knew this more or less in Dornach, and in my letter I asked what I would be allowed to do after May 1, when my work here is done. After meditation and in the morning I feel that there may still be some work for me to do if my physical body can be saved, but that is the thing, I have become so much weaker than I was in Dornach, all my surroundings here are so heavy, I feel like a plant without light and water. So I beg you to send me a word, I need a little more strength to go on, or to go through the gate of death. Without you it is so very hard, but I want to do what is my destiny, if I can find it. Once I had the hope of helping a little later on, but that hope is now fading. Goodbye, my dear teacher. From your pupil

L. Edith C. Maryon

One line is enough for me, when you are so busy.

Dr. Felkin asks me to ask if I may eat meat. I want to [know] if it is necessary.

18

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

58, Grove Park Terrace,
Chiswick, W. London
[presumably after April 18, 1914]

[From] tomorrow my address is
The Grange, Goudhurst Kent.

Sunday

Dear Teacher,

Please excuse me for writing to you again. I hadn't intended to, but Dr. Felkin doesn't know what treatment to give me until you have said what you think would be best. We do not want to interfere with your measures, and I myself think that you know what I should do, and if you are allowed to give me your advice, it could be of great help to Dr. Felkin and also to me. My health has deteriorated somewhat due to this work (it is hard) and so I am going to stay with friends in the country until May 4.

In the esoteric field I have learned something in these last few days and had an experience today, and now I no longer have darkness in my soul, and from this side I could expect an answer with patience, but I feel obliged to ask what is best to be done under these circumstances for Dr. Felkin, my family, and myself as well.

We do not feel entirely sure about the occult side of things, in order to find the right path. It is always against my better judgment to ask you something, because it is always more work for you, but what else can I do? And this is really important.

Therefore, I ask you to send me a telegram, or to Dr. Felkin; his telegraphic address is Felskamm, London.

Miss Wilson can tell you more; it is so much quicker in English!

I hope this can be goodbye, my dear teacher! How can I thank you? Your pupil,

L. Edith C. Maryon.

(Today Dr. Felkin said that he has already said everything necessary about my health.

20

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Villa Rosenau
Arlesheim near Basel, April 29, 1919

Dear and esteemed teacher,

Mrs. von Heydebrand has made two photographs of the Christ figure, and as soon as I get some copies, I will send them to Berlin. For the time being, everything is going well in the studio, although rather slowly. I have already sent the preliminary remarks, the first chapter and the appeal in translation to England and now I ask you to correct the sheet (sent along).

The weather in Dornach is dreadful, snow, rain and cold, in the studio only 2 degrees of warmth.

Frau Stein read me a letter from her husband in Stuttgart today, it was most interesting to hear something of the work there, here we are falling asleep again a little!

With warm greetings

L.E.C. Maryon