Introduction by Sequoia Schmidt My connection to Rudolf Steiner's philosophy has only recently become profound. I was fortunate to attend Waldorf schools from a young age--first in Australia, at Chrysalis Steiner School in Thora Valley, NSW, followed by Casuarina Steiner School in Coffs Harbour, then the Austin Waldorf School and Denver Waldorf School in the U.S. Despite our financial struggles, my mother, a passionate advocate of Steiner's educational philosophy, worked hard to provide us with the best education possible, even cleaning the school at night to make it affordable. However, when I was nine and we moved back to New Zealand, I left the Waldorf system, while my brother Denali continued his education at Taikura Rudolf Steiner School in Hastings, New Zealand. There, his passion for art flourished, eventually leading him to California College of the Arts. Denali tragically passed away at the age of 25 while climbing K2 in Pakistan, and his powerful oil paintings are now my most cherished possessions. Although Steiner's philosophy was woven throughout our curriculum, I never really learned much about the man himself.

It wasn't until last year, as I prepared to open Sequoia Children's Center in Twin Falls, Idaho--a childcare center I founded to meet the need for quality care in this small town--that I began rediscovering Steiner's ideas. As part of my research into early childhood education, I sought ways to incorporate Waldorf principles into the center. But the turning point came when I found an old painting by my brother, Denali. The colors and style of his artwork matched perfectly with the design of our teacher's lounge, so I hung it on the wall without much thought. As I continued my research into Waldorf, I came across a photo of Rudolf Steiner online. When I looked at it, I glanced up at my brother's painting and felt a profound connection--a feeling I can't quite explain. There, hanging before me, was the exact same portrait of Steiner, but abstracted through the power of Denali's work. Some might call it a sign.

In that moment, I felt the presence of my brother and knew it was time to delve into Steiner's intellectual world. For the past few months I have been reading Steiner's works and remain enthralled with concepts he put forth 100 years ago. In my research, I stumbled upon The Education of the Child as an essay online, but it had never been published in book form. I truly believe that my early love for storytelling, which began at Waldorf, ultimately led me to start my own publishing firm in my late teens. Thus, as the owner of a publishing firm, it seemed only fitting to share this powerful work with the world in book format, especially as it resonates so strongly today. Denali's original painting of Rudolf Steiner on the cover. This book is not only a tribute to the ideas of Steiner but also to my brother's lasting impact through his art--an impact that was curated through his years at Waldorf School, following the philosophy laid out in these pages.