In memory of Tarhan Onur (May 8, 1947–July 27, 2025), the mother of Waldorf education in Turkey.
A person’s individual destiny usually leads them to a particular folk or people. The soul finds its parents, siblings, relatives, and friends, guided by the fruits of past earthly lives. Is it the individuality that brings new spiritual impulses into a people from out of their individual karmic connections with specific spiritual streams? Or is it the folk spirit that assigns them this karmic task? If the folk spirit is not involved, how might it respond to a new spiritual impulse? Rudolf Steiner spoke in Stuttgart in 1919 about the “good spirit of our time.” This inspired Emil Molt with the idea for the first Waldorf school.
Anthroposophy is surprisingly new in Turkey, which has a population of 85.5 million. It needs people who can bring the anthroposophical impulse into Turkish culture. One of these people was Tarhan Onur. Indeed, she was probably the first person in Turkey to effectively introduce Waldorf education to the country. How did she come to Waldorf? Actually, through a surprising accident! She studied theater in Vienna, along with philosophy and sinology. Then, at the age of twenty-six, she fell from a tree. She needed treatment and ended up finding an anthroposophical doctor, Dr. Klaar. Through this encounter, she also discovered Waldorf education. Her meeting with Dr. Klaar led to a long and rich conversation—the seed was planted in Tarhan. But until the right circumstances were made available, the seed had to lie dormant for several years. In 1978, her son Yunus was born. Back in Istanbul, she worked in her uncle’s business, translating specialist books on German railways for the expansion of the Turkish railway network.
Becoming Practical
Then the moment arrived: in 2009, an association was founded in Istanbul with the aim of bringing Waldorf education to Turkey, starting from the grassroots. With the support of loyal friends, Tarhan Onur began to bring her vision to life, now inspiring others to join. Kindergarten teachers were trained in three-year cycles. Slowly, more and more kindergartens were established in Istanbul and other cities in Turkey. In 2017, she and her friends founded a Waldorf teacher training seminar. Due to COVID-19, the first course lasted five years. A second course was established in 2022, set to conclude this December, 2025. The number of people training to become kindergarten teachers or educators is growing at an almost unmanageable rate. In the penultimate course, for example, there were 75 participants. Obstacles arose time and again, but Tarhan was able to hold everything together. With her tremendous strength of will, she was able to carry the educational impulse through the difficulties. And she had a clear vision. She knew what she wanted and pursued her goal with unwavering endurance. She even translated many texts on Waldorf education herself, including Steiner’s Calendar of the Soul.
Tarhan had a large circle of friends and acquaintances in the Waldorf education community. Many friends came to Turkey to support her initiative. They understood how important this educational approach is for the further development of humanity. Currently, there are only two Waldorf schools in the whole of Turkey: one in Alanya and a small one in Istanbul. Both are in the process of receiving official accreditation. Tarhan would continue her work for years to come, but unfortunately, she experienced difficulties with her health.
From Beyond
She has now returned to the spiritual world. I have tried to imagine how she must have been received over there. A grand experience: her parents, relatives, friends who preceded her, and many spiritual beings will have welcomed her upon arrival, her birth into spiritual consciousness. And what about for us, who remain on this side? We now have a great friend in the spiritual world. She will continue to accompany, affirm, and advise Waldorf education in Turkey. And we may continue to accompany her, to be with her. With every good thought and loving feeling, we put wind and warmth under her great wings across the threshold, in the world that so awaits our own conscious cooperation.
Translation Joshua Kelberman
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