he and the woman are speculating about how/why it was happening.

Maria Montessori is far from esoteric. She was Christian and in her method, writings and teachings she differs hugely from Steiner. I'd say Montessori was rather rational with common human values. To me she also does not appear as somebody who would participate in the occult in any way. At some point in her life Mussolini was her enemy and Gandhi her friend.