In this important series of lectures, given near the end of his life,
Rudolf Steiner brought together many aspects of his research into man
and nature.
- The first three lectures show us man's inner relationship to the ancient
and sacred animal representatives — eagle, lion and bull —
and to the forces of the cosmos that form them.
- This insight is deepened in the second group of lectures by approaching
the plant and animal worlds in the context of spiritual evolution.
- The third group gives a unique and intimate description of the elemental
nature spirits — the purely spiritual beings that complement plants
and animals — and the cooperation these beings offer to mankind.
- In the fourth series man himself is placed in this harmony of nature
— in the symphony of the Creative Word.
Translated from shorthand reports unrevised by the lecturer. The
original German text is published in the Complete Edition of the works
of Rudolf Steiner with the title: Der Mensch als Zusammenklang des
schaffenden, bildenden und gestaltenden Weltenwortes. (No. 230 in
the Bibliographical Survey, 1961.)
| The Inner Connection of World-phenomenon and World-being |
| Lecture I |
October 19, 2024 |
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Man as a macrocosm. The bird is essentially head. Its plumage
corresponds to the power of thinking in man. In the bird breathing
dominates and lightens all other systems. In the lion there is balance
between breathing and blood (Circulation, which latter the digestion
is there to serve. All parts of the lion reveal the mastery of the
rhythmic system. The cow is all digestion process, and the entire
universe works in its digestion. Man is a harmonious synthesis of
bird, lion and cow, in which creatures he sees also his soul powers
reflected. Gandhi and the cow. Stages in the development of the
butterfly in relation to the sun. These stages compressed in the case
of the bird. Bird plumage corresponds to momentary thought, the
butterfly to memories. An African fable illuminates the poverty of
logic.
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| Lecture II |
October 20, 2024 |
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The sun in relation to outer planets. It works on the eagle in
connection with the outer planets, especially Jupiter. The lion is
pre-eminently the sun animal. It has perfect balance between inner and
outer. The sun in connection with the inner planets works on digestive
processes, exemplified by the cow. Its forces also work through the
earth, and produce the heaviness in the cow nature. The cosmic urge
today to separate the three systems of man. The alluring calls of
eagle, lion and cow, and their dangers for West, Centre and East.
Possible mechanization of the earth and its consequences for the
planetary system. A wrong way of using the secret of the cow. The
counterparts to the animals in the African fable. The fable retold for
modern times. The right answer of man to the three alluring calls.
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| Lecture III |
October 21, 2024 |
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Physical and spiritual substance. In the lower organization of man
(limbs) spiritual substance predominates, in the upper (head)
physical. Distinction between substance and forces. In the head,
forces are spiritual, in limb system, physical. Use of this knowledge
in healing. Man's two-fold debt to the earth in that he takes into
death spiritual substance (of limbs) which the earth needs, and leaves
behind physical substance (of head) which he has estranged from the
earth. Hence arises imbalance and suffering of the earth to be
rectified in future planetary epochs. But what man is at present
unable to do is performed by the eagle (type of the birds) and the cow
(type of the essential animal). Through its feathers the eagle carries
spiritualized earth substance into the spiritual world: through its
digestive processes the cow gives materialized spirit substance to the
earth. Initiation Science lives in the feelings aroused by such
knowledge. Rejoicing of earth-spirits in the activities of the cow,
and of air and fire spirits in activities of the eagle. Criticism of a
sequel to Albert Schweitzer's earlier book. The lion as organizing the
right balance between eagle and cow.
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| The Inner Connection of World-phenomenon and World-being |
| Lecture IV |
October 26, 2024 |
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Recapitulation of the four stages of Earth Evolution: Saturn (Warmth),
Sun (Air), Moon (Water), Earth (Solid). Distinction between the upper
nature of the first two, and the lower nature of the second two. Each
stage of evolution leaves its effects in later stages, e.g. Moon
forces left in the earth work in magnetism and gravity. The butterfly
is a creation of the upper cosmic forces. Its egg is under direct
influence of the sun, the caterpillar of Mars, the chrysalis of
Jupiter, and the freed butterfly of the light permeated by Saturn. In
the Moon evolution the plant germs separated and came under the
influence of lower forces. The plant seed belongs to the earth; the
leaf corresponds to the crawling caterpillar; the calyx to the cocoon;
the flower to the freed butterfly. Influences of the lower planets
— Moon, Venus, Mercury — supplant the upper planets which
influence the butterfly. The butterfly is the freed plant, the plant
the fettered butterfly. Their joy in each other. Artistic perception
needed for true knowledge.
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| Lecture V |
October 27, 2024 |
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Recapitulation. The butterfly continually gives spiritualized
substance to the cosmos during life, not only, like the birds, at
death. Butterflies are creatures of light-ether, birds of warmth. How
warmed air penetrates bones, etc. of birds. A bird's physical body is
merely its “luggage”. How the butterfly takes light-filled
air into its body. Both bird and butterfly overcome gravity, while
bats are subject to it. They dislike light, and their flight is
mechanical. Butterflies see earth as mirror of cosmos, birds see what
lives in air, bats begin to perceive things of earth but are full of
listening fear. Butterflies are memories, birds are thoughts, bats are
dreams. Bats also give off spiritualized substance but impart it to
the atmosphere, as a kind of “magma” in the air. People were
once taught to defend themselves against this which, when breathed by
man, becomes the nutriment of the Dragon. The Michael impulse protects
man today.
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| Lecture VI |
October 28, 2024 |
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Man has the longest evolution, beginning with the head on Saturn, when
butterflies also appeared. Man develops inwardly, the butterfly
outwardly. Breast-system appears on Sun with the lion, which added
head and limbs later. Digestive system appears on Moon with the cow,
which added breast and head. Amphibians and reptiles are purely
digestion animals. Fish appear when man develops reproductive organs.
Butterflies and birds are a metamorphosed memory, in miniature, of the
Beings of the Hierarchies man knew on Saturn and Sun. Hence they are
rightly used as pictures of spiritual beings. On descending to a new
incarnation man first encounters the butterfly “corona” shot
through with rays from birds, i.e. the head nature. Fishes do not feel
themselves as water-beings, but as beings enveloping water — as
etheric creatures. They are aware of the “breathing” of the
earth. The frog is connected with the astral of the earth, and
responds to weather conditions. The Cosmos creates frogs, toads,
snakes, etc. through same forces as digestion. Relation of toads to
large intestine. Study of the mineral kingdom will reveal the future
as study of animals has revealed the past. Formation of minerals. The
pineal gland.
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| The Plant World and the Elemental Spirits |
| Lecture VII |
November 02, 2024 |
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Mystery of plant life. Gnomes, which work in roots, are sense organs
in which perceiving and comprehending are one. They despise human
logic. Through the plant they gaze at the forces of the universe while
remaining connected with the earth. The earth threatens them with the
danger of becoming frogs or toads. Undines or water-spirits work in
leaf formation, living in the moist air. They dream the chemistry of
plant life. Their fear is to become fish. Sylphs live in warm air,
especially in air movement caused by birds, which give them a feeling
of ego. They bear cosmic love through the atmosphere, and are
light-bearers, weaving archetypal plant forms out of light, which
later fall down to the gnomes. Salamanders or fire spirits live in
light-warmth which they carry to the blossoms in the pollen, which in
turn the stamens carry to the seed-bud. All this is a male process.
Fructification takes place in winter when seeds meet the ideal plant
forms received by the gnomes. Goethe's instinctive feeling for this.
Fire spirits feel their ego in connection with insects which actually
live in their aura. Hence comes the power of butterflies to
spiritualise matter. Gnomes and undines bear gravity forces of earth
upwards to meet light and warmth sent down by sylphs and salamanders.
Wonder of nature enhanced by spiritual science.
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| Lecture VIII |
November 03, 2023 |
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Ancient powers of spiritual perception have withdrawn. Late evolved
creatures, corresponding to head evolution in man, lack a bone system
and are spiritually completed by gnomes. Gnomes form their bodies out
of gravity. The acuteness of their attention to the world. They are
masked behind our dreams. Undines support animals requiring a bony
covering. They are hidden behind our dreamless sleep. Sylphs supply
the limb-system to birds. They lie behind man's waking dreams. Fire
spirits complete butterflies in their bodily nature. The butterfly,
with its fire spirit, resembles a winged man. Fire beings stand behind
waking consciousness and thoughts. Malicious gnomes and undines
produce parasites. Relation of excretion to the brain. Malicious
sylphs produce poisons, e.g. bella donna. Fire spirits and poisonous
almonds. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.
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| Lecture IX |
November 04, 2023 |
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For the gnomes solid earth is hollow and offers no resistance. They
experience the different qualities of its substances. Their relation
to the moon, and their different appearance at its phases. Their work
in carrying over the hard structure from one manifestation to another.
Undines and sylphs find their true life in death. Undines assimilate
the colours of phosphorescent water, and offer themselves to the
hierarchies. The sylphs carry the astrality of dying birds to the
hierarchies. The fire beings do the same with the gleaming of the
warmth ether on the butterflies' wings. All four classes of elemental
beings are astonished at man's lack of awareness in sleep. They speak
to man in admonishment. Their sayings, which form part of the creative
Word.
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| The Secrets of the Human Organism |
| Lecture X |
November 09, 2023 |
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Origin of the different systems of man. Limb system from the Earth,
Metabolic system from the Moon, Rhythmic system from the Sun,
Nerve-senses system from Saturn. All substances taken into the body
must be transformed: Mineral into Warmth ether, Plant into Air
processes, Animal into Water processes. Only the pure human may be
saved. Carbon created in man disperses ether, which penetrates sense
organs and opens man to spiritual influences. Metabolic processes
would cause illness, if they were not kept in check by healing
processes born on Sun. Breathing has a cosmic rhythm and restrains the
circulation rhythm. Comparison with Saturn. Joy of the first two
hierarchies in this healing process. Man's spiritual activity in
relation to healing. Inflammation caused by blood processes entering
nerves: swellings and growths, by nerve processes entering the blood.
Relation of education to health. World healing processes in the
function of metals. Human therapy a microcosm of world therapy.
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| Lecture XI |
November 10, 2023 |
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All food must be transformed in the human organism. Mineral substance
must be turned to warmth ether to receive cosmic forces for the
building of the body. Children can only transform milk. Untransformed
substances cause disease, e.g. diabetes. External warmth also must not
enter the body. What root and flower in the plant say to man. Roots
laid down when moon was united with the earth. The plant was liberated
when the moon left the earth. Earthbound root and heaven-striving
flower reverse their position when the plant becomes an air-being in
man. In digestion pod-bearing plants (e.g. beans) do not reach the
head. The reversal of the plant cannot properly take place in animal
digestion. Elemental spirits of fear counter the animal's satisfaction
in digestion. Kamaloka of carnivorous animals. Anthroposophy never
fanatical (e.g. in diet) but only shows the truth. Milk working in the
head for young children has its counterpart for old people in honey,
the beestock being a head without a skull in outer nature. “A
land flowing with milk and honey.”
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| Lecture XII |
November 11, 2023 |
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The spiritual-moral has become convention today. Its real source is
human understanding and love. Why do we see the opposite in actual
life? Hatred and misunderstanding spring not from the spiritual but
from the physical. The relation of the bone in man to hatred, and of
the blood to misunderstanding and moral coldness. Terror in initiation
in perceiving that the body is built of hatred and coldness, which
always live in our sub-conscious. We take the coldness and hatred,
learnt from the body into the spiritual world at death, where they are
taken from us by the third and second hierarchies. This enables us to
meet the first hierarchy at the “midnight hour”. Here man's
form dissolves from head downward, and a new spiritual form created
which becomes the head of the future man. Thinking with the limbs.
Rhythmic and digestive organs by the second and third hierarchies.
Hatred necessary for structure of bones. Today hatred and coldness not
fully absorbed by human beings and enter civilization as a cancer. The
antidote to this cancer is Waldorf education.
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