"Just as we have before us a second part of the human organism, when observing the breathing process, namely the rhythmic man, as opposed to the perceptive or head man, so we have in what appears as the yearly Moon motion, or rather the 18-year motion of the Moon [node], the identity between one year and one human respiration; we have this second world interpenetrating our own."
"The Sun is not a ball of gas; but in that place where the Sun is, there is something less than empty space—a sucking, absorbing body, in fact, while all around it is that which exerts pressure. Consequently, in that which comes to us from the Sun we have not to do with anything constituting a product of combustion in the Sun; but all that has been transmitted to the Sun from the Universe is raged back."
"Where the Sun is, is emptier than empty space. This can be said of all parts of the Universe where we find Ether."
"In the same way, not only does matter become empty space, but it becomes negative, less than nothing—emptier than emptiness: it assumes a 'sucking' nature. Ether is sucking, absorbing. Matter presses. Ether absorbs. The Sun is an absorbing, sucking ball, and wherever Ether is present we have this absorbent force."
"Here we step over into the other side, the other aspect of three-dimensional space—we pass from pressure to suction. That which immediately surrounds us in this world, that of which we are constituted as physical man and etheric man, is both pressing and sucking or absorbing. We are a combination of both, whereas the Sun possesses the power of suction only, being nothing but ether, nothing but suction. It is the undulating wave of pressure and suction, ponderable matter and ether, that forms in its alternation a living organization. And the living organism continually breathes in the astral; the breathing expresses itself through the Moon motion. And here we begin to divine a second member or principle of the world's construction; the one member—pressure and suction, physical and etheric; the other, the second—astral. The astral is neither physical nor etheric but is continually inhaled and exhaled; and the nutation demonstrates this process."
"Briefly, the facts are that if we notice the path of a fixed star and notice the point where the Sun stands over it, we find that at the end of 72 years the star occupies the same position on the 30th of December, while the Sun only reaches that point again on the 31st December. The Sun has lost a day. After a lapse of 25,920 years, this loss is so great that the Sun has described a complete revolution [around the zodiac] and once again is back upon the place we noted. We see therefore that in 72 years the Sun is one day behind the fixed stars. Now these 72 years are approximately the normal life period of Man, and they are composed of 25,920 days."
"Thus, when we multiply 72 years by 365, and consider the human span of life as one day, we have the human life as one day of the Macrocosm. Man is breathed out, as it were, from the Macrocosm; his life is one day in the macrocosmic year."
"...This revolution, this circle described by the Precession of the Equinoxes, indicating the macrocosmic year, as already known to the Egyptians thousands of years ago (for they looked upon this period of 72 years as very important), this apparent revolution of the Vernal point is connected with the life and death of Man in the Universe—with the life and death, that is, of the Macrocosm."
"The Sun is not a ball of gas; but in that place where the Sun is, there is something less than empty space—a sucking, absorbing body, in fact, while all around it is that which exerts pressure. Consequently, in that which comes to us from the Sun we have not to do with anything constituting a product of combustion in the Sun; but all that has been transmitted to the Sun from the Universe is raged back."
"Where the Sun is, is emptier than empty space. This can be said of all parts of the Universe where we find Ether."
"In the same way, not only does matter become empty space, but it becomes negative, less than nothing—emptier than emptiness: it assumes a 'sucking' nature. Ether is sucking, absorbing. Matter presses. Ether absorbs. The Sun is an absorbing, sucking ball, and wherever Ether is present we have this absorbent force."
"Here we step over into the other side, the other aspect of three-dimensional space—we pass from pressure to suction. That which immediately surrounds us in this world, that of which we are constituted as physical man and etheric man, is both pressing and sucking or absorbing. We are a combination of both, whereas the Sun possesses the power of suction only, being nothing but ether, nothing but suction. It is the undulating wave of pressure and suction, ponderable matter and ether, that forms in its alternation a living organization. And the living organism continually breathes in the astral; the breathing expresses itself through the Moon motion. And here we begin to divine a second member or principle of the world's construction; the one member—pressure and suction, physical and etheric; the other, the second—astral. The astral is neither physical nor etheric but is continually inhaled and exhaled; and the nutation demonstrates this process."
"Briefly, the facts are that if we notice the path of a fixed star and notice the point where the Sun stands over it, we find that at the end of 72 years the star occupies the same position on the 30th of December, while the Sun only reaches that point again on the 31st December. The Sun has lost a day. After a lapse of 25,920 years, this loss is so great that the Sun has described a complete revolution [around the zodiac] and once again is back upon the place we noted. We see therefore that in 72 years the Sun is one day behind the fixed stars. Now these 72 years are approximately the normal life period of Man, and they are composed of 25,920 days."
"Thus, when we multiply 72 years by 365, and consider the human span of life as one day, we have the human life as one day of the Macrocosm. Man is breathed out, as it were, from the Macrocosm; his life is one day in the macrocosmic year."
"...This revolution, this circle described by the Precession of the Equinoxes, indicating the macrocosmic year, as already known to the Egyptians thousands of years ago (for they looked upon this period of 72 years as very important), this apparent revolution of the Vernal point is connected with the life and death of Man in the Universe—with the life and death, that is, of the Macrocosm."
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"We have, thus, three worlds interpenetrating one another, inter-related; but we must not attempt simply to combine these worlds from the point of view of causality. Three worlds, a three-fold world, as Man is a three-fold being; one, the world of sense surrounding us, the world we perceive; a second world whose presence is indicated to us by the motions of the Moon; and a third which makes itself known to us by the motion of the equinoctial point, or we might say, by the path of the Sun. This third world indeed remains about as unknown to us as the world of our own willpower is unknown to our ordinary consciousness."
Zodiac - Complete form
World of the Planets - Internal Motions
World of the Elements - Activity of the Organs
Earth - Metabolism
"And now consider, if we understand the form of Man in all its nature and conditions, and find the possibility of tracing it back to the Zodiac—that is, to the world of fixed stars—then and then only are we able to form, from Man, an idea of all that is visible to us in surrounding space; for it cannot be investigated by mechanical or mathematical means, but only through a knowledge of the complete form of Man. Neither are planetary motions to be examined merely by means of a telescope. With a telescope one finds their positions—setting it first to one star and then to the other, finding the angle, and in this way discovering the positions. What is actually present in the processes of the Planet-World is something that is formed from within outwards. It is by a study of the activities in the saps and juices in Man that we shall learn to understand the planetary motions. Similarly, if we comprehend our own organic activities we shall also understand what goes on in the Elemental world; and when we are able to understand what happens in Man in the moment when earthly substance is introduced into his metabolic system, we shall possess the key to the Earth activities and be able to separate them spatially from all extra-earthly activities."
Zodiac - Complete form
World of the Planets - Internal Motions
World of the Elements - Activity of the Organs
Earth - Metabolism
"And now consider, if we understand the form of Man in all its nature and conditions, and find the possibility of tracing it back to the Zodiac—that is, to the world of fixed stars—then and then only are we able to form, from Man, an idea of all that is visible to us in surrounding space; for it cannot be investigated by mechanical or mathematical means, but only through a knowledge of the complete form of Man. Neither are planetary motions to be examined merely by means of a telescope. With a telescope one finds their positions—setting it first to one star and then to the other, finding the angle, and in this way discovering the positions. What is actually present in the processes of the Planet-World is something that is formed from within outwards. It is by a study of the activities in the saps and juices in Man that we shall learn to understand the planetary motions. Similarly, if we comprehend our own organic activities we shall also understand what goes on in the Elemental world; and when we are able to understand what happens in Man in the moment when earthly substance is introduced into his metabolic system, we shall possess the key to the Earth activities and be able to separate them spatially from all extra-earthly activities."
rsarchive.org
GA 201. Man — Hieroglyph of the Universe (1972) - Rudolf Steiner Archive
Rudolf Steiner Archive: An electronic Library and Archive site for the over 6000 collected works of the Austrian philosopher and founder of Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner
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Subnature and supernature in of the physiology of the plant and man - The real Basics of nutrition | Ehrenfried Pfeiffer
https://web.archive.org/web/19991118061045/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Institout/EPfeiffer_Aethertechnik.htm#Unternatur
"It was my endeavor when I was a young person in the year 1919 came here to Dornach, 1920, 1921, here as a monastery and apprentice, as they say, did all the work, it was my endeavor, at that time, a very specific thought, a very specific questionto Rudolf Steiner. The thought was this: If today's civilization is transformed by the Applications of energies, physical energies, the means electricity, magnetism and other energies - the Atomic energy had not yet been discovered - leading to this because the in lies in the nature of these energies, which only serve to decompose, to disintegrate can lead to disintegration, as is the case in the application of these energies, even in technology ultimately is that they can only lead to decay, that it would be necessary to channel an energy of life into the technology to now use this energy, which Lawfulness of structure, of life within itself naturally carries such thoughts into people, could trigger sensations and will impulses that we now, instead of technically destroying, disintegrating, bomb,that we now learned to equilibrate that we learned to build, synthesize, grow, develop.
That was the question I asked Rudolf Steiner whether there was a such energy that one then releases into the world from the Goetheanum could carry as the answer, as a building up, as a Counter-answer to the dismantling. Rudolf Steiner then pointed out that this energy in certain material implementations in human body could be studied. He pointed out that this energy is generally what we the ethereal Image forces, the etheric body, Heat ether, light ether and so on. I I am not referring to the courses and lectures, but to the direct answer to this problem. It was my thought that Question: whether not by a discovery and application of such energies it would be possible to establish a social technique and social order to create. Rudolf Steiner's answer was that he A few very simple experiments suggested, which I then carried out for him and he from whose course said he had the answer of the spiritual world through the experiments and the answer was: It is not yet time that this ethereal energy is made known and can be introduced. I was then obliged to to keep the whole area completely silent, and I am still today still according to Rudolf Steiner's instructions obligated. But I then asked: what are the conditions, that the spiritual world agrees that the customer of this new energy can be researched, known and possibly applied? Then Rudolf Steiner said - and this is the reason why I would like to present at least this part of the answer, also with the thought that perhaps another time this will no longer be can do -: A condition, so that these Energy is not abused, is that a social Order in the sense of the three-partition idea would have to take place, at least in a small area on Earth a consistent social order in the spirit of the spiritual be carried out. It would not be the spiritual world that give consent that these ethereal energies are only would be discovered unless that happened.
https://web.archive.org/web/19991118061045/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Institout/EPfeiffer_Aethertechnik.htm#Unternatur
"It was my endeavor when I was a young person in the year 1919 came here to Dornach, 1920, 1921, here as a monastery and apprentice, as they say, did all the work, it was my endeavor, at that time, a very specific thought, a very specific questionto Rudolf Steiner. The thought was this: If today's civilization is transformed by the Applications of energies, physical energies, the means electricity, magnetism and other energies - the Atomic energy had not yet been discovered - leading to this because the in lies in the nature of these energies, which only serve to decompose, to disintegrate can lead to disintegration, as is the case in the application of these energies, even in technology ultimately is that they can only lead to decay, that it would be necessary to channel an energy of life into the technology to now use this energy, which Lawfulness of structure, of life within itself naturally carries such thoughts into people, could trigger sensations and will impulses that we now, instead of technically destroying, disintegrating, bomb,that we now learned to equilibrate that we learned to build, synthesize, grow, develop.
That was the question I asked Rudolf Steiner whether there was a such energy that one then releases into the world from the Goetheanum could carry as the answer, as a building up, as a Counter-answer to the dismantling. Rudolf Steiner then pointed out that this energy in certain material implementations in human body could be studied. He pointed out that this energy is generally what we the ethereal Image forces, the etheric body, Heat ether, light ether and so on. I I am not referring to the courses and lectures, but to the direct answer to this problem. It was my thought that Question: whether not by a discovery and application of such energies it would be possible to establish a social technique and social order to create. Rudolf Steiner's answer was that he A few very simple experiments suggested, which I then carried out for him and he from whose course said he had the answer of the spiritual world through the experiments and the answer was: It is not yet time that this ethereal energy is made known and can be introduced. I was then obliged to to keep the whole area completely silent, and I am still today still according to Rudolf Steiner's instructions obligated. But I then asked: what are the conditions, that the spiritual world agrees that the customer of this new energy can be researched, known and possibly applied? Then Rudolf Steiner said - and this is the reason why I would like to present at least this part of the answer, also with the thought that perhaps another time this will no longer be can do -: A condition, so that these Energy is not abused, is that a social Order in the sense of the three-partition idea would have to take place, at least in a small area on Earth a consistent social order in the spirit of the spiritual be carried out. It would not be the spiritual world that give consent that these ethereal energies are only would be discovered unless that happened.
The second condition, said Rudolf Steiner, is that certain spiritual leaders on earth can incarnate and then lead humanity to take over, but that these leaders today have no Body, because today's intellectual educational system would not make it possible to to reveal such a body. That there is no possibility would be to reveal himself and that this would be expected is that these spiritual leaders are likely to be in this century cannot find a body at all, it unless Waldorf school education has become general would be. Only when such education leads to that certain spiritual leaders can incarnate, which then take the lead, and if a social There is order by which a guarantee is provided against abuse,then actually one could address this problem continue working. This, of course, meant that the whole future initially sealed."
NOTE: [I just scanned this book but images were very low quality but is still legible. Uploading to the Archive section in Private Chat but will rescan again soon.]
Ehrenfried E. Pfeiffer, Fragments of a biography
"(...) The method of science, in a materialistic sense, is based on analysis splitting apart (today atom splitting and fusion etc.), disintegration, separation, dissecting and all the procedures which have to destroy and take apart, to work on the corpse rather than to grow, to develop, to synthesize. That the human mind was captured by these methods of braking apart: in that I saw the source of our present situation. My question therefore was: is it possible to find another force or energy in nature, which does not have in itself the ductus of atomizing and analysis but builds up, synthesizes. Would we discover that force constructive, which makes things alive and grow, develop adequate building up methods of investigation, possibly use this force for another type of technic, applied to drive machines, than because of the inner nature of this force or energy we might be able to create another technology, social structure, constructive thinking of man rather than destructive thinking. This force must have the impulse of life, of organization within itself as the so-called physical energies have the splitting, separating trend within themselves. My question to R. St. October 1920 and spring 1921 therefore was:does such a force or source of energy exist? Can it be demonstrated? Could an altruistic technic be build upon it?
When these questions formed themselves in my mind I met in Günther Wachsmuth a life long friend who pondered about exactly the same problems.
Some discussion with R. St were carried out individually, often we both together had with R. St.
My questions were answered as follows:
Yes, such a force exists, but is not yet discovered. It is what is generally known the ether (not the physical ether) but the force which makes things grow, lives for instance in the seed as sperm power. Before you can work with this force you must demonstrate its presence. As we have reagents in chemistry, so you must find a reagent upon the ethereal force. It is also called formative etheric force because it is the force which creates the form, shape, pattern of a living thing, growth. You might try crystallization processes to which organic substrata are added. (This has been done and the results described elsewhere, known today as the method of sensitive crystallization). It is possible then to develop machines, which react upon and are driven by this force. R. St.than outlined the principles of the application of this force as source of a new energy. In the presence of Günther Wachsmuth at some other time he outlined the principle of the four etheric formative forces, light ether, chemical ether, life ether and warmth ether (somewhat different than in the so-called warmth and light course before Waldorf teachers) and pointed to a book by Rama Prashad, Nature Finer Forces, which described some of it.
NOTE: [I just scanned this book but images were very low quality but is still legible. Uploading to the Archive section in Private Chat but will rescan again soon.]
Ehrenfried E. Pfeiffer, Fragments of a biography
"(...) The method of science, in a materialistic sense, is based on analysis splitting apart (today atom splitting and fusion etc.), disintegration, separation, dissecting and all the procedures which have to destroy and take apart, to work on the corpse rather than to grow, to develop, to synthesize. That the human mind was captured by these methods of braking apart: in that I saw the source of our present situation. My question therefore was: is it possible to find another force or energy in nature, which does not have in itself the ductus of atomizing and analysis but builds up, synthesizes. Would we discover that force constructive, which makes things alive and grow, develop adequate building up methods of investigation, possibly use this force for another type of technic, applied to drive machines, than because of the inner nature of this force or energy we might be able to create another technology, social structure, constructive thinking of man rather than destructive thinking. This force must have the impulse of life, of organization within itself as the so-called physical energies have the splitting, separating trend within themselves. My question to R. St. October 1920 and spring 1921 therefore was:does such a force or source of energy exist? Can it be demonstrated? Could an altruistic technic be build upon it?
When these questions formed themselves in my mind I met in Günther Wachsmuth a life long friend who pondered about exactly the same problems.
Some discussion with R. St were carried out individually, often we both together had with R. St.
My questions were answered as follows:
Yes, such a force exists, but is not yet discovered. It is what is generally known the ether (not the physical ether) but the force which makes things grow, lives for instance in the seed as sperm power. Before you can work with this force you must demonstrate its presence. As we have reagents in chemistry, so you must find a reagent upon the ethereal force. It is also called formative etheric force because it is the force which creates the form, shape, pattern of a living thing, growth. You might try crystallization processes to which organic substrata are added. (This has been done and the results described elsewhere, known today as the method of sensitive crystallization). It is possible then to develop machines, which react upon and are driven by this force. R. St.than outlined the principles of the application of this force as source of a new energy. In the presence of Günther Wachsmuth at some other time he outlined the principle of the four etheric formative forces, light ether, chemical ether, life ether and warmth ether (somewhat different than in the so-called warmth and light course before Waldorf teachers) and pointed to a book by Rama Prashad, Nature Finer Forces, which described some of it.
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Waxism in turn wrote his book on the Etheric Formative Forces. To me the task fell to start experiments. In this, the cooperation between us, the seed for the research institute at Goetheanum was laid. I had to perform certain experiments which do not feel at liberty to describe for R. St. The result of these experiments where reported whereupon R. St. said with utmost ernestness: the outcome of the experiment points to another force not the etheric one but an astral one (ic forces which live in sensitive matter, nerve, brain). That the experiment did turn out this way is the answer of the spiritual world to him and it means that the time is not yet ready to make use of the etheric force. I asked when will the time be ready. Answer: when the social conditions are such that no misuse of this force can be done for selfish purposes,that would only be the case if the threefold commonwealth order would be practice at least over a few territories on earth. Until this time experiments in the direction of using the etheric forces would not be successful or should not be done.
Since we live today in a world which is farer away than ever from the solution of the social problem, when selfishness and personal advantage, profit and national conflicts because of them have the upper hand, since especially the anthroposophical society has never put the solution of the social problem in front of all its aim and not contributed that which was demanded by R. St. to be done, I see no other way but to bury the instructions with regard to the use of the etheric force deep down in my chest, probably to take it with me to grave, with the hope that other times will come, other circumstances, other ages and lives, where the time then will be ready.My conscience is deeply moved but I have to obey higher reason for this means that for the time being the world must go on with the use of energies which have the power death and destruction in their essence and it is only to be hoped that the world learns the hard way, by endless suffering that one day it will awake to accept the mission of life, of living together in peace, of mutual acceptance and coordination.
Everything else we developed in anthroposophical natural science, experimenting, had to remain with the first step, the demonstration of the presence and existence of formative forces. Only in the use of the biodynamic method of soil improvement could we go a step farther. How this developed is described elsewhere"
Since we live today in a world which is farer away than ever from the solution of the social problem, when selfishness and personal advantage, profit and national conflicts because of them have the upper hand, since especially the anthroposophical society has never put the solution of the social problem in front of all its aim and not contributed that which was demanded by R. St. to be done, I see no other way but to bury the instructions with regard to the use of the etheric force deep down in my chest, probably to take it with me to grave, with the hope that other times will come, other circumstances, other ages and lives, where the time then will be ready.My conscience is deeply moved but I have to obey higher reason for this means that for the time being the world must go on with the use of energies which have the power death and destruction in their essence and it is only to be hoped that the world learns the hard way, by endless suffering that one day it will awake to accept the mission of life, of living together in peace, of mutual acceptance and coordination.
Everything else we developed in anthroposophical natural science, experimenting, had to remain with the first step, the demonstration of the presence and existence of formative forces. Only in the use of the biodynamic method of soil improvement could we go a step farther. How this developed is described elsewhere"
Alla Selawry , Ehrenfried Pfeiffer - Pioneer of spiritual Research and practice
"When I came to Dornach as a young person in 1920 and when the apprentice did all the work, I was occupied with a very specific question ...which I R. Steiner provided. The thought was: If in the nature of the physical energies (electricity, magnetism and the later nuclear energy) ultimately, there is a Disintegration, a decomposition and disintegration of today's to lead civilization - then it would be necessary to Energy of life to discover and into technology to introduce the laws of structure in carries itself. This could be in man, its nature according to such thoughts, sensations and will impulses that teach him to grow, to build, to synthesize and establish equilibria. - Is there such a Energy? Dr. Steiner replied, that this energy in the etheric body of man, in the ethereal visual forces, the heat and Light ether, the chemical ether and the life ether is effective. He pointed out that this energy at certain Material implementations of the human body are studied could. I am not referring to the courses and lectures but to the direct answer to this problem. It was my Thought whether it would be possible to detect and apply such ethereal energies would be possible, a building to create technology and social order and to create this from the Goetheanum to carry into the world. In response, Dr. Steiner suggested some quite simple experiments, which I then conducted for him. From the course of which he realized that it was not yet time to make known and introduce this ethereal energy. I was obliged to remain absolutely silent about it. - Then I asked about the conditions that allow this new energy to discover and work with it. Then R. Steiner said: A Condition so that this energy is not abused is a consistent social order in the sense of Threefolding-idea, at least in a small area on Earth. A second Condition is a general spread of the Waldorf education, which gives the child a spiritual Development made possible.
Physiological basis of this positive development forms a healthy diet made from bio-dynamic agriculture.2 - Dr. Steiner pointed out to me that first of all the Nutrition problem would have to be solved before it becomes possible for humans, mentally on to influence ethereal impulses. Through a healthy, in Balance of nutrition is used in humans ethereal forces triggered for the spiritual - Moral ideals, as Dr. Steiner explains, will are promoted by triggering light forces in the Heat-air organism, the triggering of tonal forces of the chemical ether in the liquid organism, which Triggering life germs in the solid organism.
Today's degenerate diet allows this Lack of strength. It favours theoretical ideas which catching a cold on the heat organism, paralyzing on the Light and air organism, killing the sound, have an extinguishing effect on life.
Above all, it is important to spiritualize substance within and spiritual substance as new, invigorating energy to the cosmos to give back.
These are the tasks, who are provided. On the one hand, the goal: the ethereal To prepare energy that prevents the disaster in technology could. On the other hand, the goal of each individual person, through work on one's own interior, through a spiritualization of matter, through the forces of the heart, through the etherification of blood to transform, to spiritualize one's physical body; matter to overcome the undernature. That is possible. It is possible, on the path of knowledge not only sporadically, but to walk continuously and very diligently.
"When I came to Dornach as a young person in 1920 and when the apprentice did all the work, I was occupied with a very specific question ...which I R. Steiner provided. The thought was: If in the nature of the physical energies (electricity, magnetism and the later nuclear energy) ultimately, there is a Disintegration, a decomposition and disintegration of today's to lead civilization - then it would be necessary to Energy of life to discover and into technology to introduce the laws of structure in carries itself. This could be in man, its nature according to such thoughts, sensations and will impulses that teach him to grow, to build, to synthesize and establish equilibria. - Is there such a Energy? Dr. Steiner replied, that this energy in the etheric body of man, in the ethereal visual forces, the heat and Light ether, the chemical ether and the life ether is effective. He pointed out that this energy at certain Material implementations of the human body are studied could. I am not referring to the courses and lectures but to the direct answer to this problem. It was my Thought whether it would be possible to detect and apply such ethereal energies would be possible, a building to create technology and social order and to create this from the Goetheanum to carry into the world. In response, Dr. Steiner suggested some quite simple experiments, which I then conducted for him. From the course of which he realized that it was not yet time to make known and introduce this ethereal energy. I was obliged to remain absolutely silent about it. - Then I asked about the conditions that allow this new energy to discover and work with it. Then R. Steiner said: A Condition so that this energy is not abused is a consistent social order in the sense of Threefolding-idea, at least in a small area on Earth. A second Condition is a general spread of the Waldorf education, which gives the child a spiritual Development made possible.
Physiological basis of this positive development forms a healthy diet made from bio-dynamic agriculture.2 - Dr. Steiner pointed out to me that first of all the Nutrition problem would have to be solved before it becomes possible for humans, mentally on to influence ethereal impulses. Through a healthy, in Balance of nutrition is used in humans ethereal forces triggered for the spiritual - Moral ideals, as Dr. Steiner explains, will are promoted by triggering light forces in the Heat-air organism, the triggering of tonal forces of the chemical ether in the liquid organism, which Triggering life germs in the solid organism.
Today's degenerate diet allows this Lack of strength. It favours theoretical ideas which catching a cold on the heat organism, paralyzing on the Light and air organism, killing the sound, have an extinguishing effect on life.
Above all, it is important to spiritualize substance within and spiritual substance as new, invigorating energy to the cosmos to give back.
These are the tasks, who are provided. On the one hand, the goal: the ethereal To prepare energy that prevents the disaster in technology could. On the other hand, the goal of each individual person, through work on one's own interior, through a spiritualization of matter, through the forces of the heart, through the etherification of blood to transform, to spiritualize one's physical body; matter to overcome the undernature. That is possible. It is possible, on the path of knowledge not only sporadically, but to walk continuously and very diligently.
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At one of those discussions about this future Energy and etherification, said Dr. Steiner: "If you only on the beginning of the Gospel of John meditate would and the book 'How do you get Insights from higher worlds' study and heed would, you would be able to solve all these questions and to reawaken all anthroposophy from within." - Why? For the simple reason that in the beginning of the Gospel of John on the two primal creative forces are shown, the word that logos, which also defines the divine world order in matter creates from which one can understand and transform matter; and that light, which shone into the darkness, from which the conversion can be completed.
These are the tasks we are faced with. We have them until not fulfilled today. We cannot, in response to to create nuclear energy, the new ether energy, the new carries life-building and creation forces within itself. The is a great commitment that was made at the Goetheanum and us everyone who participates in this spiritual movement is burdened. A Commitment to at least seriously consider this goal.
Our task is to accelerate our development. The Humanity passes over us when we are unable to to research practical areas of life and advice in all areas from to give one's own practice of anthroposophy."
These are the tasks we are faced with. We have them until not fulfilled today. We cannot, in response to to create nuclear energy, the new ether energy, the new carries life-building and creation forces within itself. The is a great commitment that was made at the Goetheanum and us everyone who participates in this spiritual movement is burdened. A Commitment to at least seriously consider this goal.
Our task is to accelerate our development. The Humanity passes over us when we are unable to to research practical areas of life and advice in all areas from to give one's own practice of anthroposophy."
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Goethean Architecture, Ethers & Human Constitution | Rudolf Steiner
When proper forms allow spiritual realities to speak through physical substance, architecture then functions as a larynx for the gods. The creative process unfolds through four archetypal steps: Warmth, Wisdom, Movement, and Form, corresponding to the four ethers, elements, and human constitution levels.
Warmth Ether, connecting with Fire, physical warmth, and the ego or spirit level, incorporates through generous, obtuse-angled geometry and natural materials. When space unfolds generously and human care flows into creation, artistic beauty accumulates and radiates back from the environment. Spirit demands authentic materials and genuine craftsmanship expressing warmth woven into creation process.
Light Ether corresponds to Air, density, consciousness, and the astral or soul level. Straight-line geometry and its interplay of angles bring this ether to expression, having awakening effects considered relative to occupants' consciousness stage. Soul life touches through room ambience created via furnishings: carpets, curtains, furniture, color schemes, lighting, plus indirect light and shade effects through geometry types, angles, texture, and material pattern. Light essence manifests through reflection in both physical and spiritual realms. Its awakening effects require architects to account for occupants' age and consciousness development.
Through Sound Ether comes the relationship with Water, weight, and the etheric or life body level. This ether generates movement and ordered division, behaving like music with complex interval systems visible in cell division and water meandering. Rhythmically ordered, rounded, obtuse-angled spaces generally vitalize more than rectilinear spaces, impacting unconsciously at will level. Anything making people feel revitalized strengthens etheric body.
Life Ether stands in stark contrast, aligning with Earth, disintegration, decay, and physical body level. This organizing principle maintaining wholeness brings purpose to organic divisions within living organisms, creating ordered intervals similar to musical systems. Withdrawal of Life Ether causes cells to isolate themselves, breaking down communication with the whole and producing cancerous growth. Beyond this organizing principle, physical body demands fundamental environmental support through weather protection, heating, cooling, and ventilation.
The architectural environment returns to inhabitants whatever human effort and will stream into its creation. Buildings begin speaking in languages people today have no inkling about, transforming those inclined to untruthfulness toward honesty and those who disturb others toward peace.
Metamorphosis: Goethe's Living Geometry
Goethe's theory of metamorphosis established the methodological foundation. By studying nature's creation of organic forms, Steiner discovered how metamorphic principles could unify an entire building. Each element demands its precise placement. Within organic wholes, the least significant detail and the most prominent feature each finds its absolutely correct form.
When sunlight streams through carved glass, designs suddenly appear. This demonstrates how metamorphosis transforms a basic form into many further forms within a single building or ensemble, creating coherent unity through transmutation. The process captures visible stages of transformation, but metamorphosis itself occurs in invisible space between visible forms, in depths of lacunae, voids between pillars where something occurs invisibly. Development naturally unfolds in seven stages, reflected in week division into seven days assigned to planets in same sequence across many languages.
Seven-Stage Planetary Evolution
Seven life processes constitute dynamic activities within the Life body: Breathing, Warming, Nutrition, Secretion, Maintenance, Growing, and Propagation. These align with cosmic evolutionary developments where earth reincarnates through distinct embodiments, each being cosmic-karmic consequence of former one.
When proper forms allow spiritual realities to speak through physical substance, architecture then functions as a larynx for the gods. The creative process unfolds through four archetypal steps: Warmth, Wisdom, Movement, and Form, corresponding to the four ethers, elements, and human constitution levels.
Warmth Ether, connecting with Fire, physical warmth, and the ego or spirit level, incorporates through generous, obtuse-angled geometry and natural materials. When space unfolds generously and human care flows into creation, artistic beauty accumulates and radiates back from the environment. Spirit demands authentic materials and genuine craftsmanship expressing warmth woven into creation process.
Light Ether corresponds to Air, density, consciousness, and the astral or soul level. Straight-line geometry and its interplay of angles bring this ether to expression, having awakening effects considered relative to occupants' consciousness stage. Soul life touches through room ambience created via furnishings: carpets, curtains, furniture, color schemes, lighting, plus indirect light and shade effects through geometry types, angles, texture, and material pattern. Light essence manifests through reflection in both physical and spiritual realms. Its awakening effects require architects to account for occupants' age and consciousness development.
Through Sound Ether comes the relationship with Water, weight, and the etheric or life body level. This ether generates movement and ordered division, behaving like music with complex interval systems visible in cell division and water meandering. Rhythmically ordered, rounded, obtuse-angled spaces generally vitalize more than rectilinear spaces, impacting unconsciously at will level. Anything making people feel revitalized strengthens etheric body.
Life Ether stands in stark contrast, aligning with Earth, disintegration, decay, and physical body level. This organizing principle maintaining wholeness brings purpose to organic divisions within living organisms, creating ordered intervals similar to musical systems. Withdrawal of Life Ether causes cells to isolate themselves, breaking down communication with the whole and producing cancerous growth. Beyond this organizing principle, physical body demands fundamental environmental support through weather protection, heating, cooling, and ventilation.
The architectural environment returns to inhabitants whatever human effort and will stream into its creation. Buildings begin speaking in languages people today have no inkling about, transforming those inclined to untruthfulness toward honesty and those who disturb others toward peace.
Metamorphosis: Goethe's Living Geometry
Goethe's theory of metamorphosis established the methodological foundation. By studying nature's creation of organic forms, Steiner discovered how metamorphic principles could unify an entire building. Each element demands its precise placement. Within organic wholes, the least significant detail and the most prominent feature each finds its absolutely correct form.
When sunlight streams through carved glass, designs suddenly appear. This demonstrates how metamorphosis transforms a basic form into many further forms within a single building or ensemble, creating coherent unity through transmutation. The process captures visible stages of transformation, but metamorphosis itself occurs in invisible space between visible forms, in depths of lacunae, voids between pillars where something occurs invisibly. Development naturally unfolds in seven stages, reflected in week division into seven days assigned to planets in same sequence across many languages.
Seven-Stage Planetary Evolution
Seven life processes constitute dynamic activities within the Life body: Breathing, Warming, Nutrition, Secretion, Maintenance, Growing, and Propagation. These align with cosmic evolutionary developments where earth reincarnates through distinct embodiments, each being cosmic-karmic consequence of former one.
Cosmic evolution proceeded from warmth through air and water states to solidified earth. Ancient esoteric traditions named these phases after seven planets but truly reflect the transition between different iterations of our solar system. Saturn initiated the sequence in its warmth state (blue, Saturday), followed by Sun manifesting as air (white, Sunday), then Moon condensing into water (purple, Monday). The earth condition splits into two distinct phases: Mars (red, Tuesday) and Mercury (yellow, Wednesday). Future evolutionary states manifest as Jupiter (orange, Thursday) and Venus (green, Friday), while sculptural representation omits the final Vulcan state.
These seven stages manifest architecturally through pillars bearing capitals and plinths. In the rear auditorium corner, a simple form begins the sequence where a point from above approaches one from below. Complexity and dynamism increase through the next two pillars. At the fourth pillar, an entirely new element emerges and continues developing. The fifth form presents confusing diversity as a snake-like shape winds around its central rod. By the seventh form, simplification returns at a higher level, preparing for a new cycle to begin.
First Goetheanum Structure and Philosophy
Two cupolas intersecting in precise relationship formed the first Goetheanum (1913-1920). These differently sized spheres demonstrated spirit and matter in union. The large dome represented the vast universe beyond human comprehension. The smaller dome embodied personality, that limited portion humans can grasp. Where they intersected, common space appeared, always present though invisible, demonstrating how the world exists by reflecting through human senses while human perception simultaneously transmits into space.
Wood construction rose from concrete footings, crowned with Norwegian slate roofing. Seven great symmetrical pillars arose on each side, each slightly taller than its predecessor as the auditorium floor sloped downward toward the stage. Each pillar and architrave claimed its own wood species: white beech, ash, cherry, oak, elm, maple, and birch. Carved capitals and plinths displayed cosmic evolution stages beneath a painted ceiling spanning the entire space.
Full architectural treatment distinguished the stage area, featuring carved plinths, capitals, architraves, and painted ceiling matching the larger domed space. Between the pillars, stained-glass windows stood illuminated, ground from large sheets of thick single-colored glass. Only when sunlight streamed through did the cut designs appear, connecting the building's interior with the sun-filled world beyond.
Carved wooden forms clearly marked the vestibule as a space receiving visitors from outside. Everything fit organically within the building as a whole, creating exterior design that revealed artistically how the structure formed itself to meet anthroposophical work requirements. Wood allowed space to carve into material itself, with form arising from concave hollowing of surfaces.
Second Goetheanum Transformation
Transitioning from wood to concrete demanded total reorientation when shaping the second Goetheanum (1925-1928), requiring compatibility with anthroposophy's essence. Where wood permits concave hollowing, concrete demands convex form, with surfaces bulging outward to define space boundaries. Interior shapes press outward into surfaces, lines, and angles, manifesting themselves visibly in exterior forms.
In a striking reversal, the building turned itself inside out. Seven columns that once appeared inside on each side of the larger dome transformed into vertical elements articulating the north and south facades. This metamorphic transformation accompanied a complete social transformation in how spiritual science practiced itself. The first building had enclosed interior space where gods spoke to humans in protected environment. The second building addresses the entire earth, expressing the recognition that earth itself became temple through the Mystery of Golgotha.
These seven stages manifest architecturally through pillars bearing capitals and plinths. In the rear auditorium corner, a simple form begins the sequence where a point from above approaches one from below. Complexity and dynamism increase through the next two pillars. At the fourth pillar, an entirely new element emerges and continues developing. The fifth form presents confusing diversity as a snake-like shape winds around its central rod. By the seventh form, simplification returns at a higher level, preparing for a new cycle to begin.
First Goetheanum Structure and Philosophy
Two cupolas intersecting in precise relationship formed the first Goetheanum (1913-1920). These differently sized spheres demonstrated spirit and matter in union. The large dome represented the vast universe beyond human comprehension. The smaller dome embodied personality, that limited portion humans can grasp. Where they intersected, common space appeared, always present though invisible, demonstrating how the world exists by reflecting through human senses while human perception simultaneously transmits into space.
Wood construction rose from concrete footings, crowned with Norwegian slate roofing. Seven great symmetrical pillars arose on each side, each slightly taller than its predecessor as the auditorium floor sloped downward toward the stage. Each pillar and architrave claimed its own wood species: white beech, ash, cherry, oak, elm, maple, and birch. Carved capitals and plinths displayed cosmic evolution stages beneath a painted ceiling spanning the entire space.
Full architectural treatment distinguished the stage area, featuring carved plinths, capitals, architraves, and painted ceiling matching the larger domed space. Between the pillars, stained-glass windows stood illuminated, ground from large sheets of thick single-colored glass. Only when sunlight streamed through did the cut designs appear, connecting the building's interior with the sun-filled world beyond.
Carved wooden forms clearly marked the vestibule as a space receiving visitors from outside. Everything fit organically within the building as a whole, creating exterior design that revealed artistically how the structure formed itself to meet anthroposophical work requirements. Wood allowed space to carve into material itself, with form arising from concave hollowing of surfaces.
Second Goetheanum Transformation
Transitioning from wood to concrete demanded total reorientation when shaping the second Goetheanum (1925-1928), requiring compatibility with anthroposophy's essence. Where wood permits concave hollowing, concrete demands convex form, with surfaces bulging outward to define space boundaries. Interior shapes press outward into surfaces, lines, and angles, manifesting themselves visibly in exterior forms.
In a striking reversal, the building turned itself inside out. Seven columns that once appeared inside on each side of the larger dome transformed into vertical elements articulating the north and south facades. This metamorphic transformation accompanied a complete social transformation in how spiritual science practiced itself. The first building had enclosed interior space where gods spoke to humans in protected environment. The second building addresses the entire earth, expressing the recognition that earth itself became temple through the Mystery of Golgotha.
A clearly defined skull form emerged. Steiner positioned all Goetheanum visitors within primomorphological human shape, that original form predating individual metamorphosis. The ground plan reveals how cubic stage form on the east develops into trapezoid main auditorium form. Progressive dynamism increases as form develops sculpturally from east to west.
A strict cube confronts the east toward slopes rising to Gempenfluh, the mountain to the east of the site,: high, straight wall. This eastern section houses stage, lecture delivery, and artist preparation, focusing on interior protected space expressed through severe, almost repelling exterior form. The west presents exceedingly dynamic free form tumbling in cascades, flowing into surrounding area, welcoming approaching visitors. Western emphasis falls on connection between outer and inner, inviting entry.
Landscape relationship strengthened significantly. Forms echo the landscape's rising contours, mirroring how natural rock formations emerge from Birs valley and climb toward Gempenfluh, where formations grow increasingly pronounced. The Goetheanum enhances these landscape forms artistically. Ten years living in Dornach allowed Steiner to account for landscape when designing the second building model, incorporating the surrounding countryside's spirit in ways impossible eleven years earlier.
Materials themselves express different consciousness qualities. Wood had permitted rounded, curved forms. Shifting to concrete required transitioning from rounded forms toward more angular elements, awakening consciousness to greater extent. Reinforced concrete unites iron's tensile force with mineral's compressive strength in polar combination, enabling concrete to pour into the most daring forms and creating material offering unprecedented artistic freedom.
Stained Glass Windows: Path of Individual Development
Nine stained-glass windows trace individual paths toward higher knowledge through color progression. The red window confronts pupils with their own soul forces: fear, hate, derision, and doubt embodied as fearsome animals blocking views of spiritual reality. Once pupils overcome these obstacles, prospects open to beings dwelling in spiritual heights. Organs of supersensible perception begin opening, represented as lotus flowers on forehead and larynx region, while zodiac constellations Leo, Taurus, and Saturn indicate cosmic connection.
Green windows present evil's dual conflict: cold intelligence manifesting as serpent imagery encircling the entire cosmos with piercing eyes, alongside an enchantingly beautiful angel bestowing knowledge and independence while simultaneously severing spiritual world connection. Blue windows immerse pupils in cosmic secrets where they experience macrocosm-microcosm connection directly. Purple windows address time's enigma, tracing how soul and spirit journey through temporal existence. The purple south window shows spirit-soul departing from spiritual world to enter physical incarnation. Its northern counterpart begins with death, showing a corpse surrounded by family, then travels backward through old age, mature adulthood with partner, youth, infancy, ascending finally to spiritual world's higher spheres. After centuries pass, descent toward earth begins anew. Rose windows address purely spiritual goals transcending space and time, examining how humans and world assume their forms, revealing what spiritual beings humans encounter in meditation's innermost depths.
A strict cube confronts the east toward slopes rising to Gempenfluh, the mountain to the east of the site,: high, straight wall. This eastern section houses stage, lecture delivery, and artist preparation, focusing on interior protected space expressed through severe, almost repelling exterior form. The west presents exceedingly dynamic free form tumbling in cascades, flowing into surrounding area, welcoming approaching visitors. Western emphasis falls on connection between outer and inner, inviting entry.
Landscape relationship strengthened significantly. Forms echo the landscape's rising contours, mirroring how natural rock formations emerge from Birs valley and climb toward Gempenfluh, where formations grow increasingly pronounced. The Goetheanum enhances these landscape forms artistically. Ten years living in Dornach allowed Steiner to account for landscape when designing the second building model, incorporating the surrounding countryside's spirit in ways impossible eleven years earlier.
Materials themselves express different consciousness qualities. Wood had permitted rounded, curved forms. Shifting to concrete required transitioning from rounded forms toward more angular elements, awakening consciousness to greater extent. Reinforced concrete unites iron's tensile force with mineral's compressive strength in polar combination, enabling concrete to pour into the most daring forms and creating material offering unprecedented artistic freedom.
Stained Glass Windows: Path of Individual Development
Nine stained-glass windows trace individual paths toward higher knowledge through color progression. The red window confronts pupils with their own soul forces: fear, hate, derision, and doubt embodied as fearsome animals blocking views of spiritual reality. Once pupils overcome these obstacles, prospects open to beings dwelling in spiritual heights. Organs of supersensible perception begin opening, represented as lotus flowers on forehead and larynx region, while zodiac constellations Leo, Taurus, and Saturn indicate cosmic connection.
Green windows present evil's dual conflict: cold intelligence manifesting as serpent imagery encircling the entire cosmos with piercing eyes, alongside an enchantingly beautiful angel bestowing knowledge and independence while simultaneously severing spiritual world connection. Blue windows immerse pupils in cosmic secrets where they experience macrocosm-microcosm connection directly. Purple windows address time's enigma, tracing how soul and spirit journey through temporal existence. The purple south window shows spirit-soul departing from spiritual world to enter physical incarnation. Its northern counterpart begins with death, showing a corpse surrounded by family, then travels backward through old age, mature adulthood with partner, youth, infancy, ascending finally to spiritual world's higher spheres. After centuries pass, descent toward earth begins anew. Rose windows address purely spiritual goals transcending space and time, examining how humans and world assume their forms, revealing what spiritual beings humans encounter in meditation's innermost depths.
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Bibliography (All texts available in the Private Chat)
- Hasler, Hans. The Goetheanum: A Guided Tour Through the Building, Its Surroundings and Its History. Verlag am Goetheanum, 2005.
- Paull, John. "Goetheanum II: Masterpiece of Organic Architecture by Rudolf Steiner." European Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning, vol. 1, no. 4, 2022.
- Paull, John. "The First Goetheanum: A Centenary for Organic Architecture." Journal of Fine Arts, vol. 3, no. 2, 2020, pp. 1-11.
- Steiner, Rudolf. Architecture as a Synthesis of the Arts. Rudolf Steiner Press, 1999.
- Steiner, Rudolf. Architecture: An Introductory Reader. Sophia Books, 2003.
- Steiner, Rudolf. The Architectural Thoughts of the Goetheanum (CW 289). Rudolf Steiner Press, 1985.
- "Architecture and Ethers." Preview manuscript, 2010.
- "Metamorphosis of the Architectural Space of Goetheanum." Research paper, date unknown.
- "The Seven Life Processes: The Process of Creating Stained Glass Windows." Educational manuscript, date unknown.
- "The Impulse for Biosculptural Architecture." Teaching Fellowship in Biodynamic Agriculture, 2010.
- Hasler, Hans. The Goetheanum: A Guided Tour Through the Building, Its Surroundings and Its History. Verlag am Goetheanum, 2005.
- Paull, John. "Goetheanum II: Masterpiece of Organic Architecture by Rudolf Steiner." European Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning, vol. 1, no. 4, 2022.
- Paull, John. "The First Goetheanum: A Centenary for Organic Architecture." Journal of Fine Arts, vol. 3, no. 2, 2020, pp. 1-11.
- Steiner, Rudolf. Architecture as a Synthesis of the Arts. Rudolf Steiner Press, 1999.
- Steiner, Rudolf. Architecture: An Introductory Reader. Sophia Books, 2003.
- Steiner, Rudolf. The Architectural Thoughts of the Goetheanum (CW 289). Rudolf Steiner Press, 1985.
- "Architecture and Ethers." Preview manuscript, 2010.
- "Metamorphosis of the Architectural Space of Goetheanum." Research paper, date unknown.
- "The Seven Life Processes: The Process of Creating Stained Glass Windows." Educational manuscript, date unknown.
- "The Impulse for Biosculptural Architecture." Teaching Fellowship in Biodynamic Agriculture, 2010.