The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One
GA 264 — Berlin
To Eliza von Moltke in Bankau, Upper Silesia
Eliza von Moltke wrote on 20 July 1904:
My dear Dr. Steiner! Have you forgotten me completely! I know that one of the main things we humans must strive for is patience, and I would have waited patiently even longer if I had not so urgently needed some spiritual help. You kindly wanted to take care of me in this regard, to give me hints on how to work with myself to achieve the long-hoped-for goal of helping people... But now I would very much like to work on myself with success, as you see fit – and when you have received the instructions in this regard, which you first wanted to obtain on the higher plane, then be so kind as to share them with me. ...
In response to this letter, Rudolf Steiner replied:
Dear Madam,
Please do not assume that I will continue my practice of writing you as few letters as possible in the future. I will explain to you in person why this one is coming so late. In the future, I will write to you very regularly.
Please consider the enclosed document1 to be completely confidential. In such matters I am only an instrument of higher beings, whom I humbly revere. I deserve nothing; nothing depends on me. The only thing I can ascribe to myself is that I have undergone strict training that protects me from all fantasy. This was a requirement for me. Because what I experience in spiritual realms is thereby free from all imagination, from all deception, from all superstition. But even today I speak to few of this. People may think me a fantasist; I know the difference between truth and deception. And I know that I must go the way I go.
If you make the exercises outlined in the enclosed document yours, dear Madam, then you must not start before August 19 or after September 3. This is written, as the occultist says, in “the signs of heaven”. If you do not want to start between August 19 and September 3, it would be necessary for a later time to contact me again. Between August 19 and September 3, any day is possible.
I often think of the wonderful hours I was privileged to spend in your house [in Berlin]. I have also grown very fond of your husband and have high hopes for his spiritual future. Sometimes people take special paths; but many paths lead to knowledge.2
May you fare well in Silesia and have the inner peace you need.
With warm regards,
Dr. Rudolf Steiner
Berlin W, Motzstrasse 17