The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One

GA 264 — Berlin

To Maria Kili in Strasbourg

[Undated, August 1908]

• You are not allowed to talk about the exercise with anyone. Please copy this and send it back to me.

Dear Miss Kili!

The exercises promised to you during my stay in Strasbourg are as follows:

In the morning, as soon as possible after waking up, when no other thoughts have yet crossed your mind, try to distract your attention from your surroundings and from all everyday thoughts and to immerse yourself completely in the following seven lines for five minutes (not by the clock, but by feeling):

In the pure rays of light
The divinity of the world shines
In the pure love for all beings
The divinity of my soul shines.
I rest in the divinity of the world
I will find myself
In the divinity of the world.

After this has happened, take a deep breath, as if inhaling J; after inhaling, add CH to J, so that you have “I” within you, like the force that permeates the inhaled air. Let this power (namely “I” in the inhaled air) permeate the entire body in thought; then back to the chest. Then breathe out CH and keep J in the body. One should have the thought that J also means Jesus and CH Christ. This breathing is repeated three times.

Then the image of a plant, how it arises from the seed, how it grows, blossoms, bears fruit, withers again and dies, should fill the soul for about 5 minutes (not by the clock, but by feeling).

In the evening, read 7-8 lines from Dr. Steiner's “Theosophy” and then reflect on them for about 15 minutes.

After that, look back over the events of the day, starting with the evening and finishing with the morning.

These exercises are continued day after day until I replace them with new ones. One must have patience to practice exactly the same thing for months, perhaps years. The fruit will come.

Heartfelt Theosophical Greetings,

Dr. Rudolf Steiner