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

GA 265

Notes for the “Chamber of Reflection”

a) Text based on an old typewritten template

You are sitting in the Chamber of Reflection. This symbolic action is meant to indicate to you that you should remember at this moment how man should recognize silently, without any impressions from outside, again and again by immersing himself in his inner being, that he must form a firmly closed personality with decisive feelings, thoughts and impulses of will. Only as such can he find his way as a citizen of our earth planet. You must be a firmly closed ego. The brothers and sisters gathered here will give you some time to think about this and also to decide whether you want to be accepted into our covenant after careful consideration. After a strong hammer blow, if you persevere in your resolution to be accepted, you will answer with a clear yes.

b) Text from an original manuscript by Marie Steiner

You are sitting symbolically in the Chamber of Reflection, this as a sign that at this moment you should take a deep look into your inner being, into the center of your being, for the one who enters the occult path must realize that he must bring forth everything from the deepest center of his own being with regard to his sensations, feelings, opinions and impulses of will. Only the person who thus finds a firm base within himself can be a citizen of our earth planet. In this way the center of his being is firmly connected with the center of his planet and he finds his own development together with the earth mission. In all activities of life, the occult aspirant must draw his impulses from his own free feeling, sensing, thinking and willing. To make this clear to you through a deep look into your inner being and to think carefully once again about whether you want to stick to your decision to be accepted into our community, you sit symbolically in this chamber of reflection. There will be a short time of complete silence around you when you are to discuss these two things with yourselves. Then a long hammer blow will break the silence and if you persevere in your resolution, you will answer my question with a clearly audible yes.