Lessons for the Participants of Cognitive-Cultic Work 1906–1924

GA 265a — 17 December 1911, Berlin

The Three Lights

Record A (with additions from Cycle 20) from the estate of Elisabeth Vreede

First degree

It has been said many times that the symbols and rituals of our temple are not created arbitrarily, but have a deep connection with cosmic constellations and correspond to laws that can only be revealed to us slowly and gradually. They are handed down from century to century from the mysteries of the most ancient times, so that they may serve as the right channels for the spiritual currents that the wise masters of the East pour over us. They cannot, therefore, possibly be explained or understood in an esoteric way.

One of the most important symbols is the three flames that stand on the altars of the East, South and West, and to which our attention should be drawn first of all. In these we should see the symbols of wisdom, beauty and strength. First, let us examine whether we can find these symbols in the human being itself.

Where, we ask, is wisdom to be found in the human form? Outwardly it is not to be found there, but hidden very deeply within the form, and in such a way that it is not adapted to this form at the present stage of development. It does not form a unified whole in it. This form was first conceived entirely spiritually, and everything that arose during the Saturn, Sun and Moon states was permeated by that perfect wisdom in which we feel the high hierarchies, the creators of our being, are at work. But we already know that during the evolution of the earth, entities penetrated our bodies and disturbed their connection, so that the various elements of our being do not fit together as they should have done according to the intention of the gods. What is meant by this disorder is brilliantly expressed in the words that Lucifer speaks to man when he wants to seduce him: “Your eyes will be opened, and you will distinguish good from evil.” The “eyes” here stand only as representatives of the sense organs in general, for it was never intended that the senses should be active as they are now. Under Lucifer's influence, the senses work differently than they would otherwise. Yes, outwardly they would not be there at all, however strange that may sound. The eye that we use today to see the external world was originally not designed to see at all. Vision and hearing were placed in man, but these powers were not meant to go out through the eye or the ear, but were to remain within. Every time they used their eyes, people would have become aware of their eyes, but would not have seen things externally. Man should become aware of the activity of seeing; he should, as it were, catch himself earlier in his seeing than only outside with the objects.

This is just one example of the disorder that has been wreaked by Lucifer in the outer form of the physical body. Not a single one of the other bodies or sheaths is properly arranged (integrated) either. The bodies have not completely penetrated each other, and as a result, each limb has a part that is, as it were, left to its own devices and that has its own inner life that is not grasped by consciousness. That part, for example, of the physical body that is not properly penetrated by the etheric body is where the sense organs are located, and that is where they have their present form. Without this part, not permeated by the etheric, the whole sensual world, which now lies spread out before us, would not exist. Man would only feel active, weaving will; he would actively experience the sensory world. The etheric body has, as it were, been pushed back from the sense organs, and thus something has entered into them that belongs only to the sensory world.

The astral body does not penetrate the etheric body in the right way either, and in our physical body, for example, this results in crying. As soon as a person cries so that this strange salty liquid comes out of his eyes, there is an predominance of the etheric body (over the astral body). The same is the case with all glandular secretions; the secretions are the expression of the preponderance, the disturbed equilibrium. Thus one experiences how powerfully the consequences of the temptations of Lucifer reveal themselves to the clairvoyant.

Only when we, as human beings, have transformed our bodies over time, through the power of our inner will, into what they were originally intended for, only then will we be imbued with the wisdom that will create us as perfect and at the same time self-confident instruments of divine deeds.

It is different with beauty, which finds its full expression in the outer human form. In the hands one finds the symbol of beauty, and indeed completely there, where they rise as outstretched hands, so that the head forms the center. If you immerse yourself in the feeling of hands reaching towards the sky and follow the line from hand to arm, you will experience beauty radiating from the hands themselves.

The purpose of the hand is to be beautiful, not to be strong. The arm may be strong and muscular, but towards the bottom it tapers into the hand, which strives for beauty. When we consider the many ways in which we can call hands “beautiful”, whether they are folded in prayer or stretched out one by one, raised up in prayer as if to the high beings above us, imploring help - we always find beauty in them, the hand as a symbol of beauty. With every hand movement, we should be aware that it should symbolize beauty, that it should never serve any other purpose than to express the inner beauty of our being.

Strength is symbolized in what is opposite of the hands, namely the feet. People may have a mental image of the foot as a “beautiful” appendage of their body. They may be proud of having small, delicate feet; the occultist will never find anything “beautiful” in the feet; for him, they are the symbol of strength. The feet must be able to carry the whole body; and if you look at them from this point of view, you will realize the strength that must rest in the foot, in this tiny, narrow part of the body, on which the whole body must find its support.

Thus we find in the human form these three important symbols, which are mentioned in occultism as “the three world mothers”, as Goethe also calls them in his “Faust”.

Note B

We see here the flames on the altars, which represent wisdom, beauty and strength. These are very deep symbols that we can also find in people.

Where can wisdom be found in the human form? It cannot be found on the outside, it is hidden within the form, and in such a way that it is not adapted to today's stage of development, so that the form does not form a cohesive whole. Wisdom can be depicted as follows:

It is different with beauty, which finds its full expression in human hands when they are raised in an outstretched position, with the head forming the center. In the hands one finds the symbol of beauty, and this is represented as follows:

The purpose of the hand is to be beautiful, not to be strong. The arm may be strong and muscular, but at the bottom it tapers into the beauty-tending form of the human hand.

Strength is found in the opposite of the hands, in the feet. No one who is an occultist will see anything beautiful in the feet, and anyone who wants to see something beautiful in them in their ordinary lives will see nothing but a caricature of beauty. The feet represent power or strength, and they must be able to carry the whole body. This is represented as follows:

Thus we find in the human form these three important symbols, which are mentioned in occultism, the “three world mothers,” which Goethe also mentions in his “Faust.”

In earlier meetings, we emphasized the greater importance of spiritual activity compared to acting in the world. It is of importance for the whole world when a person processes a lot spiritually, because this shows after death. We can go further in this and ask ourselves how we relate to the hierarchies in the future, especially in relation to our relationship with them after death. When we pass through the gate of death after our physical life, after we have worked on our progress here on earth and on the transformation of our bodies, we give the part of our etheric body that we have transformed to an angelic being as his tribute, which he waits for and to which he is entitled. This tribute, this part, is radiated by the angel and made subservient to the succeeding generations of men, whereby the thoughts of inventions and progress in general are propagated and can come to light. If this did not happen, if people did not work on the transformation of their etheric bodies, but instead occupied themselves exclusively with the vanities of the physical plane, then the world would become very lonely and ultimately perish.

The results achieved in the transformation of the astral body are handed over to an archangel after death, who in turn radiates them to other people. These transferred powers of our astral bodies are so delicate and hidden that only from the occult can one point out how this happens. For example, Paracelsus lived from 1493 to 1541 and died, after having worked tremendously hard on his astral body through the many experiences he had undergone, in the prime of life in his forty-eighth year. The processed power of his astral body was transferred to Goethe by the archangels in what was for him such a significant forty-eighth year of life, when a whole new period of life began for him, when, for example, he reworked Faust and fathomed many secrets.

He added “Prologue to Heaven” to his “Faust”, whereby “Faust”, instead of being just the story of an individual, is linked to the whole of human development.

Now only the ego remains to be considered. Its inherent power, especially in very strong individualities, is also transferred to one of the archai, who uses it after long periods of time to allow new powers to descend into humanity. This is what happens in the spiritual realm after death.

But in the line of inheritance that passes through the generations from father to son, grandson and so on, the hierarchies also work, and it is the spirits of form that form the physical body, the spirits of movement that bring about the etheric body, and the spirits of wisdom that give shape to the astral body. But through these effects alone, no bodies would be possible, only the possibilities for the formation of the bodies. To shape these, there must be a collaboration between the thrones and the spirits of form, whereby the nascent body is given strength. Likewise, the cherubim must work together with the spirits of movement and the seraphim with the spirits of wisdom for the realization of the etheric and astral bodies: form and power must work together. Now only the I remains; this descends from the spiritual world when its bodies or sheaths have been prepared by the higher hierarchies, which have to work with the lower matter so that it serves the I as a temple.

The three flames of the candles are expressed in the following symbolic signs (these are also incorporated into the human body):

(The flame of the East represents wisdom.) The human body looks like this because it is not yet fully formed.

Beauty Record D

Man has beauty expressed in hands raised up, head centered, this symbol.

Strength human feet

Jachin: He strengthens me.
Boaz: In him is my strength.

1. This figure is a meditation aid.

2. The three?

3. The sign for the three mothers

The three worlds in the microcosm are represented by the three signs.

1. The symbol of wisdom is invisibly present in every human being.

2. Hands, the head in the middle – beauty.

3. Feet – strength

Record E by Alice Kinkel

The most important thing for a person is to work on themselves so that they can then give what they have acquired to the beings of the hierarchies, who enable their development through sacrifice. The hierarchy of angels, archangels, and archai comes first in this regard, the hierarchy that gives to us continually.

Everything that a person has worked into his etheric body, he can give to the angel. The gift of angels is given so that inventions, spiritual things, and so on, can occur to people for posterity.

To the archangels, the human being hands over everything that he has worked into his astral body. This then works for an entire nation.

What he has worked out in his ego, he hands over to the Zeitgeist or to the archai.

The physical form of the human being, he hands it over to the spirits of form.

The form of the etheric body goes to the spirits of movement.

The form of the astral body goes to the spirits of wisdom.

The I itself, soon after it has given up its part to the spirit of time, unites with the spirits of will, so that it could integrate itself into everything.

The etheric body belongs to the cherubim, the astral body to the seraphim, and the I descends itself as J.CH., as Jesus Christ!

Paracelsus was an individuality who could give in this way. Everything he had worked into his astral body up to the age of forty-eight, up to his death, he gave to the archangel, and then he (through the archangel) had an effect on Goethe. He has so tremendously changed and advanced Goethe from the age of forty-eight. (Much more was said about Paracelsus and his life on earth.)

What was given here in Berlin in December 1911 was given in Munich in 1911.

This last drawing was given in Munich like this:

After the I has surrendered its acquisitions to the Zeitgeist, the I has fulfilled its mission, done its duty.

Record F

Three flames on our three altars: that on the altar of the East signifies wisdom, that on the altar of the South, beauty, and that on the altar of the West, strength.

All progress is based on the three principles. Where do we find them in the microcosm? There is little of wisdom in man - there is no limb that man has not corrupted - but it is invisibly present. Where is the symbol of beauty? The hand, and the symbol of occultism has always been the raised hands, with the head in between.

The foot cannot be the symbol of beauty. If someone wanted to elevate the foot to something beautiful, it would be comical in the context of occultism. The foot is the symbol of strength. A weakly formed foot arouses pity.

There are, so to speak, two lines that determine the human being: a material line, which is the line of inheritance, and a spiritual line. Through the material line the form is imparted, the spirits of form work on it. So that this form does not become rigid, the spirits of movement are needed; so that the limbs have the right measure and relationship to one another: the spirits of wisdom.

Only that has value that one has acquired for oneself. After death, angels take that which the etheric body has acquired and distribute the spirit-matter contained therein to others in need. The archangels take possession of the work of the astral body, the archai of the work of the I. It is the task of the thrones, cherubim, and seraphim to shape the substance in the right way. – What Paracelsus had acquired in his astral body when he died at the age of forty-eight was handed over to Goethe by an archangel. This is why we find in the latter, at this age, the desire to present “Faust” to the world.