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

GA 265a — 2 October 1913, Oslo

The Four Animals with Fourfold Effect Within Us

Notes by Alice Kinkel for all degrees.

The bull symbolizes the purely maternal in man. If this were the only thing at work, then bulls would be the result. Therefore, during the time when she is carrying the new life within her, the mother must expend all her strength (unconsciously) to overcome the nature of the bull. The popular expression “mooncalf” in the sense of a deformity points to this origin of the bull's nature. Here again we can see how these popular expressions hold deep secrets. “Mooncalf”, the origin of the bull is to be found in the old moon.

The lion has its origin in the sun; it expresses the purely paternal.

The human being or the angel is that in the human being that passes from incarnation to incarnation.

The eagle is the superhuman, the divine in the human being. As an organ for this we have in the physical body the liver, the liver and the gray brain. ... The liver is also called the inner Jupiter; lightning and thunder power reside in it. From a clairvoyant point of view, this organ looks like clouds in which lightning and thunder flash. Man is clumsy compared to the superhuman, which is why the organ is like an unskillful lump. Now we may understand something of why it is said that the vulture feeds on the liver. This Prometheus saga is deeply significant.