Memory, Imagination, and the Formation of Astral Organs

GA 266I — 20 January 1907, Stuttgart

Esoteric Lesson

Looking back: When we look back on what we have experienced, let us put ourselves in such a position that we can clearly feel the difference between the experience of the soul and the actual experience in the external world, just as when we look at a picture of a landscape with our eyes closed, i.e., as a memory, and when we look at it with our eyes open, i.e., as a direct observation. This is the same relationship as that between memory and review. (Memory is recollection, and review is perception in this case.)

Memory gradually disappears in the initiated, and direct perception of what one wants to remember takes its place. One must form a picture of the day's experiences, very precisely and clearly in all details, blouse, face, manner, etc., everything very precisely, and thus view the process in the picture, how it was spoken, what was done, etc., etc. It is very important to recall the small experiences that are not so interesting, those that are difficult to remember, because this stimulates the inner powers. The power of imagination is formed through the ability to visualize images. It is not the completeness of the experiences that matters, but the clarity of the images. No muscle should be strained during all this work.

Just as light first formed the outer eyes and the body received the stimulus from outside to form other organs, so it is now obliged to pass this on to the astral body. This happens through all the activities of the physical body. Everything in the physical body is formed from outside, including the stomach and other internal organs. - In this way, the organs of the astral body are formed through the mental image. The supplementary exercises: We must begin again with thinking and continue until we achieve the relevant feeling; we must then pour this into the body and practice this exercise for a month or longer before moving on to the second and so on. Pouring gives the astral body consistency, a solid form, a backbone.

The first of these supplementary exercises is thought control. Take an object and try to think about it for five minutes without letting any other thoughts intrude. Then a certain feeling must arise, which you then pour into your body. The less interesting the object is to you, the more useful it is as an exercise, because it is then difficult to hold onto it for five minutes.

The second is initiative in actions. It must be an action that you have to force yourself to do.

Thirdly, overcoming pleasure and displeasure, which does not mean not feeling joy or sorrow, but not allowing oneself to be dominated by them.

Fourthly, seeking positivity in everything.

Fifthly, impartiality towards all experiences.

Sixthly, repeating all five exercises rhythmically.

Each of these secondary exercises should be done until you can pour the corresponding feeling into your body and experience it. Only then should you proceed to the next month.

Meditation: Meditation is given to you as your first morning exercise; it is intended to awaken and invigorate you. The lily is the visible expression of a word once spoken by the Creator. It matters very much which words, which vowels are spoken, which thoughts, which feelings are sent out, because these will become visible at a time when the Earth will be in a different state, in the Venus and Jupiter states, etc. Thus, what are here on Earth the three kingdoms of nature, the mineral, plant, and animal kingdoms, are the expression of what the inhabitants of the moon once spoke and thought.

That is why mantras, including the words of meditation, are chosen in their exact wording and sequence of letters, because they only have their effect in that particular order.

What we do and create will one day be visible on Jupiter, for example, Cologne Cathedral, Raphael's masterpieces, music, etc. Cologne Cathedral will become visible on Jupiter in a grown structure. Raphael's paintings will surround Jupiter like a mirage or clouds. Music will resound there on Jupiter as spherical music.

During our exercises, we must remember that the masters have something of this kind in store for us; that is the purpose of the exercises, and the formula: “In the spirit lay the seed of my body...” explains this to us. The ancient adepts in Atlantis expressed this succinctly in the sacred word AUM.

A is the past, sounds definite and clear.
U is a dull vowel and represents the present. It is the clarity of the past and the freedom of the present to act in it.
M is the uncertainty of the future, to which any vowel, this or that action, can be added.

The right kind of reflection awakens a great power in the soul that man needs when he is able to ascend to the astral plane.

Thought control should lead to mastery of the thoughts. Initiative in actions should give rise to an urge to work, to be active, which one has not felt before. Meditation should be the first task of the day in the morning.