# Meditation, Spiritual Development, and Archangelic Guidance

## GA 266I — 9 August 1908, Stuttgart

### Esoteric Lesson

Many people believe that they toil from morning to night for the good of humanity. But it is questionable whether this is really the case. It may become apparent to the clairvoyant eye that efforts to help humanity, which spring from materialistic thinking, actually do the opposite of what is intended, and it may also be part of a person's karma that they are not yet ready to engage in this service, but must wait until the time is ripe for them to take on a particular task. Then such a task can be whispered to him by a higher being and thus not be caused by external circumstances.

During waking life, all kinds of sensory impressions affect human beings. For people who are completely devoted to the impressions of the external world in their waking consciousness, the external world then determines what is taken in. As a result, the human astral body is confused and torn during the night and cannot be put in order by spiritual beings. Life then becomes a process of destruction for the human being.

The esotericist differs in that he meditates, immerses himself in his own experience, and thus allows his life to be determined less by external circumstances. Those who meditate repeatedly are not exposed to astral confusion at night and enable themselves to receive instruction from spiritual beings. And it is very necessary that we be taught in this way. For since November 1879, we have entered a new stage of human development. At that time, the guidance of the archangel Gabriel for humanity came to an end. Gabriel had worked for four hundred years to develop a new organ in the human brain by regulating births. It was also he who announced the birth of the Savior to the Virgin Mary. The new organ, which has only been bestowed since Gabriel's reign, for four hundred years, gives human beings the ability to understand spiritual truths. A person living in the 16th century would not have understood our present-day theosophy. It is now the task of the archangel Michael, successor to the archangel Gabriel, to encourage people to use their newly acquired organ. Those who do not use it allow the organ to waste away and degenerate. Such a person then comes under the influence of Michael's adversary, Mammon or Beelzebub. He is the god of obstacles who wants to prevent humanity from progressing. Under his influence, bacteria and germs also arise. This could lead to terrible epidemics in the future, as well as strange nervous diseases; children could be born with a destroyed nervous system.

After another four hundred years, Michael's leadership will be replaced by that of the archangel Oriphiel, who also ruled at the time of Christ's birth. Oriphiel expresses divine wrath, but only those who have already reached a high level of development are allowed to express this wrath. Jesus also drives the merchants out of the temple.