# Goethe and the Present

## GA 68c — 22 February 1908, Kassel

### XXII. On “The Mysteries”

Cypress, cedar, palm, olive tree: according to an ancient legend, the wood of these trees was used for the cross of Christ.

The rose, the chaste ego, is plant sap, but red. Bees flew to the wounds of the Savior, sucked at them and found the same in them as in the flower: blood that had become plant. To fully empathize.

The “Mysteries”. The twelve in the monastery are representatives of the twelve religions and creeds. There can be twelve. They all stand under one supreme; the spirit is the same, flowing into all.

From Brother Mark's mouth wisdom resounds as from children's lips; in the deepest simplicity, this is the divine teaching.

Those who know this and have expressed great wisdom to the highest degree in previous incarnations can, in their next life on earth, let the highest expressions of wisdom sound from their lips as naturally as a child speaks. At the highest level, there is the greatest simplification of wisdom. This is the case with Mark.

The thirteenth is about to leave this body, while fully conscious. A star at birth means that the birth of someone like this is of profound significance for the whole cosmos. He overcomes the vipers, which means that he is born at a high level. The three limbs are depicted in the form of an amphibian. Snake symbol. Fish is the sign of the Christ.

He has already overcome his lower nature. This is indicated by the killing of the viper.

After the second half of life, physical strength declines. However, spiritual strength increases. Even those at a high level must relive childhood and go through a lot before their higher personality can fully reveal itself. The spirit lies in the powers we have, not in what we learn; these are only forms.

He sees herbs and becomes a healer. The willingness to obey the will of others saves an enormous amount of strength for life.

Humanus [the thirteenth], who has all the powers of man within himself and has risen above him.

The shields [above the brothers' chairs] symbolize what each of them had to give to the world: a fire-colored dragon quenches its thirst in flames, which is the transformed astral nature, passion for religion. The arm in the bear's jaws: man's wild nature is called the bear nature. Lower animals are soundless animals. The more the animal becomes similar to man, the more 'sound' arises in him. When the 'I' has completely moved into the human being, it can fully sound into the world. This is the Rubicon that man must cross, represented in the tongue. That which is in the mouth, the tongue, is at the same time the arm in the throat (Fenriswolf).

One should use what people have already achieved, not wanting to achieve everything on one's own. That is useless effort. It draws strength from the world. There is still a lot going on here. The white lodge is among us, always.

The three youths: the three higher limbs of the human being.

> It seems as if they have come from nocturnal dances,  
> quite refreshed and beautiful after joyful exertion.

During sleep, the astral body is in the higher world and brings back new strength. This should not be taken intellectually, but felt: from humility and simplicity comes the highest wisdom.