III. The Pre-Michaelite Way, and the Way of Michael

A change comes with the second stage of consciousness. The concrete Spirit-Beings conceal themselves. Their reflected glory becomes apparent as ensouled life. Men begin to bring the ‘life of Nature’ into relation with this ‘life of Souls.’ They search the things of Nature and the processes of Nature for the Spirit-Beings at work there, and for their spiritual deeds. In what later appeared as Alchemy and the pursuits of the alchemists, can be seen historically the residue of this stage of consciousness.