X. First Contemplation: How Michael prepares his earthly mission supersensibly, by the conquest of Lucifer.

> 1. The dawn of the Age of Consciousness (age of the Spiritual Soul) in the 15th century is preceded, in the evening of the age of the Intellectual or Mind-Soul, by an enhancement of Luciferic activity, which lasts on for a while into the new period. > 2. The aim of this Luciferic activity is unrightfully to preserve old forms of mentally picturing the world, and to keep Man back from using the intellect to comprehend the physical life of the world and make himself familiar with it. > 3. Michael unites himself with Man's activity, in order that the emancipated power of the intellect may abide by its divine, spiritual parentage, not in a Luciferic but in a rightful way.