Esoteric Lesson

In order for the proper conditions to be brought about for the development from the monad to man, to a god, the elements are necessary. But the elements as such belong to our earth system (which encompasses the various states called Saturn, Sun, Moon, etc.), and in other systems other conditions exist. These elements are symbolically indicated in the next line of our occult writing. The first is “earth”; not just mineral earth, but everything that is solid: iron, lead, the human, animal, and plant bodies are earth in the occult sense. This element is best represented by carbon, which is found in the composition of all bodies in all realms. In its purest form, we find carbon in coal and diamonds. It is taught that man lived on earth before any of the other kingdoms existed, at a time when there were no plants to dissolve the carbon in the human body. And since we know that man cannot exist without life-giving oxygen, there seems to be a contradiction here. However, at that time there was no atmosphere as we know it today; humans moved, so to speak, in a sea of flowing life, because oxygen was liquid at that time, as indicated by the second symbol, “water.” If only the element “earth” had existed, the human body would have hardened and could not have developed further. But when the second element, “water,” entered the body through external pressure, progress became possible.