43. Consciousness – Life – Form

The development of Saturn now consisted of seven cycles, which represent the unfolding of the soul's life. In each of these seven cycles, the planet passes through the seven forms, from formlessness to creative ability. In the first cycle, the Thrones form the directing soul element; in the second, the Dominations; in the third, the Powers; in the fourth, the Authorities; and in the fifth, the Saturn Planetary Spirit itself. This did not have full, clear consciousness right from the beginning of Saturn's development, but only acquired it in the fourth cycle. It is only then that it actually experiences the planetary processes in a spiritual way. Thus, in the fifth cycle, it can itself work as a soul. During the fifth cycle, the archangels develop an inner soul life, the content of which is taken from the Saturn processes. They can do this by making use of the human bodies that have been developed for them into the appropriate instruments. This enables them to lead the sixth cycle as independent souls. The same applies to the seventh cycle with the angels.